Would you......?

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TheShark

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A question:

Would you guys commit to a horse knowing that you have a farily longish commute each day? It would mean getting to the stables at around 7 each night - apart from weekends and i'd be looking for assisted livery in the morning.

I'm considering getting buying/loaning a first horse but I don't want to do it a dis-service by not spending enough time with it because I live in Milton Keynes but commute to London.

However, if I don't do it now I'm not sure when I will.

Also, I'm at a stage where I would be comfortable hacking out alone and working in a school in walk, trot, canter and practising moves such as leg yields, turn on the forehand etc. I'm also starting to jump again. But I wouldn't yet feel comfortable bombing round an xc course, although it's something I would love to do in future once I'm more skilled. I'm concerned that I might bore any horse I rode regularly.

Any thoughts on this would be much appreciated!
 
There are thousands of horse owners who are happy hackers and don't really do a huge amount else so I wouldn't worry about boring a horse - there are plenty of horses that would suit a non-competative home
 
Why dont you try a share option for a while if you can find something suitable -it would give you time to see wether owning is viable for you .
 
personally i wldnt. but each to their own

id prob look to share a horse for a while maybe 3-4 days out of the week one of those days being sat or sun. see how i got on with committing my time to that and go from there. if i found it really difficult then id give it a miss maybe find someone who needs a companion rider at weekends. if it wasnt too bad id carry on with the share for a while get into a good routine and see how it fits your lifestyle.

then if that was all good and i thought that i cld take on a horse full time id loan a horse for 6-12mth period and then look to buy if all was going swimmingly.

but im a cautious type and wld want to do the right thing for me and the horse
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I wouldn't worry about bombing round an XC course (presuming you don't want to event and won't buy an eventer!). Just find a horse who's suitable for what you want to do. I've had horses for 20 years and have never bombed round an XC course
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As long as you keep the workload varied - hacking, schooling, show jumping, and maybe the occasional trip out to a small comp or even schooling session, I doubt your horse would be bored.

That said, time wise, I'm not sure I would unless it was on part livery (so all basic care done for you). Arriving at the yard at 7 doesn't sound too bad, but then you need to allow time to catch in, muck out, do hay/feed/water, rugs, ride.... If all of this was done for you though, and you just had to brush off and ride, then I'd say go for it!!
 
When i was communting into London I would not have been able to cope with a horse on assisted livery as you describe.
But everyone is different and i am sure there are others on here that have owned with a long commute!

However I went down the sharing path and found a lovely mare to ride 3 times a week. I can do pretty much what ever i want with her and she is also kept at a riding school so lots of help around for lessons etc.

I now work closer to home but still often travel upto London. I could probably cope with one of my own but it would be tricky. I've just taken another onto ride instead. Suits me down to the ground as i can do as much or as little as i like.

Do you have much experince of stable/ horse manaagement? Maybe have a look round for something to share? Gert some more experience/ confidence and then see where you are in say 6 months. There is lots out there at the moment!
 
I was in the same situation 7 years ago, I took on a share horse to test my commitment. I had a 4 hour commute (round trip) to London.

When sharing I changed the train station I used, used to drive to the station with the best links to London and near the yard the share horse was on. Went to see share horse straight from work and used to get home late at night.

Shared for almost 2 years, bought my first horse July 2004, moved to Somerset for a less busy lifestyle (and cos of OH's job), bought 2nd horse 2007 !!
 
My friends commutes from MK to london Mon-Fri, shechecks horse (changes rug feeds etc) on way to work about 6am and gets up yard at approx 7pm to ride (floodlit school), he's on DIY but she is lucky that he lives out 24/7 so no mucking out, unless horrendous weaher, snow etc! She manages fine, but don't think she would if he was stabled.

Maybe consider buying a horse that could live out and a yard that offers 24/7 turnout?
 
I've worked in London with a horse on DIY and no assistance - getting train at 06:40 each morning from Peterborough, returning to Peterborough for 6.15 each evening and back to sort horse

Currently have horses at home and both of us out of the house just before 7am and back 6.30pm to get horses in and ride - muck out and get everything done before work - take half days for farrier

Soon to be 4 horses at home
 
I have done something similar. My last job in wales before i moved to Somerset was 30 miles away from where i lived. My shift started at 7am so used to be up at 4am to travel 15/20 mins to the horse who was on DIY. I'd feed, muck out, get changed then travel 40 mins to work. I was lucky that i finished at 3.30 so always got back at a reasonable time so would then either ride the horse, groom, what ever i wanted really. Sort him out for the evening, feed, bring in etc and was home for about 6.30/7pm. It is possible, if you put the work in and are organised, obv assisted livery would make a difference, but each person copes differently so only you can be the judge of whether its possible.
 
I event, and I have not a long in miles commute, but one that takes over an hour each way. I quicte often don't finish work until 6, so get down the yard after 7. I still manage to work my horse 5 days a week, and keep it eventing fit
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The summer is easier than the winter, obviously
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I am on DIY, and although will probably need assistance in the winter mornings, have always gone down 2x daily
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When Dizz and I were both in working order, I'd get up at five-fifteen, get to the yard, bring in, ride, feed, turn out, change clothes (cold hose in the yard!
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), and by seven-fifteen/thirty be back in the car ready to set off the hour and a half to the client's site. Leaving the office at six, I'd be able to check on neds on the way home, but usually Friend or hubby and Daughter would have done
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I wouldnt worry either - i do mine crack of dawn before work - and then dont get back there till 7pm and normally ride 2 horses in the evening - both of mine do loads competition wise but would be just as happy to do sod all! I feel one of mine is better behaved when in work and routined but plenty of horses wont care less!
Go for it - your really no different to most other people that own horses - i have to work long hours to pay for them!
 
To be honest this is what puts me off, when I had a slightly shorter commute I had a share which convinced me that with assisted DIY and a floodlit arena it would be possible. Sadly I was made redundant from that job just as I was about to start looking for a horse so everything went on hold.

I now have a longer commute and more financial commitments so haven't bought yet. I get home about 7 and it would be unsustainable for me to go down the yard stright from work every night for all chores and riding.

There is an excellent yard near us who do part livery where monday - friday they do everything but exercise (they will do this too if you want that sort of arrangement) and then DIY on a weekend. That would be ideal for me, but currently is a bit more expensive than I could manage!

However DH has recently gone self employed and works from home so I'm thinking that we could quite realistically share a horse and have it on DIY which would make our own not much more expensive than lessons!
 
If you dont have a family, demanding OH or other commitments then you will probably be OK, hard but OK and at least it will be a nice way to relax after work. I would get as flexible livery arrangement as possible where you can add on services as you want or even go full livery so that you are covered if trains run late or you need to work late or go out after work?
 
if you're in milton keynes, why not consider livery at Loughton Manor. I'm sure you could have full livery during the week and DIY at the weekends. Its very close to the train station too.
 
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Why dont you try a share option for a while if you can find something suitable -it would give you time to see wether owning is viable for you .

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I agree with the share idea
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if you're in milton keynes, why not consider livery at Loughton Manor. I'm sure you could have full livery during the week and DIY at the weekends. Its very close to the train station too.

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Thanks - that's where I ride now. I'll have a chat with them to see if anyone needs a hand with their horse a couple of nights a week and w/ends.

Also,thanks to all for the great advice! I think I will go for a sharer and see how it works out.
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