Owning a horse is not as simple as you might think. You will have to consider the following:

Why do you want a horse?

Whether you want companionship, want to compete or want a horse as means of getting out and exercising, they are your responsibility and a life-long commitment.

How time consuming is it?

This will all depend on your individual situation. If you decide to keep your horse on full-livery, your time commitment can be whatever you choose. Your worries might be less, but costs will be high and you will miss out on time and fun with your horse.

If you choose to keep your horse at home it will be a full-time commitment, 365 days a year!

You may choose to keep your horse on DIY livery, where you care fully for your horse. If, however, you are ill or want to go on holiday you can usually call on the assistance of the yard owner, at a cost.

What will it cost?

After the initial outlay of buying your horse, you will probably have to buy some tack and clothing for your horse, including saddle, bridle, rugs, etc. These can amount up to over £1500.

You will also have on-going costs, including:

Accommodation: this can cost up to £800/month, depending on the type of livery chosen. Livery charges usually include stabling, grazing, hay and straw or alternative bedding.

Bedding: this is usually included in livery charges but can cost up to £4/bale of straw or £6 for a bag of shavings.

Feed: as well as hay, hard feed, carrots and supplements may need to be purchased costing up to £8 for a standard 20 kg bag of hard feed.

Healthcare: this will include vaccinations, worming, shoeing/trimming and dental care amounting to approximately £600/year.

Do I have enough experience?

You will need to know... how to handle a horse on your own; how to feed a horse; how to clean out a stable; how to correctly place a headcollar, bridle, saddle and rugs; how to groom a horse; basic rudiments of riding or driving; when a horse is healthy or not; when to call the vet; how to maintain healthy feet.

Everything else you need to know will come with experience.