Anyone given up horses? I'm doing it.

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3BayGeldings

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I think i've made up my mind to do it. (Decisive much!)

I've a 16hh 12 year old to loan out which I'm hoping can be easily done as he's a perfect hack, then I have my companion horse who is on loan and can be returned without to much trouble, I hope, this leaves me with my retired 20 year old who I can find grass or retirement livery for.

I've always had the 20 year old, then I got the riding horse as I missed riding, and then I got the companion for the 20 year old. But, I don't actually enjoy riding that much anymore. I'm only 23, but I feel like my brave and fun days are already behind me - plodding around on hacks has become very boring.

I want to save up money and move out and just live a bit instead of scrimping and saving all the time. Plus, I've been asked to leave my current grazing as it's too wet. It just won't be even remotely enjoyable at the field I've found to keep them.

Anyone else in the same boat??
 
Gave up ten years ago and never ever though I would ever (ever ever) want another horse and seem to have 3 now hmmmm

Word of advice, keep all your stuff in a safe place. I didn't and it irritates me every time I have to replace something I had already :o
 
I had a break after losing my much adored cob to a nasty problem that was harrowing for me and not pleasant for him, I was 18 at the time and in the middle of A levels

I never lost the love or horses though and have now bought two ponies, I am 35 now and have more money and more time for them than I would have had in my twenties

My advice is dont feel worried about doing it but do keep hold of anything you have that is hard to replace or has special value to you as guaranteed you will regret selling absolutely everything at some point in the future
 
I had a break from riding whilst I went to uni and for the first three years of working after that. It was mainly due to not having the time and money though rather than not enjoying it any more. As soon as I was in a position to afford a horse again, I didn't hesitate.
 
Aww, you sure you're not just having a "down" day? :) We all have these, esp coming into winter. Have you thought about putting on loan to give yourself a little breather for the next few months?
 
Thanks everyone.

Achinghips I am miserable at the minute due to leaving our current grazing so that doesn't help. But I've been thinking for a while about the 'not liking riding' thing. I've kept it to myself, it sounds so silly to have bought a horse and then never want to ride it, especially when he's so well behaved :( I suppose I won't be totally giving up as I will still have my retired boy to look after, but I honestly think I will be happy just having him. :) Sending away the other 2 is breaking my heart though.
 
You've thought this through really well :) Give yourself a well earned break, and re-evaluate in the Spring, it's hard to not be aroud them x
 
I will be by the end of next week. My old girl is being put down and I have no intention of replacing her (she's irreplaceable anyway) and as I haven't ridden in 5 years due to old age and decrepitude, and not really missed it, what would be the point of having anothe? I am steadily getting rid of my stuff and will donate some rugs to a local charity.
 
I gave up about 6/7years ago, got rid of horse, tack, rugs - EVERYTHING! Then one day my friend asked me to ride her horse whilst she was pregnant and I haven't looked back since lol :D. Only downer though is that I have to buy it all again from scratch and my god it was expensive :o
 
I agree with WelshD, keep everything safe.

After I lost Jamin' I felt I had lost my everything. There was no point getting another pony as another just would not be her! Gradually however (and strangley enough, come winter), I began to miss being around horses. I joined a gym but I got nowhere near enough enjoyment from it. Nothing compared to going to the stables, being around the horses and feeling 'brand new' after leaving. I've never actually missed riding. I'm too much of a wimp to enjoy half the riding activities that I should. I did however miss having my own, to groom, to feed, to muck out and I also really missed the friends I had made and spending time with them.

So, now I have Mr D. Perfect for me and helping me to be the person I was. I don't ride much but just being around him is all I need.

I did however (and very annoyingly) give most of my horsey stuff away. When Jamin died, I couldn't bare the thought of going through her things so let my friends take what they wanted....rugs, headcollars, buckets, haynet, you name it! So, poor Mr D has to make do for now. I hate that I can not give him all the nice things Jamin had (I'm financially not able to no). Infact, I never, ever wanted to use Jamins Elevator bridle again so Mr D had a cheap Robinsons one. I eventually gave myself a good talking to and he now has it but it pains me to think about what I gave away.

Oh I'm rambling on here........what I'm trying to say is........

Never say never OP. Give yourself time. A break may be all you need. Sometimes change can get you down too. Routine and comfort in the things we have and do can make us feel content and sometimes change disrupts that feeling and sometimes more than we feel able to cope with. Time is a great thing and I'm sure that is all you need. ;)
 
Im having a break from it all. Horse is on retirement livery (he cant do much work due to his breathing problem) and to be honest I was finding it a chore to ride/muck out and I dont miss riding.
 
You are 23. Go out and live your life for a bit.

Horses are a huge responsibility, and a massive tie, you sound as if you have a good head on your shoulders and have this thought out. If you feel you need a break, take one, nothing has to be forever, there will always be horses.

I gave up horses at 17 when I went to college, and I had the time of my life for the next 12 horse free years, (we'll skip the getting married at 20, divorced by 24 bit, but even then I was in Germany) I stayed out late, got up late (or didn't get up) I went away when I wanted to, I lived in the centre of London (big deal for a country girl) and worked in a theatre as a dresser for a bit and boy did I enjoy it. I moved around Europe and really sowed my oats (after I got myself un-married) I missed horses very much, but completely cut myself off from them.

But I did things in those 12 years that I could never have done if I had been tied down with horses. Winter in Verbier, summer in Amsterdam - brilliant, working vacations all over the place, I wouldn't have missed those experiences for the world.
 
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*Spider* said:
I know for a fact that when my current boy dies, I'll lose the love for them, as he is the love of my life.... that sounds so pathetic but it's so true.
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I completely relate to this.

Although I love Mr D, I cant seem to love him like I loved Jamin (I'm crying now typing this because this constantly plays on my mind). It's not that I don't want to, I just can't! Jamin was my everything and I believe I was hers. I go over and over this in my head because part of me feels like Mr D doesn't deserve being second best. I love him and he will always have what I can give him but Jamin will always have the biggest place in my heart (without sounding too cheesy) and I can not give that place to another horse because there will never be another one like her.
 
Do you have friends to hack with? I think constantly hacking alone can get a bit dull.

I always find than when I can ride every day I can't be bothered, whereas if for some reason I can't ride, all I want to do is get on!

I would say take a breaktyo see how you feel , but don't get rid of all your stuff just yet:-)
 
One thing I'll say - you will feel like a spare parsnip for the first few months :P I gave up at the age of 15, when my full loan horse went back to his owner. It upset me, I didn't want another one. I didn't want to go back to riding schools. Having spent so much time at the yard, the days just felt empty and I had too much time on my hands. You do get used to it though... and the horsey cravings do come back eventually ;)
 
BillyBob-Sleigh said:
I gave up about 6/7years ago, got rid of horse, tack, rugs - EVERYTHING! Then one day my friend asked me to ride her horse whilst she was pregnant and I haven't looked back since lol :D. Only downer though is that I have to buy it all again from scratch and my god it was expensive :o
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Same here - gave up for 10 years but starting from scratch was a nightmare!
 
Good luck with your decision, I hope it all goes well - it sounds like you have thought it all through.

My situation is slightly different, I have no wish to give my horses up, but due to being in a situation I should have seen coming, I need to find homes for them. It's breaking my heart
 
I won't be getting another one once mine pops his clogs (and he's 30 so might not be too far away :( ). I love him dearly and would never get rid of him but don't actually enjoy the horsey thing anymore. I don't want to go back to spending hours each evening at the stables, feeling like I should ride and then guilty when I don't. Not to mention the money, the mud, crappy weather and early mornings. there's just isnt anything appealing about it anymore, which is incredibly sad when I've been horse mad for 20 years!
 
Shame you are up North. I'm looking for a loan horse around 16.2 and good at hacking, lol

As others have said. Dont give up your stuff, pack it away because you never know when the bug might bite again :)
 
I think its healthy to have a break. Hopefully you will realise you are not so bound by a particular external condition for your perceived happiness, ie spending all your time with horses. I had time off to go to uni, and then I went travelling. I realised I could be content without all the external conditions, even for months on end travelling on my own and living in dingy locations.

I now work with horses but I feel I have a more all round grounding and can see the bigger picture than if I'd stayed doing the same thing day in day out. I try and help the people I teach see things in a more realistic light too and not use the horse as a mere attachment or comfort blanket. You're young, do as much as you can. If you want to ride there are plenty of people looking for people to exercise for them. Horses can be a real tie if you do all the looking after/riding yourself. Good luck in whatever you choose to do next.
 
I gave up for couple years after the loss of my much loved boy it really destroyed me I didn't want to be near another horse as I kept asking WHY was it my boy all the time and started resenting them.... that was when I knew enough was enough.

Couple years went by then I really started getting the urge to get back in the saddle although difficult as it would be I wanted to do it... so got a loan horse who hugely helped me along, then had 6mths off again due to personal circumstances and now have a wonderful new boy who I am buying from a LWVTB and am so glad to have him although never will I get the bond I used to have BUT a different kind of bond and love him to bits.

I am in my 30's happily settled into life and married with no kids so only have my hubby and animals.

I hope you enjoy the time off from horses, sounds like it is possibly needed for you as you are young still life is short and for living horses will always be around should you want to return and even then perhaps just do a share or something a little less committed like ownership.

Best of luck in loaning out your horse too sure it will all be ok.
 
Am seriously thinking of it.

Lost my mare 3.5 months ago and have spent the last couple of months looking for another. I can find them - but they're all in Scotland or Wales or waaaaayyyyyy down South (I'm in the Midlands). I've also found that now it's heading to towards the end of October, there aren't so many coming onto the market.

Think I may just have the winter off now and then start looking again...... :(
 
I've tried to give them up three times, each time after a couple of years I've gone back to them so now I've given up giving up and will probably be dragged to my grave with a muck fork in my wizened hands. First time I sold everything (how can any sane person accumulate 60 buckets?), second and third times I kept stuff so the getting back in wasn't so expensive. Have more sensible numbers of everything (including horses) this time around, 'tho.
 
I sold my horse when I went to uni as it just wasn't fair to keep him but that gave me the freedom to travel after uni (polo grooming in New Zealand, Argentina, round the world etc) and buy a house etc in my 20's.

Since then I have dipped in and out of riding (friends horses etc) and actively started looking for a decent share horse last year when my work hours changed when I started my own business. However there is not a lot of decent stuff out there to share (lots of people scared of riding their own who think nothing of asking you to do stuff they would never dream of doing themselves!) so having found a livery yard my other half and I have our first horse together arriving on trial tomorrow!!!

My point is at 31 I now feel ready again for the financial and time responsibilities (and the fact that all our mates are having babies now means we won't be missing out on social stuff like when you are younger and we don't want kids yet) so have a break if your heart isn't in it any more but keep hold of your stuff; I kept some of mine which is handy although my parents have been moaning at me to clear it out the garage for 10 years! Glad I kept it now!
 
If I had my time over again I wished I had got rid of them all together. Instead struggled on trying my best to keep them. In the end had one pts (old age and colic). THEN stupidly got another, carried on struggling.
Now I am in a position to have three beautiful Stallions that I ride, I have sort have lost that sparkle with them. They do tie you down, a big drain on the pocket and heart break when something bad happens.
 
gave up for 10 years after i left college (horse management course), i was totally disenchanted with it all, my instructor had made me feel like poop about my riding so i just walked away. 10 years on i went for a hack for my cousins birthday and it was like putting on a pair of comfy slippers, i realised i had been kidding myself that i didn't miss it, went riding a few more times and then bought my own;) i think you can try and convince yourself you've lost interest but it's always there just under the surface waiting to bubble up!
I don't ride as much now as i could but i wouldn't be without them:o
 
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