Should I? Shouldn't I?

Someone like biko perhaps?!

I've been wanting a horse for ages now, but keep telling myself I'm not ready yet.

So I threw my hands up to the universe (which has always been an excellent provider) and asked for somewhere to keep a horse, and someone to help me with it, and a horse.

And I waited.

And lo and behold, in the last week I have been offered somewhere to keep a horse, someone experienced to share it with (T), AND even a horse, on loan!

Sadly, thinking about it sensibly, the horse for loan isn't really suitable. She's a lovely mare, with what seems to be a lovely a nature (in the short time I spent with her on Friday), and she was good as gold when I lead her out to the field and turned her out.

At 15 hands, she's too small for me really (I want something 16.2 +), and she's too small for T. Also, T might like to compete, and so might I for that matter, so I need something well schooled that can help bring me on, and so sadly, this mare isn't the one. I will go and see her over the summer though.

BUT it has got me thinking really seriously about owning a horse. I started looking at ads in The Farmers Guardian and found a couple of perfect horses, for under £3K, with tack. Not that I have 3K, but the universe will provide if it's meant to be :)

It's a big commitment though, isn't it? It's 24/7, Christmas, New Year, Bank Hols. It's twice a day (although if I share with T, it'll be part time and therefore more do-able). And the cost is heavy duty too - and I'm out of work now. And if in work, there's no time to do it all any way, so you end up paying full livery fees for someone else to look after your horse!) But then it might just be the thing to keep me alive, you know. Healthy outdoor living. All that exercise.

Costs - ones I can think of off the top of my head...

Livery (room and board!)
Shoes and/or trimming every 6-8 weeks.
Feed
Veterinary Fees
Dental Fees
Tack/Clothing (rugs, bits and bobs that need replacing)
Lessons (because you still need those!)

I've seen so many people rush into buying a horse in the 18 months since I started riding. People who buy the perfect animal and fulfil their dreams only to find they're terrified of it 3 months later when it takes the rise out of them and completely walks all over them (literally in some cases). Or they realise they can't handle mucking out twice a day, everyday, so they stop going to the stable, and just leave the horse alone for days on end. I really don't want that to happen to me.

I need a gelding who is a gent. Who will let my kids ride him, and yet who has some potential to do more - just a little more. Some dressage, some jumping, hacking out... Can you see me in Pony Club ha ha ha!

I guess I ought to start to doing those pools, eh. Or better still - like, erm, finish my novel and sell the bloody thing, and repeat!