When do you know you're ready to commit to a horse?

[TheSubwayDino]

Gosh, decided to do equine managment- lvl 3 at college till I decide what I want to do and tbh I'm having doubts if I'd ever be able to afford a horse.

I honestly thought I'd be able to get a horse much more sooner but with my current plan to go to college rather than the apprenticship. I'm not sure if I should wait till I am a bit older (Currently 16) to get a horse or when I got a full time job or something.

To be honest, I was thinking of keeping a horse at the college yard if I was able to get a part time along side it since their full livery is cheap (£275) and I'd just have to worry about annual costs and insurance and I could focus on my riding exams more on the college side of things.

I honestly dont know what this post is about at this point- I think I just feel I am missing out as everybody I know has their own horse ? we will get there...

 

[Zoeypxo]

Is there a horse you can share/part loan until you have finished college and can start working?
That could be a good start

 

[Muddy unicorn]

In the nicest possible way OP I think you need to stop obsessing about getting a horse right now and try and enjoy being a teenager without any ties or commitments.

Having your own horse at 16/17 without significant parental support is extremely difficult and stressful. Equine colleges don’t have the best reputation in the industry so to be honest doing a level 3 equine course at college will be a bit of a waste of time. if you’re determined to get a job with horses you’d be better off going down the apprenticeship route as then you’d be learning to do things at industry speed and earning a pittance very small wage. But really you’d be better off staying at school and getting some A-levels under your belt and giving yourself some more options later on.

I may be wrong, but from reading your posts I don’t think you’ve done that much riding/aren’t riding at the moment? The reality of horse ownership, especially when it’s done on a shoestring, can be much less enjoyable than the fantasy. If you were my daughter, I’d be advising you to stop volunteering at the yard as it doesn't sound like you’re getting much out of it, get a part time paid job, save up for some riding lessons or a riding holiday, concentrate on your school work and probably step away from HHO for a while. Good luck!

 

[ponynutz]

As above. I'm 19 and at uni and realistically I know I won't own a horse for a while especially in the current state of the economy and horse prices. But it doesn't matter because I'm 19, I still have so much of my education and early working life ahead of me that needs to be dealt with first before I can commit to a horse. You're even younger so that issue is even more important.

My advice (and what I'm doing) is focus on your life plan. Working on qualifications for your career (or doing what you love for a while while you figure out what you want that to be). Make friends, go to parties, have fun, go to college, then university (or do an apprenticeship) and on the side of whatever it is that you do, get a job that can support you doing riding lessons or loaning or getting involved with the equestrian club at university. Horses might have to be on the side for a while but at our age (although you're younger than me) it's about having fun and finding yourself! You're lucky that college for you will involve horses and should keep you ticking over.

Edit: It's tricky watching others your age doing the things you want to. I miss riding regularly every day and find myself getting really jealous of those my age who can do horses. Most of the time it's because they have enough money to do so, but that doesn't mean you're any less horsey or are going to fail in any way, it's just the way of things. Try and get involved with horses wherever you can and remember to have fun (you're so young, life and life plans change very quickly at your age). Good luck.

 

[ponynutz]

Just to add - I was going to make a post similar to this. It's hard growing up with horses your whole life and then becoming more financially independent and having a lot of that taken away (and I'm lucky enough to still have my childhood pony).

But we'll get there, don't worry xx

 

[TheSubwayDino]

In the nicest possible way OP I think you need to stop obsessing about getting a horse right now and try and enjoy being a teenager without any ties or commitments.

Having your own horse at 16/17 without significant parental support is extremely difficult and stressful. Equine colleges don’t have the best reputation in the industry so to be honest doing a level 3 equine course at college will be a bit of a waste of time. if you’re determined to get a job with horses you’d be better off going down the apprenticeship route as then you’d be learning to do things at industry speed and earning a pittance very small wage. But really you’d be better off staying at school and getting some A-levels under your belt and giving yourself some more options later on.

I may be wrong, but from reading your posts I don’t think you’ve done that much riding/aren’t riding at the moment? The reality of horse ownership, especially when it’s done on a shoestring, can be much less enjoyable than the fantasy. If you were my daughter, I’d be advising you to stop volunteering at the yard as it doesn't sound like you’re getting much out of it, get a part time paid job, save up for some riding lessons or a riding holiday, concentrate on your school work and probably step away from HHO for a while. Good luck!

Yeah, I am getting desperate. I was going to an apprenticship at the yard I "help" at but shes ignored all my messages so ?. I might just do equine stuff at college just because I got no motive or jobs I'd like but can't get into. I might just look at a loan at the yard but we shall see I suppose. Thank you ?

 

[TheSubwayDino]

As above. I'm 19 and at uni and realistically I know I won't own a horse for a while especially in the current state of the economy and horse prices. But it doesn't matter because I'm 19, I still have so much of my education and early working life ahead of me that needs to be dealt with first before I can commit to a horse. You're even younger so that issue is even more important.

My advice (and what I'm doing) is focus on your life plan. Working on qualifications for your career (or doing what you love for a while while you figure out what you want that to be). Make friends, go to parties, have fun, go to college, then university (or do an apprenticeship) and on the side of whatever it is that you do, get a job that can support you doing riding lessons or loaning or getting involved with the equestrian club at university. Horses might have to be on the side for a while but at our age (although you're younger than me) it's about having fun and finding yourself! You're lucky that college for you will involve horses and should keep you ticking over.

Edit: It's tricky watching others your age doing the things you want to. I miss riding regularly every day and find myself getting really jealous of those my age who can do horses. Most of the time it's because they have enough money to do so, but that doesn't mean you're any less horsey or are going to fail in any way, it's just the way of things. Try and get involved with horses wherever you can and remember to have fun (you're so young, life and life plans change very quickly at your age). Good luck.

Yeah, I feel alot of people dont get it half the time either but do get where they are coming from. I love horses but you know, helping at a yard for nothing and people my age go hacking with eachother and shows it does feel a little disheartning. It doesnt help having anxiety too. Im hoping to get my own with maybe a groom career if Ive decided that college idea was right!

But please do let me know when you do post ???

 

[Caitlinr27]

If only we had a cheaper hobby!
Horses are so expensive, and keeping one at your college yard may seem like a good option but having been to an equine college and owning a horse that came from said college before she came to me, I would always recommend against it. Not sure which college your at but turnout is generally not great and the atmosphere can be bad especially for young girls getting a lot of unsolicited advice from lectures etc. I think loaning/sharing away from here would be a great step and gives you experience having responsibility for a horse before a big plunge. There are a lot of costs that come with owning horses that I and a lot of new owners maybe weren’t fully aware of. I hope you enjoy the equine college experience. It wasn’t for me but I did get a chance to ride a lot of different horses and gain more experience

 

[TheSubwayDino]

If only we had a cheaper hobby!
Horses are so expensive, and keeping one at your college yard may seem like a good option but having been to an equine college and owning a horse that came from said college before she came to me, I would always recommend against it. Not sure which college your at but turnout is generally not great and the atmosphere can be bad especially for young girls getting a lot of unsolicited advice from lectures etc. I think loaning/sharing away from here would be a great step and gives you experience having responsibility for a horse before a big plunge. There are a lot of costs that come with owning horses that I and a lot of new owners maybe weren’t fully aware of. I hope you enjoy the equine college experience. It wasn’t for me but I did get a chance to ride a lot of different horses and gain more experience

Yeah, im just doing equine college for now because I really dont know what I want to do for a career. My ideal situation was being a groom, having my own horse type of ordeal since alot of people at the yard I stopped helping at did. But at this stage, im just so lost. My grades limit be too lol. But yeah, it is just a filler so im not completely out of education till im 18 ??

 

[Inda]

Have you thought about equine veterinary nursing? The RVN course can be done through college and guild courses or as a university course.

The college and guild is preferred in practice as you are on block release and work in practice the rest of the time. There’s a real shortage of equine nurses, or just vet nurses tbh.

 

[SO1]

Don't do it you are better off getting a job and having lessons until you are older.

I was privileged to have my own pony growing up. However my parents wanted me to go to uni and they sold my pony. I went to uni joined a riding club made great friends. Upon graduation moved to London as living at home with parents was not an option as they had moved to rural France. Got a job and started riding at a riding school meet some great friends through the riding school and had a wonderful social life, had some amazing holidays. I then progressed to a share horse and then when share horse was sold at age of 35 bought my own.

You are young and having a horse is massively restrictive financially and socially unless you have parental support, a sharer or a very well paid job.

There are ways to ride and be around horses without buying one. Even if you have one you may still end up envying others going out hacking or to shows as your horse might go lame or get sick, they have a habit of doing this or you might not have the money or time to do these activities.

 

[AntiPuck]

As others have said, a horse at your age would be a real anchor likely to make your life stressful in many potential ways, unless you have a lot of financial and practical support from parents.

It sounds like you would benefit from putting more thought into the career part of your life at this stage, rather than the horse part. Use horses as your motivation to aim higher with your grades and educational choices, because you need to earn a decent wage to afford them comfortably, on top of all of the other things you will want as you get older. Someone suggested vet nursing, for example, but it could be anything as long as you're keeping options open educationally, and not closing them off - doing A Levels would be a way of doing that, as then you have the option to do university later.

Being a groom with a horse might sound like your ideal situation right now, but it's usually quite a precarious position to be in, because one injury can leave you unable to work anymore, and again, as you get older, you will likely get fed up of having no money to do anything and of working long, hard hours for very little, potentially with little time to even do much with your own horse.

It won't feel like it when you're at the yard seeing others with their horses, but remember you're comparing yourself to very privileged people there - the fact is that the vast majority of people don't have horses, and couldn't afford to. Try looking for a share horse or have more regular riding lessons to satisfy the itch for now.

 

[emilylou]

If you have transport I'm sure you would be able to find a horse to share if you put out a well worded advert and are happy to contribute to yard duties and financially, which would be a cheaper and less committed way to get horse time than buying. But at your age, definitely focus on your career and getting financially stable as a bigger priority than horses (boring I know) save as much money as you can when you don't have big bills to pay as it will set you up well for life and being able to have a horse in the future.

 

[stangs]

I think I just feel I am missing out as everybody I know has their own horse ?

I know it doesn’t always feel like it, but there are benefits to not having your own horse. For starters, your riding will benefit more from riding different horses, once you find the opportunity to do so, rather than getting used to one horse. Then there’s the financial and time freedom. If you go on a gap year, you’ll be able to work at different yards, possibly across the world, whereas friends with horses will have to stay in the area.

If you want to be a groom, go for it. It’s an important job, and there are some good employers out there. You can always retrain and go to university later. The key thing is to not tie yourself down this young. Get good grades - it’s not impossible, just requires a lot of work and, at GSCE level, learning mark schemes - enjoy your youth, and buy a horse when you’re more settled financially and job-wise.

 

[Birker2020]

Gosh, decided to do equine managment- lvl 3 at college till I decide what I want to do and tbh I'm having doubts if I'd ever be able to afford a horse.

I honestly thought I'd be able to get a horse much more sooner but with my current plan to go to college rather than the apprenticship. I'm not sure if I should wait till I am a bit older (Currently 16) to get a horse or when I got a full time job or something.

To be honest, I was thinking of keeping a horse at the college yard if I was able to get a part time along side it since their full livery is cheap (£275) and I'd just have to worry about annual costs and insurance and I could focus on my riding exams more on the college side of things.

I honestly dont know what this post is about at this point- I think I just feel I am missing out as everybody I know has their own horse ? we will get there...

Its all very well having a horse but it comes with a lot of responsibility, stress and heartache and is rarely plain sailing. When you start factoring in vets bills (even if you are insured the excesses can be expensive) then you are on a hiding to nothing.

Over the years I've had a lot of joy too, don't get me wrong and lot of fun. BUt that was in the early days and things were very different in the 90's as to what they are today.

If I sound bitter about horse ownership then that only comes from experience.

Enjoy your youth, its amazing how fast it will go. One day you will look back and wish you were that age again without any responsibilities and with a smile permanently on your face. x

 

[Caitlinr27]

Yeah, im just doing equine college for now because I really dont know what I want to do for a career. My ideal situation was being a groom, having my own horse type of ordeal since alot of people at the yard I stopped helping at did. But at this stage, im just so lost. My grades limit be too lol. But yeah, it is just a filler so im not completely out of education till im 18 ??

I was in your position 8 years ago re college and future. When I left equine college I ended up working in property and have pretty much done that ever since but I have finally decided I would like to go to uni for equine vet nursing. I hope you figure out your path. A horse Will come, at the right time! Ask around for now re a sharer/loaner as a lot of things still come word of mouth and people can put in a good word for you. I hope you find what you’re looking for

 

[Annagain]

Are there any other apprenticeship opportunities in the area? Just because the yard you help at hasn't been forthcoming, doesn't mean there aren't other places that would take you. I see people posting on local Facebook groups that they're looking for a local apprenticeship placement and it's surprising how many people reply with useful information. You could also contact local riding schools, studs or professional yards to ask them? A lot of places would appreciate you being pro-active and looking for a spot rather than just waiting for something to be advertised.

 

[mariew]

With the right owner a share can be perfect. This is a faaaaaar cheaper option and you can walk away if a career ending event happens. I would stop thinking about owning, sort out what you want to do and study and get a career. I was 30 when I got my first horse because I knew I didn't want to worry about being able to afford what I wanted. I had lots of horse fun getting there though via sharing and riding schools

In fact I'm back at riding schools and sharing again because it's too much of a financial commitment atm, but I do fine.

 

[catembi]

Get some A levels & get a job so that you can have horses as a hobby! And in the meantime, get a share. Good sharers are few & far between, and you could end up with something really perfect, but without all the stress and cost.

 

[Crazy_cat_lady]

I was exactly like you at 18.

I'm now nearly 32 and am at completely the opposite end of the journey, I fell out of love with horse ownership a long time ago but kept going. I'm now 2 months out and unless I win the lottery and have my own yard I'm never going back. I'd got to the point where I didn't even enjoy riding.

People tried to warn me when I was horse mad and my dream had always been to own a horse. They'd warned me about the time and cost. I wouldn't listen. Hindsight is a wonderful thing!

It hit home when I was finally applying for a mortgage and adding up all my expenses. A huge chunk was horse.

It delayed me being able to move out as I couldn't save for a deposit. I couldn't have afforded a property on my own. Also I'm suddenly at the age where I'd like to have a child. I couldn't have afforded both. I had an unsellable horse.

I am now forever grateful to my parents for making me go to college and do a levels. I ended up never working with horses. Also think about whether if you're doing hard work with them all day will you still have the energy at the end of the day to enjoy your own? Will you have something else you can fall back on if when you get to my age you fall completely out of love with horses?

I'd advise maybe looking at horse career options outside a groom. How about a saddler, equine dentist, physio, farrier or someone's excellent suggestion of a vet nurse.

I'd go to a "normal" college, get some a levels and have a think what you want to do. How about working towards your BHS stage 1?

How about finding an rs or privately owned horse to loan in the meantime?

How I wish I could have seen where I am now when I was begging for a horse at 18. The thing is it was all I'd ever wanted to do so wouldn't listen so had to find out for myself!

You may think you'll never fall out of love with horses. I did! I'd always said ill have loads of horses and never have kids, I'm no longer that horse mad girl I was.

I may treat myself to a lesson somewhere posh or a nice hack, but I haven't even been missing riding.

Also would your parents support with the costs? I was lucky mine did while I was at college.

I know I sound like a cynical old bat but I'd do the boring thing of go to college, then while there have a good hard think about what you want to do. Put aside as much money as you can, you can then always buy a horse in the future when you've got a job.

 

[Crazy_cat_lady]

Its all very well having a horse but it comes with a lot of responsibility, stress and heartache and is rarely plain sailing. When you start factoring in vets bills (even if you are insured the excesses can be expensive) then you are on a hiding to nothing.

Over the years I've had a lot of joy too, don't get me wrong and lot of fun. BUt that was in the early days and things were very different in the 90's as to what they are today.

If I sound bitter about horse ownership then that only comes from experience.

Enjoy your youth, its amazing how fast it will go. One day you will look back and wish you were that age again without any responsibilities and with a smile permanently on your face. x

You've written almost exactly what I have, I'm another who sounds incredibly bitter!

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

The trouble with most jobs with horses is that they don't pay enough for you to own one of your own!
The best thing you can do is concentrate on your exams, go to college/uni and geta job that will allow you to own a horse as a hobby

 

[Equi]

A groom is not a big money earner at all. If you really want to work with horses i would suggest looking into something more profitable such as physio/vet nurse etc. It is frustrating and the wait seems like it will go on forever, but you will get there in time.

 

[ponynutz]

You've written almost exactly what I have, I'm another who sounds incredibly bitter!

Unfortunately I think my post also sounds rather bitter and I'm still very young! It's a shame our sport is so inaccessible.

 

[Birker2020]

You've written almost exactly what I have, I'm another who sounds incredibly bitter!

You've had a lot of bad luck too I know.

 

[Widgeon]

Getting some A levels then applying for a vet nursing course sounds like a good idea. It's not big money, but it's a regular salary and as others have noted there is a shortage of vet nurses so you'll always be employable. Then if you decide to move on from that at some point in your life, you'll have loads of transferable skills.

 

[Wishfilly]

What does the £275 actually include? I don't think that will be your sole monthly cost. Is it true full livery or a form of working livery? And is it year round or just term time?

I'd imagine on top of that you'd need to pay for shoes and any specialist hard feed/supplements as a minimum. I currently pay £45 every 6 weeks just for fronts, and probably about £20 a month on feed/supplements (mainly supplements).

My insurance is over £80 a month, admittedly for a decent level of cover, but on a healthy 9yo pony, who's not insured for a high value.

So that's £420 a month, before you get into any additional or occasional costs (which can come up more than annually). For under 18s, minium wage is £4.20, so you'd be looking at working 18(ish) hours a week just to cover your basic bills. As a teacher, I know our sixth formers who work a lot tend to under perform. And when would you have time to actually enjoy your horse?

A lot of equine colleges want you to do "duties" every month or so, as well, so that would limit your ability to work consistently.

I know what it's like to be young and desperately want a horse of your own- but doing it on a shoestring isn't a great idea, especially when you're not that experienced. I would definitely look around for a share, that's a great way to get experience towards owning without the full financial commitment (which is a lot when you're young). I'd also add that if you're looking to do your exams, getting lots of experience on a wide range of horses is pretty important.

It sucks being the only one without a horse, but if you really want it, you will figure out a way to achieve it!