Anyone feel like giving up?

[NooNoo59]

I just do not want to ride atm, I dont understand why. I have a lovely pony who has had some lameness issues but those seem to be sorted so why do I not want to ride him? I am 63 and my back has been painful recently which I am trying to sort out but I can ride sometimes. I dont do anything earth shattering but I am just not enjoying being on board. I dont mind all the care issues, but its the riding. This is not the first time I have felt like this, is it the pony or is it me? Does he just need too much input, still quite inexperienced and there lots of things he still needs to be introduced to and I just dont have the energy. How have people got through this?

 

[ycbm]

I'm a year older than you. The last 3 winters I've not ridden that much, because I've not felt like it. I'd let yourself off, wait until you feel the urge to ride, and if that's never, well, just accept that life moves on as we age.
.

 

[Debsflo1]

I've had an amazing summer with my horse but as the clocks have changed, horses in, more jobs have less energy.
I've decided to let mine have a break mid Dec until Feb to give us both some quieter time with no pressure.
I'm 59 and the days of beating myself up are over.
take time out from riding maybe and see how you feel

 

[Abi90]

I’m 32 and I feel like this a lot. I enjoy it when I do ride but I find it so hard in the winter around work and having to go to the gym for work.

I decided to cut myself a break, the only one holding myself to this standard is me!

 

[Abacus]

Still ok at the moment perhaps because my horse is going well but if not I’d be pretty bored with the weather and mud. But I always have a slump after christmas and generally take Feb off, for some reason I find it the hardest month. Still very cold and dark. I prefer to run and walk a lot to feel well instead of beating myself up to ride. A break is good. I might even do 6 weeks this winter.

ETA: on your point about the pony being inexperienced, a break might be good for him/her too. I’d probably try to finish on a good note with one lovely positive ride, and give both of yourselves some time off. If you do, enjoy it! X

 

[Hormonal Filly]

Yep. I feel the same if I’m honest.

My mare is off work at the moment, and has been for a month living out. I still go up daily but only to poo pick and give a haynet. I’m loving not getting up major early, able to have a lying on the weekend.. and having time to enjoy the dogs and time with my partner.

I have thought the last couple of weeks. Imagine the money and time I’d have if I didn’t have a horse!

don’t put any pressure on yourself to ride through winter - he won’t be worried!

 

[Barton Bounty]

The day I give up is the day they carry me off in a box. My arthritis has been hurting but I am so grateful to have an amazing horse. I just plonk myself on and away we go ?

 

[webble]

I went through a phase of this a few weeks ago. The weather and ages and pains don't help. Ride when you can and when you feel like you will enjoy it. Do you have friends to ride with?

 

[HorseMaid]

I always tend to sack it off a bit over winter. The dark days make it difficult anyway due to working full time, and my motivation levels are always at their lowest (I go into hibernation mode), sometimes I don't ride at all in December /Jan. I just remind myself that my horse doesn't really care. Saying that we did go out for a nice hack this afternoon!

OP I wouldn't beat yourself up about it, hopefully once spring is looming your mojo will return!

 

[nagblagger]

Yes i feel like this at times, not motivated to ride, as if it is an effort, so i arrange to go with a friend as webble suggested. I haven't ridden her for about 5 weeks due to various reasons but i do need to get her out before she goes into her winter grazing field. Although she is not a novice ride she is the same whether she is ridden regularly or not.
You are not alone, so don't feel guilty, your pony probably doesn't worry if it is ridden or not, just go and keep giving him cuddles etc.

 

[blitznbobs]

Every single year about this time … then spring arrives and i change my mind

 

[oldie48]

I'm riding 4x per week and still enjoying it, I'm mid 70's. However, I no longer have the daily care or a horse at home and tbh it's really rather nice. I'm not sure how I'd feel if I was slopping through mud to bring horses in, it's so much nicer to just tack up and ride. Give yourself a break and see how you feel in the New Year.

 

[catembi]

Nope. I'm out every day, except for if it's raining sideways. I am very limited with what I can do with my horse as he has type 2 PSSM & is very symptomatic. I am really having to sit on my hands not to start eyeing up the purchase of a 5th horse... I am 'only' 51 though

 

[Pippity]

This is the first winter I've felt like that. I guess the gloss of owninng my first pony is finally wearing off after four years! She's currently on sick leave until she gets her hocks medicated next week, and I'm enjoying the resulting lie-ins and lazy evenings, and not feeling remotely guilty. I'm not looking forward to the rehab slog, though.

 

[ycbm]

I'm riding 4x per week and still enjoying it, I'm mid 70's. However, I no longer have the daily care or a horse at home and tbh it's really rather nice. I'm not sure how I'd feel if I was slopping through mud to bring horses in, it's so much nicer to just tack up and ride. Give yourself a break and see how you feel in the New Year.

Sharing your absence of daily care worries, and it's liberating!
.

 

[Cowpony]

It's meant to be fun, so if it's not fun don't do it! As others have said, it's a difficult time of year, so give yourself permission to have a break, and see how you feel in the spring

 

[Widgeon]

How have people got through this?

Take the pressure off. Assuming your horse doesn't *need* riding every day, aim to ride twice a week and anything else is a bonus. I'm 33 and that's how I manage winter.

 

[MuddyMonster]

It's meant to be fun, so if it's not fun don't do it! As others have said, it's a difficult time of year, so give yourself permission to have a break, and see how you feel in the spring

Ditto this. Unless you are a professional and needing to ride for a living , needing to be fit for competitions or horse has no -littlw turn out, don't sweat it. Adjust feed etc accordingly and just do what feels right for you.

 

[SantaVera]

I'm in the same boat op,aged 62, green horse. I have nearly given up so many times, I decided to stick too one riding route and now my horse does this reasonably well,he is only ridden a couple of times a month, so really can't ask much more than for him to walk around with the odd little trot. Tbh it's taken the pressure off and I enjoyed just grooming him and walking out inhand.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I'm only 51 but winter gets harder every year and I do go off riding so I have given mine a month off in January or February, and if I don't want to ride I just don't I have stopped feeling guilty about it they are not bothered.

 

[splashgirl45]

I had a horse until I was 70 and after I had lost her I decided to give up, I lasted 2 weeks and as I couldn’t afford the money to buy I decided to loan. I loaned for 2 years and the last winter was so hard due to dodgy hips and arthritis in shoulders and hands , although I was still ok to ride I struggled with the heavier jobs and couldn’t afford help. I started riding again last year but had a serious accident and due to medical issues I can’t risk riding again. I am now 76 and if I hadn’t had the accident I would still be riding. If you don’t want to ride but can manage everything else ,why not give yourself and your horse a winter break and see how you feel in the spring, i wish I had the choice…

 

[nagblagger]

This thread has motivated me - i have just arranged to go riding tuesday (weather dependent).

 

[Crazy_cat_lady]

The not enjoying riding hit about 4 or 5 years ago, also coinciding with the having to add up costs to see how soon we'd be able to get a mortgage, which added to the not enjoying it because I was paying so much for something I'd fallen out of love with and delaying the things I now wanted in life e.g. our own home

Kept plodding on for a few more years as he was unsellable, but only did hacking as it wasn't as laborious as schooling. I didn't even mind mucking out it was all the additional chores e.g. the poo picking, the sweeping, the trough filling as well it felt never ending

The news about how the energy prices were set to rise was the straw that broke the camels back. I was always wanting to be able to contribute more to the bills and now I knew I was going to need to. There was always something horse related that came up each time I thought I was doing ok with money. So I took the decision to give up. Bar a few sentimental items I've sold all my stuff though do still have my hat and bp

I don't miss it at all, I've sat on a horse once since I gave up. What we love can change over time, I always thought I'd always be that horse mad little girl, but I haven't been for a long time.

 

[Cortez]

I gave up this year after a lifetime of horses and being a professional rider/trainer/breeder for almost 50 years. I love it! Don’t miss it one bit and have left behind most of the aches and pains that were a large part of the decision to quit. I can of course one day go back to riding as a leisure activity, but at the moment it seems unlikely. I like not having to get up at the crack of dawn on miserable mornings, not being covered in crap all the time and not wading through muck.

 

[Marigold4]

I've just turned 60 and yes it's pretty miserable at the mo. I have a 4 year old and a green 6 year old to ride. It's hard to find the motivation this time of year because you can't just hop on and go for a blast with a young horse - you have to get it right and be correcting any glitches. I find I feel worse if I don't ride though, so even if it's 15 mins I make sure I do something. Having a plan of what I'm going to work on helps - poles, free walk, halt etc helps me keep motivated. I try to book in two things per month - this month a clinic and a low level dressage test. What keeps me going is the fear that if I stop, I'll never get going again!

 

[Red-1]

Last few years I've pulled shoes and had autumn off. I had my first sit back on this one two days ago, it was nice but there is no pressure to get on again for a while. Fortunately, he is the same ridden or not.

Been like this since 2014, when I retired, funnily enough!

 

[lme]

I can relate. I’m 62, creaky and hate the cold. In any case, I ride very little in winter because it gets dark so early, I work full time and I don’t want my young horse to do much in the school yet because she’s big and still growing. Fortunately, she is at a full livery yard with all day turnout in winter and is a laid back ISH

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

Weirdly timely thread…yesterday was a calm mild damp day but fab for this time of year and my head said come on make the most of this and ride but I talked myself out of it (Christmas cake and pudding to make , aches and pains etc). I m taking comfort from the fact that others are feeling the same way and won’t beat myself up about it…

 

[SantaVera]

Weirdly timely thread…yesterday was a calm mild damp day but fab for this time of year and my head said come on make the most of this and ride but I talked myself out of it (Christmas cake and pudding to make , aches and pains etc). I m taking comfort from the fact that others are feeling the same way and won’t beat myself up about it…

i didnt ride yesterday either, dispite the lovely weather , i decided my horse would appreciate a bit of peace and quiet in the paddock on such a nice day.

 

[scats]

I normally feel like that at this time of year to the point that I’d gladly give my horses away to the first offer! But typically this year I’m facing months away from the horses, for the first time in my life, because I’ve broken my ankle and I am dying to get back to my horsey way of life ?

If you don’t need to ride and have decent turnout, could you opt to give your horse a little winter break? You can still carry on looking after them the same, but just not ride. My girls used to have November off because that’s my worst month. Then I’d pick them up again casually in December for a few hacks but there was no pressure to do anything.

You might feel more motivated come springtime. Winter is tough enough for normal people and equestrians have it a million times harder, so be kind to yourself.