What does it take to own a horse?

Great thread.

I was in exactly the same position as you. Then I started riding a horse for someone a couple of days a week and had a taste of the scary side of horse ownership when the owner went away for 3 weeks leaving me in charge of him and he choked (not my fault - someone randomly gave him a massive handful of dry chaff!) - I thought the world was ending!! Was so stressful.

Then when the owner came back she offered him to me on full loan and I said yes! And I've never looked back and, other than meeting my husband, it was the best thing I ever did. What you don't know, you learn as you go along and from other people and as others have said never be afraid to ask and don't feel like you need to take ALL advice on board.

Good luck!
 
I did the BHS owners courses at college and IMO its nothing i didnt already know, or could have learned at home on an experienced year.

get on a yard with experienced people, get your instructor to give you some management lessons, and invest in some good books!

save some cash and spend it on tasty bits and pretty things for new horse!
 
ditto all above (page 1)


I have my own (had 3 upto now) and tbh im forever asking questions and learning from others!!

you will be fine :) you sound like a lovely owner to be :)
 
I was 52 before I got mine, always wanted one, but never had the time. I rode on and off for years, mostly at RS, and did a couple horse management courses - but nothing prepared me for the sheer joy, excitement and panic of looking at my own horse the day he arrived.
OP you sound level headed and thoughful, so if your finances and time truely allow then go for it and have experienced people around you to call on - I still panic if I see the slightest thing wrong or different!
I bought a 6 year old who was fortunately fairly sensible but my instructor was instrumental in checking him out for me - and I have loved every minute since no matter what the weather or anything else.
Nothing beats having your own.
 
I would certainly look at loaning or sharing first, and ask the owner to teach you basic horse care. You will learn far more first hand than on a BHS theory course.

I rode as a child at RS, then stopped when I went to Uni, started again at an RS once I started working. As an adult I started helping out a bit and realised my passion for horses was not going to go away!!!! I remember thinking at the age of 24 that the thing I wanted most was a horse. How sad!!!! Not a husband, baby or house. I was offered the chance to share a schoolmistress mare - she and her owner taught me everything about looking after a horse. After 3 years I relocated and was over the moon when the owner let me take the mare with me. I found a nice local livery yard with instruction available. Sadly the mare went lame and the owner took her back. I decided it was now or never and with the support and advice of the yard's instructor I bought my very own horse.
After a couple of years I was confident enough to move him to a quiet farm as we both didn't cope well with a livery yard!
I still read everything I can get my hands on, use this site, have lessons etc!
The great thing about horse ownership is that you never stop learning.
 
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