Are You From A Non Horsey Family?

Totally non horsey family. I'm in my 30s and my parents still can't work it out:p

I've been obsessed with horses since I can remember.

It might have been a rocking horse I had, but who knows?

All I know is that I CANNOT be without horses in my life. I had to when I found myself pregnant and poor. There was a period of about 4 years where I had no contact at all.

I would read Derby House/Robinson's/Rideaway catalogues over and over (this was in the days before internet) and run to the window, like a dog, if I heard hoof sounds outside.

My horse vet reckons it's a virus:p
 
Yep, I'm from a non horsey family. I started riding when I was 4 years old as my auntie youst to ride in her childhood. My parents took me for weekly lessons at the local riding school, but could never afford to get me my own. Over the years I youst to ride friends horses, help out at riding schools etc and save up pocket money to be able to have lessons etc. Then when I hit my teens I had a couple of horses on loan and working livery and then saved and bought my own. My parents have grown to like the horses and will come and watch at shows however I've done it all off my own back. My other half is none horsey to but he will come and help out if and when I need it and has got more confident with them.
 
I have absolutely NO idea where my passion for animals in general and horses and dogs in particular, came from. No-one in my family (that I know of or can find) has ever had any connection with horses at all. I did wonder if somewhere in the dim distant past there might have been someone who was a groom or a coachman or similar but I've traced my family right back to the late 17th century and nothing horsey has surfaced thus far. I've been nuts about animals since I was tiny, and I mean tiny. Apparently I nearly hung myself on my push chair harness trying to give a passing dog a cuddle when I was 10 months old!
From the age of 6 my Christmas list always started with "a chestnut Arab" and it took 55 years to crack that one (see avatar) and she's only on loan . . . .
 
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Yip, I am also from a non-horsey family and not entirely sure where my bug for it has come from!

I have always lived in a small town in the middle of the country which has a lot of horse owners, but I never showed any interest, until visiting some relatives in Canada and spending a summer riding. After that I always wanted to learn properly but didnt have the time between studying and working, then at 26 decided that if I didn't do it now then I never would.........and it's been the best decision I've ever made.

I've now been riding for a year and live for my weekends and visits to the stables (where i'd happily spend all my time if i could!) I will admit that I am more than slightly obsessed by all things horsey now, my family do not have an interest in horses but don't have much option but to listen to me gibbering on about them and are now starting to show an interest and point out horse related things / products / articles that they've read, and my partner thinks it's great as he now has an excuse for us getting a Land Rover (to get to the stables and 'eventually' tow the horse box :) )

Glad i'm not the only one that's discovered their new passion!
 
I'm the only one in my family, none of them can understand it what so ever!! Been riding, all be it had afew breaks , since I was a child... worked with horses and had one on loan. Now I am buying by own next year and my mum thinks I am a fruit loop :D Doesnt stop me tho!
 
Me too. Father did ride (ex army) but my parents were divorced so I spent all my time trying to earn rides or hound my neighbour to ride and spend time with horses. That was when I would be over the moon just to be able to lead a horse out let alone ride one. I a still viewed as vastly eccentric by my family and my brother keeps trying to make me sensible and put my horse money into savings/house whatever and then come back to horses. Unfortunately as we all know, nerves have a shelf life so never wanted to give up horses till I could afford them or I could never achieve my dreams.

I have had horses now for (coughs lightly) 27 years (not counting the loans as a teenager) and can't actually remember not ever having any!!
 
I'm not on my lonesome then!! LOL Really interesting to hear about all your families backgrounds. Just goes to show that its not always what you were born into. My husband was brought up on a working farm and with horses and he doesn't really like any animals!
 
DougalJ said:
I'm not on my lonesome then!! LOL Really interesting to hear about all your families backgrounds. Just goes to show that its not always what you were born into. My husband was brought up on a working farm and with horses and he doesn't really like any animals!
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Its great to know there are so many out there! I was born loving horses basically, but no idea why. Just the first time I seen one, totally taken by them. Then it was everything pony, my little pony, fashion fillies, black beauty, all my books were horsey! Then as soon as I was able, helping out in yards for free lessons, my parents paid for some.... and the passion has never went away! I agree really interesting reading everyones stories :D
 
My parents are the most un horsey people going - I was 6 when had my first riding lesson on a black shettie at prestbury riding school in cheltham as I pestered and pestered and that started the love affair with our most beautiful animal and for the last 42 years horses have been a passion and love - trained worked owned. they have been part of my life for 42 years - my daughter - shes 22 now - had first pony at week old and she as the same passion and love for them - where does this passion come from? I have no idea at all as my parent s just are not horsey nor were my grandparents etc but hey who cares lol
 
My mam used to ride when she was 8-13 ish going to riding schools and her uncle used to have horses she would ride and his daughter had ex-racehorses so she would ride them too but stopped riding around 13.
Then when i was 7 i got my first riding lesson and have been in love with it ever since, my mam is even getting into it helping with the pony and being groom at competitions :)
 
My mum always liked horses (but said they didn't like her!) and would love to follow the hunt etc, but didn't every ride. Don't think my dad had the slightest interest.

I rode a little bit as a child and my mum always encouraged it, but didn't really take it up properly until my 40s!!

My great-grandfather was a haulier in Wales - using heavy horses to bring lumber down from the mountains! He had prize-winning giants and some ponies too, so it is in the blood way back, I suppose!
 
Yes, dad blames it on the rocking horse he bought me when I was a year old. I persuaded him to send me for lessons when I was 13 and he and mum used to go to the pub for a hour then pick me up on the way back. He agreed to buy a foal for me after I had loaned several horses from a friends dad and sent me out to work to pay for his keep. I still had the rocking horse until I was 17 then it went mysteriously missing!
 
Fallenrose said:
Yep I'm from a non-horsey family. Been riding since I was 5\6 ish and now at 30 I'm going to be buying a horse instead of saving for a mortgage! Opps!
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lol, ditto (well I am 31) and buying a horse instead of a house much to my families disgust!

I too owned a rocking horse, that was as close as I got to my own when I was wee :p
 
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