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Post by horsesaremylife98 on Jun 28, 2012 22:38:31 GMT 1
hey, i'm new to this board and was just looking for some support.
i'm 14 (I know it's young but i'm very mature for my age) and i am going to see a gorgeous 15.3 irish draft who is forward going but safe and kind...just what i was looking for.
i have been riding since i was 8, but took 6 months (with a gap of 6 weeks where i could ride) out of the saddle (unbearable!) this year due to surgery on my feet. i still have a limp but it doesn't affect my riding ability.
as i say, i am going to look at this horse for the second time at the weekend and if all goes well then i will get my parents and the owner to draw up a lease agreement.
i am a confident rider, and have some experience in horse care as i helped out at my local yard, but that was mostly tacking up, grooming, hosing down, mucking out, bringing in and turning out.
i don't have much self confidence around other people that i'm not familiar with (mainly around my age group) and i end up doubting myself. i am sure that i am ready for this, i know how to spot colic, lameness, laminitis and how to treat (in theory) minor cuts and abrasions though i would make sure to have a knowledgeable adult around to advise and help.
But i read people on Yahoo answers and H&H saying bad things about novices in horse ownership and you read all these horror stories and i can't help but worry that it might happen to me (i'm 99.9% sure it won't but still...)
my sister owns a horse (but she lives with my dad) and i have an aunt who used to breed racehorses so i could ask her if i wasn't sure, and there is a lovely yard manager who helps you with anything.
i guess i'm just looking for re-assurance...surely you were all new to horse ownership once? is loaning a rewarding thing to do? am i making the right choice?
please no rude answers (i know it's not like yahoo here but i'll put it anyway!)
thanks,
em x
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Post by ladyndibs on Jun 28, 2012 22:50:02 GMT 1
Hi Em and welcome, hopefully you won't need any help or advice as your horse is going to be fine but if you do there is lots of help and support here.
I've never loaned but took the plunge at 50 and bought my first horse, I've now got three and they are all lovely.
I don't have much experiance so can't give much advice but would say get to know your horse, they're all differant but if you take the time to watch and get to know yours you'll know as soon as something isn't right and ask lots of questions, it's amazing what you learn reading about other people's horses.
Hope everything goes well on Saturday.
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Post by horsesaremylife98 on Jun 28, 2012 23:00:04 GMT 1
thanks, i'm glad i signed up here! been reading other people's posts and it seems as though there are some really nice people here!
if i get this horse then in the summer it would be turned out in the day and brought in at night.
obviously i have school and he would be on assiseted livery (they would give him the morning feed and turn him out). would it be okay if i mucked the stable out in the afternoon before i brought him in? if not i'd be prepared to get up at like 5 or 6 to muck out before school.
thanks,
em x
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Post by kizi on Jun 28, 2012 23:11:47 GMT 1
Ooh your getting a horse!!! We will always offer advice... IF we get to see pics!!
You sound super prepared but there's only so much you can learn from a book.
Don't rush yourself or the horse, enjoy every second and keep on learning! No one is without mistakes, but we learn from them and that's what's important.
Don't ever be afraid to ask for advice... Just make sure that the people you ask actually know the answer rather than like to think they do!!
If your on a yard there'll be other people there too who I'm sure will be happy to help..
Lucky you! Good luck at the weekend!
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Post by sophieandmaisie on Jun 28, 2012 23:43:53 GMT 1
I think when loaning or buying your first horse, you're a complete novice anyway! I worked on a yard of around 50 horses for two years, but when I got my own, I found it to be completely different! By the sound of it, you have lots of people who will be happy to lend a hand, and the best way to learn anything is to do it yourself!
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Post by horsesaremylife98 on Jun 29, 2012 22:32:20 GMT 1
I know! and of course, if i get him i will simply HAVE to post pictures! i mean, everyone thinks their horse is the best right?!
so what do you think about mucking out on an evening (around 4ish) when the horse in turned out during the day? if it's not okay then i would get up at 5ish and muck out before school, as i know when you either buy or loan a horse, you are making a commitment to it. they are not just 'pets' that you feed and clean out, nor are they toys.
i agree with Sophieandmaisie about the best way to learn is to do it yourself, but i'm so scared i'll do something wrong even though i know that if i do, it won't be something life threatening; just something minor!
everyone here seems so nice! it's unbelievable, so glad i found it!
Em x
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Post by kizi on Jun 29, 2012 22:46:49 GMT 1
I don't muck out half the time until just before the horses come in.. Depends on the day.. But my beds are pretty spotless so it's not like deep litter that would go smelly on a hot day.. Check with the livery yard first tho just incase they haver certain rules or anything!
Good luck meeting your potential loan horse again!
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rowanrachel
Olympic Poster
Life is better when you share it with Horses :-)
Posts: 741
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Post by rowanrachel on Jun 29, 2012 23:08:09 GMT 1
Hi Em, congratulations on taking the plunge! I had loans when I was about your age but they were out full time- i'd say mucking out after schools would be fine. maybe keep an eye on the weather as if it was going to get really terrible one day the yard owner might want to have the option to take the horses in early. They will fill you in on all the rules though.
I'm sure you'll be super and really just do ask if your worried about things- its better to ask even if it sounds silly, and get some good answers than try to muddle on on your own.
I just recently got a horse again after many years an the people on here have been amazing help!
One thing to be mindful of if your mucking out every day after school is its quite physically demanding on your body when your not used to it. I found I got some back aches and sore shoulders to start with as my body wasn't used to it all the time. So just be aware of this and that you'll maybe feel quite tired for the first little while until your body gets used to the extra work- so get plenty of rest as your still growing so will need it! Hopefully you'll get your loan for summer hols so that will be plenty time to get used to it before you go back to school!
And yes lots of updates and lots o pics!!! Good luck!
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Post by KimT on Jul 2, 2012 12:33:41 GMT 1
Hello Em.
Weclome!!
I got my first horse when I was 13. My YO turned her out for me in the morning and I mucked out in the afternoon. I would try to muck out before bringing in my horse but if it was a foul day and they came in early, I would just tie her up outside the stable with a haynet and muck out then. I would sometimes leave a haynet by my feedbins in case they came in before I got up there and just asked the YO to pop it in her stable for her until I got there.
I think you will be fine. You are bound to have questions as time goes on. Where abouts are you? Quite often someone on here is happy to help in person if you need it (not saying you will. lol)
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Post by horsesaremylife98 on Jul 3, 2012 17:01:07 GMT 1
haha, thanks! i muck out for the yard that he will be kept at every weekend (14 loose boxes!) and i am pretty friendly with the owner (at the minute she is showing me how to back a horse, it's really interesting).
i went to see him at the weekend (Saturday) and i tacked him up, he was perfect!!! i then rode him did a little flat work, jumping and i went on the road to see what he was like with traffic...he was good, but the owner told me he doesn't like big lorries but me and my trainer an work with him on that. (besides, where i live you don't get many)
my parents said that if i wanted him i could have him and of course i said YES!!! they met with the owner yesterday and drew up a contract...and they signed it!
Quinn is coming on the 16th of this month and he comes with his tack and 2 rugs (But they are very old and worn) along with a month's worth of food.
so tomorrow i'm off on a shopping spree for his favorite horse treats (likits), a new head collar and i've ordered a rug with his name on it!
i realised that i hadn't put any description on about quinn so here it is;
he is a 15.3 (15.4 when he stands up straight!!) chestnut irish draught horse and is 7 years old so he's quite young. he's really cheeky but it makes him even more adorable! i love him sooooo much already!!!
i'll post photo's when he's here and settled!
-Em
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Post by sophieandmaisie on Jul 3, 2012 18:01:09 GMT 1
Ebay is the BEST place for cheap rugs/anything! My mum has got loads off there, I have no idea what they are for half the time, I just ask her, you can get some real bargains! (my best so far is some eurostar breeches for £13!)
Can't wait to see pics of the lovely boy!!
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Post by ladynowak on Sept 4, 2012 15:09:24 GMT 1
Good luck!! Everyone has to start somewhere and more than anything the most important thing is having the confidence to ask if you aren't sure and always think and question what you learn from others. Just because the yard know it all thinks its 'ok' doesn't mean that it is  just be warned...once you've got one, you'll never want to be without..it's a slippery slope   |
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Post by curlytobiano on Sept 4, 2012 22:03:36 GMT 1
Good luck Em! That is super exciting. You sound like you really deserve to have this horse on loan. You might find that it is 2 steps forward, one step back for a while as you get used to each other and he adjusts to his new yard and way of life. That is normal, stay positive and keep asking for help and accept the advice that makes sense to you, politely ignore the advice you know is not right for you!
Look forward to seeing your pictures and hearing ofyour progress. x
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just be warned...once you've got one, you'll never want to be without..it's a slippery slope 
