When to get your first horse?

Vixen Van Debz

Vixen Van Debz

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I'm 25, a student who's soon to be a Doctor of Psychology, and I hope to start a career in the next year or so (economy and job-competition allowing)! I will own my own horse someday, but recently I've been wondering about the 'when' much more intensely. I could do it as soon as I'm financially stable in a couple of years, wait until once I'm a bit older and have had my kids already, or when life brings fewer time commitment with no young family living at home (late 40s ish), meaning my OH doesn't feel like he never sees me cos of the horse?

Anyhow, long story short: I was wondering when did many of you get your first horse/pony in life, and is there anything you'd change/recommend in terms of the timing? And how many of you have non-horsey OH's?
 
If you can afford one and you want one, get it now while you are young and confident. Who knows what lurks around the corner. If you get married and have children, it will make it much harder to afford the time and money that you need for a horse.
 
I've always had horses as a child but my mum sorted everything out like getting the farrier or vet out and she paid for everything, I just looked after them and rode them. I sold my last horse before my A-levels and didn't have one for about 6 years whilst I was doing A-levels and at Uni. However, I missed riding so as soon as I finished my degree I got myself a horse. It's a lot harder than it was when I was a teenager, there is so much more to do than looking after him and riding...and much more expensive than I thought! I'm doing a PhD now and even though my funding is not great I still manage to afford it and still have money left over to go out. I do some extra teaching ontop which helps to pay for him and I've found a really cheap field to rent which helps.

My partner is non-horsey and I think he sometimes thinks I spend to much time with the horse, but usually he's too busy with work and actually likes it when I'm not around harassing him because I'm bored!
 
Yes. I'd get it when you've started work and are financially stable. You can always sell it when you have children if you can't manage, but this could be years away, and I suspect you wouldn't! Enjoy the best few years of your life while you've no major responsibilities (ie, family) and can put yourself first. Took me years to learn, but put yourself before your man - you should complement each other, and fit into each other's lives, not one of you restrict your life to suit them... (Not saying that you are, but don't let OH tell you he'd never see you - just make sure you have couple time and horse time, and don't be told that "I'll never see you", as he doesn't know that yet..

Carpe Diem!xx
 
I've had ponies and horses all my life, but from the age of 14 they were absolutely my responsibility. I have worked to buy and keep my horses since the age of 14, and appreciate them SO much more for doing that! Now at 21, I'm setting up my own business with horses and am very grateful to my parents for teaching me such a valuable lesson about money!

I would say as long as you can afford it, and have sufficient knowledge to care for a horse, then go for it now, or you may never do it!
 
I have had horses since I was 16 - saved up a lot of mucking out/babysitting money to buy an in-foal unbroken broodmare for £500, sold the foal and broke her in!
I'm now 28 and have 2 horses on diy livery and work full-time, plus have a second job to pay for the horses... but still manage to ride at least one every day. If you want it enough you can do it anytime.
My OH is not horsey but very tolerant, plus he has his own hobbies which I'm not remotely interested in so for us being independent works very well. Plus he knows the horses are here to stay so he just gets on with it!
I think I might have to have a break from owning horses when we start a family, just purely for financial reasons, but I will do my best still to ride and compete (my second job is riding so I am lucky in that respect). Go for it now! While you are youthful and energetic! Good luck and enjoy!
 
I got my first horse at 19, I was working full time and wanted one more than anything. I'm 22 now and haven not been without a horse since. I now have 2... but if I could go back in time, and tell myself to WAIT I would.
I could never not have a horse now, unless my situation changed dramatically & I could no longer afford them, but I have to sacrifice things in order to manage this. OH and I live in a rented house, and there is no way we could afford to save for a deposit/mortgage etc while the horses are around. I rarely ever have spare money to go out anywhere near as often as my friends do, and have so far failed to save any money for my 'future' much to my parents dismay.
I love every second that I spend with my horses, and I wouldn't change that for the world, but it has not always been easy.
 
I got my first horse when I was 10, I had been riding since I was 2 at riding schools. My mum decided to get me a horse when I could do most if not all his care, obviously with help from her as I couldn't reach to do some things or wasn't strong enough.

My mum who had horses previously but not for 10 years went to a stable management course and I did some of my pony club tests so we both had enough knowledge to look after a horse safely. We also decided that I would have weekly lessons or I wasn't allowed one.

I think this worked out very well because we knew all the basic knowledge so we could look after him properlly we had a good instructor lined up and I could do a lot of the work by myself with my mum or dad supervising me.
 
I got mine at 17, half way through sixth form, and am keeping him through uni. As my friend says, there will never be a good time so might as well do it while you can :D
 
After a boozy lunch.
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But more seriously, if you're financially stable and have a good idea of how your job will shape up (commuting time, time spent in the office, time spent travelling for work) and how much time you can commit to your horse, why not go for it?

I had ponies as a teen, but I don't think that my experience then (DIY livery + homework, but no financial commitment) is really relevant to where you are in your life right now.

I got back into horses two years ago and am lucky to be at a yard with minimal politics and loads of good advice on tap. Best way to do it!

After you've had kids is tricky - people seem to develop a fear of getting damaged / killed once there are bambinos on the scene.

And my OH isn't at all horsey, but he comes to shows with me every now and then and is very handy at poulticing, bandaging and worming!
 
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I'm 26 and got my first horse in february (so I was 25). I'd never owned one and had just ridden for other people etc. I graduated when I was 21, got a job but then returned to Uni to attempt a PhD, that didn't go to plan and I got my current job in April 2009 (aged 24), saved like crazy and then bought my boy at the start of this year. Money is tight but as a friend of mine pointed out - the sooner you get one in your life the easier it is - at the moment I have no partner or major commitments (or a morgage!) - I figure that now I have my boy he will hopefully just fit in to whatever I decide to do. I decided life was too short to wait around and my pony arrived the day before valentines day - best valentines day present ever (to myself!).
 
I was never able to have ponies as a child and I bought my first horse with a bank loan obtained on the strength of my letter of appointment to my first job (before I even started) having emerged from 6 years at Uni. The bank manager had always regretted not buying a horse himself when he was young :D

21 years later Woody is still with me as an opinionated, cantankerous 27 year old :D and I am so grateful that he has been here through all the traumas and triumphs those years have brought.

You can spend your whole life waiting for tomorrow...
 
I got my first horse at 21 - as soon as I got a stable full time job. I now have 2 horses and they don't leave me with much money to myself but all I've ever wanted was my own horse/s so am happy with that :)
 
I'm one of those that waited till they'd had their children and got them all virtually into school before buying my own. I was 35, so imo in no way too old to start out. I was never allowed to have my own when I lived at home and once I was settled into life with my OH (we met before I left school) and the children came along I could never see how there would be the time to fit a horse into our lives. I think it's very much down to how you feel about the time and money needed to own your own. The thing is having waited so long to get my own I now love and appreciate every minute I spend with my horse without ever feeling guilty. Good luck with what ever you decide!
 
Thanks guys - it's nice to hear a range of opinions and a range of starting ages too! All this wondering kicked off a few weeks ago when I fell quickly for a horse (something that usually takes me months and months): I dreamt that I got a job in England with a good salary, moved there, bought a home and rang the YO to tell her I wanted to buy Harry and bring him with me... I don't think that'll happen specifically, but the idea of owning a horse in the next couple of years thrilled me totally, especially as my parents (who still hate that I'm riding) told me I'd have to be pretty old to have enough time and money to have a horse and a husband too.

My OH is very supportive and has no objections to me getting a horse: it's my time and my money, and has his own 'hobbies' too. It would only be a problem if we didn't have quality time together, but that's what time management's for, right?! In theory I have the savings to go and buy a horse and put him/her on full livery tomorrow, but it'd be better spent on a deposit for a first home. So maybe once job, and mortgage are sorted, it'll be time...

Thank you all: it's nice to know just how possible it really is, especially as I spent so many years being told it was all a pipe dream!
 
I got my first horse age 37! I have 2 children which makes it quite complicated at times! If you have the opportunity before kids come along go for it, it does mean you aren't dragging kids to the yard in the freezing cold to feed, muck out etc. I have always tried to do the majority of the work when they are at school but the school holidays can be an issue and then if the kids are ill......... nightmare!
My husband is extremely uninterested (to the extent that last time a friend exercised my horse and he saw her he didn't even realise she was sitting on my horse and not hers : mine is palamino her's is coloured!!) it helps that he doesn't know what is or isn't needed or how much it costs (!), but it is a pain when I could do with help or want to talk over a problem.
Go for it sooner rather than later if you can afford it, you won't regret it.
 
I got my first horse at the grand old age of 45 :)

She was supposed to be a mother/daughter share, but my 13yr old has gone off of the idea.

I love my horse and everything that comes with horse ownership. Not sure I could have given this up to have a family - so good job I had the family first.

OH very supportive and getting more horsey every day. Kids are old enough not to be bothered that Mum's not around much, so long as I come home from work, and get the tea on the table before going out again :)
 
Edenside!! I know it well, used to be down your neck of the woods.

Is Raymond still running it?

Anyhoo, I digress, there are plenty very good stables round your way to keep a horse on full livery.
You only live once. go for it!
 
guido16 said:
Edenside!! I know it well, used to be down your neck of the woods.

Is Raymond still running it?

Anyhoo, I digress, there are plenty very good stables round your way to keep a horse on full livery.
You only live once. go for it!
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Yes, Raymond is still the owner and runs the show there. I have never felt so welcome and confident at a stables and with an instructor (Phyllis) before: when it comes time to leave it after my PhD I'm going to be so sad! If me and my OH could find careers nearby, I don't think I'd ever leave St Andrews and Edenside...

It seems like a common theme is, that as long as you have the money, there is no bad time. So, does anyone need a Psychology graduate for a Human Resources post (flexible on location)?! lol.
 
i got my first horse at the age of 12 (been riding since i was 9). im lucky as my mum use to ride when she was a teenager so started it up again when i started. i looked after her everyday as my mum worked full time an at the age of 14 i took on financial responsibility for her (weekend job). luckily she was/is a good doer so doesnt need heaps of feed but does come in every night. ive owned her over ten years and she has got more expensive over the years but i wouldnt be without her. ive got one daughter and am currently expecting my second but i always make time for her

my other half is not horsey at all and he cant understand my fascination with them (but i cant understand what is so good about kicking a ball about). he does help me if i need him but he isnt very supportive about my horses (got two now but other is technically my mums) but he knows i couldnt be without her.

if you want a horse go for it. they bring you so much enjoyment and life is to short. im sure you will adjust and fit your horse in the best you can as your life changes as well
 
I was 36 when I got my first horse. If I had been able (medically) to do it earlier I would have done. If you are financially able, then don't put it off, you never know what life is going to throw at you.

My husband did throw a wobbly when I first got my girl as I did spend all hours down there. He's got used to it now and rarely complains.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do :)
 
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