Your views on loaning my first horse

[anim999]

Ok, I've never owned a horse before, I've only been riding for 6 years, however I am in the top group at my riding school, (although you can only get so far in a riding school

)

the story:: I have been offered a 6 year old, 15hh, Skewbald cob mare on loan, that has not really done much. Spooks at new things and can't be ridden out (as in hacking) on her own, however, she is lovely natured and very sane to handle. I don't know whether its a good idea or not as a first horse, the loan is for three years. But, I am very experienced with animals and horses even though I've never owned one.

Do you think I should go for something older and more experienced, or start fresh with a challenge that can't be brought up the way I want her to be because she hasn't done much? I am confused help! But it seems like such a good opportunity to pass

 

[scotsmare]

Why is the loan for 3 years? Are you loaning from the riding school?

 

[anim999]

its a girl going to uni and her course is three years

 

[gina2201]

A 3 year loan is a LONG time, especially if you find she is not suitable or for some other reason cannot keep her.

Depends on your own ability as to whether you think you could deal with a spooky 6yo, as she will obviously need some training to be taught these things aren't really scary. And ridden on and progress with ridden life. Best bet would be to ask if you can have her on a trial period or a shorter loan. See what your instructor thinks aswell, where would you be keeping her? At the yard you ride at, at yours, a new livery yard or where she lives now?

 

[scotsmare]

What Gina said!

 

[anim999]

they want to keep her where she is but its handy coz it just down the road from my work and it means thats I could go there after to work and spend all evening there and it has good facilities. I can't remember what its called though

 

[anim999]

yeh 3yrs is a long time, but I suppose I could terminate the loan at any point if I had to, although its not really fair on the girl if I did that. I am going to visit next week though we'll see what happens

 

[BlackDiamond]

I wouldn't. Its so easy for an unsuitable horse to ruin your confidence, and this one sounds a bit unsuitable.
Why not look for a cheap horse of your own, there are lots of good allrounders out there for not too much £.

 

[anim999]

Because I can't afford to buy anything at the moment. I am saving up to open my own business and a couple of grand if far too much a chunk of my money to splash out. I can afford about £25.00 livery a week as I may £17.00 for my riding lesson every week now. Which is why loaning is the best option for me at the moment. Its so hard to find anything on loan too that can move stables and everything out there is too far away from me

 

[nicelittle]

I would highly recommend sharing a horse.

I share at a very helpful yard with great facilities. There is always someone to ask if theres a problem, and the work/responsibility/money is not overwelming when shared.

The trouble with owning/loaning is that you need to allow lots of spare cash for when you will need the vet, or farrier to refit cast shoes, etc etc!!

Good luck, whatever you decide.

 

[Chumsmum]

Difficult choice for you. Agree that a quieter, older horse would be best for your first one but I know that finding the perfect horse to loan is difficult so you may have to compromise.

If you trust your instructor to give you an honest answer, I would ask them to come and see it, maybe have a lesson on it??

Good luck

 

[Annette4]

I'd recomend sharing first TBH...and I'm not sure I'd recomend loaning to anyone after what I went through

 

[anim999]

yeh sounds like a good idea. however if finding someone that wants to share lol

 

[liveryblues]

you might only be paying £17 for lessons, so £25 might not seem like a huge jump, but what about feed, hay, bedding, vets, farrier, insurance, etc. Theses are the things that leave most of us horse owners poor! lol

 

[amandaco2]

would it be full loan?she will cost more than 25 a week to keep.get a full break down of the costs you would be expected to cover first
take your instructor when you try her out,see what they think.
then take her on trial for a month see how it goes.
if all works out fine, go for it.

tbh she doesnt sound ideal for a first horse but you never know until you try.

 

[anim999]

thanks for your help guys, I will go and have a look and then take her out on trial for a bit I think. I suppose it depends whether we get a long or not in the long run

 

[Fruddy]

[ QUOTE ]
Because I can't afford to buy anything at the moment. I am saving up to open my own business and a couple of grand if far too much a chunk of my money to splash out. I can afford about £25.00 livery a week as I may £17.00 for my riding lesson every week now. Which is why loaning is the best option for me at the moment. Its so hard to find anything on loan too that can move stables and everything out there is too far away from me

[/ QUOTE ]

If you can only afford £25.00 per week, then you should not be taking a horse on full loan. My sharer pays me £25.00 per week for two days!!

My lad is on full livery, so obviously it does cost me more to keep him that way, but taking into account livery, insurance, supplements, farrier, vet, replacement of tack and equipment, dentistry, wormer...... I don't get much change out of seven hundred quid!!!

I would advise a share if you have a limited amount to spend on a horse. My sharer treats my lad as her own on her days and £25.00 per week is all that she has to pay, ever.