PML @ Suzi's comment
I have a friend who is horse mad, due to circ's beyond her control she no longer has her own riding stables or her own horse, but says that it's very expensive just to hire one for an hour. She lives in East Yorkshire.
Personally I'd prefer to hire one than own one, the costs are astronomical.
thanks for all your most informative responces , gosh did,nt reallise there was so many intelligent people out there , you all must have gone to the same school as the guy who shouts in blue ,,,,, change of plan now anyway im gonna have a couple of goldfish instead