Does anyone love horses ?

GemmaB78

I've just the one at the moment. Not very MSE to add another just now - hopefully next year.

Marygold is a 12 year old part-bred arab. 14.3 chestnut mare and the love of my life. She is just wonderful. She has that 'chestnut mare' fiesty streak, but is fundamentally a kind, easy-going girl.

We take part in endurance. Hoping to make the national squad in 2009 - here's hoping! We also try our hand/hoof at other things (dressage, SJ, showing, TREC, XC, etc.) but endurance is what we're good at.

cally6008

Everyone's horses sound so lovely ... I'm so jealous of you all (but not when its chucking it down with rain lol)

GemmaB78

No, the rain (and wind, and mud) are definitely the worst part of it. Particularly when you have an 80km ER in 12 weeks time (no, I'm not counting!) and you KNOW you've got to ride 20 miles, regardless of the weather.....

pink_piggy17

I have a 15hh cob, he's a cheeky little man! I'm going to have to get him a little companion when I bring him home from the livery yard in the spring too. I'd like to have my own livery/riding/training stables one day.

HBMB

Hi,

I love horses but have never had the pleasure of owning one. Once, when I was about 12 my dad took me for lessons and promised to buy me a horse and I was so excited but then he changed his mind and I was heartbroken and havent done anything with horses since. We have no moved to a more rural area and thee are lots of fields with horses round here and I cannot help but go and stroke them and gaze at them and daydream. When I was 12 I decided that I would wait until I was a 'proper' grown up which I decided would be when I was 35 and then I would buy myself a horse - I am now nearly 30 and in no position to do this yet due to debt but it is a lovely incentive to get debt free for in the next five years to fulfill that promise to myself (Although I doubt in five years I will be a proper grown up!)

Out of interest, what does it cost roughly to keep a horse each week? I would just like an idea so I know what I am aiming at, if you don't mind?

I'm going to look tomorrow for horse magazines at the newsagents, today has really resparked my interest!!

Heather

UKTigerlily

HBMB wrote: »

Hi,

I love horses but have never had the pleasure of owning one. Once, when I was about 12 my dad took me for lessons and promised to buy me a horse and I was so excited but then he changed his mind and I was heartbroken and havent done anything with horses since. We have no moved to a more rural area and thee are lots of fields with horses round here and I cannot help but go and stroke them and gaze at them and daydream. When I was 12 I decided that I would wait until I was a 'proper' grown up which I decided would be when I was 35 and then I would buy myself a horse - I am now nearly 30 and in no position to do this yet due to debt but it is a lovely incentive to get debt free for in the next five years to fulfill that promise to myself (Although I doubt in five years I will be a proper grown up!)

Out of interest, what does it cost roughly to keep a horse each week? I would just like an idea so I know what I am aiming at, if you don't mind?

I'm going to look tomorrow for horse magazines at the newsagents, today has really resparked my interest!!

Heather

I dunno LOTS! Livery costs (Unless you keep it on your own land), used to be anywhere from £7 a week for grazing only to £60 a week for full livery, back when I did it. Feed/hay/wormers/dentist 2x a year/vet/insurance lol I guess it'd depend on breed, M&M etc can be outside yr round, thoroughbreds can't. If you wanted to ride it/compete then more in shoing & tack etc can't remember what my cousin pays I think a few hundred a month

UKTigerlily

I'm sure there's a thread somewhere on horse costs by ppl who currently have them! Try horse in search

HBMB

Thank you, I will try having a search!

Its funny that today when I went to my allotment I spent more time stroking the horses in the next field than working but it was great fun and made me think again about horses and then I spotted this post and now it has realy set me off!!

I am off to search now for more information!

Heather

save-a-lot

In answer to the question, I do like horses, but I am completely allergic to them.. so even though I would like to try riding a horse I never could. My daughter is expressing an interest, but I cannot even go near someone who has been on a horse. So, I guess it is antihistimines for me over the next 10 years.. I have to let her indulge.

GemmaB78

In answer to the cost, how long's a piece of string?!

It depends entirely on livery, how much feed the horse needs, how much you want to spend on 'stuff' etc.

As an example, Marygold's costs are:

grass livery - £40 a month (this is VERY cheap - the next cheapest I've found in this area is £25 a week!).

hay and hard-feed - between £10 and £25 a month, depending on time of year.

insurance - around £35 a month

shoeing - £60 every 6 weeks, so around £40 a month

wormer - £12 every 6-8 weeks

So that's about £150 for the basics.

Add to that vet's fees once a year minimum (boosters and teeth - usually around £80 as call-out is split across all of us on the yard).

Then add on the incidentals: rugs, grooming kits, tack, headcollars, buckets, etc. Clothing for yourself.

Then the optionals if you want to compete: Driving a 4x4 instead of a small, sensible car. Maintaining the trailer. Entry fees. Diesel.

Eeeek! Not very MSE. But then I don't go out much, don't drink, don't smoke and don't but expensive clothes. Mind you, I can't afford to!!!