Too soon to get a horse of my own?

Question

Hi! I previously took lessons for about six months and took a break of about a year. About five months ago I started taking lessons again.

I really want a horse of my own, and my dad once told me that after my first year of college (I'm in my first year now), he'd get me one. But, the horse I ride in my lessons (I really like him) is now for sale.

Is it too soon for me to get a horse of my own?

A little bit about the horse: He hasn't been a school horse for too long (my instructor just got him a couple months ago)--he was a trail horse before. He is nine years old. He does have a soft mouth.

Answer 1

If you have the time and the money - I say go for it! Don't let it detract from your schoolwork though.

Answer 2

Its not to soon. If you have been taking lessons for that long Im sure your ready. I always like taking a long ride after school. The whole stress of the day is lifted of my shoulders when I ride. All I think about is my horse and not any problems. Just make sure the horse doesnt take up any study time though you do want to pass college hehe Good luck

Answer 3

Is it too soon to own a horse of your own all depends on the person and your available time and finances. Horses need attention and full commitment from their owners. We own 5 horses now. When they are not groomed, ridden, disciplined and cared for properly and daily, they have a tendency to take on a new character and are harder to handle when they are left to doing their own thing, when you finally get to them. Of course, you can always pay someone else to take care of them when you are not available, but that gets very expensive. People have a tendenacy to fall in love with the horses they feel comfortable with and on and have had time to get to know. Buying a horse you have had experience with is a positive, you usually don't have that opportunity. There is a lot more to owning a horse than spending a short time with it 1 to 3 times a week for a lesson. An option: Talk to the owner of the horse and tell them your dilema; ask if they would consider leasing. Your father might be open to that as well. That would take some of the financial burden off the current owner(realize I said some) while giving you the opportunity to experience ownership and really find out what it takes to own a horse. Horses need shots, worming and the vet bills can get steep. If they are with other horses and in a pasture or a stall, you would be surprised what they can do to themselves without even trying. One of our horses choked on her food that was lodged in her throat several months back because she ate too fast. That cost almost $600.00. not to mention the helpless feeling, the 3 hours the vet was there and the fact that we all stayed up with her all night to make sure she was going to be okay. In leasing, you will be much more involved in the horses everyday needs. The worst thing that could happen is you find out that you do not have the time or the money necessary to really care for a horse without learning how to sell to a good owner as well. I do not know if you own your own tack or use the barns, but, acquiring all the tack and miscellaneous items needed to own your own horse also takes time and money which would give you time to purchase that as well. Hope this helps, good luck and no matter what, enjoy...

Answer 4

It may not be too soon, but, what did your dad say? If, he buying, maybe he want to see if your going to put an effort into college first before he buy.
Now, we were all young and have learned ways around stipulations of our parents. This sounds like the "It can help me" approach. Tell your dad you feel this a good horse for you, as you both have worked together. Then explain how we need a form of recreation in college to help us unwind and in the long run do better. :-p
Heck, you can even go riding with your horse after classes and take your homework for when you two take a break. May find a nice pond or special place for your horse and you and have a few snacks for both of you. The horse will look forward to being with you and your grades will improve. :-D
So, how can your dad resist this great opportunity to help you do better in college?
Sounds like a good investment to me. But, I not your dad. ;-)

Answer 5

i've got been driving somewhat over a 365 days and a one million/2- and nonetheless do no longer very own a horse. I plan to purchase a horse my senior 365 days as quickly as I moved to extra horse friendly u . s .- that still has larger high quality horses. until eventually then I holiday approximately ten distinctive horses and over my driving occupation have ridden over twenty 5 or so. It fairly helps my driving to be on considered one of those horses. I used to have your comparable subject- i could cope with the hotblooded horses however the lazy ones purely destroyed me! Now my fashionable barn horse is between the laziest xP My dream horse is an Warmblood or Thoroughbred- i prefer to do eventing and extreme point dressage interior the destiny so as that purely is clever. I certainly love Cremellos- and my dream horse would certainly be one. no longer that the different shade would be denied...

Answer 6

no its not too soon, but a riding school horse may not be the best horse to get, unless he is fairly young and soft mouthed, and hasnt been ruined by countless kids riding him.
i rode for a year b4 getting my first horse when i was 12. he was a 10 year old cob gelding, pretty quiet but he could jump well, had the odd hissy fit, and had great personality - he kept me interested, dont get a boring old plod as you will be bored in a couple of months

Answer 7

It depends. For me I rode in lessons for 8 years. Took a year off got back into ridding. got 6 months of lessons. Then I leased first for 6 months and now i own my dream horse. Owning a horse is such a big step. You have so much responsibility. It sounds great but once you actualy own its amazing but sometimes stressful. For you i reccomend leasing. Its alot easier of a transition

Answer 8

its never too soon to get your first horse i was born into a family that owned horses and i got my first horse when i was about 3 yrs old so id say go for it and the best way to learn is hands on personal experience anyways!! just make sure the place your keeping it has someone that knows what to watch for medically if you dont know yourself!!!

and clyff12 you really dont need to be all that horse "savvy" as you say to own one! and you dont have to know the breeds really well either you should know the basics of your horses breed so you know what charistics are normal and which aint but it isnt as big of a science as your making it sound!! and by the way you can leave a horse unattended for multiple hours its called put them out to pasture they dont need a babysitter as long as there ok mediclly and they have food and water they'll be fine

Answer 9

I DEFINITELY WOULDN'T BUY A HORSE...yet. wait a few years, i know several people that have rushed into it and now their horses aren't in very good condition. Continue to ride this horse for maybe one or two more years and once you gain more knowledge, then go for it. The only reason i say this (please don't be offended) is that you have to be really horse savvy to own on and riding for 1-2 years deff. Isn't savvy enough! you have to know the breeds inside-out and backwards. you ave t know what to do if they founder, r colic, or even if it is as simple as a cracked hoof, you have to be prepared. PLUS..., horses re so much responsibility. There not like dogs. You cant leave them un-attended for 8-12 hours. Thats just not the kind of care their designed trecieved. I rode, showed, took lessons for 6 years before I got my own horse.

So PLEASE dont rush into making a desision, i would even reccomend, maybe wait until youre out of college, to buy a horse, because you will have more time to play wih it and ride it and train it!

Good luck, and plz make the right decision!

Answer 10

As long as he is calm, your instructor thinks you are a good match, and your personalities click, I would say go for it.

If at all possible, try leasing him for a year, make sure you have enough money to cover expenses. That is the main part of owning a horse that gets people.

figure out what the board is each month, times it by 12, then add on about $1-2,000 more for other expenses (farrier, vet, vaccinations, coggins, worming, etc). Make sure you have that for a bare minimum, If you have to scratch to make that, sorry, but the horse is too expensive at this time in your life.

Also add on the upfront expenses of about 1,000 for cheaper saddle, bridle, grooming equipment, etc.

Answer 11

id say no, as long as you continue your lessons, if he is the current lesson horse you use, it sounds like he'd be a great match for you because you two are already used to eachother and have probably already formed a kind of bond. if he bought you the horse, id keep it at that current stable, continue taking lessons, and i think everything will go great!! you can even talk personally with your trainer/instructor to see what he/she thinks and maybe have your dad talk to them as well. congrats if you get the horse and good luck!!!