so i wouldliketo know everything there is to know please.

[morethanyoubargainfor]

I have managed to persuede dh-- decided to think about owning a horse. It won't be until next year so i can have a little 'horse egg' stashed away in case of emergency etc.

This year i am riding regularly and getting very excited about it.

So please tell me all i need to know, i have worked with horses a long time ago. I know owning is very different to working with so any help appreciated.

[frostyfingers]

You will be poor, very poor....BUT you will also be very happy, very tired, very mucky and constantly smell of horse (well maybe not always). You will spend hours perusing shiny catalogues and "having" to buy lots of things - why have one rug when you can have half a dozen!

So much has changed re feeding particularly - I owned horses back in the day when a bran mash was considered exotic, there were New Zealand rugs that weighed a ton, and a stable rug was a heavyweight jute job that needed about 3 people to lift it. Now it's all about supplements, fleeces, turnouts and coolers.

You will need to think about the minimum time you will have to spend, where you are going to keep it, what you want to do with it, where you are going to get it from, and how you will go about buying. When I went back into horse ownership a few years ago, I did feel like I was floundering, but gradually it all comes back, and most of it is common sense.

Do lots of reading, ask around and keep us posted!

[Pixel]

Congratulations.

Not sure how we can tell you everything though! There are so many different ways of being a horse owner, are you thinking of looking after it yourself or going on full livery or part livery maybe? Are you going to be a happy hacker or more competitive? Are you thinking about a hairy pony that lives out or a 17hh TB with a wardrobe bigger than yours?

We need to know more!

[MitchiestInge]

Well you can fit everything I know on a postcard, pretty much.

[morethanyoubargainfor]

thanks everyone.

I know about being poor, thats not a problem. I don't do anything for just me or spend any money on me so this is a real treat. I am so excited.

Lara thanks that is good advice about being honest about mty ignorance as that is something i am not very good at.

I want him to go on DIY or possible part livery. I have a yard alreay lined up that is local to me and am working on a relationship there.

I think i want a cob, with big hairy feet . My true passion are Arab's but i am a big bird and out grew arabs years ago .

Not really interested about competing at the moment but do have a bit of a passion for dressage so who knows. I am also interested in learning more about croos country.

I am used to being very tired, dirty and smelly, I have two children, dogs and am a dog walker and pet boarder so that doesn't faze me at all. In fact i am looking foward to being mucky and smellier .

Mitchy: i don't believe you .

[AlpinePony]

Sometimes when you get home from the yard you will be too exhausted to shower and your partner will want "romance". For the relationship to work your partner must like, or at least tolerate the new aroma of your relationship!

Oh, just me?

Don't write an arab off completely - arabs have denser bones than many natives and so are actually very good weight carriers. Obviously - ignore if you're 19 stone!

[morethanyoubargainfor]

thanks Alpine!

DH might struggle with the new perfume, but heyho he can always go find a new nicer smelling wife . He knows his place!

[morethanyoubargainfor]

not quite 19 stone but i have been (i wa 9 months pregnant at the time!)

I just weigh really heavy, i am 5'10 and a size 14 but just weigh alot, nobody ever believes how much i do actually weigh.

[AlpinePony]

haha good to know! I must admit this was one of the reasons I chose my boyfriend - he loved my dogs from Day 1 and although he'd never "met" a horse before he was keen to learn. He now rides her on occasion, meets the farrier, catches her, grooms her - he's not great at putting a bridle on - but he can be trusted - and best of all I can come home and collapse on the sofa unless I really, really, really stink!

Livery yards can be hit and miss - as others have said - there's always one prize bitch and one who knows "everything" about "everything". In my experience this is the person newest to the horse world. If the Prize Bitch ups and leaves the yard, another will step in to her shoes within minutes of the trailer tootling off down the road. It's the law!

A farrier/trimmer who turns up when he says he will is worth his weight in gold. Don't fawn over the arseholes though - there are some who are not Prima Donnas. I once had a Belgian one who listened to classical music on his walkman. I'd snigger but his attitude towards my horse was vile - so obviously I let him go.

Pay the vet when you're sent a bill. Don't piss off the food suppliers or the medicine suppliers. Other people can wait for bills but you don't want a hungry/bleeding horse.

Buy the best tack you can afford and it will last the lifetime of the horse.

If you're at a full livery yard - don't start bitching about the other owners saying "they don't come up". Some of us get busy and actually that's exactly why I pay full livery - so that I don't need to worry about this shit and visit daily. (Personal bugbear obviously!).

[MitchiestInge]

am wondering who is the Prize Bitch at my place - am absolutely definitely sure it isn't me, I'm the Surprisingly Well Tolerated Ineffectual Yard Twit with the ASBO ponies

[morethanyoubargainfor]

lovely thanks guys!

Thanks for PM Alpine, the whole issue makes me really paranoid.

Hopefully i won't be the prize bitch, don't think i have it in me. It will more likely everyone else will talk about me as i am quite aloof and don't realluy like talking to people all that much, much prefer animals .

My horse will be the one nobody knows who the owner is!

[BlueChampagne]

Cultivate a relationship with a local instructor and get them to help you look at horses.

Cobs are fab - mine was affiliated with British Dressage (before retired lame), and lives out all winter (including last winter).

Do chat to other people on the yard - lots of free advice available (not all of which you'll want, but being a Mum you'll know that), things to borrow, transport sharing to pleasure rides and competitions - remember, everyone loves to talk about their horse.

Is the yard close to home/work? Make sure you can turn up quickly if weather turns especially in the winter, or there's someone who can happily do it for you.

Good luck!

[morethanyoubargainfor]

yard is about a 5 minute cycle ride from home so ues close.

I am starting to cultivate that very realtionship Blue, i need to have someone who can apply some logic .

Thanks so much everybody.

[countingto10]

Hi I am 3 weeks into horse ownership after a 17 yr break. I am loving it, locing it, loving it . DH's comments - "when is this horse going to stop costing money" and "wouldn't it be cheaper to feed her £20 notes" .

Mine's on full livery so I am not under too much pressure with 4DSs, DH's business etc. The yard only does full livery so therefore everyone is the same and the horses are all following the same routine. I think I have lucked out as one of the sharers of a horse up there said that the previous yard that her horse was on was so vile and the people so rude (not talking etc) that she was going to give up the share. It was nice to here and so far the yard seems really friendly and everyone willing to help.

I felt sick with anxiety the first couple of weeks (OMG what have I done etc) but am now relaxing into it, the bluebells are coming out in the woods and life is good .

[allgonebellyup]

i got my first horse last May, and now i am about £5000 grand poorer (she she only cost me 800!)
Mine is on diy assisted livery at a tiny yard- its so beautiful and great in the summer but the winter is horrid- mucking out in a howling gale or with frostbite in your fingers, and the ice on the road so bad that you have to walk for a mile to get to the yard (with 2 miserable dc in tow) and a family wondering what the hell is wrong with you?!!!(see my other thread!!)
Not to put you off though!

You'll find you dont have to spend much £ in the summer if your horse will be out 24hrs; you may not even have to feed her anything other than grass! Plus its a lot less work for you.

In winter, or if yours comes in during summer- you'll be looking at bedding (£5 bale straw here/£7 bag shavings) and feed, which you will get through mega quickly!
Also hay or haylage which is £5 bale here or £5.90 haylage pack!
Then shoes every 6/7 weeks, around £65 here for set of 4.
Wormers every 3mths; £20 a go.
Insurance ; mine is £20 a month.
Not mentioning unexpected vet's fees!

Have fun though!!

[morethanyoubargainfor]

thanks everyone,

Allgone, still hasn't put me off .

I am planning on stashing away £100 per week for all things horsey, how does that sound? Too much/too little?

I am getting so excited already, even bought a copy of horse and rider today then promptly fell in love with the 'perfect' horse with an asking price off £12,500. I had to stepaway from the magazine very quickly at that point!

I am also thinking about doing some kind of distance learning course on horse care/stable management. Is this a good idea?

Even my ds is getting mega excited about 'visiting every day', but that might have something to do with his ASD and obbssession with all things animal/nature. maybe i could use that to my advantage, .

[Pixel]

Allgone, you are lucky with your hay, normal little bales have just gone up to £10 each around here. We've been able to get a couple of the bigger ones (not massive, will fit in the back of a pick-up) but they are £50 each. We are all skint at the moment and lovely as this sunshine is, if this year is the same as last we will be seriously stuffed! At least last year there was something in reserve from before but now there is nothing. If only it could rain at night and be sunny during the day it would be perfect.

[Pixel]

Morethan, it is exciting planning isn't it? We had quite a collection of stuff by the time we finally got our first pony because we couldn't go to a country show or past a saddler's without buying a haynet or a hoofpick. I think it was a sort of insurance, because if we'd bought stuff then obviously we would have to get a pony to go with it.
(Mum was brought up with horses and was on our side so we all ignored my dad's sighs and rolling eyes. He didn't stand a chance)

[MitchiestInge]

I don't know about distance learning, most of it is so practical you'd be better doing something part time at a riding school or agricultural college. The BHS stage II syllabus covers most of the basics, you can get it from Amazon, could be a good place to start.

[allgonebellyup]

the hay thing...aaah, it was costing us nearly £10 a small bale in september /0ct but seems to have gone down now.
IF we have mega hot summer with no rain again (= no grass = no hay), i think i will have to consider trying to sell my nag again - there is no way i can afford the prices i have paid! for another winter.

[Mousesmummy]

OP, for us it was not about the money (and we are not rich by any means!) but the TIME!!!!!
I seemed to lose 2 hours a day over the winter, which when you have 4dc is A LOT of time to lose!
I would 'nip' down and be there for an hour??? We are on DIY and would love to be able to afford part or full livery over the winter but I am dreaming!
Having said all that it is just WORTH IT

[AlpinePony]

mouses Is it worth shopping around for full?

OK, my figures are going to be way out because I'm living overseas, but for example - my "full" (no grooming/riding/tack cleaning) is 195 a month. DIY is going to be 100 for a field or 140 for a stable/field combo. Then, because my YO can buy hay & straw in bulk - and actually buys in with the farmer next door saving her even more money she can get that cheap as chips wheras it'd cost me 5 euros for a weeny bale because I don't have the storage/buying power. Same for grains. Plus, it's 8 euros round trip to drive there unless I'm swinging by after work. DIY would probably work out a few euros cheaper for the actual stabling, but I'd lose time and petrol so not be better off at all. :(

[Saggyoldclothcatpuss]

OMFG! Hay @£10 a bale!!


Go native. A nice highland would easily carry you, or a nice spotty gypsy cob.
I rent my own field, from the direct neighbours. They are lovely, and will cast an eye if I can't make it. Rent a big enough field (or share with a nice person), you won't need to feed much else. I used 10 small bales between 2 small ponies this winter!
We have twice yearly equestrian boot sales here, and I pick up most of what I need dirt cheap. If you are careful, and have a good mentor, you can save ££. I've only had the vet out once in 8 years, have learned to trim their feet myself and picked up a trailer for £100 which a friend renovated for materials costs. If you stay native type, you don't have to spend loads.

[olderyetwider]

Definitely agree with Saggy about natives. They are sturdy, cheap to keep and just really lovely. Highlands are fantastic, Gypsies are wonderful (but a bit pricey at the minute, I thought when I was looking) and I am totally besotted with my Fell Pony.

[CailinBainne]

Another pony fan here

I live in Ireland and have 2 native ponies, a gypsy cob and a ID X Connemara and they're both easy keepers, do well on very little (as a local said - they'd get fat on a car-park)

Don't go mad buying loads of new kit for them immediately, just get the basics - ask other owners what's important and what's gimmicky.
Saddles and safety equipment are the places I'd not skimp on spending.

Make horsey friends if you can and share stuff if possible. Mail order shopping is fab as is ebay if you're careful.

Stunned at the cost of hay over there !!! I pay ?3.50 a square bale and that's delivered. A round bale of haylage is ?30 which lasts my 2 a fortnight.