Horsey money saving hints? (merged)

gerad_way

just wondered if £30 to rent a field for a horse per week is about right. Has running water and shelter included and storage for food etc.
But £30 is for land rent only
Thanks

trudij

All depeneds whereabouts in the country you are - sounds about right for the more affluent areas - I pay £10 a week for what Ive got - but thats low for round here (Dorset) I was paying more at another yard...

olias

DIY livery is usually £20-£30 pw and for that you will usually get purpose built stables, proper yard, rotated paddocks, muck disposal, use of a menage etc etc. I would say £15-£20 is more reasonable. (This is in NE)

Olias

zarazara

How big is the field? will you have use of the shelter and storage facilities?

gerad_way

Am in the NW. Field is 3 acres would have use of stable and storage.Livery around here is £95 per week, turnout and haylage included. Just wondered if it would be better to go full livery at £95 per week of £30 not to bad of a deal.

orlao

:eek::eek::eek:

How much!!!! TBH, I think that full livery would be better value for money as everything is included as well as better facilities but the downside is that other people are handling your horse (yes, I'm a bit precious :rotfl:)


Even in Essex where land is at a premium, I wouldn't expect to pay that for field rent unless I had all the facilities of a livery yard (storage,shelter, secure tack room, maintenance, winter hay and rotated grazing and an emergency stable in case of illness) and even then it would have to be special.

In this area, summer grazing is anything between £10 - £15pw but winter grazing is in short supply and if you can get it, will be £20 - £30 pw while hay is being put out......

UnluckyT

hi, i used to ride as a teenager and am looking into getting back into it.
trouble is i cant afford to do it every week and am rather overweight at the moment, so other than saving and trying to lose weight, what would you suggest?

Millie2008_2

UnluckyT wrote: »

hi, i used to ride as a teenager and am looking into getting back into it.
trouble is i cant afford to do it every week and am rather overweight at the moment, so other than saving and trying to lose weight, what would you suggest?

Is it the riding specifically you want to do, or do you enjoy being around horses? If it is the latter, maybe see if anyone locally is looking for some help with poo picking, mucking out etc? Maybe in the long term (subject to suitability) with a view to helping out in exchange for riding? Such arrangements can work well (and yard work does burn calories- I can always tell when I have had time away from horses, as I put weight on!)

UnluckyT

Thanks millie2008, I was actually thinking of poss helping out in exchange for a ride as an option, plus what you also suggested as i did enjoy bieng around horses.
i think it a confidence thing at the moment, but hopefully get their soon.

Katie-Kat-Kins

UnluckyT wrote: »

hi, i used to ride as a teenager and am looking into getting back into it.
trouble is i cant afford to do it every week and am rather overweight at the moment, so other than saving and trying to lose weight, what would you suggest?

I would save yourself enough money for say four lessons in a row and book in at a good local riding school. Check the BHS website for approved ones or go by word of mouth, you could also try a post on the Horse and Hound Forum for recommendations for a good riding school.

Have your four lessons in a row to get you back into the swing of things and then book say one a month or whatever you can afford to keep things ticking over. At the same time ask at the riding school whether there is any scope for being able to work for rides at the weekends (some yards allow this others don't, some allow it only in conjunction with training for an exam like BHS stage 1).

When you are happy that you have remembered enough about riding and horse care start looking for a horse to share. If you are happy to do jobs, you should find something fairly easily enough. Find a share horse by putting up notices in tack shops, feed stores, competition venues, riding club websites, and on horse forums.

Some people want a financial contribution to the share horse, others are happy to have the help. If you are keen to learn and accept your own limitations then you should make a good sharer. Be up front with the people you share with about your skills and if anything play them down!

In terms of your weight, most riding schools have a weight limit and if you weigh more than about 15stone you may struggle to get rides, if that is the case you could ask if you can help out at the yard without riding at first or do a horse care course, or even look for someone who wants help with their horses but doesn't necessarily need you to ride.