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Discuss horse riding and ownership on our Horse forum.

Original poster

What are the benefits of owning a horse

78 replies

Buttons232 · 25/05/2023 06:30

So, vet check allowing, I’m on the brink of buying a horse for my 13 Yr old. She’s been riding since she was 4, not because we’re horsey just because she was born obsessed! Over the years I’ve come to the realisation that sadly, this is not a phase! She’s driven, totally committed and is very single minded about her need to improve. It’s not just riding them , it’s everything about them, mucking them out, feeding them, just looking at them. It’s insatiable 😂 I have two other kids who just aren’t the same, never have been and just don’t really care, so I have no idea where this has come from but it’s there and it’s not going away 😂

It’s been something we’ve considered for awhile now. I’ve looked and looked for a loan or part loan but finding the right one in the right place at her age has been impossible. The money’s there. She left an independent school last year, choosing a state school instead and is settled and thriving there. I’ve got a livery place and know about horse care to a degree as we had rescues growing up on a farm. I know very little about riding though as they were all retired or non riders.

I’m a natural catastrophiser so have already considered, in depth, in the middle of numerous sleepless nights why this is a shockingly, awful idea 😂

So my question is, why is it a good idea? What are the benefits ? Could some good come out of this? Isn’t it better than sitting in your room on TikTok? xxx

OP posts:
tattychicken · 25/05/2023 14:02

Keep the horse at current yard. At least for the short term, while you and your daughter find your feet with this horse owning malarkey. You can always move them a year is so down the line when you are up and running.

XelaM · 25/05/2023 14:03

It's also apparently great for fitness. My daughter finds riding a bike up-hill is a total breeze compared to/after daily horse riding 😂

Floralnomad · 25/05/2023 19:23

I’d definitely keep the horse at the current yard as the facilities sound good and having it on 5/2 will break you in gently rather than going straight into DIY .

Selfietaker · 25/05/2023 19:30

overitunderit · 25/05/2023 08:58

The advantages are as others have said- you will get access to a pony she can ride anytime she wants and do lots of fun things with (such as PC and day rides) that you wouldn't get with a riding school pony. She will be (hopefully) kept out of trouble to an extent and she may make friends on the yard. She will learn lots of amazing life skills such as responsibility, determination and commitment.

However, buying a pony for a child is a bit like buying them a dog. At the end of the day the buck will stop with you and you will probably find that it's you doing a lot of the day to day care and you will be the decision maker. You will ultimately need to decide what it's fed, what it's routine is, which trailer to buy, when to call a vet etc. you should also think about what you would do if/when she loses interest. All the horsey teenagers I know as adults now gave up their pony in their teens or when they went to uni. Will you keep the pony as a pet or will you look for a loan for it for example? If you're doing full livery, will your daughter be getting as much exposure to horse care and the benefits of it as you might hope? Who will be taking her to rides in the evening and at weekends? Are you ok with the inevitable impact this will have on your other two? I would also check things about the yard such as whether there are other teenagers with ponies and what the riding and hacking is like- im guessing you wouldn't want her hacking on a road on her own for example.

It really isn't like owning a dog. The child needs to step up or no more pony. To be fair this child sounds like she'll manage.

BakewellGin1 · 25/05/2023 19:32

I don't have horses now but did growing up until my little mare passed away in 2017.

Throughout the time I have competed, rode to a decent level and so on.

My horses have seen me through many a difficult time and gave me something to focus on.

Nothing beats a Sunday morning at the yard, turning out, watching horse galloping across the field or having a stretch and roll, mucking out and having the satisfaction of a freshly prepared stable.

Tucking horse into rugs on a cold night with a big straw bed.

For many a year myself and Dad went to the yard early Christmas morning before youger sibling woke and I always fondly remember that.

Apart from that exercise, friendships, fresh air. Not hanging around the streets.

Selfietaker · 25/05/2023 19:33

I also think the pony is too cheap...a suitable first horse would likely be double that. Not necessarily much more.

Mentionitismethinks · 25/05/2023 19:37

I agree 3k for a good teenagers pony is suspiciously cheap, like it has 'quirks'...

Damnspot · 25/05/2023 19:42

Did the OP say it was 3k?!

No wonder the owner wants to keep it on her yard so she can keep it pumped with bute

Floralnomad · 25/05/2023 19:45

I can’t see anywhere that the OP has said how much the horse is , all the figures given are to do with costs to keep it .

tattychicken · 25/05/2023 20:11

She hasn't mentioned the price of the pony, just the price of the different livery options.

Original poster
Buttons232 · 25/05/2023 20:18

No it’s not £3000. It’s a lot more than that . A lot more 😂

OP posts:
XelaM · 25/05/2023 20:21

Selfietaker · 25/05/2023 19:30

It really isn't like owning a dog. The child needs to step up or no more pony. To be fair this child sounds like she'll manage.

Show quote history

Agree with @Selfietaker . I'm just the driver and the cashier 💰 I know nothing about pony care and don't do any of it. My daughter does everything but she's at a 5/2 yard with loads of other teenagers and staff supervision.

Our dog is a different matter. He's my baby 🥰

Original poster
Buttons232 · 25/05/2023 20:23

I’m not sure where the £3000 figure came from. I think that might be the rough difference between the 5/2 livery and DIY livery per year.

OP posts:
DuesToTheDirt · 25/05/2023 20:53

in the DIY yard she’d be on a strip of land with other horses around but not with her

I'd rule this out, I wouldn't keep a horse in a field on its own, I think it's cruel.

I do think the distance could be an issue. OK, so the yard(s) is/are close to school, but what about weekends and school holidays? My horse is on grass livery and I mostly don't need to go twice a day, but when I've had to (abcesses etc) I find that working days are fine - I go before and after work - but it's much more of a drag at weekends, when I've got to go both morning and evening, and I might want to do something else that day as well. And I only have a 15-20 minute drive.

Don't forget, going before and after school might seem like a great idea just now, but in the winter when it's cold, wet and dark, it's a big commitment.

Is there any help available at weekends? What happens when you want a weekend away or a holiday? Or if you're not well and not up to doing the driving? Or if there is some crisis at home that you have to deal with?

And is there no grass livery where you are? (So much easier!)

XelaM · 25/05/2023 21:25

Honestly, if you have money to throw at it, you'll be fine. 😀

overitunderit · 25/05/2023 21:30

Guys I meant it's like a dog for a kid in the sense that ultimately the buck stops with you as an adult. Kids ask for animals and swear it will be them walking it in the rain but as the parent you've got to be the one prepared to be mucking out at 7am on Christmas Day too in my view. I'm fully aware dogs are not the same as horses fgs. I personally wouldn't trust even the most responsible teenager to be solely responsible for a horse.

Floralnomad · 25/05/2023 21:39

overitunderit · 25/05/2023 21:30

Guys I meant it's like a dog for a kid in the sense that ultimately the buck stops with you as an adult. Kids ask for animals and swear it will be them walking it in the rain but as the parent you've got to be the one prepared to be mucking out at 7am on Christmas Day too in my view. I'm fully aware dogs are not the same as horses fgs. I personally wouldn't trust even the most responsible teenager to be solely responsible for a horse.

Aside from driving us to the yard myself and my sister were totally responsible for doing ours back in the day . Pre buying our horses my parents were complete horse novices .

Austrianmilk · 25/05/2023 21:46

OP if you can afford the horse then go for it. From the age of 10 all I ever wanted was my own but coming from a non horse family unfortunately my parents wouldn't give in. When I was finally working at 21 they paid half of the purchase price of my first horse and now at nearly 50 I still have my own. I'm sure my parents thought I'd grow out of it but honestly it's a way of life. Yes it costs a fortune in both time and money, my husband moans constantly about the smell and the state of my car but I know I will ride until the day I no longer can!

WorriedMillie · 25/05/2023 21:50

Re the 5 day livery option, is extra care available on the 2 days where you’d be responsible? Otherwise it’d potentially be a 2 return tripsa day affair
also, are children allowed on the yard without adult supervision? If not, those 2 days could become long days for you

LadyJ2023 · 25/05/2023 21:55

Much better than being stuck indoors but also be prepared financially for anything thay crops up even the most simple vets costs a fortune,shoeing etc

Damnspot · 26/05/2023 08:26

overitunderit · 25/05/2023 21:30

Guys I meant it's like a dog for a kid in the sense that ultimately the buck stops with you as an adult. Kids ask for animals and swear it will be them walking it in the rain but as the parent you've got to be the one prepared to be mucking out at 7am on Christmas Day too in my view. I'm fully aware dogs are not the same as horses fgs. I personally wouldn't trust even the most responsible teenager to be solely responsible for a horse.

I help, but my dcs have always looked after their own ponies and horses themselves and so do all their friends. I'm pretty sure the vast majority of teens do, it's nothing like a dog.

Maddy70 · 26/05/2023 08:44

It's the Constant drain on money and dint forget horse ownership is a lifestyle not a hobby.
Winters are a killer, muddy fields are no joke icy/snowy lanes to navigate twice a day

This isn't just for a year or so. Horses live for decades. What will you do when it's old and can't be risen huge expensive pet that needs extra vet bills for little reward

I dont mean to be negative but this is the reality of owning

Think carefully and take off the rose tinted specs

lifesabitchandthenyoudie · 26/05/2023 08:51

Sounds like your daughter will be great with her horse! Whatever place you decide, you will be able to adapt/change it if needed, it also sounds like you're both prepared and ready to put the horse's needs first, which is paramount. (although the place he is sounds best).

I was the same as your daughter, my parents gave up a lot to let me have first one, then ultimately 3 horses, lots of lessons, travel, competition; pony club camps were interesting...) fast forward to my 50s and it's safe to say their legacy has left me with a very special gift. I've somehow managed to keep horses in my life to some extent; my partner is the first to say it's an 'essential' as he always knows the instant he sees me if I've had some time with my horses, because I 'look like myself'.

It does also keep/make you very fit, if you're doing it right; I had a six-pack in my youth and carried my children very easily - it's great for your core!

Just to add, for other readers, it's not always necessary to have such a good setup to own a horse; I rent a field and my horses are all barefoot, live out 24/7 (with shelter) and I don't need lessons anymore or compete, so it can be done more cheaply when you know what you're doing.

Nap1983 · 26/05/2023 09:00

If I were you I’d put pony on Full Livery. Means so much more time to spend doing the things you want. DIY can be such hard work you don’t have time to ride, groom or enjoy. I have done both for many years and now would not have one if I couldn’t afford FL. TBH I don’t think it’s that much more when you take everything into account.

XelaM · 27/06/2023 14:28

Hope your daughter is enjoying her pony 🤩