Any advice for someone who doesn't know one end of horse from another. How expensive is this likely to be?

[Spero]

Grateful for any advice, just starting on my research here for next year.

I am not remotely interested in horses, but my daughter is. Her only dream is to have a pony. We live within half a mile of a riding centre/stables so I was wondering if it is feasible to think about getting her a pony which could live at the riding centre and she goes round a few times a week to do whatever it is you do with these animals.

Once she is in secondary school in 2016 I expect to free up about £500 per monthin child care costs.

So if I can take the hit on buying a pony (I assume a few thousand or depends on what you want?) I assume if there is space, he or she could live at the riding centre if I pay for it.

do you think £500 a month is feasible for livery, saddles, whatever else? Tack seems eye wateringly expensive from the little I know.

i have heard of people sharing or loaning out a pony - would this be a good idea in case the reality of a pony doesn't quite meet my daughter's dream? I think she is quite realistic has she has been having lessons for two years and been on pony camps etc so she knows the score.

You have kindly offered to do breakdown of costs for me re horsey plans. That would be great, I am keen to reality check my plans as much as possible. I am in Bradford on Avon so hopefully there are lots of nearby riding school options.

Thanks again

Sp

Bugger! That was meant to be a message to bonkey. Don't know what I did there.

I arranged a pony share for ex's daughter with a lady who was delighted to find a small rider for her multitude of small ponies she breeds. I help her still one day a week but for the owner she was just pleased to have someone small to ride them and I'm sure would be happy to supervise once a week or more should I or my ex not been 'horsey' enough to help. Ex's daughter gets her 'own' pony to ride several days a week on a reasonable budget and the opportunity to do shows which the owner takes her to.

You may find someone who has a loved outgrown family pony that just needs riding 3 times a week or so to keep it ticking over that they can't bear to part with but need a little rider for if your daughter is of a 'useful' riding standard. I'd look for 'showing' people if this sounds something to look into for your situation as they often need lightweight riders for ponies.

My advice is to get down to the stables and talk it through with them. They will tell you all costs and how much you need to be involved. My 2 girls have ponies and it is absolutely fantastic. They went straight from school today and were there until 7 pm. All i have to do it drop them there most of the time. They have friends at the yard and hang out there all the time. My eldest is 15 and would rather be there than anywhere else. It does depend how many kids there are on the yard. My 12 year old is only just riding out on her own but has been going out with others for a while. Issues do come up that you have to get involved with but you just deal with them as they happen. The most important thing is that there is leeway in the budget for extra care, vets etc. If needed.

Just a quick update and a big thank you to everyone who has helped on this thread - and in particular the local mumsnetter who has put me in touch with the owner of an 11h pony who needs some extra exercise !

So this summer I can test my daughter'scommitment and increase my horse knowledge so it's win-win.

Great outcome - well done. Hope your daughter has a wonderful summer!

sounds perfect :)

Thanks for the update. Hope you all have a good summer

Thank you mumsnetters!

What a sweet looking pony, and your dd looks very happy!

Aw, what a sweetie.

Bless, that little minx looks like she knows every trick in the book Your DD will learn lots from a pony like that!

Fantastic, that pony looks like it'll be a lot of fun from the expression on it's face.

ha. Indeed. I can now cross off 'being charged at by a pony' from my bucket list.

She does indeed know ALL the tricks but she has not bargained with the obsessive devotion of a 10 year old pony mad child who is determined to be her friend.

And I have picked my first poo from a stable.

Sucked right in!

Oh god that sounds like my Shetland pony. He was so grumpy and the crosser he got, the more I loved him. I was 23 at the time though

Picking up poo from a stable? - soon you won't even need a fork - bare hands are much quicker

Is it only me that can't get past the buying 2 rugs for a new horse???? I'd go for at least 4 - 2 turnouts, lightweight stable, medium weight - fly sheet, cooler ???????????? oops that's more than 4.

What ever you do, do not, I repeat not, ever let your DD see an eskadron catalogue. Ever. Ever ever ever. Therein lies madness, bankruptcy and pretty things ....

Wanders off ???? totally missing point of the thread ....

I can never get over how many rugs people DO buy for their horses. My hunter has a Premier Equine Trio set, a spare outer for if when he trashes the other outer and I need to get it fixed. He also has a Thermatex, a fly rug and a lightweight cotton sheet. He doesn't need any more! They are high quality, durable rugs that I expect to last for ever (although the horse likes to surprise me from time to time by completely destroying a rug that is supposed to be practically bullet-proof!) Every pony I have ever bought has come with at least 10 badly fitting and completely unnecessary rugs. I get rid of them at horsey car boots asap and get them a little hard wearing, high quality rug and a backup, and that is all they need. (Unless they are greys, in which case they need a poo-proof summer sheet and hood too for when I have bathed them before a show. I have too many greys atm.)

As with everything in life, a single piece of really good quality, well fitting kit, kept clean and in good repair, is all you need. Some things you might be advised to have a backup for, such as winter rugs. But I never can understand anyone who has 15 rugs and 7 bridles for one horse!