Can you imagine your life without horses?

Tried it for a bit - all my contemporaries have given up but I was so unbearable that my husband bought me another horse!! I like tennis, went travelling a bit and my golf came on ( in my head I was going to be a super sociable golfer) but there is nothing in the world like horses. The Queen is now my role model 😁
 
I've had my current horse for almost 20 years and her predecessor for about four years before that. I think it would really strange to not have a horse. Obviously it will happen sooner rather than later. In spite of all evidence to the contrary, my now-26 year old horse isn't going to live forever. There are things I feel like I missed out on, like I'm envious of my friends who've spent a whole summer in the Alps, or a few seasons as ski bums or rafting bums. I could never do that because of the horse (I mean, I could have put her on full loan, but I'm way too much of a control freak about her care).

When I eventually become horseless, I don't know if I will find the time to become better at climbing, get more serious about sea kayaking (and buy a better kayak, because no horse = more money), or if I will realise that neither of those things are a substitute for the horse. It's not easy to do them every day, at least not in Glasgow (I mean, you can go to the bouldering wall but I think that would get tedious every day), and I've never seen a climbing rack or a kayak look happy to see you.
 
I often think about how my life would have been different if I didn't have horses. I would have gone to a different uni because I wouldn't have been so obsessed with staying close to the horses and not having to disrupt them by moving. I've always LOVED water sports; canoeing, kayaking, surfing, rowing, sailing and swimming but never joined the after school rowing club because I had to go up the yard, so I wonder where I could have gone with that.

There are days where I could really do without having horses, and I would love to have the money and capacity to go abroad every now and again. My sister has no responsibilities and spent last year in Cambodia, Easter this year in Madagascar, then planned this Christmas in Mexico and New Years 2020 in Cuba in between visiting her houseboat in Amsterdam whenever she feels like it, and travels the world teaching dance. I wish I could have just one holiday!

I idolise anybody who manages with horses, work, a house and kids, I don't know how I would do it. Once my horses are gone - my youngest is only just 5 so that's likely to be a while - I would like to take a break. I think the timing would coincide with having children of my own.

Having said all that though, nothing in the world would make me say goodbye to my two girls before 'their time'.
 
I'm currently horseless, still keeping my toe in riding a friends horse. My girl died a couple of years ago, but in all honesty i wouldn't have had the time to give a horse the time it really needs for the past 2 years. So at the moment it's fine, i have a lot of hobbies that I enjoy, and i am not missing having to constantly worry about holiday cover, sick ponies and being able to go and see them x times per day. I think your perspective changes a bit when you can no longer be totally selfish about your own time.

Saying that, i am pondering getting another one this Autumn as the little one goes to school as i won't have very long hours at work and i'll have time to do the horse outside of allocated "family" time. I am wobbling a little though, as it's such a time and money consuming hobby, I might go back to sharing a few more days / week and leave the vetbills and sicknotes to their owners. Or not, i also miss having a deep connection with a pony and being able to handle/ride the way i want to do my own horses.
 
I can imagine it but it would be horrible. No need to leave the sofa, no need to go into the countryside, no need to mix socially. Yup nightmare recipe. I would get fatter and lazier and my mind would shut down. So ponies are my lifeline I will admit my advancing age and aches and pains worry me but while I still can I will. Anyway I have just bought a yearling so have to give her at least 20 years
 
oldie48 said:
I'm 70 this year and bought my first horse for my 50th Birthday. I really love having horses, it's everything I imagined it would be when I was a child and more. Mr B is 16 this year so I'm really hoping that he keeps going for the next 5 years (fingers crossed). If and when I lose him (provided I don't go first) it will be very hard as I can't imagine getting to know and trusting another horse. I keep thinking perhaps I should get a little part native as a back up, perhaps a connie/tb about 15 hands that will keep me going until I'm in my 80's. No, I can't imagine a life without horses!!!
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This thread popped up in my inbox but I couldn't remember replying to it so scrolled back and found this. Some of you will know that I did lose Mr B in October and bought Rose very soon after. It was very sad losing my lovely boy and I still miss him but surprisingly I didn't find it as hard as I thought to get to know another horse, partly I think because Rose is such a lovely kind mare. I am hoping she will keep me going until I'm n my 80's. I hope this helps anyone else who finds themselves in the same position.
edit to say it was posted in Jan 2018
 
oldie48 said:
This thread popped up in my inbox but I couldn't remember replying to it so scrolled back and found this. Some of you will know that I did lose Mr B in October and bought Rose very soon after. It was very sad losing my lovely boy and I still miss him but surprisingly I didn't find it as hard as I thought to get to know another horse, partly I think because Rose is such a lovely kind mare. I am hoping she will keep me going until I'm n my 80's. I hope this helps anyone else who finds themselves in the same position.
edit to say it was posted in Jan 2018
Click to expand...
Just recently a lovely 83 year old lady came and rode my 13hh Exmoor pony. She hadn't ridden for about 10 years but had been a horsewoman all her life. She was a friend of a friend so I didn't know her and she didn't know my pony so we played it by ear. As it was, what I thought would be a gentle potter at walk for 20 minutes became an hours ride which included walk, trot and canter!! Everytime I gave her the option to take an easier route she would opt for the other. What a lady! I am sure that she would have suffered the following day but in her mind it was well worth it.
 
i gave up in september and although i really miss having my own i didnt particularly want to ride so havent until this week when i was helping a friends daughter with her ex racer ,who is an absolute diamond, and i had a sit on him to show her what she needed to do to get him listening to her aids. i only rode for about 15 mins and started to enjoy it so am riding him for a bit longer next week, i must admit i have a few aches & pains though.... it has made me want to do a bit more with this boy and the mother really wants me to as daughter is not as interested as she should be....watch this space !!!!
 
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