Anyone had a break from horses then returned?

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tye_bo

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As per the title really? Just curious as to if anyone had horses and then had a break from them - if so did you lose interest or what was the reason? How long were you out of the loop until you returned and have you regretted the decision to 'saddle up' again?
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I had a 6 week break when my horse went away for Schooling. I have to say it was boring without him so I went up there once a week to see him/ride him.
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yes, I took a break after a couple of falls, losing my confidence and discovering boys.

came back to it years later, and ished to God i hadnt taken the break, because my confidence was at an all time low.

I only regret getting back into it because it costs me so much lol.
 
I had a break for 3 years.

I had a fall out with the lady that i shared with after a while went back to apologise went and done other things, moved away and came back and went down to see her and have been friends ever since.

I have never regretted the desicion to get back on i dont know what i done with my time when i wasnt riding...
 
Several times!!!

1st from 14 - 20yrs, as had nothing to ride, then again as going to college, then travelling. Then a 6 month break due to broken bones (riding accident
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). Now have my own coloured mare, do I regret getting her? No way!!!
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one 9months and another for 9 months due to having kids but was in the saddle day after having second baby
 
I had a two year break when I found out I was carrying a baby for the first time.
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I found it really hard to make the return after that length of time.
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Soon put an end to that and didn't stop at all when I had my daughter.
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I got my first horse in 1996, second in 1998. Apart from competing them both in SJ I also worked in the industry part-time. I continued through Uni, other jobs etc but in 2005 I met my boyfriend and relocated to London. The costs of having a horse here (a stallion so needed special livery) and compete was prohibitive and I had just spent a year working full-time in the busiest equestrian centre on the planet. I was very tired all the time and decided to sell my horse. In the same time I got offered an office job and accepted it.
I had almost a full year off the saddle but was back on in the early 2006. I missed it almost every day and I regret I didn't search for more option to keep my horse close by.
I am now working full time as a freelance instructor and cannot imagine going back behind a desk or being far away from horses.
 
Yes I did but its years ago now. I had my pony from 12 yrs old to being 20 yrs old when she had to be pts, it was awful, she was very ill and I swore that was it, no more horses. I lasted 5 yrs, to be honest the first year was great, lie ins, clubbin it, no commitments but something was missing. I tried to find something to fill the huge gap but I decided I really wanted another horse but by this time had left home and although I could afford to keep one I couldnt afford to buy one so I got a loan!
I have probably had more than my share of bad luck, bought the wrong horse, got one with navic, one developed ringbone but now have my boy. Hes my babe
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Ive had him 5 yrs now with lots of tears but I wouldnt be without him. Each time Ive said Im not having another but I cant be without them, its definately in your blood.
 
I was a vet from 21 - 40 (ish) - and didn't have time to ride at all. Gave myself some serious lessons for 40th birthday 5 years ago and haven't looked back. I'm riding so, so much better now than I did as pony club kid....

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you do find you get like that though when i was younger i didnt care but i have to much to think about now but im still nutty et ride nutty horses ive just carm down abit
 
Stopped riding when met OH as he is very allergic..... had 2 kids and got them a pony which started the ball rolling for me to get one for me!!!

Suppose the break was for about 12 years or so, and I didnt actually miss it all that much. I was pretty full on for my youth and enjoyed the break.

Having said that, I am nowhere near the confident rider I used to be
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Don't think I have really had a break from riding but did have a large break from owning due to house purchase, children etc...Now I have three (horses that is not children!)
 
Yes stopped riding when met OH for about 10 years. OH wasn't interested he tried but not bothered. Then he bought me my 17.1hh beautiful Bay Gelding Willum for my 40th. Bought me a brand new trailer year after. Moved house 3 years later to have Willum at home. OH loved to go and muck out and groom. Then after 20 years of not bothering booked himself private riding lessons.
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Bought a 16.1 Irish Draught gelding called John on April 30th 2004 so we could ride together.
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My vet told me Willum should not be ridden anymore on 5th May 2004.
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Note we only had 4 days riding together Willum was PTS March 2006.
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I ride John sometimes but OH has done loads on John, Dressage, Jumping, Pleasure rides, Sport Endurance and came 3rd in a Le Trek. And appeared in Equestrian Life. All those years wasted when he wouldn't ride.
 
I had an 18 month break after selling my NF mare and taking a gap year before going to uni. Like Louby said at first it was great being able to have lie ins and going off clubbing and having holidays etc. but it soon felt like something was missing so I started exercising some friends horses, and now after a 4 month search I have my beautiful coloured mare
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I had about 25 years not riding but alway promised that I would get a horse as soon as I bought a house with enough land. I did a horse course to get me back into having horses and have never looked back.
 
I have had 2 breaks both for about 2 years one was when we moved countries then my mum had cancer so I had to sell the jumpers and help look after her, i did miss it loads and was happy to get back into it and would not change anything now at all. Not a bad thing to have a break i definatly did not looks intrest at all
 
Thats so true!!! I used to do anything and everything with my old ponies Now im happy to ride nutcase horses but will do so safely. I used to be happy to jump all jumps where as now i prefer to showjump as the pole can fall should something happen.

Spose this has got something to do with having a child to look after.
 
i had a 5 year break. decided i was sick of working with horses after 7 years and that i should go find another job. worked making clothes for a big company, hated it, went back to college at 21 to further my education, ended up pregnant and didn't keep very well so left college.
had my daughter then me and her dad split so i was a lone parent for a few years, just couldn't afford the time or money to get back into horses. plus couldn't get a job with horses as nothing was local enough and i don't drive.
then a neighbour bought a pony for her daughter which dislocated her shoulder and she needed help. wasn't until i was back around horses i realised just how much i'd missed it
now i'm yard manager at local stables and i finally have my own horse (well foal) now too
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Yes - had a long break when had to have two carpal tunnel ops on hands & knee injury plus my horse was getting older & not good hacking where we were as he had to live out for a breathing problem. Then got another horse about 4 years later - now I wonder why did I ever stop & can't remember what I did with my spare time/cash !!!
 
Yep, got first pony when I was 10 and had her for 3 years. Had a break after that from horse ownership but not riding then got my own when I started working at 20. Had her for 5 years and after that got into relationships, own home, career etc. but finally at 39 took the plunge. Hasn't been as easy this time around because falling hurts more and my confidence isn't quite what it was in my early twenties but I can't imagine life without my boy now. Definitely agree its in your blood. It was always like a drug, the minute I got back around them I wanted my own again. Even better this time around because having worked on the career I can actually afford to do it instead of having to scrimp and save for everything as I did in my 20s.
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Yes I have had a break from riding.

I started when I was about 12, but I was only having a lesson every now and again because my mum was so skint, and when I saw my dad every few months I would go for a ride but that was it - really enjoyed it but not seriously into it, due to living in the city and being from a poor family lol
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so you could say I had a break every couple of months, for a few weeks at a time!
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Then when I moved to Cornwall when I was 14 I started having regular lessons at the riding school, and started helping out with rides etc. Did that until about 17/18, then didn't ride as much due to boys, going out, jobs etc etc.
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did miss it, but always kept an interest just didn't ride as much. Did that until I was about 20.

Then started riding for people, but kept going on and of it because (again!
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)of boys, going out and partying etc etc! Lying in bed was more appealing then riding on a Sunday morning!
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Since moving to Bournemouth 18 months ago I have pretty much ridden non stop - some days I don't want to ride, but I think thats pretty normal. Now after all my lessons, I feel that I have come on leaps and bounds and want to compete this summer!!
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So I could say that I have been 'riding' for about 10 years, but with all my stops and starts and breaks it is more like I have been riding for about 6 years lol - and i have about a million more things to learn lol so I'm not going to stop now!! Love my little horse that I ride!
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Having a break at the moment whilst I'm working in Australia - returning this summer to my lovely horsey. I'm just really hoping he remembers who I am, and hasn't fallen in love in with my sister (who is looking after him) more than me!
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Also hoping that I can remember how to ride - have been trying over here, but all disappointing so far, I don't enjoy riding school horses (hang on let me finish!!) - that have no enthusiasm at all, don't enjoy trying to 'kick' or 'push on' something that clearly is having no fun.

Anyone tell me if they forgot how to ride - I am quite worried, ok with the jumping (hopefully) but useless at flatwork - oops, supposed to be the other way round isn't it?!
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thats why I don't want to stop riding again - because I have spent so much on lessons I don't want to 'forget' how to ride!!

Not that i would actually forget, just get a little rusty which I don't want lol!!
 
for me it was like riding a bike i suppose, it came back naturally, but my confidence is no where like it used to be, plus i ain't as good a rider as i was before i had my break, but again i think that's down to the confidence.
 
I had to give up about 3 years ago ( sold my last horse / Stallion) due to serious back problems. I have been advised by my surgeon that handling horses is not a good idea as my back isn't up to much.

I miss my horses so much and i am really struggling with out them. I may start back again soon, but am looking at a possible share basis as it may be more flexible with my back issues.

I had horses for over 25 years and it has left a massive hole in my life, but i am very hopefull that i will start back with them very soon.

All i know is that i can't be with out them for much longer .
 
I was riding weekly for about 8 years until I put my sacro-iliac out. I've not ridden for about 6 years now because I've had so many problems with my Bad Back™, I was pain free for 9 months last year, but I'd gained so much weight, and was so "flabby" I didn't go riding, I did start doing my old Jane Fonda aerobics video - which got me fit to ride, then I pulled a muscle in my back...

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I had an 8 year break. It wasnt through choice though.

I had a horse when I was 15 who was sadly pts. My parents would not buy me another as they wanted me to concentrate on my exams. I always felt like there was something missing in my life and also felt I had missed out on the career I wanted, which was with horses.

When my nan dies 2 years ago she left me some money, first thing I did was buy a horse. Best thing I have ever done, first time in 8 years that my life has actually felt complete.
 
I rode as a child for several years (first at a riding school then I moved schools to one which had stables which was great because my parent's constant flitting with work meant we weren't able to have ponies of our own) When we moved back to the UK when I was fourteen, i carried on briefly but then we moved north to an area with zero riding schools/ horse scene, etc so unless you had your own horse you were up the creek.

I picked it up again briefly at Uni about sixteen years ago but moving home again stopped that. Life then happened and it wasn't until a couple of years ago that a friend took me out for a hack and the bug bit again big time. Just over a year ago I bought my FIRST
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horse and have never looked back.
As others have also commented on here- my confidence is nothing like it was and I wish I had been in a position to have carried on riding continuously from childhood.
 
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