Buy? Share? Loan?

[reverie]

I have been learning to ride since October, I am just starting to canter and I have a fantastic teacher. Riding is the new love of my life, I spend all week waiting for my weekend lessons!

I am posting for some advice please, I want to spend more time riding, but am not sure where to start. Should I think about buying, sharing or a loan horse? What sort of costs should I be expecting with each of these? (Sorry if that is a 'how long is a piece of string' question.) Also, I know very little about caring for a horse, is it enough to pick this up as I go along (am very keen!)?

I have tried researching online but would really like some personal opinions and advice. Thank you in advance!

[Showjumper]

Since you haven't been riding very long and don't have a lot of practical experience, I'd suggest helping at your local riding school. You'll learn to muck out, groom, tack up, feed etc, and most offer a free ride in exchange for a day's hard graft :)

[Crazyhorse]

I would agree with a showjumper. It's the route I took and it really makes you appreciate how much work looking after a horse takes, what ever the weather and how you feel. It's also a fab opportunity to learn about the general care of horses, plus you get to watch others ride, which again really helped me. I got a free lesson each week, which madeit even better:D

I think out of buying, sharing and loaning, sharing is the best option. You are able to experience horse ownership , but without the full responsibility and costs of owning your own horse. I think suddenly buying a horse would be a big shock to the system. Especially, if you experienced problems in the early stages, which may easily put you off.

I have been riding 4 years and still do not feel ready for my own horse.

Vicky x

[horseygal90]

I wouldn't buy yet - Like the others said, its a little early!

If you really want the interaction, but don't wanna help out/can't, then the best option would be to share - At least that way if anything goes wrong, you'll have someone else to talk to.

[Big Ears]

Yes, don't dash in there and buy a horse as they are expensive, time consuming and you have to be prepared, unless you have loads of money and can afford to pay for help, to give up most of your life to look after them.

As you are new to it, and still in the intitial flush of enthusiasm, then trying to get the sort of sitaution where in exhcange for work, you get more lessons. Then you will see how much you really enjoy walking round int he mud trying to catch horses in the semi dark with a torch, or mucking out at 5am before you go to work - in the dark - turning out in the dark - bringing in in the dark or when youa re late from work....

Seriously get more involved, not just lessons,but more practical aspects of it, for example do you have the sort of job that if you have to be there for the farrier or vet, or for emergencies, can you do it, or would you need to have the sort of place where thesse things are handled by tye yard, but you pay more. Dip your toe in, find a share perhaps but keep on the lessons.

[Kerry Claire]

I agree with the others - you need more experience before buying a horse. Sharing might be a good idea though.

[reverie]

Thanks all. Very helpful. Will offer to help at the yard and keep a look out for a share. Will keep you posted on my progress!

[shirley]

Just an add on, why not look at doing some British Horse Society Horse Owners lessons / exams. This will start to give you lots of practical advice and experience on how to look after horses, background etc. These are for people who do not own horses, but may be thinking about buying one / want to know more about horses as well.
Good luck

[eventerbabe]

does your school not run stable management courses? our one ran week long courses where you turned up first thing, brought the ponies in, groomed them, tacked them up then it was a couple of hours riding before an afternoon of theory and other stuff, like how to make a halter out of baler twine, a skill i have never used! i found them great fun and learned an awful lot.

[Talou]

I agree..i think its still a little early for you to buy your own horse but sharing one could be a great idea.

I'm actually thinking about that stuff right now..still not sure what my dicision is.:)

Eventerbabe,i'm glad that you know things about stable management courses,my instructor is going to start them very soon! I can't wait!

Do u have more info on them? You can PM me if u want.

Sorry for changing the subject reverie!

Good Luck in whatever you decide and keep us updated!;)

Talia

[milly molly]

Just to reinforce what everyone else has said. You need to know that you can commit the time and money to a horse, loaning is the same responsibility minus the start up costs.

I can afford a horse financially but as I have children and a full time job I cannot afford the time. Like you, having riding lessons just wasnt enough and therefore a share was a great opportunity to enjoy all the extra special bits. Sharing is still a commitment, if I have said that I will muck out on day x and ride on day x then I shouldnt let my owner down.

I was lucky that I learnt a lot of the care aspects helping out at a livery yard when I was younger but Im also doing the horse ownership exams, I am learning so much which will help when I do own my own, I will get there one day!

[ponylover88]

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[Scarlett 001]

Speaking as a new half-leaser (is this the same as sharing?), I say this is a great option. Easy on the finances, in my agreement I don't have to pay for vet bills (this is an important one to find out about), and I get to see the horse as often as I am realistically going to get out to the stables (2-3 times a week). I will also learn a lot about horses and horse care this way - for example this summer I want to find out how to wash a horse etc.

[Bay Mare]

hi not saying this to contradict others but - buy your own horse. You will have your own problems and will sort them out and from that learn so much quicker!

ponylover88 - reverie has only been riding since October so having problems at this stage would either mean that reverie could get 'broken', the horse or both of them!

I agree with the others, it's far too early to have your own horse. I think that helping at your local riding school is a great idea. You will be learning and, yes, you will have problems but there will be experienced people around you so that you don't get into bad habits and also you won't be hurting either yourself or the horse (I don't just mean 'hurting' as in physical hurt but as in causing or making schooling/behavioural problems worse because of your inexperience). You will be working with different types, ages and temperaments of horses so will learn a lot more, quicker than with just one horse. You will be exposed to a lot more at a riding school. You will learn to work with different types of bedding, horses at different stages of training, different ailments (how scary would it be if your own pony had a problem and you didn't have a clue what was wrong or what to do about it?), different tack etc. You will also have a great time, meet some fantastic people and learn so much.

My first instructor when I came back as an adult had recently had her horse pts. She hadn't ridden anything else but her own horse for many, many years. When she first got on the riding school 'plod' (who had actually competed at Medium standard dressage and jumped 4' but who was so rock solid and steady that she was used a lot of the time for beginners) she couldn't get her to canter. She was so used to her own horse that (as she put it) she'd forgotten how to RIDE! Obviously it didn't take her long to get back into it but it's definitely something to think about.

Another thing to consider is that the horse that you would need to buy at this stage would probably be too slow for you in a years time when you've had more experience. Would you really want to sell him or her to get a more suitable horse? Could you?

To be honest, I wouldn't consider sharing at the moment either, get some experience in at the riding school first. Sharing still has a certain amount of responsibility and the people wanting someone to share would probably want someone with a bit more experience anyway. Maybe think of that a few months down the line.

Good luck.

[notpoodle]

i have had abuot 15 years of riding and stuff before i got my pony (including sharing and loaning). i found it to be very very different when the horse is actually yours - theres was a whole host of stuff i'd never even thought about (buying rugs, which bit? vaccinations? dentist? what to feed? etc etc) before! ive been learning ever since and still am on a very steep learning curve! luckily, my pony lives at a yard full of people who knows what they are doing so there is always someone there i can ask for advice and help!

julia
x

[ponylover88]

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[laurenluvsmonty]

Hi i agree with the others. Maybe at your riding school you could get to look after the horses there or look to share because horses are a lot of responsiblity. I have been riding for 9/10years and im in the process of getting one for full loan and if that goes ok then buying 1 (its takes quite a while lol)
Good luck
:D

[Dan2808]

Helping out at your local riding is def your best option, you get to see all how everything is done, and you learn so much from it, and its great fun too.

[LinzCos]

If you are really hooked then you might consider a riding holiday too. There are loads where you get taught to look after the horse as well as riding every day.

I do agree with Ponylover to some extent too though. I became an owner without much knowledge of horsecare, I just made sure that I got a horse who wasn't too much to handle (also a TB!) and got loads of support from the ex-owner. However, I had been riding for many years and did know how to handle, tack up etc. It was worming, shoeing and general health stuff that I had to learn fast and this forum is very helpful :)

Given that Reverie is a new rider then being a new owner too soon would be a lot to handle. I would recommend sharing and keeping up the lessons then you get a better idea of the work involved before making a big commitment.

[sam_pring]

i got my first pony after only 6 months of riding, i'm not necessarily saying this was the right thing to do but it didnt do me any harm or my pony. i think it depends on the experience you have around u. i kept my pony at home but my mum had a very experienced friend who was very willing to help whenever we needed her. i think if u bought a horse and kept it at a livery yard where there are experienced people around to help u when u need it this would be a good idea. Have fun whatever u decide to do. :o

[Sam and Blake]

i got alot of experience and knowledge from helping put and working at a stables at the weekend for at least 5/4 years.and still after that i only started half loaning a pony.i now have a horse on full loan after riding for 13 years.i think you should get some experience by helping at your riding school before you even consider buying or full loaning.if you really want a horse though i would recommend sharing.good luck with whatever your decision :D

[horseyrose]

Buying a horse when you haven't been riding very long can work out, and it's obviously worked for people on this forum, but I don't think it's what we should be advising here. Help out at a yard, take more lessons, learn about stable management, share a horse and then buy your own when you know you have definitely got the confidence and knowledge to do so.

[danielle:>]

Yeah , helping out at the stables is a great way to get more experience . I've been riding for about a year and have been helping out for about 6 months . It has helped me so much . I know people who have been riding for years but have never had any experience looking after horses . It's people like this who go to buy a horse , and although they fit the riding requirements , they don't have a clue how to look after the horse .
This isn't just for buying . People giving their horse out on loan or looking for a share are also going to want know you can look after their horse . So right now , look into helping out , and once you've learnt a bit more you can look for a share . And BHS stages are great aswell . Look into these . :)

[ponylover88]

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[ponylover88]

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[momofsix]

I agree with the majority. When I was ready to spend more time with horses than my biweekly lesson, I answered an ad for help by a local horse owner. I was lucky to make a great new friend who has taught me so much while I am helping to groom, lunge and move her 7 horses for free. She also pointed us towards a horse for lease. I love leasing because it is not as expensive and time consuming as owning--and for me much less scary.