loaning/buying a horse question

U

unicorn92

New Member
Jan 15, 2012
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1
north wales, uk
Hello all,

I'm doing very well with my riding I'm a complete begginer, I'm still strugling with my canter but I'm getting there I've also been out hacking a few times, I'm just wandering how hard did you think jumping was? Also I'm either going to loan a horse in my area noone seems to ever loan any horses or buy a horse and keep him or her in a very good riding school so I can learn and get proffesional help everyday I have very little experiance with horses (my mum has a lot of experiance as she used to own horses so I would have A LOT of support but it would be my horse, do you think this is a good idea? I don't plan on loaning one or buying one until november/december so until then what do you think I should buy until then, do you suggest a body protector? Sorry about spelling I'm on my phone and my screeb is soo small
 
i have a body protector but i only really wear it for jumping.... tbh i feel more comfortable without it! I tense up more with it on haha :)
I know some people wont get on a horse with out one but its each to their own!
 
I didn't find jumping hard until I actually learnt how to do it properly when all the technical aspects come into play. At this stage you just need to worry about getting from one side to the other - trust that you're being given horses who know what they're doing, sit quietly and wait for the fence to come to you. That's probably the single most important thing I was ever taught with jumping - wait for the fence to come to you. Remember, we do it because it's fun so just take it easy and enjoy yourself. You might find once any pressure's gone it won't seem half as hard :)

Getting a body protector is never a bad idea as long as you wear it - I've certainly never heard of someone regretting wearing it. They're good to have if you're still learning and especially when you're learning new things. If nothing else, it'll make you feel safer which should in turn mean more confident.

You mention that you're still a beginner with very little experience of horses so in direct response to your questions, no I don't think owning a horse is a good idea. As a freelance instructor and trainer specialising in problem horses I'm often working with rider and horse issues that arise from owners buying horses before they're ready - especially when the horse is young or green itself. I know you say you have a lot of support but sometimes that really can be a problem in itself - everyone has a 'correct' way of doing things! There are options between riding school and ownership that can be just as - if not more - beneficial for you. Have you looked at part-loaning or sharing, or leasing from your riding school? In the end you'll do what you want to do, but I would ask that you are able to put emotions aside and think about it logically before making what is an extremely important and huge decision.
 
I agree with the above. Part loaning (sharing) will be a better idea. Also you could see if the RS could help you out with a stable management course or you could start helping out before/after your lessons?
 
I do help out at my RS, but I don't get free lessons or anything like that I help out twice a week I also did half of my NVQ level 1 without riding (had to quit as I fell pregnant and they wdnt let me continue, iv also looked aroud to share/loan a horse for a long time but no one ever seems to be loaning, I suppose because in my area there's only 2 riding schools within 50 miles,I AGREE that its to soon to get a horse but I just don't know what to do because I can't loan one, iv also asked my RI if I could loan any
 
Does your riding school do working livery?
Would you have lessons regularly on a horse if you bought it?
Do you live with your mum or would she be coming down the yard all the time to help you?
 
Well, if you are still looking to buy, try looking for a horse that's been there, done that, got the T-shirt type. Sometimes you can come across ex RS horses that could be intergrated back into working livery.
 
I'm living with my mum at the moment but me and my son are hopefully going to get a house a few minutes away from my mum, yes the RS does livery and if I did get a horse I would be putting it there and I would be getting 3 lessons a week, and I would be looking for a horse that's been there and done it also a horse that's older, and my mum would be coming with me all the time as I don't drive and she wants a horse again in the future but said she would rather help me 1st then when I understand more get a youngster for herself
 
In answer to your questions..... No i can't remember finding learning to jump difficult. But i think i was only 5 at the time, had good balance and good rhythm as was very musical even at that age so found things like seeing a stride and feeling the pony's rhythm really easy. A body protector is always a good idea, i always wear one when jumping, even on my older, more reliable horse!

I absolutely echo Shaka on the should i buy a horse or not. You will soon learn everyone in the horse world has their own way of doing things and if you really are a complete beginner, do you have the knowledge base YOURSELF to evaluate these opinions and decide what's best? You may find once you get a horse you don't want it in an RS and you don't want other people constantly telling you what to do/advising you. What is the driving force behind you wanting your own horse so soon?
 
I guess it depends on how much of a beginner you are? I had lessons at my RS for a year and a half and loaned two of their ponies for six months before I bought Tia. She's liveried there and if it wasn't for my RI, we would never be where we are right now, she is fabulous and I couldnt thank her enough. Having said that, I know of someone else who had only been riding a few months before she bought hers (again liveried at the same RS) and she's been fine - but we both have a lot of support round us. I didn't mind everyone giving their opinions in the beginning as I had no idea about any of it really, not coming from a horsey background. However, I tended to ignore what most people said and listened to my RI, and still do. If your mum knows what she is doing, then surely that must be a good thing? The fact that you are prepared to livery your loan/buy at the yard is positive. I think it would be a bad and dangerous idea to buy and put it in a field where you have no help, the thought of it scares me even now, two and a half years later!

Jumping is easy to learn if you are on a pony/horse that knows exactly what it is doing as you can literally just sit, and let them take you over the fence. It is MUCH harder when you and your horse are learning from the beginning, it has taken us a year to really get to grips with it as Tia had no idea and I'd had a handful of jumping lessons on ponies who were heaven to jump!

Echo someone else's comment about it being fun, I forgot that till recently, and had to rethink my strategy as was being far too hard on myself, and consequently Tia, who will try her hardest to please me.
 
To be honest I don't think you are ready to loan or buy. Can you volunteer to help more at the RS , perhaps once you are competent to earn lessons in exchange for work, or enrol on a college or yard based NVQ course.


Also put down on a bit of paper your income and living expenses for house and child and cost of keeping horse ..it is quite scary and makes lessons seem cheap! Even a working livery costs money for insurance, vets excesses etc.
 
It's cheaper to get lessons 3 times a week than it is to get a horse.

When learning, I think it's so important to get on a variety if horses. If you get your own (either loan or own) too soon you miss out on that.

I got my horse after 30 years of non-consistent riding and I'm very much aware that after having her for 5.5 years I'm very much a one trick pony.
 
Oh and I met my horse when she was on working livery and I moved her as soon as I bought her. It wasn't for her and it certainly wasn't for me.
 
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