Tips from Hadlow College
Hadlow, Kent's premier college and one of the UK's leading
specialist colleges, has a renowned equine department.
This month - consider before buying!
Practically everyone who learns to ride aspires to horse - or pony - ownership - but it's certainly not something that should be entered into lightly! Before even thinking about searching for the right horse it's essential to consider the economics of ownership. Coining a phrase - a horse is not just for Christmas, it's for life! The most important consideration is where - and how - the horse is to be kept.
1 It's a very good idea to make an actual list of the most important details. This helps to get things into focus.
2 Is the horse going to be stable kept or will it be out for most - or all - the year? (Keeping a horse at grass has quite a few advantages for the first time owner but obviously not all horses can winter out - even when rugged up and well fed.) It's especially important to consider the expense involved when the horse is to be kept in livery. If the horse is going to be kept at home, it's essential to weigh up how much time is going to be taken up in day-to-day care and management.
3 Locating the 'right' livery yard can take up quite a lot of time. It should obviously be situated as conveniently as possible. At the same time, there's little point in booking a place at the yard down the road if the appropriate services and facilities aren't on offer. Services tend to be very individual varying from full livery - covering absolutely every aspect of management - through to DIY livery that consists simply of pasture with/without the use of a stable.
4 Generally speaking, it's more difficult to keep a horse or pony out in the winter when it's kept at livery. This is because few yards welcome risk of their precious grazing being poached during wet periods. Ideally, the horse should either have its own paddock or be turned out with a compatible companion. The field must be an appropriate size, well drained with plenty of natural shelter and the addition of a well- constructed, sensibly located field shelter. Is the fencing in good order? Does the field have a self-feed water trough that only freezes up on very rare occasions? Is the access gate to the paddock well located or is it at the bottom of a slope where it will become water logged in wet weather? Are sensible arrangements in operation about feeding and providing hay?
5 Even the toughest horse may need to be stable kept if it is injured. Will it be possible to make arrangements to have the use of a stable? What extra expense will be involved?
6 Owners are sometimes ill - or even manage to go on holiday! This can be difficult when the horse is kept in a DIY yard. Will it be possible to arrange cover for day-to-day care? What extra expense is involved? (Friends and owners often arrange to cover for one another during absences but it's important to make certain there are available options.)
7 Does the yard have an indoor school and/or an all-weather manege? Does the surface of the latter stand up to winter use? Is lighting available? What are the charges for the use of the school and manege? (Some establishments make an extra charge for use of the lighting.) Is off road riding available in the immediate area? If it's necessary to hack along a road to reach bridle paths, what type of traffic normally makes use of the road? Does the off road riding involve paying a fee (such as a toll ride type scheme)?
The above considerations will apply equally to the horse kept at grass at home. It's equally essential to ensure the right facilities and help are available. It's also important to budget for pasture care (which can involve all sorts of expense that isn't immediately obvious).
As well as a range of equine-related courses including degree level, HADLOW COLLEGE also offers a wide variety of one-day and short courses useful to anyone keeping or working with horses, involved in the land-based sector or running their own business. These include: TRACTOR DRIVING; CHAINSAW HANDLING; HEALTH AND SAFETY; FOOD HYGIENE, APPOINTED PERSON FIRST AID - and a lot more. Telephone: 01732 850551 and ask for 'Business Unit' for further information.
