Is this loan a good idea?

[Astrabees]

I'm retiring at the end of the month and have been thinking about getting a horse, well a pony, probably. I'm not the best of riders but it is more nerves than experience (I've owned poinies before and been on lots of riding holidays) - I could certainly look after one again and if he was good natured we would get on fine.
A couple of years back I went to a local riding school where they had a horse, about 15hh who was a real favourite, a bit of a character, very safe but previously he competed in dressage and showjumping. He was responsive and comfortable to ride.
I noticed yesterday he is for loan for 6 months. He is getting on a bit now and only jumps up to 50cm. They are asking £600 for the loan and £60 a week for his working livery, I'd need to pay for some of his food and the farrier.
Part of me thinks this would be a great re-introduction to having a horse again and part of me thinks that most of the 6 months would be in the winter and not much fun. The cost of £2,100 for a shared (he would be working in the school) horse for 6 months, plus the extras seems quite a lot but affordable for me and maybe a good way back into regular riding. What do you think? I'm very indecisive.

Hmm, riding school ‘loans’ are often pretty extortionate but the good thing is you have a lot more support in place than you would if you were on a standard livery yard. What would you be allowed to do with the horse? Hacking, jumping, entering local competitions? Or would you be quite limited in what you’d be able to do. How much work would he be doing with the riding school? Would you have any say about what kind of riders would be allowed to use him in lessons? Would you have to pay for lessons on top?
what kind of facilities does the riding school have? If they’ve got a floodlit or indoor school that’s a lot easier over winter but how easy would it be for you to use it - would riding school lessons have priority? What chores would you need to do or would mucking out etc be done by the staff?

Would it be worth £80/week to you? As poster above says, would you pay extra for lessons? Where I am, lessons are around £40, so you could just do two a week for same price and rethink buying/loaning in the spring (and not have to face a grim winter of mucking out...)

He has been happily living on working livery for some years, so presumably it suits him. He is not at all sour. The equestrian centre has a very large indoor school, two outside schools and a cross country course. They hold competitions of all kinds there. I would do the baby dressage comps, hack out and the BHS riding club le trex and poles classes. I wouldn't have to do any stable duties. The main thought I have is that it is for the winter months and I might not get much out of it if the weather is bad. The lovely chap himself is very loveable, do pony cuddles would be high on the list too.

I must say that it is a first for me to be charged a set sum for a loan. On the other hand, having a horse in working livery is handy if you're not able to get there to ride that much, but on the other hand restricts when you can ride. Why is it only for 6 months? I would worry that you'll just be getting into the swing of things with him, and then have to hand him back.

*on the one hand

DD has a similar (but ongoing) loan from the riding school. We pay £55pw. Riding lessons take priority and she can only jump in lessons. No hacking. The cost of lessons is reduced to £10 for a group lesson and £25 for private. She does all care for the horse, but the stables will step in if she can’t get up there. It’s very handy for when we go away so don’t have the hassle of sorting out someone to cover. Its not the same as having your own, but it’s the closest we can get for the money.

im also wondering why you would only have a 6 month arrangement?

I wouldn’t bother. You can have a lot of lessons for that amount of money, get back in the swing and find a proper share afterwards. In this situation you’d just have got to know the pony and the loan would be over.

Six months isn't very long and I'd worry that you'd not be able to ride him much as the riding school lessons would always take priority.

The school I ride at has a couple of horses on working livery and the owners barely see them as they're always booked on lessons, beach rides and day rides. I've probably ridden their horses more than they have this year and I only go once a week for an hour!

Personally I don't think it's worth it, especially going into winter.

They are charging you working livery for a horse they own? They have more front than Blackpool!
Youd find far better looking for a private share, my sharer pays £60-70 pcm and has pretty much unlimited riding of two really quality horses

Thank you for all the replies. When I first saw the loan advertised on their Facebook page yesterday I was so consumed with desire to be closer to my old friend ( he is very pretty, quite fine build and black piebald) I was nearly straight down there with my card. Having considered all your comments I can see that I could ride him for lessons and the odd hack for quite a bit less, as I'm sure the weather will rule out some weeks in any event. Once i get into retirement I'll perhaps look around for a proper share, probably a quiet pony that isn't getting any work - your "two really quality horses" would be a bit much for me, Lastqueenofscotland2. I'm now a bit worried about what his future holds, I'm not 100% certain the yard owns him but I'd always assumed so, his tack is pretty fancy for a riding school horse.

My helpers don’t pay anything. I ask for commitment and reliability in exchange for access to what are also really quality horses (all 3 have won the national championship in our sport, and 2 are on the national team.) However, they are all rideable by a competent and confident novice who is keen to better themselves.

I don’t call my helpers sharers, as I like to retain the main element of control over the horse’s work programmes, but I try and let my helpers do things they want to with the horses. Over the years we’ve had yard outings to the beach, show jumping, XC, hunting, lessons and rallies, pub rides etc. In exchange I have a reliable team who mean that I can go to work without worrying about whether the horses will be looked after and kept fit.

I like to think I keep a happy little horsey commune going, many of my former helpers are still in touch, having only given up because of moving away or because their education, work or family commitments limited their time, but still come to bbqs or ride occasionally. I would think if you were willing to pay the equivalent of £4200 per year you would find people biting your hand off to offer you a share in their quality horse! I would put your rational head on and have a look around to see what other horses there are out there if you really want to ride.

I think I'll just have more lessons, do a bit of hacking and go on another riding holiday next year. In an ideal world I'd have another Highland Pony ( I've had two in the past) but not sure it wouldn't take over my life a bit.

See if you can request him for lessons over the winter and see how you feel in the spring. Don't blame you for being tempted to follow your heart - he sounds lovely.