Are you really ready to take the plunge?

You may have the funds in place, the designer headcollar, and a list of potential yards a foot long, but before you let your childhood dreams run away with you, it’s time to face reality – horse owning is a huge commitment and you need to ask yourself the fundamental question: ‘am I ready?’
Only you know the answer, but it’s hugely important to be honest with yourself at a time when hearts can rule heads. With the necessary money, time, family support and experience it’s possible to find, buy and enjoy your new four-legged friend and embrace all that is good about horse owning. You owe it to your potential new horse to be as prepared as possible, so consider this…

Am I experienced enough?
Buying a new horse is fun, exciting and scary in equal measures. But the more experienced you are, the better able you’ll be to cope with the pressures of helping him settle. Take every chance you can to look after and ride other people’s horses if they’re suitable, have lessons with a good instructor and up your horse care know-how in preparation for becoming an owner yourself. Your instructor is a great person to bounce ideas off – he or she will be able to tell you whether or not you’re ready to buy, and help you choose suitable horses to go and look at.

Do I have access to the correct facilities?
Choosing the right livery yard is key. If this is your first horse, a well-run yard with plenty of knowledgeable people on hand to offer guidance, as well as good facilities is important. Think too about how often you’ll be able to visit the yard each day and whether you’ll need the back up of a full or part-livery option. Your new horse will find it easier to settle if you can continue his normal daily routine, so make up a shortlist of potential yards and ask about opportunities for daily or 24-hour turnout, whether your horse will have lots of company, and the yard policy on turning out, bringing in and feeding, etc. A safe, enclosed school is ideal, as well as safe, off-road hacking. But most importantly, the yard needs to suit your horse’s age, temperament and workload – it would be dangerous to keep a young, recently backed horse on a yard where the only rides are accessible via a busy main road.

Do I have the necessary funds?
You might feel confident that your monthly income will stretch to livery, feed and shoeing bills, but the hidden extras can add up to a hair-whitening amount. It’s worth sitting down with a pen and paper (or spread sheet if you’re a techie) and working out a likely budget – better that you face up to the financial implications now rather than later. It can be a good idea to ring round local yards, feed merchants, farmers and vets to get a feel for prices in your area. As a rough guide, consider:
• The ‘monthlies’ – livery costs, feed, hay, straw, etc
• The‘ bi-monthlies’ – shoeing, worming, etc
• The ‘twice-yearlies’ – teeth rasping, saddle fit check, etc
• The ‘annuals’ – vaccinations, annual insurance premiums, etc
• Plus you’ll need money in the pot to cover vet’s fees, the cost of new or replacement tack and equipment, etc. And if you’re planning to compete regularly then get set to haemorrhage money on entry fees, diesel costs… need we continue?!

Do I have the time?
Time is a valuable commodity when it comes to horse owning. Your horse needs you to devote a hefty chunk of your day to him, and even low-maintenance, field-kept, ridden-at-weekend-types need regular daily checks, feeds, rug changes, water refills and TLC. As with all things in life, it’s about finding the right balance. If you want to compete and find a yard where help is on hand (albeit at a cost) when you’re busy, then great. If you have great hopes of eventing at affiliated level, while working full time with a long commute, a family to look after and a horse in DIY livery, expect a tough time ahead! Your horse needs you, often at the expense of weekends away with your other half and cosy Sunday morning lie-ins, so the whole family has to be behind your decision.

Am I being realistic about the type of horse I’m looking for?
You might have grand plans to reach Grand Prix level, but be sensible about your riding ability and the type of horse who’ll suit you. A hot-blooded youngster may have dressage potential, but have you got the nerves and experience to stay on-board when he’s prancing sideways down the road? Better to partner up with a trustworthy, well-proven type you can have fun on. After all, horse owning is meant to be fun!