Can you imagine your life without horses?

cblover

cblover

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Just a fleeting thought.....well one that keeps fleeting in and out of my mind to be fair.

Scrappy has been away on her hols with a friend for a month. Longer than it should of been as my mam has been critically ill so she stayed a while longer while mam was in hospital. Thankfully she’s home now and so is Scrappy.

I think, looking back, that my month without having a horse to look after and spend time with was only bareable because I knew she was coming home but can you imagine your life without horses in it at all?

I know it’s all something we have to face but how do you come to terms with it I wonder. Is there life after horses? Lol

Like I say, just a fleeting thought.
 
Oh crikey, I just don't know what I'd do with my time :( They are the first thing I think about in the morning and the last thing I think about at night, the reason I get up in the morning and the thing that gets me through the day at work!

I'm sure there *is* life after horses because people find they have to give up when life throws a curveball - so you just have to suck it up. But I don't want to think about it!
 
I'm having to do this and I hate it! Lost my boy last year and I'm no where near ready for another one emotionally. I'm so lost. Nothing to fill my days. He was my whole world. I need to find something else to be passionate about.
 
Ive owned for just over 5 years now and we now have 3, acquired two last year lol
I don't know what i did before i had them and i would never want to be without them, i would be lost and miserable without them they are a huge part of my life . We loaned our pony and the one we were loaning was going back, i couldn't bear it . Our pony had to come back! Of course i loved him too much also to let him go.
 
I can imagine not being a horse *owner* though I wouldn't like it. But I'd have to have horses in my life in some way still, even if it was just living next door to a horse sanctuary, or riding at a riding school once a week or something.
 
Having lost my boy last spring after 13 years together, I wasn't sure what to expect. As it happens I have adjusted very well to life without horses and I'm not entirely certain I want to go back to it. Certainly not now, anyway - getting married soon then it'll be buying a house, and I can't afford to do those things and pay for a horse too.

I don't miss the constant worry (we had quite a lot to worry about unfortunately) but I do miss his company. Luckily I can vividly remember how it felt to pat him on the neck or his breath on my face, so I have that to fall back on.

The hardest part was the feeling that I needed to go and see D. I still get it, from time to time, particularly on weekends, like I should be planning my day around my trip to the yard. Every now and again I think 'I'll just go see D' or 'I'll buy this for D' and then I remember that D isn't here any more. Walking past carrots/parsnips without stocking up is very difficult, and if I ever have occasion to buy a full bag now, I have no idea what to do with the leftovers!

The extra money though - and less stress, not as smelly, not getting p*ss wet through etc - that I've gotten used to very easily.
 
ive loved horses all my life and finally got my own aged 17

my amazing boy and me have done so much together over the years and he even came to my wedding. After 17.5 years i had to make the decision every owner hates and let him go :(

i dont really 'remember' life without him and even after loosing him 3 months ago, it still doesnt feel real.

i wont be getting another horse anytime soon.
 
boblet said:
I'm having to do this and I hate it! Lost my boy last year and I'm no where near ready for another one emotionally. I'm so lost. Nothing to fill my days. He was my whole world. I need to find something else to be passionate about.
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that's so sad I am sorry :( don't you have any friends with horses you could spend some time with you may feel like your ready to get another horse or maybe just share one and see how you feel.

I broke my ankle in November so for a good few weeks I couldn't do anything with my horses I found it very depressing and frustrated about the whole thing, I am back doing them myself now but really miss riding won't be doing that for a while unfortunately.
 
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Quite simply, no. My life revolves around them and that makes me happy. I sacrifice sooo much to have my horse in my life but i do it willingly.

When my old boy died i started looking within a month of losing him, even though i knew I wasn't ready emotionally, i needed the routine horses bring of getting up before work and seeing to them after work.

As someone said above, he is the first and last thing I think of every day
 
Have had horses nearly all my life and currently have them at home which I love. Howrver with the horrible weather over the past few days I think I could quite enjoy not having to schlep about in sleet and mud!
 
I’ve had them all my adult life and loved them forever. I can’t even bring myself to imagine what it would be like without them in my life. But the time will come I know...just hope I’m ready when it does.
 
I have 3, a 10yo and 2 in their 20’s. I love them all dearly, and they want for nothing. I have been thinking lately though, that when the 2 older ones are gone, I will probably put the other on livery. (I currently rent some land for them). Am not sure I would get another when Ollie goes, would maybe look for a share a couple of days a week, and spend more time at home with the OH, out and about with the dogs.

That could also just be winter getting me down, lol
 
Horses were a part of my life till I fell pregnant with first child. It broke my heart to give my chap away, even tho it was the sensible thing to do and I vowed I would have horses again. Ten years later we bought my daughter a pony (Charlie) for both her and me to ride and I haven;t been without since. I now have my own horse too and daughter has left home so I've two to look after. Whilst I complain loudly about the ****** stables, getting soaked and frozen, I wouldn't have it any other way. Simply put they are the reason I work. When I made trips away to visit parents and later when I had to do a five day trip to London from Ireland, I couldn't wait to get back to them. I thought about them all the time and I shall be totally broken when one of them dies.
 
I've been horseless before and was OK, but think I might struggle now a bit more as was in my early twenties and life wasn't so 'adulting' & they are generally my detox from stress. Mucking out is definitely 20% shovelling poo & 80% reflection or making life decisions ... :D I spent my horseless time getting into running & yoga, propped up a few bars, re-discovered my love of live music, literature & city breaks. I still do the above, but it's just much harder to find the time to do so consistently. I was probably a more interesting person ...!

I've recently moved back to assisted DIY after a hellish Autumn/Winter & would seriously think twice about keeping a horse if I could only do DIY with limited turn out, no asistance and working full time. It just took over my life & was too much having to visit 3 times a day. Thankfully, that's all changed & horse is out 8 hours a day on flexible assisted DIY/part livery.

I could do life without horse ownership, but I don't think I'd want to.
 
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For the first time last year I thought actually I'm losing interest. I'm 27 now been riding since I could walk and fulfilled my child long dream of owning a horse when I was 22 having had him on loan a few years before. He is a bit of a special case!

However I think adding up my expenses for a credit hit home just how much i spend on him a month. I'd love to get a mortgage with OH and I think it was realising how close I'd be without having had the horse. It isn't just the cost it's the whole routine I've lost the passion I used to have where I could spend hours up the yard when I was younger. I will never sell him (he's 20 now) but unless I win the lottery or something wouldn't be looking to buy another. Also don't think he is just left in a field with no care I still ride him and make sure he's well cared for etc!

It was weird how it suddenly hit how I'm actually starting to want other things more such as children. I'd always said I'll never have children and have lots of cats and horses instead! However as my mum said at the time I wouldn't have been satisfied if I hadn't got to own a horse.

I think I would still be involved with horses such as maybe sharing one or two days a week or trying new horse things less often e.g. have a western lesson/ A school master lesson etc. Id love to use a hireling and go out with the blood hounds. If I was ever to get another horse apart from obviously needing to be safe it would need to box- he doesn't and i feel that does limit our variety whereas if he did we could go to the beach or a little dressage or something.
 
Especially at this time of year it certainly does appeal-no mud, no early mornings, more cash but in all honesty it is absolutely worth it. That feeling you get on a gallo, that nuzzle in the stable. I have had breaks from horses over the years (leaving hone was scary-and expensive!) and would still class myself as quite ‘novicey’. When I have been without a horse I haven’t been unhappy as such but something has been missing. And the lack of responsibility/more sleep/more cash (that just goes on other things anyway) loses its appeal within days
 
I had a few months with no horses in my life and I was deep depressed and wholly miserable. It was hell and I absolutely detested it. I never want to go any length of time without at least seeing and interacting with horses as I hated it. Being with horses for me is a peaceful wonderful time when nothing matters apart from the horse.
 
My own is 200 miles away as it is the best thing for him. It is not the best thing for me although some people do seem to think it is better that I wean myself off him before he goes.

It has meant I am more available to see friends/do things/worry a bit less about him but overall it isn't a positive. I hug him before I say hello to family when I go visit ;).
 
Every so often when I'm paddling through the mud rain and sleet in gale force winds I fantasise about it. But realistically no, I don't feel right if I haven't seen them at least once in a day. I also work with horses and I know some people say that makes your own seem like a chore but I really don't feel like that, they are my downtime and the yard is my happy place.
 
I've had some long periods without horse ownership (usually due to work commitments), but there's always been something to ride and get my fix from, apart from the year after I left uni.

I could barely afford my rent with my first job let alone horses. It was awful - I used to find myself dreaming about them! After a year some friends bought me a lesson at a local RS and the owner took pity on me and asked me to ride an old brood mare there. Pot belly, sway back and neck on upside down - adored her!

I'd happily be without the mud right now, but if that's the price to pay for my addiction then so be it.
 
I had a 6 month horseless period after I lost my girl. It was absolutely horrendous, not only was i devastated by her accident but I missed having my own horse so much that it physically hurt. I was still riding 2-3 times a week (I think I rode every horse on the yard at one point or another!) but it just wasn't the same. My parents said it was like living with half a person, I was so lost and just didn't know what to do with myself.

I hope that I will not have to go completely horseless again. Horses are my therapy and I'm not sure how I'd cope without them! Assuming that my career goes as planned after I finish uni, I should be able to keep a horse, but you never know. Even if I didn't have the money for my own, I'd definitely try and get my fix somewhere! Be it a loan/share/schooling...
 
I'm not sure that I can. I've ridden since I was eight, and got my first at 18, so I've had them all of my adult life so far. I know that without the four of them, I'd have a hell of a lot more money and far less worry, but I feel like my life would be empty. They're the one thing that I love above all else - the thing I'm most passionate about in all the world - and I just don't think I'd feel like me without them.
 
Had horses as a kid then didn't own a horse for 30 years the to house job kids etc. I had promised myself when I sold my mare when I was 18 that I would have another horse one day. Always kept my hand in riding or being around horses when I could. Got another horse 3 years ago as had got to the point in my life when ot was do able. Would I be without one know, never.
 
cblover said:
Just a fleeting thought.....well one that keeps fleeting in and out of my mind to be fair.

Scrappy has been away on her hols with a friend for a month. Longer than it should of been as my mam has been critically ill so she stayed a while longer while mam was in hospital. Thankfully she’s home now and so is Scrappy.

I think, looking back, that my month without having a horse to look after and spend time with was only bareable because I knew she was coming home but can you imagine your life without horses in it at all?

I know it’s all something we have to face but how do you come to terms with it I wonder. Is there life after horses? Lol

Like I say, just a fleeting thought.
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I would be bored out my brain without horses - and a lot less fit too, as i have been in horses since I was 5 and they are part of my life. Even in death I wont be without them as their ashes are going in the ground with me.
 
I think I’d be very fat! I’m not someone who enjoys conventional exercise so I’d miss the physical aspect of it. I’m not a people person either so what would I do with my spare time? It’s not a choice to go and see to them, it has to be done and I can’t imagine motivating myself to actually do something every day if I didn’t need to.

Part livery is a nice thought sometimes though.
 
I think I’d be a lot fitter, I love crossfit and Krav Maga bad pole/aerial training and rock climbing but I don’t get much chance because life revolves around the horse. I’m not sure I can imagine life without horses but I’m even less sure I can imagine life with any horse but the BBP, I don’t know that I could ever feel the same.
 
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