Would it be mad...

FlyingCircus

FlyingCircus

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..if I were to consider buying a horse whilst i'm doing my placement year at uni?

For anyone who doesn't know, a placement year is a year away from uni that you spend in industry. I'd be doing a 8 - 4 or so day, with options to go in an hour earlier to finish earlier (etc), full time from June 2014 until June 2015.

The way I see it is that i'll want to continue riding anyway, so would the money i'd be spending on a loan/lessons (although, really don't want to go back to riding schools) be better spent on my own? I'd be earning a fairly decent wage from the job and after living for the first 2 years of uni off not much money, I don't think money would be too much of a problem.

I'd be interested in buying a young, green horse and bringing it on then eventually selling it before coming back to uni in Sept 2015 for my final year. I've been riding 15 years, have had numerous loans but have never actually owned my own. I'm confident in my ability to deal with a young, green horse and am also aware that I may struggle to sell. However, i'd have summer of 2015 doing very little but advertising the horse and taking the horse out and about getting it seen.


Am I crazy?
Please don't shoot me down in flames, just honest opinions and reasons, please :) Thanks!
 
It could work for you, but do you know where you will be living on placement yet? There is no reason why you could not look at costs for yards in the area,, if you want to bring on a young horse you are going to need some facilities. Placement years can be lonely if you are away from home and uni friends so a horse and companionship from stables can be a good thing.

However, it will cost you a considerable amount of money, and you could be left with a youngster you can not sell as you go back to uni.

There is the option of looking for a share for a year in the area you are going to be which might be more enjoyable than a riding school.
 
Am trying to price up places i've applied (although, of course, there's no guarantee i'll get any of them D: ) whilst waiting to hear back from them. So far, I don't think the prices are too bad and think they're do-able, considering this year i've lived off pretty much half of what the minimum salaries are (although admittedly, before tax has been taken out).

The main thing i'm concerned about is time. As I don't really know anyone who has been on placement before, i'm not exactly sure if i'll have the time. I figure that people with fully time jobs manage it though, so it must be possible?

Hopefully I wouldn't end up with a youngster I couldn't sell, as i'd be happy to sell at prime time (just after winter is over), but it is of course a possibility. If it did happen, I'd end up bringing the horse to university with me, which really wouldn't be the end of the world.

Thankyou for your response! :)
 
Both my son and daughter did placements and so I know it can be hard away from home and uni, so I do understand that having a horse will help fill some of your time. When you don't have to spend all your spare time on assignments and studing it is suddenly very different. You will want to have weekends away catching up with friends so if you are DIY, make sure there is back up!
 
I did something like this in the year I had between my undergrad and masters degrees. I was working at the barn, so I had the time and I bought a 3 year old to start and sell on before I started as a postgrad in the UK. Buying and getting the horse going under saddle all went smooth as silk. Selling? Different story. He didn't sell before I left the country (I had a plane ticket for one horse and it wasn't him), so I had to put him with a trainer to continue his education and sell. She eventually found him a buyer, but it took a while and was not without drama.
 
Why now?

Would have thought it better to start the placement, 3 months in, see how it is going and take it from there.

Also profile says you are based in Dorset?
Check out the NewForestEquineDirectory (NFED) website, it's great to give an overview of prices of horses round here, livery, grass keep ect. and often some interesting shares.
 
Adopter - Yeah, it's going to be very strange starting again in another new place, not even that long after I had to start all over again when moving to uni. Would certainly try and find somewhere I could pay for horse to be looked after over the weekend and suchlike whilst I visited friends and family.

Caol Ila - That and time is my main concern. Do you mind me asking what kind of horse you bought? Was he just meant to be a general allrounder?

I'd probably be going for a 5 year old, rather than a 3 year old. I don't want to start one under saddle as I'd much prefer to do that with the help from people I know and trust, but would feel confident enough to bring on a green 5 year old.
 
I don't necessarily mean before I start my placement or even right after - just gaining some opinions on if it would be a good idea in general at the minute :)

I am currently based in Dorset, however will probably be moving away for my placement, but NFED is certainly a good website.
 
I've had a horse right through uni and placement year :)

During placement year I was living at home but I didn't do the traditional one long stint in an industry.. I did several shorter placement (the longest being 6 months)... I found it fine! My lovely mare is on retirement livery but she was only semi-retired and I would hack her out regularly.. But this meant I wouldn't have to be up the yard twice a day but I went 2/3 times a week instead. A blessing when I was having to commute to London for 3 months which was 1hr 45 each way!

Money wise I was worried at first but it worked out fine! Luckily my 2 longer placements were paid and for the other ones I made sure they were local and had a part time pub job to keep me going!

When I was on my long 6 months placement I gave up my pub job and I was working 9-5 and I can honestly say I got so bored! So I took up running and had weekly riding lessons to improve my flatwork and jumping as I was only hacking out on my mare.. I also went back to the pub as emergency cover so I still ended up working 2/3 times a month anyway :)

Even though I had a horse and a car, I still managed to have a social life, I went on holiday to Greece and went out for dinner/clubbing with friends a lot. However if I wasn't living at home I would have struggled a bit more!

So I say go for it ;)
 
If the concern is what will happen at the end of 12 months, what about offering a short term loan to bring a horse on. That way you would have an interesting project and a young horse would be prepared for a less able rider?

Several of the equine charities advertise youngsters in need of a rider who can take them on to the next stage after initial backing and training. You would be helping with the horse crisis as well that way.
 
Adopter said:
If the concern is what will happen at the end of 12 months, what about offering a short term loan to bring a horse on. That way you would have an interesting project and a young horse would be prepared for a less able rider?
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Yes, you'd be a bit stuffed if you got to the end of your placement year and couldn't sell this horse.

Unless you can afford to keep it once you go back to university, then I think it is a risky idea. You need a back up for it not selling in time, and that is likely to cost money.
 
hnmisty said:
Yes, you'd be a bit stuffed if you got to the end of your placement year and couldn't sell this horse.

Unless you can afford to keep it once you go back to university, then I think it is a risky idea. You need a back up for it not selling in time, and that is likely to cost money.
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Agree. In theory you'd have brought on a nice horse and find it a nice home and all would be well. As probably 90% of people on here could tell you, owning horses doesn't always go to plan and you could end up discovering your horses has issues or suffers an injury just as you're NEEDING to sell which could be a real headache. Why not look for a share/loan for while you're on placement? There are often people on here asking if others think that offering their just backed green 4 year old for share/loan for a year is a good idea and they get shot down for wanting someone to school and bring on their horse only for them to take it back. But that kind of set-up would suit you down to the ground!
 
Thanks guys for all your comments! :D

The prospect of having the horse at uni should something go wrong with selling it would not be the end of the world, as I intend on going back to my part time job when I get back to uni. Although only part time, it would be enough to keep a horse going. I also have savings that could go to any necessary vet bills (have been saving since I started my bank account when I was 15 for this eventuality, haha!).

Although, thankyou for the idea of taking on a youngster from a rescue center. That way, i'd get to enjoy the challenge as well as not having a problem with potentially selling afterwards. I think i'll look more into this option, as it would be nice to give a youngster a chance.

I'm not sure i'd like idea of loaning a youngster, just for someone to then take the horse back and sell it on for much more than it was worth originally. I wouldn't mind this for a charity, but it wouldn't sit right with me someone profiting off my hard work as i'd be paying full costs for the horse for a year and schooling for free. It would take the risk factor out of selling, but because that's not a huge issue for me in the first place, if I wasn't taking one from a charity, I think i'd much rather buy. Unless of course, I got into a deal with someone where I schooled their horse and they pay for the horse's general care and such.
 
You asked for opinions and in my opinion it is a totally mad idea. These are the years where you should be making the most of your educational opportunities and career and being able to put extra hours into your job placement when you can, you won't easily get a second chance. Sometimes I wonder why people bother going to Uni.

Anything can go wrong with any horse never mind one you don't know and you have never had your own before so you have no idea how mentally consuming a horse can be especially if they become sick or injured. Loaning and sharing doesn't count it isn't the same as the buck doesn't stop with you.

A youngster needs time and regular work - you won't finish work until it is dark in the winter, you will need facilities to school which usually cost more. Have you ever worked full time? Starting a full-time job in a strange place will be tiring and stressful in itself.

Then what happens when you go back for your final year? How do you know if you can sell and also you likely will be attached to the horse by that time so could be in for emotional trauma.
 
Sussexbythe Christmas tree said:
You asked for opinions and in my opinion it is a totally mad idea. These are the years where you should be making the most of your educational opportunities and career and being able to put extra hours into your job placement when you can, you won't easily get a second chance. Sometimes I wonder why people bother going to Uni.

Anything can go wrong with any horse never mind one you don't know and you have never had your own before so you have no idea how mentally consuming a horse can be especially if they become sick or injured.
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To put some more of my thoughts in: agree with these points.

I currently have a bill from the vets lying on my bed for over £700. I've paid my £250 excess so most of it is now covered by my insurance, but now I've also been dumped with a £100ish bill for the abscess Barry developed in 30 mins last week. I have decided to sell/loan him and get something a bit smaller, and hey presto, he goes and gets an abscess. literally the day after I decide to sell. I am doing a PhD and I get a pretty decent wage. But I am still a bit stressed about money atm, even though actually I am doing quite well. But I have never seen so much of the vet as I have in the last 3 months, and it's not sorted yet.

I think your plan is mad, sorry. I don't think you have enough time to find something and put in enough work to sell it for a profit.

You say you have a part time job- I don't know how many hours that is, or how many hours your degree is, but you may end up in the tricky situation of having to work to keep this horse once you're back at uni because you can't sell it, but because you are working part time you are having to pay someone to look after it which costs more. I know someone who was in that exact position. She didn't have time to look after her horse because she kept it too far away, and so she was having to go on part livery. But she couldn't afford that and so she had to advertise for a share.

Even if it wasn't your first horse I would think it was a crazy idea.
 
Yes you are crazy.
But I can't preach.
I spent my student loan on an event horse from Matt Ryan that turned out to be a pile of rubbish!!
I'd say don't do it, but if you do choose more wisely than I did lol!
 
Sussexbythe Christmas tree said:
You asked for opinions and in my opinion it is a totally mad idea. These are the years where you should be making the most of your educational opportunities and career and being able to put extra hours into your job placement when you can, you won't easily get a second chance. Sometimes I wonder why people bother going to Uni.

Anything can go wrong with any horse never mind one you don't know and you have never had your own before so you have no idea how mentally consuming a horse can be especially if they become sick or injured. Loaning and sharing doesn't count it isn't the same as the buck doesn't stop with you.

A youngster needs time and regular work - you won't finish work until it is dark in the winter, you will need facilities to school which usually cost more. Have you ever worked full time? Starting a full-time job in a strange place will be tiring and stressful in itself.

Then what happens when you go back for your final year? How do you know if you can sell and also you likely will be attached to the horse by that time so could be in for emotional trauma.
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You're right, I did ask for opinions so it's nice to hear them.

I totally get what you're saying, although do think that the fact it will be my first horse is not that much of a big deal. I'm not naive to the possibility of things going wrong, as i've been in the "real" horsey world (out of riding schools, loaning etc) for several years. I've loaned for years, in one case having a full loan of an ex-racer who was lame for quite a large proportion of the time - so I do know what that feels like, although, yes, I didn't technically own him.

I know how much time youngsters need (having worked with them before, despite not actually owning) and feel that many people who work full time with kids, etc manage, so why couldn't I? I have also worked full time before, albeit not for long (over summer and then over christmas), so I do have a feel for what the hours are like and how tiring it can be - but still kept my loan horse throughout.

Again, about the final year, I'd be quite happy and able to bring the horse to uni with me in the final year, if necessary.

I understand your point entirely about what's the point in going to uni, etc, however to me, uni is a means to an end. All I want is to be involved with horses and if it was possible for me to do so, I would have been working with horses as soon as I left school. As it goes, my parents pushed me to uni and now I realise that having a degree in the course i'm studying is likely to land me a well paying (enough, anyway haha) job so that I can afford the horses that I want. I will be buying one once I find a full time job after uni anyway, but it would be nice to have a horse in my life earlier than that.

Thanks for your opinion, i'm not trying to disregard it, so I hope I don't come across that way.
 
hnmisty said:
To put some more of my thoughts in: agree with these points.

I currently have a bill from the vets lying on my bed for over £700. I've paid my £250 excess so most of it is now covered by my insurance, but now I've also been dumped with a £100ish bill for the abscess Barry developed in 30 mins last week. I have decided to sell/loan him and get something a bit smaller, and hey presto, he goes and gets an abscess. literally the day after I decide to sell. I am doing a PhD and I get a pretty decent wage. But I am still a bit stressed about money atm, even though actually I am doing quite well. But I have never seen so much of the vet as I have in the last 3 months, and it's not sorted yet.

I think your plan is mad, sorry. I don't think you have enough time to find something and put in enough work to sell it for a profit.

You say you have a part time job- I don't know how many hours that is, or how many hours your degree is, but you may end up in the tricky situation of having to work to keep this horse once you're back at uni because you can't sell it, but because you are working part time you are having to pay someone to look after it which costs more. I know someone who was in that exact position. She didn't have time to look after her horse because she kept it too far away, and so she was having to go on part livery. But she couldn't afford that and so she had to advertise for a share.

Even if it wasn't your first horse I would think it was a crazy idea.
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Horses do tend to be like that, haha. Breaking right before you want to sell them.
I do understand that, I really do.

Which is why i've got a reasonable amount saved for emergencies, before I even have a horse. As soon as I started working, i've been saving a percentage of my wage for such things as I knew that at some point I would want my own and knew that saving earlier on would be much easier.

I also realise too that I could get stuck in a cycle of having a horse, but working to pay for it, so not being able to look after it. I too have a friend who ended up in that situation - so i'm wary about staying out of it, aha.

Thanks for your opinion :)
 
ihatework said:
Yes you are crazy.
But I can't preach.
I spent my student loan on an event horse from Matt Ryan that turned out to be a pile of rubbish!!
I'd say don't do it, but if you do choose more wisely than I did lol!
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Haha, despite the temptation, i've managed to resist going out and buying whilst actually at uni.
 
You sound like you've made up your mind to go for it...so just one last thing to add..

...long gone are the days when people graduated and walked straight into a job. Can you afford to keep this horse when you are job hunting and having no success?

I have 10 months left of my PhD, and I know the sensible thing to do now I've decided to sell/loan out Barry would be to wait until the PhD is done and I have a job sorted before I get another..but I don't want to have to wait! The end of a degree is a hectic time, I didn't pull an all nighter throughout my four years of degree...until the final couple of weeks, when I was working 20 hours a day.

I do sympathise, I really do! I spent 3 years of my undergrad looking at horses for sale. I even found one that I pestered and pestered my mum to let me get...fortunately I was talked into realising what a insane idea it was!
 
hnmisty said:
You sound like you've made up your mind to go for it...so just one last thing to add..

...long gone are the days when people graduated and walked straight into a job. Can you afford to keep this horse when you are job hunting and having no success?

I have 10 months left of my PhD, and I know the sensible thing to do now I've decided to sell/loan out Barry would be to wait until the PhD is done and I have a job sorted before I get another..but I don't want to have to wait! The end of a degree is a hectic time, I didn't pull an all nighter throughout my four years of degree...until the final couple of weeks, when I was working 20 hours a day.

I do sympathise, I really do! I spent 3 years of my undergrad looking at horses for sale. I even found one that I pestered and pestered my mum to let me get...fortunately I was talked into realising what a insane idea it was!
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Certainly haven't made up my mind, apologies if it comes across that way.

There's definitely a part of me (that has waited 15 years and) wants to get one as soon as I can without there being a chance of the horse's welfare being compromised at all, but then I definitely have a more common sensical side that is considering options more carefully.
 
FlyingCircus said:
Certainly haven't made up my mind, apologies if it comes across that way.

There's definitely a part of me (that has waited 15 years and) wants to get one as soon as I can without there being a chance of the horse's welfare being compromised at all, but then I definitely have a more common sensical side that is considering options more carefully.
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I didn't mean that to sound grumpy :)

It took my dad telling me that my mum was stressed by me hassling her over this horse I'd found in my third year to make me shut up about it :p
 
hnmisty said:
I didn't mean that to sound grumpy :)

It took my dad telling me that my mum was stressed by me hassling her over this horse I'd found in my third year to make me shut up about it :p
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My parents are probably enjoying the quiet now i'm at uni, haha. They're pretty much had 15 years of pestering about horses :') Bless them.
 
I would say go for it, as long as you can manage financially and emotionally when things go wrong. You seem pretty level headed to me, but you absolutely must get all your contingency plans sorted in advance for ALL eventualities.
Write it all down, make a "business" plan if you like so that you are ready for consequences.
One thought I have is this, maybe choose the type of horse that you are likely to sell the most easily, not the one that YOU want to own yourself. Obviously you need one to enjoy, but you have to think about the business end when you come to write out the advert.
If you feel confident and financially secure to go for it then why not. Good Luck to you.
What type of horse are you thinking of?
 
Biska said:
I would say go for it, as long as you can manage financially and emotionally when things go wrong. You seem pretty level headed to me, but you absolutely must get all your contingency plans sorted in advance for ALL eventualities.
Write it all down, make a "business" plan if you like so that you are ready for consequences.
One thought I have is this, maybe choose the type of horse that you are likely to sell the most easily, not the one that YOU want to own yourself. Obviously you need one to enjoy, but you have to think about the business end when you come to write out the advert.
If you feel confident and financially secure to go for it then why not. Good Luck to you.
What type of horse are you thinking of?
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I was thinking of a 5 year old or so, probably a pony and bringing it on for a child. That way, it would be easy from the outset to put aside any feelings of wanting to keep the pony forever. I'd be bringing it on to do a job. I'm quite short, so i'd easily be able to buy a 13hh ish pony and be knowledgeable enough as well as small enough to produce it properly. I'd have a year with it at the very least and would advertise it in the spring of the second year.
 
hnmisty said:
...long gone are the days when people graduated and walked straight into a job. QUOTE]

This a myth :) - I graduated in 1993 and I can honestly say that hardly anyone walked into a job. There was a recession then just post poll-tax years. It took me 4 years of temping in incredibly dull mind-numbing jobs, working as a care assistant and a Masters to get a "career" type job using my degree.
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Don't think you're going to like this..sorry..but I don't think it's a good idea. Concentrate on your placement and final years, without the financial and time burden of a pony. You might be able to afford the day-to-day upkeep but what if you get a massive vets bill? What if you can't sell the pony before you start back for your final year?
I really think you should get the best degree you can and wait until you've graduated - when you've got the job of your dreams, then go for it. In the meantime, maybe you could look for one to share?
 
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