how insane am I?

[PaulaMummyKnowsBest]

I would never describe myself as horsey. I managed to get to 35 years old without really having much to do with horses.

My DD (12) adores horses so last year we started loaning a beautiful 19 year old 12.2hh new forest pony. The pony is the sweetest little thing around and is totally bomb proof. It doesn't matter what my DD asks of her, she just does it. My daughter has started jumping her and is getting more confident.

This pony has seen it all and done it all.

As we have a full loan, I am obviously spending a lot of time with the pony and help my daughter sometimes. I can bring her in from the field, groom and tack up.

Now for the insane part...... do I get myself a horse? I have seen a beautiful cob 14.2 hh and although I have only have a couple of lessons, I am thinking of getting him.

At the yard where we have the pony, the owner is a riding instructor and gives my DD weekly lessons. I know that I too could have weekly lessons but am I completely insane to even be thinking this way as a novice?

If I am not being completely insane, what do I need to know about heavy weight cobs / gypsey vanners?

[CailinBainne]

I bought my first horse at 40 so you're not insane

If it's a gypsy cob you're after, they're amazing animals, my second pony acquired at Christmas is a rising 3 gypsy cob gelding and he's as quiet and polite as you could wish - recently backed him and my novice 11 year-old DD rides him. He's an Irish gypsy cob so lives out all year round, is an easy-keeper (get fat on a car-park)

It's not much more bother with 2 than 1 in my experience, and it's nice to hack out together

[Ponks]

Thing is do you want to ride? Have you ridden much? Have you been caught by the bug or just mildly interested? Personally think it would be better for you to learn to ride more before buying your own. But you could be lucky and it work out fine.

[PaulaMummyKnowsBest]

i have had a couple of lessons and really enjoyed it. At the moment if my dd goes on a hack, I walk alongside her and the pony which is fun for the first hour or two but then exhausting.

I would like to hack out with my DD as we live in a lovely area with some really nice places to hack.

[Butkin]

You're never too old! In my late 20s I bought a cob to learn to ride on because I wanted to go hunting and ended up riding at Horse of the Year show!

However I'd caution about buying a horse without lots of planning. I'd suggest you should learn to ride well on different horses at a riding stable before working out what type you actually want. You need to think about it's age, size, scope for what you want to achieve etc. Do you want to jump or just hack? Do you want to do anything competitive - your daughter might.

I'd also take advice from whoever your instructor is - they should be able to suggest to you the sort of horse that would suit your shape, ability and potential.

[Saggyoldclothcatpuss]

that's the thing about ponies, you go to bed with one and wake up with three!
there really isn't a definitive answer to your question, one thing I will say is, if you buy it, be prepared for a long period with fun and frustration! Whilst you are learning about riding and horse care, there are many trials and tribulations. There have been times with DD and hers when I've wanted to pull my hair out. Times when She would fall off, times when you end up in tears, times when everything you do doesn't work. Times when you wish your pony would disappear in a puff of smoke. BUT things do pan out, horses and riding do get easier, and you do reach the point when you wonder what you ever did without them. Just having lessons is far easier, but owning you own is much much more satisfying in the end. go for it

[Pixel]

It can work if you get the right horse and ride with the right people.

My mum was offered a lovely horse on part loan and because he was so trustworthy she was able to learn as she went along and had many happy years riding. Some horses would just take advantage of a beginner so she was lucky.

I say ride with the right people because there is someone at our place now (Psycho bitch [bgrin]) who has 'form' for putting beginners off riding. She takes them out, all friendly like, but refuses to make any allowances and goes haring off all the time leaving them to struggle as best they can. One girl was so frightened she sold the horse she'd waited her whole life for which was very sad, she doesn't ride at all now (nothing wrong with horse, he is doing RDA), and another girl had so many falls riding with PB that she almost sold her pony but moved yards instead. She is now riding out all the time and jumping at shows. Lucky escape there.

And Gypsy cobs sometimes need firm handling or they can walk all over you. I know, cos I've got one and he's a bolshy git. [bgrin] Agree with Cailin though, no probs keeping weight on him and he lives out all the time. He's never worn shoes either as his feet are rock hard which saves an absolute fortune.

[Pixel]

Oh I didn't get my bunnies, should have done bu [busmile]

[CailinBainne]

"And Gypsy cobs sometimes need firm handling or they can walk all over you. I know, cos I've got one and he's a bolshy git."


same with my little lad - I swear he'd walk through you to get to his hay !!!

[PaulaMummyKnowsBest]

I want to just hack but my dd wants to compete. She is happy taking her little pony to pony club and local events. My dd is tiny so at the moment, they are very well matched. A lady at our yard told my dd to never grow up as her and the pony are a real match. She quite happily canters her around the school bare back with a huge grin on her face. Bless her.

At the school I had my lessone, i had lessons on 3 differen horses and the cob was the one that I liked the most. She was such a smooth ride and responded to everything I asked her to do but at a really nice, steady pace. Where we have the pony there is another cob and he too is such a lovely, well natured horse.

So it might be a case of I get something for me to hack now and in a couple of years time, we get my DD another horse that she can still compete on if the one I get for me isn't up to it.

What things do I need to consider cost wise? We have a full loan on the pony and everything (except shoes) is included in the price we currently pay.

we need to allow for:
the yard costs
vet fees
insurance
food
treats
shoes (if needed)
wormer
tack and rugs

[MitchiestInge]

Clothes/equipment for you
Hay and bedding if not included in livery
Fly repellant
Mane and tail conditioner, horse shampoo, pig oil? Thinking feathers, winter
Supplements, maybe
Yellow visibility stuff for you and horse for hacking
Hoof picks
Grooming equipment
Hibiscrub
Wound powder
Feed and water buckets
Haynets

could go on and on but simplest way is they always cost more than you think and they take longer than you think!

[PaulaMummyKnowsBest]

thanks mitchie

i have most of that already but thank you for adding to the list

[Backinthebox]

OP, my mum started riding when she was 35 and had her own horse by 40, she won showjumping classes and hunter trials on her, hunted her and we all rode out together every day (no winter turn-out!) So I would not say you are mad for wanting to get a horse at 35.

I am a little concerned that you are a very novice rider, but it sounds as though you have been doing most of the stable duties for your daughter's pony and are building knowledge there. If it were me I would continue riding at a good riding school for a little while longer and get more experience of more horses. Maybe give a little thought to doing a BHS Owner's Certificate, which is aimed at first time owners. There are a lot of different horses out there! As a horse owner for more than 30 years I am still learning new things.

You don't mention where you would be keeping your horse and your daughter's pony - would there be help on hand for you? A good livery yard will keep an eye on a new owner and offer help and advice.

As with all things in life, it is often not the best idea for you to buy the first thing you see. This 14.2hh is lovely, but is he suitable for you as a complete beginner to ride right now? If he is steady enough for you now, will he be suitable for your future plans and ambitions - if you are thinking your daughter could compete him would he have the oomph an teenager would require? (I wouldn't ride many of the horses and ponies I rode as a teenager now - I bounced much better then!) I would be wary of buying a horse for a beginner just because you like the type. I would be more inclined to buy a horse that fulfils your temperament and care requirements rather than because you like the look of them.

I do hope you don't think I am trying to put you off, but owning a horse is a huge commitment - I was a terrified the day I brought home my 5 year old 17.3hh show hunter as I was the day I brought home my first baby from hospital. The care responsibily is huge, and if you get it wrong the horse has the potential to injure you in the worst case scenario. I think you can't beat experience, and you can get that without rushing in to own a horse after only a few lessons. You can't really get as much experience as you need just hacking out a horse and having a weekly lesson on it. (How would deal with, for example, finding that the horse spooks at wheelie bins? Or doesn't like cyclists? Both extremely common things for horses to take exception to!) Give it another 6 months of lessons, though, and going with your daughter to Pony Club rallies and you will learn loads. Please don't buy on a whim.

[PaulaMummyKnowsBest]

thank you for the advice.

we are going to PC rallies at the moment and my DD id looking forward to pony camp at the beginning of summer.

The yard where we currently have the pony has lots of lovely people who are very helpful and have helped us with the loan pony.

The horse that I get will also have a very competant young lady riding it (currently going to equestrian college) as she has just outgrown one of her ponies and is very keen to get something bigger but without all of the costs, so that may work well.

[ManateeEquineOhara]

Sounds like you know what you are doing on the ground. Being a novice rider I think it would be wise to keep having lessons on a variety of horses including your on if you her her :) It is great that you have someone else who will also ride the horse too.

I have a gypsy cob - she is lovely but can be a bit stubborn. She can also be strong at times and as the breed is originally bred for driving rather than riding - she can be very unbalanced in canter, although she can do a rather fab fast extended trot :)

I think your plan sounds great, and you don't sound naive because you have been helping with your DDs pony for long enough, and you are at a supportive yard - but ideally you would have while longer with regular lessons before you make a definite decision - get cantering comfortably first at least.

[olderyetwider]

I've recently got my first pony of my own, and I'm nearly 50!

I rode from 3 to about 18, then didn't ride for about 30 years (had DS at 20, and single parent for years so no time or money). GCs came to live with us 10 years ago, and GD (now nearly 12) really took to riding so we got her a pony about 2 years ago. She's a really confident rider whose ability has come on loads since she's had him. It's taken me a while, a lot of lessons, and I had a major confidence wobble, but I'm so happy to be riding again.

DH hadn't ridden as a child, and had his first lessons at 48, and now hacks out happily on his nice quiet mare, who we bought really early into his riding experience We ride out as a family and it's lovely.

However, I wouldn't let DH and GD ride out alone, as she's a child and needs looking after on the roads etc, and DH just doesn't have the experience to know how to cope if something goes wrong.

If you do get a horse (and cobs/ gypsy vanners etc are the way to go in my view) then it would be a good idea to get someone experienced to hack out with you and DD until you're experienced enough to be confident in a crisis.

If you've got good support at your yard though, I'd go for it!

[molliemol]

I think it's a great idea. If you are on a friendly yard, you will get loads of help from the others on the yard anyway,and there will always be someone on hand to ask for help. Your riding will improve much quicker than just having lessons, as you will get a lot more confident, so long as he is a quiet gentleman. great fun- a lovely hobby to do with your daughter!

[Booboostoo]

Sorry but I think it's an insane idea.

Nothing to do with your age, you can take up riding at any age, it's a great sport and I am sure it's a fantastic activity to share with your daughter BUT your lack of ridden experience is a real cause for concern. Horses can be incredibly dangerous and easily get into really, really bad habits. Finding the right horse for a novice is a total nightmare, trying to do so for a complete beginner is really, really unwise. The horses you might ride in a riding school will be very well trained horses, ridden in a controlled environment, under the supervision of an instructor and expertly kept in conditions ideal for doing their job (right feeds, right turn out, right amount of work etc.). A private horse would rely on you to do all of that right and it is so easy to get them wrong and scare both yourself and the new horse.