Advice please

[JMG-4523]

Hi,

Some advice would be gratefully appreciated.

I have recently become a new mom, I also have two horses, one of which is 18 years old and the other is 4 years old and has only been backed approx 4 months.

My 18 year old is an absolute star and a true gentleman so the option of selling him is out of the question (he's my first horse and more of a pet now).

I am worried about being able to give my 4 year old and my daughter the amount of time they need.

My horses are not stabled near me (approx 30 min drive away), and when my mat leave finishes I will be going back to work full time.

I can just to say afford the two horses, child care and day to day living etc. But there is no money left for anything else (holidays etc).

Is anyone else in the same situation? and if so did you manage? Or should I just bite the bullet, no matter how hard and sell my 4 year old?

Advice greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Polos Mum]

My daughter is 4 months old, so similar situation - my boys are at home so I can pop out to see to them or sneak a ride when OH is around - it's tricky fitting it all in.
i also have a son who is 2 1/2 - tbh he is much more time consuming as he wants to play all the time and doesn't sleep in the day!!
Before my son was born I had 3 in ridden work, 1 is on long term loan and 1 sold just my big horse who I can hop on for a hack a few times a week
For me, my kids are only young once and that time is special - they grow up so fast! and I hope to still be riding in my 60's so decades left to catch up on that - which is why I cut down on my horses for a while.

 

[Booboos]

Congratulations on the new baby!

Only you can say what you can cope with, but if you work full time there are very few hours left in the work day and it might be difficult to fit in spending time with your toddler and partner, as well as spending time with two horses. You may also find that you need all your energy and patience to cope with both work and looking after a child so adding a young horse that is likely to mess about to the mix may not be ideal.

The sensible thing would be to sell the 4 year old, have the odd ride on your 18 year old (and get a sharer for him if you need to) and have a few less hassles for a few years until you are ready for another young horse...not always easy to do the sensible thing though, I always end up going with my heart!