When is the right time to buy a horse?

[timefort]

Having lurked around the forums in the background whenever work was getting tedious I've decided to be big and brave and start a post.

My query is simple, when did you decide to buy your first horse? Was there a sensible decision making process or was it a "now or never"?

I have been very lucky and always managed to "acquire" a hairy companion of some sorts to accompany me through school, university and subsequent jobs. (This was usually the sort of companion that no one else wanted to ride thus I have become rather adept at the "cling on and hope" method of riding). However, after a year living abroad with not even a whiff of horse hair I've returned home and despite living /working in London have managed to find a house a mere 10 minutes walk from a riding stables. I'm thoroughly enjoying having lessons again, albeit a bit of a culture shock after 20 years of hurtling and clinging but the downside is that I miss the opportunity to develop that one-to-one bond. The riding stables doesn't accept helpers without BHS certificates, and while I have thought about getting my stages at the back of my mind is the nagging "I could buy my own horse...". I know all the pro's and cons (I was probably the only student in Glasgow up at 5am in the middle of a rainy field, knee deep in mud and stone cold sober) but I still keep returning to the horses for sale section.

So, after the waffle, returning to my question, is there ever a right time to buy a horse (lottery wins aside)?
As I see it, buying a horse is like having kids, there's never enough time or enough money... (Actually I think the kids thing is sorted, they come after horse and before biological clock turns off, which means the horse had better get a move on!)

Thoughts? suggestions??
Sorry for the inordinately long post - clearly I'm a beginner, perhaps subsequent posts will be more succinct.

xx

 

[vicijp]

There is only ever one right time to buy a horse - when you want one!

 

[Pixxie]

i think its one of those things, never a right time or a wrong time just THE time. if its affordable and workable re time etc. then go for it.

 

[golddustsara]

You sound as if you have been thinking about this for a while and have done the right thing by refreshing yourself with lessons etc. If you can afford a horse in London and you feel ready for ownership then go for it. I'm sure you have done your sums but part livery in those parts is about £600 pcm and thats without shoeing, insurance etc.

Another good way to break yourself into ownership so to speak is to loan. I have had a horse on loan for 2 years now and feel ready to make the next step so I am looking for something to buy. I think quite a few of the Surrey/South London stables have part-loans/shares available too.

Good luck with the horse search if you do decide to go ahead and keep us informed.

 

[golddustsara]

[ QUOTE ]
There is only ever one right time to buy a horse - when you want one!

[/ QUOTE ]

Try telling that to my OH!

 

[LittleSoph]

I'm a firm believer that if you want something enough then you'll make it work... I'm 21, only just out of uni, starting a new business and still living at home, etc. so probably not the best time to buy a horse, but I couldn't stand life without one for any longer...
My idea of having a break after selling my old pony didn't last long, lol, and I felt like something was missing without a horse.

I do struggle from time to time but I wouldn't be without my horse now!! So no, I don't think there is a right time... you can't plan for what is to come so I think if you want a horse, you'll find ways to make it work.

 

[somethingorother]

As above i think the two main things are a fairly stable income and enough time. But things change so often i don't think you can go off what might happen in the future, you will either make it work or not if circumstances change.

If you have the time and money now and think you will do for the foreseeable future then go for it.

I am currently horseless as when i have spare time it means i've no job so no money, but when i have a job (alongside uni) I have money but no time. Once i've reached a happy medium with the two in balance i will be getting a horse and then i will just make it work and if something happens which means i can't do that any more then like many other people i would have to sell.

See, i waffle too

 

[Firehorse]

i waited 26 yrs to have my own horse! my parents could never afford to buy me one, but paid out for my weekly lessons for umpteen yrs, equipment and paid for me to go to horsey college. i continued to ride even after giving up working with horses, then the husband (now ex!!) and kids came along and before i knew it, 9 years had passed without me even touching a horse. when my youngest son started full time school, my first thoughts were, apart from increasing my work, what else shall i do? ah ha!! start riding again. i had a couple of lessons to get me back into it, some nice gentle hacks on an armchair cob but then that wasnt enough. i started to look for a pony to part loan. i had one for a short while, but even this just didnt fulfill me. i wanted to stink like a horse everyday not just twice a week!! so off i went to buy my very own!! a year after i'd got back in the saddle again. anyway, to cut a long story short, first pony had a few problems and didnt suit me, so i sold her after 10 months and now i have the horse of my dreams. Sir Benjamin as I call him.. 13.3hh, 13 yrs old New forest with a smidging of arab. He thinks he's at least 17hh and 4 yrs old and a race horse to boot!!! He is fabulous and i wouldnt part with him for a million quid.
So if you have the time and money, go for it! There's no time like the present. Good luck! x

 

[beutifulwobble]

when you feel the time is right!!!! like u my nags have always appeared- i have never consoiuslt had to buy 1 for myself before. its a journey i have been going on th elast few weeks. fingres crossed it stops 2moz!!!

i was adamnet that i wasnt going to be 1 of the ladies who stops horses has kids and when they go gets back into horses. It suits lots of peeps out their and the women i no who have done it look after their horses really well- it just isnt for me.

if you can afford the time and effort go for it!!!

 

[sugarpuff]

Just so long as you can afford to keep them happy and healthy go for it! I've ALWAYS wanted a horse and have just got my first one...I'm 31 years old! Was never allowed lessons when I was little (parents had no money), started riding my friends icelandic pony when she went to uni, then after uni and after I'd saved up to get a house I startted to have lessons, then shared, then loaned and now have my beautiful baby boy! (He's only 4! But is sooooo laid back and easy to do! And to think I almost didnt go and see him when I saw him for sale as he was 4....he's better behaved than a lot of so called schoolmasters I've riden! )
I'm lucky cos I don't work, but I do have 2 little kids, 2 dogs and a hubby to look after too.........well, obviously I do work, I just don't get paid for it! Nag is in livery which helps too...so if the kids do come back from nursery with the dreaded swine flu and we have to be quarenteened(?) there is someone who will sort him out for me

 

[Angua2]

no time is ever a good time but if you can afford it and it feels right then go for it.

My folks could never afford a pony when I was a kid but they did pay for some lessons and I begged and borrowed any ride I could. I was 29 when I my own after sharing for a short while, the only reason I actually afforded a horse was because he was free to a good home. Bazaarly I could afford the running costs, I just didn't have the money to to buy a horse!