Am I mad?

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CaspersMum

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As title really.

I've had my horse, Casper, for just over three years and he's currently on loan to a girl back home whilst I'm at uni. I've been here for a week and a half and I miss him like crazy so I'm thinking about maybe bringing him down here after the winter.

I was just thinking perhaps the balance between my social life, work and having a horse might just be a little too much. I guess I just need advice from people who've been in my situation, is having a horse and fully experiencing uni possible?
 
I'm at college & have a 17 month old gelding.
I know it's not the same as uni but it is similar. Anyway my opinion is fully experiencing it whilst being the dedicated horse owner isn't possible but you can still have an ok social life. You just can't be out all night like everyone else all the time!
 
I found my social life was pretty much non existent especially throughout the third year, and I didn't work (apart from in the summer hols)... the workload increases as you progress through the degree so by year 3 there's a hell of a lot of work. In March of my 3rd year I had 3x 3000 word essays plus my 10,000word dissertation and a poster to hand in... the horses were my way of taking time out from uni work, so whilst it is possible, I found the uni social life had to give.
 
Hey,

First, really sorry to hear that you're missing your boy! Moving to Uni is hard enough in itself, and to not have your horse anymore really can seem like the nail in the coffin! However, my advice you would be to try and stick it out. In my opinion (although many may disagree), it's not really practical to have your horse AND do a degree AND enjoy the social aspects (this is assuming you're not doing an equine type degree?).
Plus, you have to think about the upset to your boy - being moved back and forth between term times etc, that might be quite stressful for him. I had a similar set up to you at Uni, I had someone to keep mine 'ticking over' at home and then I'd ride during the holidays (which made me appreciate them even more - absense makes the heart grow fonder and all that!).
If you really feel that you can't manage then review it after a few months, but I think it will probably get easier when you're settled into you new routine. Plus, Uni flies by ... you'll be back home with him full-time before you know it :) x
 
Choccy*Dun said:
Hey,

First, really sorry to hear that you're missing your boy! Moving to Uni is hard enough in itself, and to not have your horse anymore really can seem like the nail in the coffin! However, my advice you would be to try and stick it out. In my opinion (although many may disagree), it's not really practical to have your horse AND do a degree AND enjoy the social aspects (this is assuming you're not doing an equine type degree?).
Plus, you have to think about the upset to your boy - being moved back and forth between term times etc, that might be quite stressful for him. I had a similar set up to you at Uni, I had someone to keep mine 'ticking over' at home and then I'd ride during the holidays (which made me appreciate them even more - absense makes the heart grow fonder and all that!).
If you really feel that you can't manage then review it after a few months, but I think it will probably get easier when you're settled into you new routine. Plus, Uni flies by ... you'll be back home with him full-time before you know it :) x
Click to expand...

Tend to agree with this^^^^

I do agree with you though its hard leaving them behind.
 
I'd say it's too much work really :(
I'm doing a uni course part time, most of my seminars are early morning, then I go home and ride. I have no social life and rely on my mother and grooms to do more of the tacking up, grooming etc on days that I've been at uni. Also, I'm guessing that you'd have to move him around a lot with term times and stuff? I don't think he'd really like that :(
 
Another thing to consider along with time, is cost.

If you move him to be with you presumably he will be on livery - who will pay for that? If you have to get a job to pay the livery, you will not have enough hours in the day to study, ride and work. If your parents are happy to pay the livery then that's great - but is it fair if they are already paying your tuition fees and accommodation while you're at uni?

If you are happy with the loaner then presumably your costs are nil - the horse is being well cared for and exercised, and he still belongs to you and will be waiting when you are ready to have him back.

IMO you would be mad to take him to uni with you, the time there will fly by and if you have more time to devote to your studies you will get a better degree.
 
Well if those that think Uni and social life is hard to deal with while having a horse....wait til you are working full time, have a family, a mortage and a sometimes social life to deal with!! Blimey we must be superhuman!!:D;)

You want your horse with you then do it, where there's a will there's a way.
 
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