Anyone taking their horse(s) to uni?

I wouldn't - it would surely be too much upheaval to be moving the horse back and forth each term just so that you can be with your horse. (Unless of course you're competing, in which case it's more important to have your horse with you.) If all you want your horse for is the leisure of it, it might be fairer on the animal to leave it at home with your parents, and for you to join a local or uni club during term time.

You have a horse?

See, I don't know if thats supposed to be normal or not...

Oh damn, I just read again, and you said "HORSES" as in plural, which means you have at least two horses more than me...How did you cope with your horses before? And could you cope if your workload doubles?

Thank-you. Well yes I am considering competing with it/ attempting to join a uni team etc if they have one.
Although I have not been parted from one of the horses I want to take for 10 years. It would be bloody hard to leave her behind.
Thanks.

Hi, if I had a horse I would certainly be tempted! I have to make do with a share but I think the questions you need to ask are:

Who would pay for the horse's upkeep? If you are studying and your parents are paying for your uni fees (they might not be, I don't know) then how will you be able to afford it?
How many hours will your course require? It depends on subjects, depending on what you want to do you could ask people on here doing the same subject or people you know because you might not have enough time. I have to do 40 hours studying a week and I doubt I'd have time for a horse.
Instead of selling your horse, you could just put it on loan and have riding lessons or doa share when you're at uni.

Good luck! X x

Seeing as you will also be leaving behind parents and friends (who presumably mean as much to you if not more than a horse) then leaving behind your horse is all part and parcel of it.

Perhaps contact the uni club or local club and see what people usually do/if they have horses that you could ride there? You'd be making a lot of extra work for yourself by bringing your own horse when your parents may be able to give it more attention while you're at uni.
You could also see how you get on without for the first term or two and then regroup and see if it's worth bringing your horse if you really think you're going to have the time to compete seriously.

Thanks; so do you share whilst your at uni then?

Well I think dad would pay, providing I was doing something with it like competing, the rest of them are going to go into our family business riding school so I know they'll be ok but I just would like to take the main 2 that I ride and compete now.

I considered it. I figured that I could keep costs down if they were at a basic DIY livery yard. However, I was persuaded against it by my parents. Having been at university now for a year, I discovered a few things:

1) I would not have had the money to keep them. I don't go out a huge amount, but I was skimming my overdraft at the end of the year anyway. My rent took up most of my loan and left me with only about £200 for personal expenses (food, clothes, events, going out, etc). I would not have been able to keep horses on that.

2) most livery yards are not walking distance from universities, as they are often in the country and a lot of universities are in towns/cities Getting a bus/taxi out to the yard every day would get expensive and irritating. Cycling is only an option if the livery yard is close and if you have enough spare time.

3) There was no way in hell that I would be getting down to the yard at 08:00 to turn the horses out before a 09:15 lecture. The late nights and go-go-go atmosphere take their toll and the prospect of getting up early is horrible.

4) Horse riding would have to be your main hobby. With riding most days and daily yard work, you wouldn't have time for much else. Your social life would also take a blow. Imagine a 17:00 lecture that finishes at 18:00, when you have planned to go out in the evening (say, at 20:00). You have two hours to get back to your accommodation, get changed, go to the yard, ride, get back, get ready and meet your friends. Trust me, that isn't do-able unless you are going to make some sacrifices.

5) the only way to make it work would have been to have them turned out the WHOLE time. Not all horses can cope with that and not all owners like having their horses out much/at all. Personally, I just leave my two out as much as I can. They are hardy and horses are designed for out-door living.

Why not leave them at home for the first term, and take the time to decide how much spare time you will have? You can always bring them to uni after Christmas. I know that working full time I struggle to keep my horses on DIY livery. I find full livery much easier. Would that be an option for you?

Depends on what area of the country you're moving to. Expect to pay between £60-£150 a week for full livery. I pay £70 a week where I am.

I am definitely bringing my horse with me, and from quiet far away: from out of the EU! It will be in UK during term time and in Germany over the holidays...