Anyone taken a break from horses?

S

sam72431

Well-Known Member
Joined
4 April 2008
Messages
971
Location
Hampshire
Visit site
As above really I've become very jaded with having my own horse mainly due to constantly struggling financially then having to take on extra jobs which then means I don't have the time or money anyway! I love my horse but I don't love having a horse if that makes sense? I've had her a year and in hindsight I think I should of given myself a break when my last one went but I jumped straight back in and I'm now a year down the line still feeling that I need a break from
Horse owning. I've been given a really good opportunity not just for me but for the horse for her to have a really lovely home and I will get back what I paid for her.

Few questions: have any of you done this had a little break of a year or so and come back? How did it feel part of me is filled with excitement of the lack of commitment and also less money worried and small part of me worry of boredom and getting fat and unfit! I have offers of horses to ride if I want to and of course I could be a sharer or I may want to buy another within a few months! It's very unfortunate timing as she is the perfect horse for me I have just totally lost that motivation and passion but I do worry I will regret it because she is so lovely but as my friend said there are lots of horses out there I managed to find her and no reason I wouldn't find another one the same if I chose to do so? Thanks!
 
I haven't, but I have thought about it very seriously once or twice.

Could you loan your mare out? That would give you the benefits of a break without having to make a final decision until you have had a chance to find out what the break is like x
 
I could loan her out but I have had nothing but bad luck where loans are concerned I've ended up having horses dumped back to me in a worse state than they went I even had a horse given back when I was on the other side of the world and I then had to start paying for her again. I think if she goes would have to be a sale just because loaning makes me far too nervous if I'm honest as horses never come back the same as they went!
 
I've thought about it, usually at the end of winter when I'm exhausted, but I know I would be climbing walls within three months. Can you turn her away for a few months, even over winter if you can find grass keep with hay so you can get your mojo back?
 
Yes I did... My 18 yr old son decided to sell his competition horse at Easter, as he has 3 yrs of uni come sept... I used to do all the caring when he was in college or at work, and the driving of lorry to events etc.. So we sold up everything, I missed it for a few months, but now I am enjoying having my life back, doing other things weekend, and have booked a holiday for next year, something I've not been able to afford with livery and horse expenses..
 
sam72431: If you're thinking like this then it would be probably a good idea to sell your horse, recoup your outlay & walk away for a while until you're really ready to come back into horse ownership. You say that the new home would be good for your horse & would be well looked after, that's a nice place to be in..

I've never been a fan of loaning out a horse. They can come back broken, with bad habits & also can come back at any time even when you have nowhere to put them.

You've a good opportunity to step back & get your life back, enjoy yourself doing something different & sort out yourself financially. Good Luck with whatever you decide. :)
 
I don't have my own horses anymore but I have so many people offering me rides I get the best of both worlds in my eyes!
 
We are going to be giving up in the next couple of years. OH retires this winter and I'm going part-time. We've been horse owners for many, many years and the thought of easier winters is quite the appeal! Looking forward to doing other things. :)
 
I retired from horse owning (DD now has the horse) just over 12 months ago. I get offered rides and I enjoy riding when I do, but I don't yearn to ride out side those times or yearn to own a horse again. I'm really enjoying not having the responsibility of putting a horse first every single day for the first time in 30+ years. I don't regret it one minute :)
 
Yes, I gave up last year as I had too much going on and didn't have the time to dedicate properly. On top of that I'd been saddled with all the work of my old loan horse and the owner refused to do her part and pay her share. I went through winter 2014 miserable and then gave up in 2015.

Now I'm engaged, have lived in Birmingham for a year and feel like I wouldn't have been able to do any of what I've done if I'd been looking after my horse and my loan.
I have gotten very unfit and rather fat so now I'm doing my best to get fit again. I've been horse shopping and found one I really loved but then was let down by my local yard and let down by others involved. I'd love to have my own horse but at the moment it seems more trouble than it's worth. Maybe during winter I'll be so bored that I'll get a new one :)
 
I am returning to riding after many years away! I moved to London, couldn't afford to ride/own a horse, and just stopped. I suddenly started to miss it last year and I am starting again on Sunday (I also left London so can afford it again).
I think if you feel tired and unexcited, don't do it - take the advantage of getting your money back. If you find you miss it after a year, you can always find another great horse. Give yourself a break. I found when I rode that the pressure to be in the yard all the time, to not miss anything and to not have any other kind of life was really depressing.
Now i hope to have a balance.
 
I have. I put my boy out on loan last year. I didn't want to sell him, one because I adore him and secondly I wouldn't actually be able to afford another like him but I had just fell out of love with it all. I missed him but right from the start I didn't miss 'having' him, in fact it was luxury. I did miss the social aspect of horse owning though, I seemed to go from lots of friends to very few, lol!

His loan agreement was a year to begin with, with a view to extending it but within the year we actually found a great property and moved in May to a property with land and stables so it was inevitable I would have him back off loan and brought 'home' and its amazing, I love it and have a new lease of life with horses.
If im honest, if we hadn't brought the house and land I don't think I would have had him back off loan ... although I wouldn't say having him on livery was a bad thing, I had certainly fallen out of love with the whole sharing and livery life in general (it was and still is a great yard though)

Take a break is my advise. I was very fortunate and through word of mouth found the most amazing loanee ... which just made taking him back heart breaking but at the same time knowing he was looked after and loved was very reassuring.

Good luck
 
Thanks everyone I have more or less made the decision to take a break as much as I love my horse I don't love having a horse and I do feel financially and almost emotionally I do need the break! But I have to say I have been in floods of tears at the thought of her going which does make me question if it's right decision. But I guess similar to break down of a relationship it's not working but it's still hard to let the person go I'm hoping it's similar with my horse and I'm not just making a huge mistake! I went for a ride last night and had such a lovely time I feel slightly more motivated to ride I am looking forward to riding later this evening but I do think that is more because I know she is going and I don't think this new found motivation will last I think it's almost because our days together are numbered. Don't get me wrong she has always been kept in work but it's been a chore more than a pleasure so nice this week that I can enjoy her until she goes!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top