what does it all take?

[*MiRi*]

i was wondering if anyone could help me.....

when i am a bit older i am wanting to loan/buy my own horse or pony.
i was wondering if anyone knew how much time they took up. obvously i know its alot but what about school? because if i went to school how would i have enough time to muck out groom feed all this?
any one help me ?
xox

[wildponies]

how long is a piece of string?

It really depends on your horse, if it lives out 24/7 or comes in at night. Depends if you're talking summer or winter, depends on how often you want to ride and the list goes on..

Usually with school people will do their horses early in the morning, (before school) and then when they come home.. it can mean early mornings and late nights if you want to get all your homework done too.

[*MiRi*]

wow!
can you get the livery chargey things they do at some stables? i think my stables do it but im not really sure...

[notpoodle]

full livery would be easiest i guess, but that's usually rather pricey .... i keep my horse on grass at a big riding school/livery yard, so i dont need to worry about mucking out etc.

in my case, it does take up quiet a lot of time, most of it is getting to and from the yard because i dont drive and it takes me about an hour to get there (and another hour to get home afterwards)on public transport. i work the usual 9 to 5 thing and go and see my horse after work and at the weekend. during the week, im rarely home before 9.30pm :rolleyes:

maybe i share would be more suitable for you at the moment, because that way it's almost like having your own pony, but you'll still have time for your school work and things :)

julia
x

[cvb]

the other thing to bear in mind is that its 7x24 - one of my bugbears is people who enthuse about horses so ask if they can help & get involved, but then cry off cos...

... its raining
....its eastenders on tv
.... they have a hangover (self-inflicted illness)
... they want to go shopping, to the pub etc
.... they have a friend/boyfriend/girlfriend visiting

and so on and so forth

The horses are there, needing to be fed, watered, exercised every day

edit: p.s. just realised I'd included the "exercised" in the "every day". What I should have said is that they need some kind of stimulation. This does NOT have to be riding them. Sorry ! But especially if a horse is by theirselves, and has limited room, they need something to keep them amused.

[Showjumper]

My time spent with Dolly is difficult to calculate. Sometimes, like tonight, I'll get to the field, she'll be at the top trotting about and ignoring me, so I'll go home (less than 10 minutes). Sometimes I'll take her out for a long groom, a walk, or a ride, and can be at the yard for up to 8 hours (yes it has happened!)

In the winter I spend less time there as we don't have a kettle and I always want hot chocolate...

[NuttyMare]

depends on your circumstances - you have to adjust your routine to your horse, not your horse's routine to yours.

A riding school with livery is definitely a good idea for a first time owner, as experienced horse people will be on hand to help.

Part livery maybe ideal for you, that way you don't have to get up to the yard in the morning to feed the horse, but that can be done on DIY as an additional service for a cost.

Grass livery is good. You don't have to worry about mucking out, the price is cheaper, but some horses are not happy to be out in all weathers (depends on breeding, type, etc). Bear in mind you have no where to tack up.

PM me for more help about any questions you may have :)

[*MiRi*]

i would go up there everyday!! i would no where NEAR neglect the horse though.
its cos wildponies said i would have to get u early in the morning and its hard to get up there!!
i think julia has a gd idea...to share!! that is gd
well ta people
xox

[500]

Last shcool year I had that problem. I have a horse at my house and found that between taking care of her (picking up poop, grooming, feeding ect) and school, I was only able to ride on the weekends.

It also depends what grade you will be in. Last year I was a freshmen inhighschool taking eight calsses: Agriculture, Algebra 1, P.E., Intregated Science 1, Honors English 1, Photography 1, Computers, and Spanish 1. - I generaly spent at least 3 hours of homework a day in addition to the 6 hours of being in school.

If your school is anuthing like mine here in California, USA, then I would say that if you're going to be in 6th grade or higher than you're gonna be booked up!

I solved my problem of being too busy to spend time with my horse! Next year, I'm homeschooling!

[notpoodle]

i dont get to ride as much as id like to either, because either the schools are used for lessons, or the weather really is too poo to hack, or 'something' creeps up (ie i spend two hours fixing a rug etc.), or im just too knackered from the dayjob to ride . once the weather clears up again i will make an effort to ride at least every other day though :) we have a lot of training to do :D

julia
x

ps: a share sounds ideal for you i think! just ask around at your yard or put up an ad in your tackshop or on the internet (newrider even!!) :) best of luck!!

[*MiRi*]

oooo right!
well im in s2 (in scotland soz i dunno what year that is ) i still havent taken subjects for exams but will next year. I am not thinking of getting a pony straight away but hopefully in the near futre!
thank again
xox

[k8schmutz]

Originally posted by *MiRi*
well im in s2 (in scotland soz i dunno what year that is ) i
Thats year 9 in England and I;m 99% sure that's 8th grade in the US. I'm in Year 10 and find it's best for me to share as I don't have enough time what with homework to go up everyday, it alaso means you have time to see your mates and anything else you want to do. its also cheaper and if you need to go on holiday or can't go up for whatever reason you ahve someone that can look after your horse for you

[500]

Sorry I forget that many of you are from the UK. A freshman in highscool is 9th grade. I'm 15 years old.