To think that having two horses at livery is actually a luxury.....?

[Marigoldfetish]

I know this is going to get me flamed etc. but I really don't care well I do a bit else I wouldn't have namechanged

I live near a large family of 8, the children range from 14 years to 18 months. The parents are lovely people, I often have a chat to them about the kids as they have some issues with their teenage girl pretty much the same as mine.

Recently the mum told me they have got two of their children horses, and my children could go and have a ride if they wanted, they are going to be kept at livery stables up the road.

The family's sole income is benefits - I know this as the mum is quite open about this, and that they don't want to work as a) they couldn't earn what the get in benefits and b) she wants her OH at home to help with the kids. Without being too specific so as not to out them or me, one of the parents gets a higher benefit allowance for depression (so the mum has told me). To be honest, fair play to them - if they have made that as a lifestyle choice and their kids are well looked after and happy, and they are only getting what they are entitled to.

I realise this will attract the usual suspects and talk of goats, plasma screens and the like, but..... somebody please tell me, in the name of my sanity, that I am not being unreasonable to think that benefits are not provided for somebody to keep two bloody horses at livery????

Something about this does not add up for me. There is not only livery costs to take in to consideration but other expenses such as horse riding kit, horse shoes, vets bills etc... Surely benefits are not that much that they can afford to keep two horses?

I'm not missing the point , it's not on offer for me unless I go bankrupt and lose my house . My dh has a great job and I don't work so we get nothing . I don't want anything but benefits should be for the minimum not for luxuries . They clearly get too much money if they can afford horses. If you want luxuries get a job .. Simple !

at my riding school, shoes cost £40 per pair every 8 weeks.

then there is food and hay, bedding.
vets bills
worming costs and vaccinations.

i desperately want my own horse, but i just know i cannot afford it yet. To properly care for a horse needs money and a contingency for problems that arise.
my sil keeps 2 horses.
i am learning all things horsey at my local riding stables, to do it properly i fail t see how it can be done cheaply.

Oh yes, if you own your own land its cheap!! Haha only an extra 50 grand or so to buy it!

I reckon in 3 years my horses cost a good 10k+, and I don't own a horsebox.

In the end tbf I managed it cheaply, £25 per week full livery all in. BUT I had to work at the yard every weekend, mucking out 40+ horses, turn outs, grooming, accompanying the owner to the second yard a good half hour drive away after to look after 5 more horses. I would be out 8-9 on a good day, more if a competition. Owner just rode and made up feeds. The horses weren't mucked out in the week so it was backbreaking on weekends.

I was working for my livery in essence, they fed, turned out, put him on the walker, got the farrier, all hay bedding etc. But that was just pure luck I landed it.

Well the woman I know who has horses on benefits is in postcode LD(x) - see, that's not outing her.

"You can keep horses quite cheaply , if you own your own land"

You need quite a bit of land though - could be sold to pay for upkeep of the 6 kids!

Does anyone know if livery work for reduced fees counts as benefit in kind for tax/benefit reasons?

Just wondering what people on here are suggesting you do if have horses then lose your job.......

"Just wondering what people on here are suggesting you do if have horses then lose your job....... "

Loan them out. Sell them. People do have to do this sometimes after all. I hope I will have my horse for the next 20 - or even 30 - years. But I can't predict my income over that length of time, and yes they are expensive. I certainly don't think the taxpayer should pay me to keep him.

poor people spend all their money and aid the economy. Rich people squirrel it away and selfishly avoid taxes. Think about the people employed at the livery stable......am being a bit tongue in cheek. Well rehearsed arguements are being resumed

Sel them. hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am on benefits. I have 2 horses at livery.

I have always worked with and had horses. I am extremely lucky i have fantastic parents, they pay for one of the horses. When i got pregnant i had another one as well, a big showjumper who i ended up selling when i had Ava due to lack of time and money. The other one is a smaller cheaper option (welsh cob) but he has been a very tricky horse and i wouldn't feel comfortable selling him on in the current market. Plus i have owned him since he was a baby and i love him to bits.
I live with my parents so i can afford the horse (don't worry, we have a big house and i am not comprimising my daughters welfare). I have sacrificed a hell of a lot to keep him and tbh am slightly offended by the general feeling on this thread. People waste the same amount i spend on keeping my horse on cigs and going out etc when they are on benefits, so why am i the bad guy!? My horses bring a huge amount of pleasure and fun to our family, Ava adores them and is learning about responsibility to a another living thing, hard work and the countryside.

Sell them, loan them, give them away. I did all 3.

"Sell them, loan them, give them away. I did all 3."

TBF, that may not actually be an option in the current climate. I know that my 20-yr old bone-spavined but beloved boy would not be taken on by anyone else. I would have to put him to sleep to get rid. Perhaps the people from the OP are in a similar situation.

BTW....I know people on benefits who have horses, smoke and drive nicer cars than me. Hey ho......

Good for you scheherezade, good for you. I am not about to give away a very talented, very sharp and exceptionally sensitive horse to end up going through several homes until he reaches the equivalent of spindles farm.

HorseyGeorgie - only us horse people will understand. But I do hope you're not posting from an iPad?? NOT ALLOWED ON BENEFITS LOL xx

Sorry horsie, that was in response to seekers question.

If you're absolutely desperate, have them PTS. I was faced with this possibility when I had no other option.

does this mean that actually rescueing a horse is a possibility for me? one that isnt plagued with problems of health and the like?

ha ha! Yes i'm posting from the brand new, in development ipad sitting on my diamond studded golded sofa watching my 6000000" tv!
Nah, on my 'cost 60 quid of ebay as i can't afford a posh one cause i have horses' laptop!

I know, i'll take a deep breath and ignore with dignity i think.

I grew up with horses (although I'm not horsey). Caring for a horse teaches a huge amount about discipline, consequences and responsibility. They can be expensive but if the family are, allowing use of the horses for rides and helping out as stable hands I can think of that only as a benefit. I would much prefer teenagers growing up with financial disadvantages and possibly social disadvantages to be learning horsemanship and the many other skills that go with it than learning laddishness or laddetteness or joining gangs, getting involved in drugs, etc.. How much does that cost society at the end of the day? I think the parents sound incredibly sensible. I wouldn't condone benefits ever, but if that's how things are then I would much prefer them to encourage their children to embrace all things equine than all things yob.

horseygeorgie i think there is a difference though in your situation and that described in the op (if that described in the OP is true)

you are living with parents and they help with the costs.

you are not living alone, or with a partner who is also claiming because thats what they prefer over working, while raising 6 children, and 2 horses courtesy of the state with no desire to anything other than that.

i would also prefer for my dd to share my interest (which she is doing) but how come someone on benefits can afford what i cant when i earn a full time wage? how is that possible? its not just about choices - i drive an 11 yr old car, we have no holidays or weekends away, i sub my son through uni and we live day to day.

i would love my own horse but i also know i cant afford it yet - how is it that they can afford 2 when neither party works? how much money does that cost?

or are those horses going to be neglected when the money runs out?

i would be interested to know how long they have owned these horses for.

I see and comprehend your point entirely vicar and agree that relatively and comparatively it sucks. But, your dd has a loving mum who negotiates nicely over coats . So, I think do the horse children. However, there are lots of young people on benefits who would benefit (sorry) from learning the sort of discipline horse husbandry entails and it would be good if some funding went into that sort of thing or any other sort of thing that might inspire disaffected youth that exists in the absence of love.

Caring for a horse teaches a huge amount about discipline, consequences and responsibility.

So does having a job.
I don't care if people spend benefits on holidays, cars or horses. I do however think that children growing up seeing Mum and Dad never working or trying to work are significantly deprived of some very important understandings about the world.