A final Farewell

Carolina24

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As a lot of you know I have been through hell and back in the last 12 months the story went as follows :

Started riding and loved it - April 2011
Had horse gifted to me - May 2011
Gifted horse had to be put down due to Colic - June 2011
New horse arrives - End of August 2011
Decided that due to lack of time to sell Horse - Dec 2011

I'm been very honest here and would like to extend a great deal of admiration for all that everyone on this site does, you have all been involved in horses for a number of years and your commitment and dedication to this way of life is simply amazing. I'm not proud of this year and have learnt a valuable lesson about myself and ownership of a horse which has resulted in me feeling like a failure. I have never failed an animal in my life and animals are so important to me so I really do think you all deserve a massive pat on the back for been such wonderful people and dealing with the ups and downs of horse ownership.

My horse is going to a new home tomorrow at a new riding school which is already a livery yard and well known to me, he will be used as a riding school horse and will have a wonderful life with people who have much more time to ride than I do due to my work commitments.

I am selling him however I plan to give a donation from selling him to the British Horse Society or the RDA as a way of giving something back to this massively dedicated group of people out there that cope with the early mornings, mucking out, cold fingers and falling off.

I won't ever take a horse for granted and have a new found respect for you all as a group of people, I'm raising awareness to road users about how to re-act to horses on the road now and I am also looking to help a horse charity by volunteering some time maybe once a month to help in anyway I can, I would love to have a horse and have the time for it but until a lottery win comes along I will have to cope with helping charities where I can.

Thanks again for your words of wisdom this year and I wish you all a lovely 2012
Caroline
 
Very brave to sell up for the sake of your horse.

Don't give up on the horses though, keep having lessons, sharing, volunteering etc. Hopefully one day in the future you will be able to have your own horse and make things work.

x x
 
I'm sorry to hear you decided to sell your horse, but it sounds like you put a lot of thought into it and sometimes, I guess, selling is the right thing to do. I've been riding for 22 years now and only just found a horse to look after as my own so don't feel like you need to rush into anything in the future. Voulenteering sounds like a great idea to me and so does the donation to charity. It must have been a horribly hard choice for you to make so well done for making it.
 
I'm sorry to hear you decided to sell your horse, but it sounds like you put a lot of thought into it and sometimes, I guess, selling is the right thing to do. I've been riding for 22 years now and only just found a horse to look after as my own so don't feel like you need to rush into anything in the future. Voulenteering sounds like a great idea to me and so does the donation to charity. It must have been a horribly hard choice for you to make so well done for making it.

thanks Sian, It was hard and to be honest I know I'll cry when the time comes tomorrow to load him up ready for his new home but I have to do whats right for him and this way he will get the exercise and time commitment her deserves.
 
A very brave decision on your part, to sell your Horse!

I do hope you will stick around though, maybe have a look on soapbox?

I find it absolutley lovely that you are donating your money to an Equine charity.

I wish you the best in whatever you decide to do.

Lauren x
 
A very brave decision on your part, to sell your Horse!

I do hope you will stick around though, maybe have a look on soapbox?

I find it absolutley lovely that you are donating your money to an Equine charity.

I wish you the best in whatever you decide to do.

Lauren x

thanks Lauren
 
oooohhh, you are making me tear up now thinking about it and that's not good when I'm in work! You have done the right thing, he will be happier at his lovely new home and by putting his needs above your own you are a proper horse person in my opinon.
 
Sounds like a hard decision, and most probably the right one - for now. I bet you will be haviing lessoons again come the nicer weather - its an addiction thats very hard to shake.

Well done you for doing the right thing
 
I'm so sorry to hear that you have had to give up your horse, but I do admire you for thinking hard about what must have been a very difficult descision. And its wonderful that you are donating to charity - don't be too hard on yourself and as other posters have said, you can own and ride horses at any age so all is not lost!
 
Oh bless you, please do not feel like any of this is your fault, I do think you owned a horse too soon after starting to ride, however horses DO get colic wether Ou have 2 months or 22 years under your belt.

And what a brave and sensible choice, to give up your horse because your purse won't stretch.

You sound like a loving and caring owner, I wish there were more people like you in the world xxx

Keep riding, and who knows your circumstances could change and any horse that comes to you should count it's self very luck :) x
 
Sorry to hear of what a tough year you have had. I lost my wonderful mare to colic 6/7 weeks ago, its just awful.
It is hard work there is no doubt about it, I think it is very big of you to open up about your experience this year.
Sounds like you are doing what is best for now. Enjoy your charity work and campaigning and I hope one day you are able to have and enjoy a horse :)



however horses DO get colic wether Ou have 2 months or 22 years under your belt.

Could not agree more, I had owned my girl for over 19yrs and lost her to colic very suddenly and quickly, she had never suffered from it in her life before that
 
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Sorry , misread, not lack of money, lack of time :)

However don't leave us there are many on here who do not own and just ride, and also those that own and do not ride :)

Look forward to hearing much more.

Ps how about scaling down and getting a horse that is happy to be ridden once a week or less? Just a thought :)
 
As a lot of you know I have been through hell and back in the last 12 months the story went as follows :

Started riding and loved it - April 2011
Had horse gifted to me - May 2011
Gifted horse had to be put down due to Colic - June 2011
New horse arrives - End of August 2011
Decided that due to lack of time to sell Horse - Dec 2011

I'm been very honest here and would like to extend a great deal of admiration for all that everyone on this site does, you have all been involved in horses for a number of years and your commitment and dedication to this way of life is simply amazing. I'm not proud of this year and have learnt a valuable lesson about myself and ownership of a horse which has resulted in me feeling like a failure. I have never failed an animal in my life and animals are so important to me so I really do think you all deserve a massive pat on the back for been such wonderful people and dealing with the ups and downs of horse ownership.

My horse is going to a new home tomorrow at a new riding school which is already a livery yard and well known to me, he will be used as a riding school horse and will have a wonderful life with people who have much more time to ride than I do due to my work commitments.

I am selling him however I plan to give a donation from selling him to the British Horse Society or the RDA as a way of giving something back to this massively dedicated group of people out there that cope with the early mornings, mucking out, cold fingers and falling off.

I won't ever take a horse for granted and have a new found respect for you all as a group of people, I'm raising awareness to road users about how to re-act to horses on the road now and I am also looking to help a horse charity by volunteering some time maybe once a month to help in anyway I can, I would love to have a horse and have the time for it but until a lottery win comes along I will have to cope with helping charities where I can.

Thanks again for your words of wisdom this year and I wish you all a lovely 2012
Caroline

What a lovely post. Hope you too have a lovely 2012
 
It is good and right of you to admit that you can't cope and you have done the right thing by your horse.

Horse owning is a huge commitment and it's not for every one but that doesn't meant to say that you can't still ride or help out as you have said.

I'm sorry that you've had such a rubbish year. it happens to us all and many a time I've wondered why I put myself through such emotional and financial turmoil at time's! But after 40 years of horse owning being without a horse for me would be like loosing a leg. You're absolutely right, it is a way of life and for me, it's a life that puts a smile on my face and colour in my cheeks!

Good luck with what ever you decide to do from here on.
 
As others have said what a brave and difficult decision to make and please don't give up on the riding.

I have just literally said to someone that after another rollercoaster week with my mare whether I really ought to have come back into riding after a 10 year break or just have left it as something I enjoyed as a child/teenager. I hope I can make the right decision as you have xx
 
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