When is it time to get a horse?

[Chocolat_Horse]

Hello, I would like to know what kind of skills I need to know before I own my own horse. Your opinions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

[katieB]

Hi :) I think a good base of knowledge and having the confidence around horses is a good place to start. It took me about 11 years to get my own horse but that was down to money rather than anything else, before that I had one on loan when I was 14 (after riding and helping at a riding stables for 6 years) and that was a struggle. I didnt have that much confidence in decision making and I found my loan pony was a lot harder to ride than the school ponies!
Are you thinking about buying your own I take it?

[Mehitabel]

it depends on where you're going to keep it. if you'd be planning on keeping it at home or on diy, then obviously you need a much higher level of knowledge than if you'd be on full, part or working livery somewhere. it also depends on what you want to do with the horse once you've got it, as that affects what kind of horse you get and what kind of riding expertise you need to ride it well.

have a look at the bhs website - www.bhs.org.uk - and take a look at the syllabus for the horse owner's certificate. it's a useful outlihne of the kind of things you'll encounter when you have your own.

i'd recommend loaning first, if you can, possibly from where you ride - our school loans out the school ponies so people can have a taste of ownership, the costs and responsibilities involved, without the big capital outlay, hassle of buying, and hassle of selling if it goes pear shaped or you decide it's not for you. they yard staff are there for support and guidance, so people can learn and make their mistakes in safety.

[raggydoll]

I think its different for different people. Like has already been said it depends on what you are planning to do, what support you have how confident you are and what knowledge you have.

I have just bought my first pony and i know that lots of people on here will probably think that it is way to early and i can totally appreciate there point of view. I used to ride when i was younger and only returned to riding in March this year. I had a share horse and also have been having lessons twice a week. I live in a village where there are almost as many horses as people! I also have a good friend who has had horses for a long time and has offered her help and support and we have some other friends who are riding instructors and are available if we need them. I am confident that i can look after my pony well and think i have a good basic knowledge, i also know that this will be a very steep learning curve but i am prepared for that an am reading everything i can and asking lots of questions, i am also on here a LOT reading past posts etc. I am not a confident rider, although i know that i am capable and i do feel confident once i get to know the horse. My riding is not brilliant - far from it but i intend to carry on learning on my new horse as soon as she is settled. I also have no grand plans i just want to enjoy my horse and riding and my ultimate aim is to hack out on her alone and i dont mind how long that takes.

Basically i think i am trying to say that you have to do what is right for you. If you feel confident that you could do it then getting a share horse would be a good idea so you can test your knowledge with a bit of support. I think that there is alot that you just wont learn until you have a horse of your own and you must be willing to learn and ask lots of questions.

Good luck in whatever you decided to do :)

[SupaTania]

I've been riding for a year on sunday the 28th, and although i want my own horse really badly, I know that at the moment, college and education comes first. Hopefully, by next summer i will have the funds available to own and board a horse, and also enough experience and general knowledge. Its a big jump from only riding school horses to owning your own, but its a jump i am going to be willing to make as soon as I am financially able.

- I know its hard, but unless you are positive you have the time, money and effort needed, then you should hold out for a while. (IMHO)

[Peace]

As Mehitabel says, it depends a lot on how you're planning to keep your horse. I got my first horse way before I was skilled enough to handle him on my own - in fact, I still wouldn't consider bringing Quanah home - but he was on full board with a very, very supportive YO who encouraged me to be involved with his care but was always ready (and still is) to step in and take over if he got to be too much.

It also depends on the horse. I might not consider bringing Quanah, who's a six year old American Paint Horse with a slightly warped sense of humor, home, but if I had the facilities and an equine companion, I'd bring my old reliable 22 year old draft cross home like a shot. He's just like a really big, although occasionally pushy, dog.

I think the general rule is to take a year of lessons before buying - but I think that's mostly to help one gage one's level of interest and commitment. I know plenty of people who've violated the rule with no ill effect. :) But it's a good idea to spend enough time around horses and horse people so that you know what you're getting into - because if you later decide you don't like horse ownership, finding another suitable home for your horse can be a difficult process.

[Skyhuntress]

I think it depends on your temperment, actually.

Ive seen a lot of peopl get horses 3-6 months into riding and it's been the best experience of their life. They got a solid, calm horse and we're willing to devote time and care to maintain the horse. Likewise, I've seen people who have been riding for 5 years and shouldn't have bought a horse at all; the idea of horse ownership was seeing it once a week and that was the extent.

If you have the passion and the time to devote yourself to a horse and know that you won't lose interest, go for it

[mu0ljk]

I am not what I would call an experianced horse person in any way :D . I full loaned (and still do!) one and it was an incredibly steep learning curve but I keep him on a livery yard with fantastic people who will always help. Due to work commitments I have him on part livery, but even if he were on diy I know that I would always have help if (or rather when! :rolleyes: ) I needed it.

I think loaning is a good way to go - but if you come across a fantastic horse for sale don't just disregard it! When I was looking for a horse, the YO from the place I decided I liked kept a look out for me. I told her my riding capabilities and my aims, and because she was 'in the loop' in the horsey world she came up with a couple of options fairly quickly. Obviously, I was aware that she did want to fill a stable on her yard! :p

As many people have said it depends where you want to keep your horse - if its at home then you will be very much on your own - if you are thinking about a yard then I would advise looking aroound all your local ones and talking to the YO's and trying to find out how much help you could expect. But at the end of the day if you feel like you could do it - then go for it! It is a huge commitment but if you feel ready and then after a few months you feel you can't cope - it isn't the end of the world - sorry if I offend anyone....as a last resort you can always sell.

[daisy bear]

i went to pony club and worked at a yard before i got a pony! :eek: but i also had a share which taught me alot! :D

[arabianknight]

WOW! SIX YEARS ago I was asking the same question to all my colleagues and instructors--When will I be ready to get my horse. Well they all gave me the same answer, which is what i am going to tell you.

You are going to have to know how to walk the horse, trot amazingly, canter at a steady pace, and should atleast have some knowledge on galloping.

You also have to know: how to groom your horse
how to calm your horse down
what to do with emergencies (a carrot stuck in your horse's throat

and thats only .000000001 percent of what you have to know. I mean I went crazy when I first bought a horse. It takes almost all your time away. but the truth is thats its all worth it at the end, when your horse knows you, and trusts you. and If you have a minumum of 3hours a day to care for your horse and minimum of 6years experience then I advise you to get a horse. But since you have your message posted in the 'starting out' section. I pretty much doubt that you have the time, and experience needed-no offence.

so think carefully, mate

[raggydoll]

Personally i think it is down to the individual and the horse you buy. I think its a little unfair to presume that Chocolat_Horse isnt ready considering she hasnt given us any information. I would also disagree with the level of riding you need to be at. I think it is much more important that you feel capable of caring for the horse and that you ask as much as you can while you are learning. However most of the learning will come once you are actually an owner. If you are sensiblea bout the sort of horse you buy, make sure you have enough support and a good basic knowledge of caring for the horse and riding a horse then i think thats a really good start. After that i think a lot depends on the individual. What is right for one person may not be for another. In the end only you can decide but if you do go for it you need to be 100% sure and commited :)

[Zingy]

In terms of riding ability, I'd look more at where are you now compared with where you want to get to.

For example, if you're seriously aiming for grade A showjumping but can only jump 1'6 at the moment, you're unlikely to find a horse that will comfortably get you from where you are to where you want to be. So you'd either have to buy and sell horses as you improved, or take more lessons and progress your riding until you could realistically achieve that with one horse.

But if you're generally quite happy with the level you are riding at and though you may want to progress from that it's within a reasonable level of what you can expect a horse to achieve as well, then that seems a sensible point to be considering buying.

So it doesn't matter if you can't gallop or jump 3'6 as long as what you hope to achieve through owning is realistic. :)

[*Sez*]

I think as long as you're capable of the hard work, like mucking out, keeping your grazing clean, grooming (and a basic knowledge of horse first aid goes miles!) it doesn't matter if your riding isn't grade A, as you can continue to have lessons.

I think the most important thing is not to "over-horse" yourself, and to ensure someone with a lot of experience gives you a hand in selecting your perfect partner. Something well-bred that can turn on a six-pence and looks wonderful galloping along might be beautiful to look at, but would probably be impractical as a first horse.

I grew up around horses and had my first riding lesson at two years old (I'm 21 this year), and have worked full time on several yards until I had to give it up for medical reasons, but I've only just bought my first horse. He can be a real character to ride, but he's lovely to spend time with. He gallops across his field when he sees me come to the gate now, which is breath-taking no matter how often I see it :D . He's also got really good about picking his feet up, as if he realises I find it painful to lean over and battle him :rolleyes: .

So I don't think there is a set criteria which you fulfull then suddenly you go from "novice" to "ready to buy a horse". It all depends on your personality, your circumstances and whether you're going to set realistic standards of what to look for in a horse. :)

Good luck!

[soph jones]

well i started helping out at my local riding school. you lean loads thee and then got 1 on loan then bought 1 then sold it! then bought 1 then sold it! then bought 1 lol!!!