much help needed for newbie

[Girly]

Allo
Im 23 and in the UK. Have never been on a horse, cept donkey rides when I was little. I always wanted a horse but couldnt.
I always wanted to ride but couldnt.
Now Im on my own with my savings and I want to buy my own horse. I would like to have an instructor come to me to teach me to ride as I would want to learn on my own horse and as I cant drive and theres no school near me.
Could anyone help me with what sort of horse to look for. I would need one that dosent need to be ridden everyday, and would be able to live out. I have found a field that I can rent.
I will have about £2000 total to spend.
Also if anyone can give me some riding tips. I have read some books but I dont understand leg aids. Like how to use your legs and where and how much to pay for everything.
Thanks for reading this

[Chantal]

Wow! There's a lot of issues there! If you've never ridden before it might be better to have some private lessons before buying a horse. If there's nowhere near you, perhaps a riding holiday might be an idea. I don't mean to be negative, but there's so much to learn, not just about riding but also about horse care. You need to understand feeding, pasture management, separation anxiety, shoeing, tack, illness, hormones, behaviour - there's probably loads more I've left out (I'm no expert myself!). But to learn all about these things is a very positive achievement, so get the books out, find some horsey mates and read this site regularly!

[Mehitabel]

i don't want to dampen your enthusiasm, but i'd strongly recommend that you learn to ride at a riding school before you think about getting your own horse. there's an awful lot more to it than anyone expects, even those who've ridden for years before getting a horse. there is a course called the horse owners certificate that is available at a lot of colleges that wil give you an idea of what's involved. unfortunately, £2000 is not going to get you very far after buying, vetting, saddle, vaccinations, shoeing,worming etc. you'll be much better off spending the money on riding and stable management lessons, and then thinking about geting a horse. everyone on this site is willing to help, but it realy isn't a good idea to plunge straight in at the deep end.

[heland]

I would love you to own your own horse but I tend to agree with the advice that you have been given.

It is a big responsability owning a horse and I'm sure that you would want to know as much as possible before buying.

I think a course is a great idea:)

[saddlesore]

i'd recommend learning to drive, buy a car , drive to get lessons and volunteer at a stable to get an idea of whats involved with caring for a horse. ( sorry if i burst your bubble):D :D :D

[K&K]

i totally understand the longing to learn on your own horse - i had that for several years also! only i had parents who held me back :rolleyes:. now i'm thankful.
when i had that longing, i had little riding experience (only about six months of weekly lessons and no ground work) , but over the past two years i've improved my riding considerably, volunteered at stables helping with horse care (everything from exercising to mucking out to feeding), and researched and learned like crazy. and asked TONS of questions!
there are still a lot of things i don't know (i believe you can never know everything about horses!), but now i know enough to competently take care of and ride my horse. i know i'll always be asking for advice, from people on NR and people at my boarding stable (lets not forget my vet, farrier & mentor!), but at least i know enough to keep my horse happy & healthy. i also have a very good idea of the work and expenses involved.
now i'm horse shopping, and looking back, i realize that all that waiting & learning will make my experience with my first horse even better.

good luck with your life with horses - it's the best!

[suze]

I understand your feelings as I was in a similar position.
I started out by buying a minature horse for the littlens, I had the full support of the previous owners and we share the same yard.
They knew that I was a complete beginner and have taught me so much. I now have a years expierience and still I wouldn't know how to manage the field on my own. And as for the horses theres so much you need to know. How to keep a watch out for things like laminitus, mud fever and about a million other things.
Even people who have had training and have years of expierience can have lots of troubles.
I now have my own pony, but I would never have got him if I were not so lucky as to have the help and support of the people I share the barn with.
Perhaps you could find a local horse owner who you could help out. Theres always mucking out and lots of field work to do.
Even if you didnt ride you would gain confidence of being around horses.
A course would do you heaps of good too. I would love to do that if I could afford it. Good luck.;)

[kedwards]

Well, you'd want to find a nice, very calm, older horse. The type of horse isn't as important as the training and temperament. In order to find the right horse, you'll be a lot better off if you get a contact person ahead of time, such as an instructor (yet one more reason to try to get some lessons first).

Are there any people near you with horses? Perhaps you could find someone willing to let you part loan their horse for lessons. This would give you the chance to learn a bit about care and riding, and also help you develop some relationships with knowledgeable horsepeople who can later help you in selecting an appropriate horse of your own.

Good luck. If you go about it the right way, you can ensure that it will be everything you've dreamed about.

[galadriel]

Another reason to take some lessons for a while is because if you have not ridden, you don't know what element of riding you're interested in. I myself love to jump, so I got a horse who had jumping ability. She's everything I could want in a horse. But I worked with horses for many years before I could afford my own, so I knew *exactly* what I wanted.

Someone else has suggested that you get an older horse who's more sedate. Personally, I'd have hated that. For some people it's just what they want. You never know until you ride for a while and find out what you *do* like! :)

[jUmPingIsLifE]

I don't want to smuch your dreams and all that but I suggest a long with the other posters you need to gain a little more experiance before you go out into owning a horse. Take some lessons (riding and horse care lessons). When you go out to look for a horse you need a trainer/vet/farrier to help you out. TO MANY people WILL rip you off saying its a 10yr old pony PERFECT in everything you will get it home it will be either 25 or 2 and HORRIBLE with many habbits....it happens A LOT! people will just take advantage of you totally....it shouldn't happen but it does :( so when you look for a horse bring a lot a trainer to help...watch the owners ride the horse, have your trainer ride the horse than you yourself ride the horse...have a farreir look at the feet, and your vet do a check. ask questions like

age?
breed?
experiance?
what does it ride english or western?
does it have show experiance? has it raced?
previous injuries/sicknesses?
ask about the training (if they can help you there)...you may want to know what problems the horse had during training and IF they are STILL problems?
how much they are asking? (of cource:p )
does it need to be around other horses (some horses NEED other horses, some NEED to be AWAY from other horses)?
feed?
how often it needs to be shoed (if anything specail needs to be done there?)
does the horse ride on the road?trails? is it good in traffic?
any specail care? medication?
is it sutable for a beg. rider?
mare or gelding or stallion? (that may seem stupid but i know someone who thought they had bought a gelding...gues what...they ended up with a stubborn old mare)
......the list goes on!

i would also suggest maybe leasing a horse first...you can gain experiance and enjoy owning a horse even though you don't actully own it, it is a good "preparer" for owning a horse yourself.

does the horse come with tack/accesories? you need to know that to.

you need to make sure you have a supply of hay/grain/ and you are ready to pay a vet bill if needed, you don't want to buy a horse fall in love than find out you don't have the money to keep it if a emergancy comes up.

I hope i didn't sound mean or discourage you...goodluck

[Doughc]

Its great to be able to see a dream become real, but i think you should get some ability first. Also you should read the thread on How much people are spending on weekly horse upkeep, I was somewhat gobsmacked when I saw how much some people pay It certainly put a different light on the cost of my private lessons

[Wally]

For £2000 you could get something really nice. But I'd really spend at least £1000 learning the basics so the £1000 I spend on a horse would be well spent and not wasted due to being scared witless by an animal about which you know little.

What you want to do is dangerous, I wouldn't try to fly a plane from a book, leg aids are not the first thing you should know about.

PLEASE get on a bus and find somewhere you can help out by mucking out, cleaning tack in exchange for lessons.

I have seen the mysery of both horse and humans caused by little knowledge. Horses are not that easy, if they even think they can get the better of you they will, it's natural to them, they will try to be leader...this is your job and unless you know how to be a good leader you will end up at the bottom of the heap with the horse ruling you with tooth and hoof.

PLease get some hands on experience, a year or two and you will have learned enough to own your own and make it a success.

[CrazyfurAnimals]

I agree with the others. Buying a horse without ever riding before is a high risk. Besides, you'll enjoy it ever so much more when you feel comfortable around horses, and know how to ride! :) I was the same way as you at first. I was thinking that it can't be that hard, and we'll have the most wonderful time in the world! But theres tons of things you have to know how about horsemanship. Its a lot more work then owning a dog, and it involves more time too.

So, please go get some lessons first, and save that heartache of having to sell your horse because you can't handle it!

[thehorselover]

AGREED!

you know, lots of people try riding and don't like it enough to get their own horse, but most fall in love with it.
you're taking on a HUGE responsibility and A LOT of hard work. you should get some instruction and get out there! meet horsey people, visit websites, get to know the horsey world.

there is SO much info needed to be a responsible horse owner and rider.

but, to answer your question, start out on an older, dependable horse who has been cared for and is reliable. it's not like getting a puppy. breaking horses is and art! j/k
well good luck!

thehorselover

[galadriel]

Hey, now! There's an art to training puppies, too.

The overwhelming majority of dogs turned in to a rescue or dumped at a shelter are dogs that have outgrown puppy cuteness but were never properly trained--about 8 months to one year of age. They develop bad habits 'cause their owners didn't teach them right and then when they get a little bigger, a little more energetic, a little less puppy-cute, they're labeled "bad dogs" and dumped.

...

Sorry, you touched a nerve there. I've got one right now who was in exactly that situation (she was 9 months old when her "family" got tired of her and was going to dump her) and I can't even begin to count how many others like that we've had.

[thehorselover]

SORRY!

didn't mean to hurt anyone! I love dogs as much as my horses. But it does make me very suprised a totally inexperienced rider thinks she can take on the responsibility of a horse!!!!

YES! there is an art to training dogs, but horses are a much BIGGER commintment than a puppy.

my labrador is adopted. we got him from wales when i lived in England.

i'm truely sorry!

[thehorselover]

ps

that message above this was meant for
GLAIDRIAL

[MattJo]

I agree with the other answers, take a few lessons and you'll find out if you really want a horse. It's a full time commitment. I'm sure you will love it, there is nothing quite like it.