Keeping a horse whilst at uni in Liverpool

Never seen any horses at my time in Liverpool.

Posted from TSR Mobile

That's probably because they're kept in stables on the outskirts?

Takes a while to get to the outskirts and once you do your not in Liverpool anymore haha

Posted from TSR Mobile

It depends on your personal financial circumstances. Many students who rely solely on Student Finance, find that it doesn't cover all of their rent, living and study costs. Some find that it doesn't even cover the rent in full. It certainly wouldn't leave most with enough to keep a horse in stables and a regular twenty mile round trip to visit it.

However if you can get additional contributions from e.g. parents or a part-time job, then it might be feasible.

You need to do some maths. You can use the online SF calculator to work out how much money you might get from them. You then need to check the cost of student accommodation and deduct that. The remainder will be what you need to use for eating, travel, horse, socialising etc.

Thanks so much! Just need an idea of what the rates are at liveries. The cheapest I can get over here in NI is £15 a week. I would be moving in with my boyfriend therefore the rent, food etc. etc. would be halved. Travelling 20 mile a day isn't an issue as I would bring my car over there. The airport is roughly 10 miles outside of Liverpool too! My parents aren't completely supportive of the move as I have the same opportunities over here if I stayed. Would just be minus the boyfriend which is why I want to move. I'd have to have a part-time job to cover everything and put away savings. Lots to consider as I would be taking the horse to the major county shows to compete. That is very expensive too!

Only a minor point, but do be aware that some of the major county shows may clash with your exam period at uni. A lot are held late May-early June, and this is often exactly when you are having to do your exams. Even if you've just finished your exams, you probably won't have the time to put in the preparation with your horse.

Keeping a horse at uni is feasible imo, but you might have to scale back your competing a bit.

Thank you for your reply! I could live with that as I annually compete on the mainland in the July and August anyway, not wanting to take time off school for the May/June shows. Wouldnt be any different I suppose
I have a dartmoor stallion and he doesn't require much prep thankfully as long as he has daily turnout! You have given me much hope, thanks!

Fair enough. The only county shows I have really ever gone to are Royal Cornwall and Devon County and they both clashed horribly with my uni exams If he's a mountain and moorland, I can see why less prep is involved I've groomed for someone showing Arabs and PBAs before and they take a bit more work to get ready (especially as 2 were greys!).

I don't know what the attitude towards stallions is like in NI, but I know a lot of yards in the UK can be difficult about them, which might make finding livery harder. Some yards (especially those that can offer individual turn out) will accept them though, or alternatively, you might be able to rent a suitable field yourself.

Attitudes aren't great towards stallions over here I suppose buts he's no trouble and been in a few liveries with no problems. Most people haven't noticed he's entire until they seen his stallion disks on his bridle. I had a show pony for years and the prep getting him ready for HOYS qualifiers was ridiculous and even more ridiculous keeping him looking good for HOYS in October! OCD kicked in and it took 2 hours getting him plaited, make-up on, sprayed, hooves painted etc. etc. Thought getting a dartie would be much easier. I would love a field. Would be perfect, but Id need a shelter and would be a nightmare if he qualified for HOYS/Olympia!

I'm sure you will find somewhere suitable, and I think attitudes are starting to change towards stallions a bit in the UK. Being a small pony may help a bit, as people won't worry so much about him jumping out etc. I'm sure you'll find something suitable, it might just take a bit of time looking .

Good luck with the showing

Horses aren't allowed in halls unfortunately.

Yeah hopefully, he's not full up 12hh but very chunky. Thank you. Do you pay for your horses or do your parents help out?

Unfortunately, for various reasons I'm horseless right now, and have been throughout uni. When I was at school, horse related costs were split between me and my parents, but that's probably not very helpful!

While at uni, I have managed to ride a lot, though, mostly schooling other people's ponies and through holiday work at stables. Riding lots of different horses has been really good for my riding, but when I get a permanent job, I'm probably going to buy as soon as I find something suitable.

If you do need to make some extra money, I know people will sometimes pay for show-prep advice or showing specific instruction, so this could be a way to make some money while at uni. If you were giving riding instruction, you would need proper insurance, though, so you'd have to way up the costs/benefits of getting this.

Oh I'm sorry to hear about that! I really do not want to have to go without a horse through uni. You're lucky though that you can still ride though! Yea.. I was thinking about going and grooming for some producers to gain invaluable experience and money(possibly!). I would be better in the saddle than teaching people how to ride. The lowest livery yard price I've found is £40 a week in the Liverpool area.. Is that how much it costs? Its a lot cheaper over here.. The yard I'm at now is private and only costs £10 a week