Talk to me about the realities of having your horses at home

[supercalafragilisticexpealidocious]

A house has come up in our favourite village which has a paddock and a stable block. It's a horsey village so lots of other equestrians around. I'm a novice owner and have only ever loaned before so I'm aware having horses at home wouldn't be an immediate thing until I've built my equine knowledge but I've got this fantasy of a Shetland for my children and at some point in the future a pony or horse for me. I know the winters can be very very long and that there would be an awful lot of land management involved too. Am I a mad woman for even considering this as a dream? For those of you who have horses at home- is it great or a bloody hard slog.

Having had horses at home and also on livery my immediate thoughts…

Having them at home is tying, you need good holiday cover.

How many? For me it’s three minimum, four horses is easier if you want to ride with a friend.

Which means lots of grassland maintenance.

but… we are looking for land again because I’m a control freak who loves being able to keep my horses safe and happy 😁

The problem is, they just really don't pull their weight around the house, and are totally shit at laundry...

This is true but unlike the stables cats, the horses don’t cover the clean laundry with fluff or think it’s perfectly acceptable to live in the warm house instead of the feed room whilst leaving the rats alone! 🙄

If you are a novice i would be more wary.
It is amazing having your horses at home, so easy to do late night checks, control the grazing and poo picking, quality of forage and bedding etc but the non riding side of that is a lot of hard work and not glamorous.
In addition having your horse at a livery yard gives you immediate folk to ride with, and chat over issues. I have had horses for more than 50 years and I still sometimes wish there was a person on site to look at x with me and chat it over rather than me having to text a mate and say what do you think. Particularly for kids as well don’t underestimate the social side of other kids on the yard.

You can't keep a horse on its own so you need at least 1 buy preferably 2 or 3 more.
The land management is:
Field rotation
Worming programme
Weed control
Fertilising
Harrowing + rolling
Fence management
Ensuring fresh clean water is always available
Poo picking

Then:
Getting a reliable source of good quality hay
Making sure you can do basic first aid and when to call the vet
Having someone to remove muck heap on a regular basis
Security of the yard
Someone to do the horses when you are away. That costs money
Maintenance of the yard eg drains, gutters, roads, paths

It is a dream for many but I would definitely get yourself lots of stable management lessons and learn how to manage grazing correctly.

I have 3 horses at grass near home, it takes about an hour and a half a day, costs around £300 a month at times to maintain with hedges, muck heap removal, fencing and strimming etc that I can't manage. I do love them and agree it is a great life for them and I like to be able to choose what is best for them. I had horses for 20 years before I had them on my own and agree it can be isolated. The work with the children and horses if they get into pony club is quite something. Farrier/ vaccine/ dentist costs add up as does the price of maintaining tack, rugs, field equipment and horse transport. But as a working mum the hardest bit is finding the hour or so of daylight every day to work in the field and then riding time. The highs are absolute gold though and I love my horses and land, they take over your life utterly. Hundred and one reasons not to but you could say that about having kids etc. I would make sure you are really up for it before committing and get a really well behaved horse and pony who has had a good education and an instructor to help.

I think Twistyizzy’s list is pretty much spot on. This is something I wonder about every time I see a farm for sale, but then I think the maixtenance would be a bit much. Also I see how experienced our livery yard owner is and the aspects of friendship at the yard and think it’s best to stay where we are. In particular I would not be confident with the tractor work side of things

Also if you’ve not owned before then I think best start off at a livery yard.

You can't have just one horse - they're herd animals so you need two - or ideally three so that when you ride one, the others still have company.

So think about the costs and work of three horses, even if two are field ornaments or companions, you still need to feed them, potentially shoe them and keep them healthy.

I know you can't just have one for those that have mentioned it. I'm not that much of a novice! Although it seems plenty of people in the horse world even when experienced think that a horse being able to "see" another is enough 😞

I suppose the logistics would be getting a Shetland or pony for my girls then something else on loan perhaps or a mini donkey (I've always had a soft spot for donkeys) to keep it company until the time was right for me to get something for myself. I think the thing is that I don't have to put anything on the land until im ready but the land will be there when I need/want it but that if we buy without land im always going to have to put ponies somewhere else. Realistically we aren't going to have the money to put multiple ponies on livery (especially a Shetland which would just be for my children to have fun on) and im unlikely to have time to ride and do DIY at a yard.

Im probably living in a fantasy land 🤦‍♀️...the pony I have loaned is DIY and often it means I don't have time to ride because I'm doing jobs.

It also depends on the size of the land and quality of grazing.
Most houses + paddock aren't actually sufficient for the number of horses on them and don't allow for paddock rotation etc
Add to that shetlands don't need good grazing but a horse for you may do and then you have to re-fence to prevent Shetland getting good grass etc.

@twistyizzy you're right it's definitely not a big enough plot for sole grazing all year round. I spoke to the owner about that and asked what she used to do and she said she used to borrow other peoples land in the village so that she could rotate properly. It's a very horsey village so there are lots of people with horses and/or land and a couple of the farms do livery. It would probably be enough for a Shetland or two.

Then I really wouldn't bother. If it will only fit a couple of shetlands on then it isn't big enough for a horse. Doesn't sound like it is sufficient for what you want anyway.

@twistyizzy really, why? It's an acre with 3 stables on and the solution when I needed to rotate would be to stick said horse/pony on someone else's land for part of the year. The two adjoining neighbours actually have fields (obviously haven't asked them how likely it would be I could use the field). Even if I can't have my own horse there you don't think it's worth it for my children to have a pony on? As I said I don't think we could justify livery for a Shetland and I would worry that having to go to the yard to play with a pony would make it less frequent anyway. Not worth it for that opportunity? I would love to be able to give my children the chance of growing up with a pony. Although then again I'm aware the reality might be different to the dream.

Yes big enough for 2 shetlands but 1 acre isn't big enough for 2 shetlands + 1 horse for you at some point which I thought is what you mentioned in your original post?

I'm in a kind of half way house, renting a field 2 minutes away from my house for over 10 years now.
It's nice to be away from livery yard dramas but it can be lonely, there's no one to bounce ideas off and an insane amount of land management which I really enjoy. But that comes at a cost. I'm on 3 acres and manage with a lawn tractor and accessories. Real tractors aren't cheap!

Horse care - you'll need a back up plan for holidays etc
Honestly I think I'd start on a livery yard first, it's a lot to take in and learn about on your own.

An acre isn’t big enough. It’s just not.

Also Shetlands aren’t great really. Their movement is so choppy it’s hard for novice riders, their attitude and proclivity to lami make them not ideal for novice children or parents!
Also they are really only suitable size wise for small children so what is the plan when they need something bigger? Because 1 acre is absolutely not enough for bigger ponies. I wouldn’t rely on people saying it’s no bother to help you out with grazing or that so and so has no trouble renting grazing. The reality might be different

I grew up with horses at home. It’s an absolute “lifestyle” not just a nice to have. Holidays require so much planning. Going to cousin Jenny’s wedding and staying overnight requires so much planning. Pony needs box rest, that’s all on you with very little help.

It’s SO EXPENSIVE, all the maintenance that gets bundled in with livery is on you! Things like fencing and major repairs to the stables will be eye watering, you don’t get the group discounts on vets/farriers/bedding/hay that you can get at yards.

I'm with those saying an acre is nowhere near enough space for what you want. I could build two stables in my garden but that doesn't mean it's a suitable place to keep two horses.

I'd also say that Shetlands are known as Shitlands for a reason - they're not necessarily great as a child's fun pony and often suffer with issues like laminitis which can be a right pain to manage on your own land, especially if you need to start keeping them in during the day.

The main issue with owning horses at home is that absolutely everything is on you. You're the one who has to be there twice day, everyday. If you need to go away, then you have to pay for someone to come to your property and do all the management that you normally do. You also have to arrange things like farriers etc. yourself and plan it around times when you can be at the property.

If two of the horses are just going to be fun pony's then have a good think about how much you're able and willing to pay for a field ornament - especially in winter when it'll be too dark to ride during the week for several months.

Definitely not something I would reccomend for a novice.

I have over 25 years experience, including about 7 years working with horses professionally. I moved to a property where I have the horses at home last year and whilst it is utterly wonderful, I find myself questioning my decisions a lot.

Maintaining it takes up more time that I actually spend with the horses although this is partially because we took on very neglected land that needed a lot of work. I have done very extensive research into how to best manage my land and I work very hard at it.

I would also consider; when I was a child, some of my best fun was riding with friends and messing around with them at the stables. The kids wouldn’t get that at home. As an adult, I relish my own company and I’m extremely lucky that I made a couple of friends local enough that we can meet and hack together a couple of times a week so it’s fine.

My main concern especially as a novice is not having that extra pair of eyes to ask when something doesn’t seem quite right. Even with 25 years experience, it’s not unusual for me to frantically ask a friend to pop round for an opinion or fire off videos.

Having said all that - I absolutely love it. I love being able to manage my horses EXACTLY how I want to with no rules or raised eyebrows. I love being able to nip down at lunchtime to go for a ride. I feel we have a much better relationship because I spend so much more time just watching and ‘being’ with them.

My main concern especially as a novice is not having that extra pair of eyes to ask when something doesn’t seem quite right.

I would second this. I take care of a friend's horse while she's on holiday and he's come in lame a couple of times. It's a huge responsibility to decide whether something needs a vet, or "just" the farrier, or whether it can be treated at home.

Colic is the other big worry as you can't just leave them.

An acre is nowhere near big enough even for 2 shetlands when it comes to winter. Your field will be trashed then you would have to spend loads on having it rolled, harrower, overspeed every year.
Donkeys should not be kept without another donkey- they need their own kind, keeping them with only ponies is not suitable.
I wouldn't necessarily say don't do it but I would keep looking for houses with much more land. For a horse and a pony I would want 5 acres at the very minimum

I would also add that what I LOVED about having a pony as a child was having friends who had ponies, which your child will get much more of at a child friendly yard, even now decades later I’m still really close friends with a few girls I used to ride with as primary aged child.

If you are a novice would you be able to spot signs of colic, lameness, signs that the pony is generally uncomfortable and might need an MOT? That’s a huge reason to not keep them at home!

My friend has 3 acres - and kept 2 barefoot native type ponies for her daughter when small , did all the pony club stuff, competing etc, but by the time daughter was on to horses, they went on livery as 3 acres of which2/3 was too wet in winter wasn't sustainable for two horses. They did graze the wetter land in summer after making about 30 bales of hay (have their own tractors and implements), and composted their manure, we're reaping the benefit it's lovely compost now! But you have to factor in the added costs of muck removal, buying in of hay etc as well as renting extra land, you may find it's cheaper on livery.
1 acre really isn't enough IMO, without it costing a fortune in hay.

Sorry to add to the detractors but what you will find with grazing renting is that the best paddocks will be 100% spoken for. People will want you in summer to keep the grass down which wouldn't be great for ponies, in winter no one wants anyone trashing their fields. So they would need to be at yours in winter and would need to build muck heap/ hay store etc. It would cost more than you think and for one horse in work I am not sure it's worth it. I would ask around about what that field is like in winter - does it have drainage? Is it on clay? You wouldn't want to be at the bottom of a slope for example. Also I have never had a Shetland and would recommend instead a 12/13h cob. If your kids get really into it them pony club will take over your life! If it's your dream to have horses in your life don't let us put you off but I wouldn't rule out DIY livery, for one it is cheaper. Whatever option you consider balancing riding against jobs is always going to be an issue for everyone but full livery and I like @Pamcakey do enjoy looking after land and being around them. We have 3 on just under 8 acres but only half of that is good winter land. The pony club manual of horsemanship states that 1 acre is not enough for one horse full time as no option to rest land. Don't underestimate how much space and cost the muck heap would take and ask yourself if there is enough room for a tractor and trailer to get in to take it.

Thanks ladies. A lot to think about here!!