Riding abilty to buy a horse

[Katrina]

Hello,
I was wondering what kind of riding standared should u be at before u buy your first horse?

I have been riding for the past 8 months with at least 2 lessons a week. I am able to walk, trot and canter and jump a small jump.

Is this enough? Or is there more I should be able to before i consider getting a horse?

Thanks
Katrina

[Sarah]

hello!

It sounds like you have been making good progress with your riding in the last 8 months, well done!

There is a lot ot consider when looking to buy a horse. Firstly you need to be able to ride, but what you really need to know is how to look after horses. Do you help out at all at the yard where you ride at the moment - for instance do you grrom your horse before a lesson and tack up, do you help with mucking out, etc? If not, it would definitely be worth doing - just to improve your horsey knowledge, but it is essential to know how to do things when you finally get a horse.

Would it be possible for you to share a horse with someone for a few months so that you can see all that is required in horse ownership? Getting a horse is a huge committment that can last well over 20 years so you really do want to make sure that you know that you can, and like looking after horses, it is fine to like to do it in the summer months, but now that your winter is starting and the weather gets colder and wetter and windier it can be a totally different matter!

With regard to whether your riding is good enough for owning a horse, i really can't comment as i haven't seen you ride. i would however recommend that if you do decide to buy a horse (after having shared a horse for a few months) that you get a horse that has been well schooled and that is at least 10yrs old so that the horse is not trying to learn from you and so that he can teach you.

I hope that helped, if you have any other queries, do ask!

bye!

[Rebecca]

Hi. I don't know where you're based, but I have set myself a personal target before getting a horse of doing some sort of riding and horsecare exam. The British Horse Society Progressive Riding Tests are six little exams which make up the equivalent of the British Horse Society Stage One, and I'm sure other riding organisations do similar things. (Also, if you're young it might be a good way of convincing your parents you're serious and know what you're getting into.)

On the other hand, I know I can't afford a horse for several years anyway, so it's a good way of using up the time! Whatever you decide to do, I hope it all goes well

Rebecca

[Anna.C]

Hi Katrina,
I'm not sure that riding ability is the most important consideration, as long as you have experienced people to help you out. I bought my first horse in November, after having had a few months of lessons, and it has been a real learning experience! The most important thing for me is to be able to turn to other people and say 'How do I...?' or 'What's that?' and I'm continuing my weekly lessons so my instructor can help sort out any problems. My biggest worry prior to buying was would I have the time and money to take on this big responsibility. Having made it past this hurdle I've found that horsey people are generally very friendly and happy to pass on their knowledge to a learner!
Best of luck!

[czar]

You should try to loan one first and see how you get on with that! Owning a horse means you have to be there 2 times a day (ideally)and you have to fund all the vets fees and shoeing. Vet's fees are roughly £100 per call out! Try a loan horse first! Then you can be sure!

CZAR!

[Katrina]

Thank you for all you replys.
A couple of things, I live in Australia and I am 18.

I plan on doing a horse management course through my riding school which contains lots of practical and theory information relating to caring for your own horse.

At the moment I live on acerage with my parents, so even when i move out i still have some where free to keep my horse :-)

I also have my own job, but if I ever ran in to difficulties my parents wouldn't mind helping me out.

Sharing a horse is a good idea, and once I do the horse managment course I am able to do that with one of there horses at the riding school.

I think I might do that for a couple of months and see how that goes, while saving up to buy my own horse.

I just didn't want my limited experience to
be annoyance to the horse.

Thanks
Katrina