What've I missed?

NocturneNoel

NocturneNoel

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Afternoon all! I've had a break from horses while living abroad the last 6 years. No sooner am I back in Blighty and I'm desperately trying to resist buying a horse again. What've I missed in the last 6 years? I see matchy matchy saddlepad sets have gone out of fashion and horse prices have exploded (which should be putting me off buying more than it is 🤔). Everything else looks the same though! If anyone has any really good reasons why I shouldn't buy a horse right now, that'd be helpful too.
 
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Timelyattraction

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the wet long relentless winters that seem to be getting longer and longer 😭 it didnt stop raining until summer this year.. go and look at the rain thread on here that should be enough to put you off 🤣
 
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MuddyMonster

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Do it, do it, do it!

For all the rain, mud and ragwort pulling you get early morning whinnies and just slightly later early morning canters out hacking before the rest of the world has woken up (or to decompress after work if you hack evenings), horse cuddles & kisses at almost anytime and that bond between horse and owner that no matter how lovely your friends, family & dog might be, nothing quite compares to. Plus, you'll need to do far less weights at the gym for moving horse feed & haybales again.

You know it makes sense.
 
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Orangehorse

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In general everything has got much more expensive since Covid. Eg, Danilon used to come in a big box of 100, then the size was reduced to 60 but nearly the same price. My farrier charges £55 just for a trim, including travel. Due to a lot more building (seems to be developments in every village) there is more traffic on the road.

I lost my horse last year. Had it been 5 years ago I would have been looking for another one, but now, I have decided that I can't really afford to buy (there are other reasons, but that is certainly a big one of them). The actual price of a horse seems to be huge, apart from the costs of keeping one.

However, if you are in a good financial position - why not? Just make sure that there is good hacking from your yard, if that is what you want to do, and preferably plenty off-road.
 
Glitter's fun

Glitter's fun

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Nocturnal said:
Afternoon all! I've had a break from horses while living abroad the last 6 years. No sooner am I back in Blighty and I'm desperately trying to resist buying a horse again.
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One thing that hasn't changed - surely you remember this is not the place to be put off buying?
Nocturnal said:
What've I missed in the last 6 years? I see matchy matchy saddlepad sets have gone out of fashion and horse prices have exploded (which should be putting me off buying more than it is 🤔). Everything else looks the same though!
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Traffic - definitely more, faster, ruder. You really need off road hacking straight from the gate.
Be careful what they mean by "turnout". There seems to be an increase in individual turnout, meaning standing a horse on his own in a postage stamp of grass where he can hardly move. If you want all year round, old fashioned, running about with other horses, turnout it's harder to find.
Nocturnal said:
If anyone has any really good reasons why I shouldn't buy a horse right now, that'd be helpful too.
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Don't be silly, you know the drill. Get it bought & post pictures. 😁
 
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Trouper

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Go down the re-homing route.......... then when the winter strikes, the food and vet bills arrive and all other unforeseen expenses occur you will be able to feel virtuous about how you ended up here.
 
SussexbytheXmasTree

SussexbytheXmasTree

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Agree with shortage of DIY livery in certain areas. My old yard has just closed and after searching for 4 months had to go part-livery which with two horses is a financial struggle.

Prices of horses even green ones are astronomical although may be slightly coming down. Bedding in particular has gone up massively and there have been shortages of some types. Wood pellets used to be very economical but not anymore.

Trends inc. riding tights, gel seats and Equitex saddle pads (v expensive love or hate)
 
Caol Ila

Caol Ila

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Go to BBC iplayer and go to Doctor Who. Watch the 11th episode from season 9, which is called “Heaven Sent.” You will be traumatised. I was.

Think of it as an allegory for owning a horse, especially in winter. Doing the same thing over and over and over again, for an eternity. And it can really suck. The scary monsters slowly chasing you are vet bills and all the catastrophic things that can go wrong with horses, and they will catch you eventually. Inevitably. Electrocuting yourself and restarting the whole process is like buying another horse. Because we’re mad/daft, you keep doing it. You have no idea why you’re there or what the f£ck is going on.

Seriously, watch it. Then buy the horse.
 
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Bobthecob15

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I don’t think Matchy Matchy has gone to be honest!

Yep horse prices through the roof, same for insurance 🫣 It rains nearly every day so make plans for winter turnout now…avoid clay at all costs!

Riding schools vanishing, yards all switching to Full livery as no money in DIY or part, which is rubbish!!!

Vets seem to charge full whack for everything now and if you are insured they will make the most of it!

Equestrian influencers are a thing on instagram FB etc….

Basically it’s getting harder for horse ownership not easier!
 
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