What to do with the horse when you go to Uni

[ArchiesGirl]

So I'm currently in my first year of A levels, but I'm thinking long term because I want to make sure I'm certain with what to do.

I desperately want to take my horse with me to University, but I'm at loss at what to do - would it be better to put her out for loan to help me manage my time? She's a 14.3 mare at 12 years, so she'll be 14 or 15 when I go to university, but she's rather strong and flighty. Is getting someone to loan her a good idea in this case? She'd be perfect for a confident rider, but I'm not sure.

My other idea was perhaps breeding her, but would she be too old then? However, with 3/4 years at university, the foal can mature before I focus on breaking it in etc.

Opinions please?

 

[be positive]

A lot depends on your longer term plans, where you go to uni and what you are going to be studying, also the finances need to be considered, taking her with you may limit your social life, may throw up issues during holidays, can you take her home and back to uni without having to pay livery at 2 yards to hold your place.
Having a foal from her is a lovely idea in theory but in reality it doesn't solve anything and brings a new set of things to consider, having 2 to care for just being one part of it, double the costs being a not insignificant consideration and what happens in 6 years or so when you are starting a new career and have 2 horses to keep.

Loaning may be the easiest option if you can find someone suitable and it may give you the option of being able to ride during holidays if you are lucky with a loaner and continue to contribute in some way, plenty to think about and lots of time to do so.

 

[Hipo]

I suppose it will all depend on where you go to university and how full on your course is. I know a lot of people even living away from home manage with a sharer rather then full loan as they can come home for 3 or 4 days a week. I wouldn't think putting in foal would be a great idea , you will still have the same issue before the foal is born then double the problem when it is. My daughter is away at university and I am looking after both the ponies whilst she is away. It's hard for me as she only gets home for a short weekend about once every 3 weeks. There is no way she could take either with her as there's no livery near by, and her course is far too full on.

 

[Redders]

I desperately wanted to take mine with me to uni, but realistically I wouldn't have had the time she deserved and I couldn't afford full livery on student loan! I advertised for a sharer (actually it was just word of mouth and found someone before I even put an ad out) to share her over the summer/ spring with me and if they got on then the possibility of it moving to full loan. Thankfully it worked out and was the best thing for mine. I can study and not worry about her because her loaner is a wonderful girl who loves her as much as I do and she has all of her attention, which I couldn't have given her if I had taken her with me.
I will move back to my home area when I finish uni and told the loaner that we can go back to a share arrangement because I know they adore each other and I wouldn't just rip her back to being just mine when she has done a wonderful job of being her guardian while I can't.

 

[alice1234]

I don't think putting her into foal would be a good idea, as you'll just end up with two!
A girl at my yard went to uni in September, her horse is still at the yard, same stable etc but has a full loaner until she finishes uni, providing she can afford and wants to keep the horse in a few years time. It works well because the owner still comes up to visit and to go on a hack when she's home from uni, and the loaner is really good and there are people who've known the horse for years around to help her. Obviously the owner was lucky to find this but it would be worth putting an advert up!

 

[ROMANY 1959]

I don't know where you are, part of the country..but had you thought of putting your horse into an equine college? Then you would know it was being looked after well, excercised, fed and shod and vet care..then in main holidays you would be able to have horse for you to ride..a friend of mine does this, it works quite well..she takes horse home in holidays like xmas, Easter and summer..

 

[Shay]

My daughter is off to Uni in September. What happens to the horses has been a major think for some time. The BS ponies went when she turned 16 so that solved a large part - we just didn't replace them with horses.

The after a lot of soul searching she elected to seek a university close to home (we are commuting distance from London with loads of top flight Unis she can get to.) The hope is that she can live in - but still be in reasonable reach of the yard to ride / compete.

It may be that won't last once she starts and the conflicting pressures of uni life kick in. In which case we'll look at a mix of loan, sell and share. The pets have a home for life obviously (I really want to re-train her wonderful cob to drive..) I don't want to press her to sell something she loves - but a gifted competition horse needs to be competed and growing up means choices.

Taking a horse to Uni is very hard unless you can afford full livery. The constant struggle to find a suitable yard; to do chores and ride when your friends are not, what to do in holidays etc.

 

[Challaborough Christmas Tree]

I sold mine in April while I finished my a levels before starting uni in September and I definitely think it was the best decision for me. I miss horses like crazy but my student loan doesn't even cover my accommodation in the cheapest halls so keeping a horse would've been completely out of the question.

Time wise I could probably manage it even with working part time however I don't sleep much at all and I have very little time in uni compared to people on most their courses, I know the 7 other people in my flat would never have time for it! Another factor is that many unis are in city centres making livery a lot harder to come across, I'm in Manchester and I would definitely need to have a car in order to make it manageable which is even more cost!

Keeping the horse at an equestrian college sounds like a good idea as you have the best of both worlds, I would avoid a loan where possible as you never know when the loaner will hand in their notice and you need to make last minute livery and care arrangements. Or do you have any good unis near enough to home you'd be interested in so you could keep the horse where it is and either stay at home or visit a few times a week?

 

[Compoboots]

In the same boat as you except I will be starting college in September, about to do my leaving cert (Ireland)
Definitely start putting feelers out there for someone who might like to loan her, even if it's only for your first year while you get settled in. Just make sure to see them riding her before you let her go! I've loaned out ponies before and they ended up being too strong for the rider.

I bought and broke a 4yo during the summer so that's not really an option for me, but I'm going to be doing Equine Science and there's a livery yard near to the college that I'll probably keep her at. College uses it for practicals so it'll suit me. I'll probably not move her up until the second semester or so though and keep her at home.

I'd be of the opinion that there's no point in breeding a horse unless it's top quality. Too many already in need of homes here, presume it's the same in the UK? It would mean a lot of work for you with scans,check ups and she'd be out of work.

What are you doing in uni? Once you finish you might not have the money/time/want to be breaking in a youngster? If the college isn't too far away you could keep her at home and come home evenings/weekends?

--------------
It's really weird I was just about to post something similar to this asking what other people did!

 

[Miss_Dior]

I picked a uni near home, commute in and kept the horse! Depends if you want the student lifestyle. If you enjoy hangovers and takeaways and the like I would loan the horse out, if you would rather keep riding and the horse pick a uni near to home

 

[wispagold]

I went to uni half an hour away from home and came home every weekend and one day mid week to ride. My mum and sisters mucked out etc when I wasn't there. We had 3 other horses at the time.

One of my other sisters took her horse with her but she was doing an equine sport science degree and riding was part of the course. The horses were on campus and a lot of her friends also has their horses with them so they helped each other out.

 

[LadyLexicon]

I took my horse with me, had a very full time course, and an evening job 4 nights a week to pay for the horse, but managed and actually had the time of my life! Joined the Uni riding club, used my own horse at the events, found a yard where a few other uni students had their horses etc

It was one of the best decisions i ever made....but it did impact my degree in that i spent less time studying than my friends as i was so busy! But i dont regret a moment of it- i still got the degree and have amazing memories too!!!