Should I full loan DIY with no experience?

[CAMHShelp]

My daughter wants her own horse but she doesn’t currently ride but would like to. I rode 20 years ago but not so much now.
Thinking of getting a full loan as there’s a stable come up but not sure how they work in terms of how long the loan would be for, what the expectations are etc.
I work fulltime and I hate the dark so a little worried about going out in to a field at night now winter is coming.
Otherwise what could go wrong?

With respect. Everything! You haven’t ridden for decades, your daughter hasn’t ridden at all. You’re worried about the dark and winter. There’s nothing sounding hopeful here at all. Spend the winter getting some lessons and experience and then reassess in spring when you are both hopefully confident riders.

This . . . it is a total lifestyle change and not one you are currently prepared for.

Yes. Baptism of fire is the only way you learn. No reasonable owner would leave you high and dry. Ask for help, be transparent

No, no, no! That's highly dangerous advice for both horse and child.

If wishes were horses OP! Just because they want something doesn't mean they should get it.

Go to a local BHS riding school and get her lessons for at least a couple of years then get her and you stable management lessons. A few winters may completely dissuade her from wanting her own pony!

You hate the dark? So how are you going to manage mucking out twice a day in the dark in winter let alone getting a horse in from the field in the pitch black?
Id get your daughter riding lessons first, your jumping way to far ahead of yourself.

This is a terrible idea! Many people wouldn’t want someone who can’t ride learning on their pony anyway. Get you both lessons for a few years first.

Umm, this sounds like a spectacularly bad idea OP! How on earth would you look after a horse, let alone ride it, purely in daylight hours in the winter when you work full time?

Get both of you some early morning lessons through the winter. Have your daughter volunteer at the stables. If you both get really in to it, and poo picking in the pouring rain doesn’t put her off, revisit this idea in the spring.

@CAMHShelp horses is a lifestyle not a hobby. This morning I was up at 6am in the pitch black to see to my horse ie Muck out etc so I smell of horse manure. I then rush home to get changed and get to work. Repeat that in the evening, again in the pitch black.

You have to see to them 365 days a year, yes even on Xmas day. Twice a day on Xmas day because livery yards don't usually offer services on Xmas day.

You are very far from reality tbh.

Sorry just realised my post was misleading. My daughter has been helping at a stables for over a year and is studying Equine. It’s me that has no experience.
She can’t ride as she needs a weight carrier that’s why she doesn’t.

I have zero knowledge about horses.
I know about dogs and I can estimate looking after 1 horse takes 20 times more commitment, physical energy, time and with zero leeway in terms of compulsory daily schedule. Weather, daylight and available time make no difference to looking after a horse. You absolutely must do it irrespective of what you like or can afford.
If you don't like a big chunk of this commitment for whatever reason, or you can't afford it because of free time (or money obviously, but I guess that's already been considered), then you really can't go ahead with this ridiculous idea. First show your DD what working in the stables actually means at -2C before daylight before going to school.
Dial it all back a bit and start riding lessons for both of you ( refresher might be useful for you) and volunteer at local stables to get used to it.
Then, maybe, consider a loan horse.
If I had a horse to loan, I wouldn't let you have it for at least 1 year but I'd be happy to let you get used to it until then.

So how can she get her own horse if she's never ridden? How will you find a weight carrier as a loan that's suitable for an absolute beginner?

How will she get to the mythical stables at 6am in the dark when it's snowing? Or blowing a gale? Or both?

Sorry it’s not a mythical stable. We have an offer of a stable but no horse. I will need to drive her or she will need to take a bus.
It won’t be 6am though, the horse will have to wait either in or out. Feeds will be put in by whoever is first up.

"The horse will have to wait" sums up exactly why you shouldnt get one.
If you have to get to work then what time will you get to the yard?

You are doing it back to front, you need the horse first. Most loans insist on you staying on their yard especially novice owners. I don't know any owner who would let a first time owner move the horse to another yard

You Are being so ridiculous I don’t believe this is real. Please don’t get a horse. Even full livery is a terrible idea with a non rider in the mix.

If your daughter is very heavy even a solid horse will struggle if she’s very unbalanced. She needs lessons.

I’ll be honest OP, this is so unsuitable it’s starting to sound like a wind up.

If she wants to ride and there isn’t a horse at that stables which is suitable for her weight, she needs to either go to a different stables which has a suitable horse, or lose weight. This is not judgement, it is realism. I currently do not ride because of my weight.

I don't really know where to start with this.

"The horse will have to wait" comment is absolutely ridiculous. Horses are a lifestyle choice - and everything you do has to fit around your horse, not the other way around.

I owned horses for 20+ years - all on DIY livery. It is rewarding, but blooming hard work. Horses give a lot, but they also take your time, sanity, and every last penny in your bank account.

I am not being rude, but I really don't think horse loaning / ownership is the right path to go down for you or your daughter.

“The horse will have to wait” absolutely do not get a horse. Neither of you are prepared for the hard work that goes into looking after one.

The horse will have to wait? I hope you can afford a £2k vet bill at the drop of a hat when all its friends have gone out and he panics and tries to climb out of his stable.

Also realistically full loans are insanely hard to come by, let alone with someone as novicey as you clearly both are to even be considering this

You're the same person whose daughter was going to equine college, but didn't tell them she was over the riding weight limit?
I'm going to gently suggest that she looks to getting fitter and losing weight, and that you both have riding lessons before looking to load a horse.

Ok so I expected to be put off which is why I came, to give my head a wobble but those of you who think the horse will melt at 6am if they are not turned out need to get a grip.
I’m not suggesting they stay in all day just that 6am will not be happening. It’ll probably be around 7am.

You are not giving any consideration to any of the feedback here @CAMHShelpso why did you ask for it?

That’s a strange leap. Do you using make wild assumptions?
I contacted the stables today and told them no thank you but asked to be placed on the waiting list and in the meantime have arranged to help out at a yard for 12 months.

There are bad ideas and there are baaaaaaaaaad ideas and this is firmly in the second category.

Has she ever ridden? why can’t she continue doing what she’s doing?

Well, 7am turnout is fine - as long as all the other horses go out at 7am too........

If the other horses go out at 6am, and your horse has to wait for another hour, then he / she will be going nuts. Likewise, if one is left out on their own, and their field mates are all bought in for the night - they get stressed out waiting at the gate.

Your comment stating we "need to get a grip" proves how little you know about horses. You asked for opinions and advice, which you have received from knowledgeable people, who have owned horses for years. You clearly have not witnessed how a horse will react when left alone (even if it is only for a short time) - they do get stressed out.

You are being offered some very sage advice from many people, so please do think long and hard before choosing to ignore it. 🤷‍♀️

If neither your daughter nor your yourself can ride, why exactly do you want a horse?