How do you know when you're ready for your first horse

[bravelittletiger]

I've seen the most beautiful cob pony for sale locally (outgrown by her current owner). I've fallen in love with her and she sounds perfect for me and my riding. I've got a local yard who have space for her on full livery. But I'm a novice rider and have little experience of horse care although I am an enthusiastic learner!! Basically know how to tack, untack, catch, groom, muck out etc. Haven't done any of the practical stuff like deal with injuries, feed, clip/trim. I can ride but I'm a novice rider- three paces plus starting to do a few little jumps and hacking. My canter transitions can still
Be dodgy!!

Also as you’ll discover owning horses and riding horses are two very different hobbies!!! Their remarkable propensity to hurt themselves may mean you ride less than you think

Was discussing this just yesterday with yard owner about affordable but safe fencing options as there is a large line with shared responsibility from next doors yard, who aren't prepared to pay out that needs replaced . Horses are a shit design and if they CAN hurt themselves they WILL hurt themselves. Fencing offers a whole host of opportunities for them!

I've also started getting into watching cross country/trail hunting videos on YouTube which looks like basically the most fun ever so I think I need to probably work out exactly what I want to do on my pony before I actually commit to anything like that.

It is the most fun ever. It's also terrifying at times, and a place where serious injuries occur frequently for both horse and rider so if you are at all lacking in confidence it could be a problem.

If it's something you want to do, then I would recommend trying it first once you have improved those points in your riding that you already know need work and DEFINITELY do not buy a horse just yet. If you want to pursue cross-country & jumping, you're going to want to purchase a horse with some natural ability, a forward personality who isn't nervous out on their own or when facing a jump, and with a solidly clean bill of health in a pre-purchase exam. The sport can be particularly hard on them, so preventative maintenance for joints & specialty shoeing to minimise the impact should also be an expense you consider at the very least.

Tbf I imagine Op is talking about popping round her local pick a fence rather than setting sights on badminton?

Probably, but it doesn't have to be a 5* to have health implications for a horse. Starting with a horse that has the conformation & personality to want to participate goes a long way to mitigate future issues. Even the most novice jumpers & XC riders I know do take that into consideration when choosing their horse and planning their care.

I don't know, I've just bought (unseen) what I thought was a very mediocre cob that I hoped could plod round the odd local show with dc. What stepped off the lorry has been a nice surprise- more work to produce but a very special pony. Majority of animals can do low level local shows. You don't even have to be able to move out of trot to amble round your average local pick a fence or clear round class.

You know a lot more than I did! I would say go for it. You will learn as you go.

It's the bit about "more work to produce" that I think wouldn't necessarily be great for the novice OP.
Otherwise, I agree that most horses can pop around a small course; I used to jump my Friesian and he was WILDLY unsuitably built for jumping (as most of them are!)

When you are ready to have no cash or time! But seriously its a huge commitment and whilst people say cobs are suitable for novices, they can become strong and lack manners if they aren't handled correctly.

You need to be confident in handling horses and be able to ride independently, if you don't have a guaranteed support system.

If you're only planning to go down three days a week, I'd say you don't have the time to commit to full-time horse ownership.

Would you trust the livery staff to know if something was wrong with your horse? Would you be able to go down in an emergency and deal with an abscess, suspected colic or laminitis? Is really it worth spending thousands of pounds on an animal you see less than half the days in the month?

Go for a share. You have all the fun with basically none of the responsibility.

No, and I certainly don't recommend she does what I have, but anything that passes a 5 stage vetting (which I recommend as essential especially for a novice) will be capable of a fun ride or wee course even if it's a complete kick along cob. A fresian is something I've never had any experience of handling or riding, they are stunning indeed I'd assume very few are suitable for novices from what I've seen?

I don’t think the OP needs some 7/8th blood sport horse to pop round a 1ft 6 hunter trial. However I don’t think a horse that needs a bit of producing regardless of how good their temperament is the horse to take a novice rider around an Xc course.

While you always hear stories of the green horse and greener rider who went on to jump 1.20s I’ve done a lot of instructing in my time and that’s very much the exception. Far more you have a horse that doesn’t have a clue what’s being asked of it getting frustrated and developing unwanted behaviours and and owner that will only ride in walk an trot in one end of the school (compounding the issue above as the horse is frustrated and bored). Leaving you with a rider who’s nervous and a “problem” horse

Do you have a riding school near by that you could take your pony to for lessons?

I've in no way suggested the op does this. That fact was actually irrelevant and I shouldn't have added it as it's made my point come across wrong. As I said what I thought i was buying didn't need that, but I was able to take the risks I did because the fact that it does isn't a problem. I don't think op has any intention of buying anything green. I was merely saying I don't think she needs to specifically factor her cross country dreams in to her budget and horse choice for small local shows. Any school master pony or cob in good physical health will manage that job. Anything that doesn't have the right attitude to wander round such a course wouldn't be suitable for day to day riding for a novice anyway.

i agree with a pp that if you are only planning on going down 3x a week it’s just really not enough , unless you are experienced enough to know that the horse is being well cared for in between - I’ve been at plenty of full livery places ! Why not put aside the equivalent of the livery cost + £100 per month and for the meantime use that money to have extra lessons , go on some riding weekends where you will be more hands on and maybe get a share . That way you improve but also know that you can genuinely afford the horse without it being at the detriment of your family .

I would say you MIGHT get away with it, or you might not. I’d definitely go for full livery at a yard with a school and have lessons weekly if you do go for it.

What I’d suggest as the most sensible now, is contacting a local riding club, asking if they know anyone with a sensible horse that is looking for a sharer. If you find a horse to share, have lessons on that horse with a local freelance instructor (who you’d probably also find through the riding club) and ask them if they know of a suitable horse for sale. If you can’t find anything for like an and still fancy this cob, ask the riding club if they can suggest a good freelance instructor who would be able to come and see the cob with you. It shouldn’t be a massive problem that they don’t know you, they should be able to assess how you are when you try the horse.

Biggest piece of advice- NEVER ask fellow liveries for advice. 80% of them will know nothing but think they know everything (and I say that as a qualified instructor!). Plus once these types have got their hooks into you they’ll keep chipping at you forever, even if they remain a happy hacker and you almost get to Badminton! A lot of horsey people can be very hard work.

Also op do your research throughly on full livery. Friends of mine have had awful experiences with their horses not being as well looked after as described, 23 hours a day in a stable during winter with 1 hour turnout. Not healthy for a horse, not enough hay being given, tack going missing and general bitchiness.

I'm sure there are some lovely full liveries around but with rising costs you'll pay a small fortune.

If you're able to DIY and find a smaller yard that allows good turnout that's what i'd do find a good instructor and go for it.

Thanks everyone and I agree with all your comments and have learnt a lot from this thread. I do worry a bit about the potential bitchiness of a livery yard as that's really not my vibe and I've already experienced that amongst some local horsey folk who were very keen to tell me the place I have lessons mistreats their horses.

The three day a week thing is really the minimum I could do but with two young children and a job it's always going to be a juggle for me and probably will be for the next ten years or so so I'll have to find a way of fitting it all in or give up on the idea of horse ownership all together.

I'll certainly make sure I properly vet a yard before I ever commit (especially having read this chain). Luckily there are quite a few options near me in Yorkshire so I can hopefully shop around a bit when the time comes. I like the idea of 24/7 turnout if I get a hardly enough horse although I know a lot of places don't offer it.

The posts about horses throwing themselves against fences etc made me laugh 😂 although I'm sure it's not a laughing matter when you're the one having to untangle them from an electric fence!

My riding school does day rides and holidays so I'm going to sign myself up for a couple this year and I've told the owner I'm going to come down to help out (or rather get in their way I'm sure!) when I've got some time off between jobs soon so that I can keep learning!

On the x country front I don't think I'm going to be jumping 6ft fences on my 17hh any time soon (and it sounds fairly terrifying!) but what I mean is that I probably need to see if my riding develops in any particular direction before I take the plunge so that I'm choosing something that works for me. I think the cob really struck me because she's so pretty but also because she's described as being into jumping and sounded in other ways like a good fit for me plus I'm used to riding cobs so I like that type. But I need to hold my horses (excuse the pun!) a bit I think and make sure I'm ready to give a horse a decent home before I take the plunge.

I had ponies growing up and horse shares for years. I still found getting my first horse as an adult a bit of a shock. Like babies there is never a right time and they are a bit like a hand grenade on your life.
I love my Fat Cob but he's had his issues, lameness, bad back and colic surgery as starters ..... I think I have spent £9k on vet fees this year He's built like a brick shit house and should be able to live out 24/7 but actually he's a total fairy and needs careful management otherwise his feet, stomach or other bodily parts fall apart...... although I sometimes think he just finds the vet attractive.
Owning a horse is wonderful but don't do it if you are scrambling for either time, money or child care.
I cope with mine because he's kept at home, I WFH, my child is slightly neglected and my husband is a saint.

Bloody hell 9k?! Were you insured for any of that?

And noted what you say about the time, childcare and money. My husband is also a saint so that helps! I've got solid childcare set up and I wfh too and we both earn well but obviously not a limitless pot of money either.

I think a loan/share will be my next step...

Imo it’s about the support you have around you. Traditionally in my family and some friends we appear to have mainly gone with the theory you’re ready when you’ve been conceived, which has always worked because the support has always been on hand. On the flip side I’ve witnessed people with 20+ years of supposed experience and a suitable horse completely fuck up due to the set up.
You can get an instructor or experienced friend to advise you when it’s carting you to the field, or naps etc. But most of those issues start with tiny minor indications that can be noticed by someone on hand and quickly resolved. And having that support is essential.
You can also pay for an emergency vet to treat a minor wound, or change dressings etc. But given their propensity to damage themselves unless you’re a multi millionaire you need to be in a position to save that money for the expensive, necessary call outs. And especially for their old age when you might as well set fire to £50 notes.

I was insured for about half of it. Vet said that there was no real cause of the colic, just likely combination change of season microbes in his gut, grass change due to sudden rain and him pigging out one night 🐷🤦. His field mate was fine. It was either surgery or he died. On plus side he's a complete tank and bounced back really well but I have had to invest so much time into his rehab which at times has been daunting, you can actually fly a cob like a kite, who knew!!. None of it has been easy, lots of tears, lots of drugs (for him), gin (for me). I may have just been very unlucky but before I bought him I put aside a chunky 'shit hits fan' fund just incase this ever happened....glad I did now. Like toddlers sometimes it's just as well they are cute...

I would look into a local riding school that offer BHS training and look to do Stage 1 + 2, at least the care elements if not the riding. They will give you a good basic knowledge of everything from worming, shoeing ie removing a loose shoe, feed, appropriate stable and field set ups, poisonous plants, basic first aid, conformation, how to lunge correctly, tack fitting and the different types of bit and which one is appropriate , how to clip etc etc. By learning all these things, and how to do them correctly it will build your confidence and you will be able to better judge when you are ready.