Diminishing desire to ride..............

Feel the same as you ! I have two at the moment, both getting on, one hates going out alone, the other is a nice ride. I have to talk myself into riding and think if I am having to do that I really dont want to ride ! I like messing about grooming etc and just being around them. I have had horses for 30 years and wonder if its just that Ive come to a natural progression to that part of my life, the actual riding. Maybe now the weather has improved you might feel like riding again, but dont be pushed into doing anything you are not comfortable with.
 
Horses aren't just for riding. I've always been told, that 99% is on the ground and the 1% is in the saddle. Don't let anyone tell you your mare is wasted, she isn't, at 5 years old, she's got many years ahead, and will probably still have better legs than any of the others in her teens.
Take your time, enjoy her, stuff everyone else ;)
 
Long in the Tooth, my current welshie is a D.

Have a go at in-hand showing - it's great fun with a welshie. My little sensitive little flower certainly channels her 'inner showgirl' in the ring, she's all sparkly-eyed and appears to really enjoy herself.
I like the 'companionship' of running them up in the ring - the communication you get down that long leadrein is quite amazing (mine is a very 'chatty' horse anyway - one of the very big life-lessons she's taught me is how to listen to her). Just make sure that you get yourself conditioned for running like the wind when the horse 'says' "turbo going on NOW" !!
 
Im exactly the same! Ive got a rider for my very talented anglo now so he dosnt miss out but im now seriously considering selling my other riding horse and buying a herd of little weshies to do do inhand with instead!

i think having kids may be the reason im now not so keen to ride!
 
I have to say I really don't understand this concept of a horse being "wasted" if it isn't competing. Dogs aren't considered to be wasted if they don't do agility/flyball/herding/HTM/obedience etc, they are allowed to be just companions an enjoyed for themselves. In the horse world there is a bizarre idea that we only muck out, groom, feed etc in order to compete and get them as far as we can, and many people think if you aren't doing that then you are wasting a good horse. It is only a waste if the owner isn't enjoying their time with their horse, that's it. Horses don't know what they could be doing, they just know if someone feeds them, loves them, spends time with them, works with them in whatever way both person and horse enjoys. Mini owners don't feel guilty for not riding their ponies, they just enjoy doing groundwork, in-hand hacks, maybe a bit of showing if that's what floats the owner's boat. I don't feel anyone has the right to suggest selling on a horse that has been owned since foalhood and brought up to the best of the owner's ability, and is their companion and friend, just because the owner doesn't feel like riding it.

Funnily enough in my breed a comment came up a few weeks ago about a pony being wasted because it wasn't being shown and was just a hacking pony, but who cares?! As long as you horse is happy, and you are happy and enjoy time with her, why on earth would you want to take time out to see if it made you miss her more, or sell her in case someone else wanted to jump? It sounds as if if you could find the right rider you might enjoy watching her progress under saddle, but as has been said, she is still young, it doesn't have to be this year, and the more you do with her on the ground the better your bond will be and her level of training, and then she might be so irresistible to ride that you can't stay away! Maybe those initial broncs were just because she isn't ready for riding yet, and wants more time? Maybe that's what you are picking up on, as you have known her all her life? Just have fun, move if you feel it would help, and ignore anyone who tries to tell you that you are doing anything wrong xxx
 
OP, how long have you had your mare at the current yard?

It doesn't sound to me like a confidence issue, more like a boredom issue. And funnily enough, it's not the looking after that gets boring, it's the riding that people find becomes hard to motivate yourself to do.

If I were you (and you had the money), I'd consider a riding holiday where you can take your mare. A new area for a week to explore. Read here about that Thetford Forest place and it's the first time in ages something really fired my enthusiasm and sounded like something I would love to do.

Other than that, perhaps just change yards for a time? Give yourself a change of scenery, new rides to find and explore.

Look at it this way. Nobody has to get in the car to find somewhere to go for a walk, all they have to do is open their front door and walk.
But how many people would find it boring if the only walks they could do (with dogs ect.) were within walking distance?
 
I have a similar problem in that I rode competitively at a reasonably high level all of my teens and twenties, then I moved to London to work, found a partner down here and my horses at my Mum's have become occasional broodmares/nannies with a life of Reilly. I have started helping a friend down here with her horses and found I don't particularly want to ride them! I have been doing a little bit of driving and am enjoying that though, with the odd hack when I feel the urge. I do enjoy driving - it may be something you could do with your mare? To be honest though, I'm just as happy dogsbodying and poo picking for my friend; although some days I think it frustrates her as she was rather hoping to take advantage of my young horse schooling experience. :D
 
I have lost all my riding mojo and if i never got on a horses back again it wouldent worry me..I have been around/riding horses for over thirty years and i do not enjoy it anymore..I have three...my newest one is only 8 months old and i never plan to ride her myself but she will be purely for driving...She will go out hunting and competing but just not with me on her..My one of my 14 year old's one is a Insulin Resistant Laminitic and i enjoy long reining him and doing groundwork to keep him exercised and the weight off him
And my other 14 year old has a fused spavin and i'm re breaking her to harness and in hand showing which i love to do..

I still love all aspects of horse care and am with my lot twice a day every day and i love it so i'm just going to give up riding and take up driving and in hand showing instead..
 
I'm the same - I couldn't care less whether I ride again. I ride because I feel that I should - not really because I want to. I got like this after I lost my gelding in October 2011 - prior to that I'd been competing him and when he retired six months prior to being PTS, I had my mare to ride. However she was constantly ill/lame and has cost me a fortune in vets bills, so I didnt ride often. After my gelding was PTS I got a youngster to bring on, which I've done, and backed her and she's a gem. But she's also going through a growth spurt so I am using this as an excuse to give her time off. I still do a bit of long-reining and lunging with her, but not riding. The other mare is still off work and may end up being retired but will still be ok to take for walks and lunge gently. Like you I don't care whether I ride - I enjoy just being with them, and doing the ground work. I actually prefer to go out long-reining round the lanes than riding.
 
It's not just getting old, I'm 26 but pretty similar (won't deny I'm ageing but the process maybe starts younmger!?). Rode yesterday, glorious weather, everything went well...pleased with it but...meh?

I actually enjoy the groundwork, in hand, training etc more thesedays?

IMO, that's fine though! Riding isnt the be all and end all, it's just ONE thing you can do with them.
 
I have to say in 44 years of training, working,competing and owning horses I never had that passion to ride all time. my happiest times have been on the ground "playing"with the babies, working with abused animals winning that first trust when working for a charity and having my daughters ponies. and finally being with my field ordanment little mare. :) and i was laughed at all the time but pffffttt do i care :)
 
I was once told by one of the masters of a very famous and active Irish hunt that when she hit the menopause she lost her nerve and didn't really want to ride any more let alone jump stone walls. I often think it is partly a female thing where we can see potential danger more than men. As I have got older and wiser I start to wonder why would I want to risk putting my increasingly fragile body on top of a flight animal that could suddenly decide to dump me, get hit by a car or slip over on the road. I can't believe what I did when young and the chances I took but I too lost my beloved fell that I had owned since a yearling and no longer want to ride. I would like another but probably something small just to drive.

Have you ever wondered why miniatures are SO popular - it's probably because their owners still feel involved in the horse world but know they don't have to ride. You could always have a go at horse agility which would give you a new focus but on the ground. The main thing is follow your heart - we all go through changes as we get older and it is probably less stressful not to fight them.
 
I can totally sympathise.....I am hopefully just emerging from a prolonged spell of CBA (cannot be as arsed:D) ....I have a lovely young Arab who I do enjoy riding but found I was making excuses, although happy to do yard work etc.
Being honest....I don't know why I have got my enthusiasm back.....I've just had a few really good rides and come back grinning:D
I've even made enquiries about booking an arena within hacking distance ;)
Do only what you want and don't put pressure on yourself:)
 
This thread has been a great comfort. I thought I was the only person in England who didn't enjoy riding now as much as I used to. Am 68, very arthritic, with a hot (adored) cob I can't hold one side of, who also shies and tanks when she has a chance and landed me in A & E last year doing just that. Have also become a fair-weather rider - HATE riding in wind and/or rain.

My liveries have politely asked that I don't ride alone, and are very sweet about accompanying me. But I'm aware that I'm a drag on their pleasure as cantering really, really hurts (apart from the lack of brakes) so I tend to make excuses. Luckily one of the girls, who shares a horse, is quite nervous, and likes quiet hacks round the lanes. But I was sure I was the only person who felt that way. I find myself thinking longingly of my old hunter mare, who I could ride anywhere (and had so much fun on). But realistically I think if she could be resurrected I might find even her a bit much now.

Also, like nearly all the posts, I still love having horses around and have 4 liveries here. And went for a lovely ride this morning with two friends - the sun was out, my girl behaved really quite well, and nothing hurt until I got off!! Anno Domini.....
 
who says you have to ride?
You enjoy the other aspects of horses and the yard life.
So do what you enjoy.

Your horse won't mind not being ridden.
If you want her to do more though.
Plus can afford it! Get a good professional person to take her in the direction you want.
You may eventually want to do more with her yourself or enjoy watching and being the owner!
 
It`s really nice to know I`m not the only one, after a break of 20 years I moved to a rather remote part of the country with just about enough land to keep a pony once more, but because of the lack of ponies for sale ended up buying a 5 year old cob, he has a lovely nature and is really a kick-on ride, except when he shies and spins, and I find myself always making excuses not to ride him, I`m just too old to risk hitting the tarmac!

I don`t want to sell him, he took ages to settle and was obviously devastated to loose his previous friends, and everyone in the village loves him, I`ve ordered a valerian based calmer and I`m just hoping he`ll be less spooky when that takes effect!
 
ive sometimes been asked, if money was no issue, wouldnt you rather just have your horse on full livery so no mucking out and some even groom and tack up for you, and i have to explain no, there is so much more to horses than riding them. i personally find more than a week without being in the saddle i get shakey legs and have to get on board! but only a few days without seeing the horses and i go crazy. i love the time i spend with them even when just feeding and grooming, dont even mind mucking out!
agree like many have said, no horse is wasted not being ridden, if they are happy, healthy and looked after that is much better than a reguarly ridden horse who is only cared for in a rush so they can ride.
has been a very long winter and i did start not bothering in all this mud, cold and wet, to ride as often, the sun this weekend has made me more kean to ride
 
Really glad i found this thread, I too thought i was the only one who had lost my mojo to ride!

After a pretty rubbish 5 months with a loan mare who was mentally unhinged and made me misserable and knocked my confidence because she was so vile I have found myself in a wonderful position to take on a new horse (as my own this time) who is so sweet and lovely and after 9 months off as a companion he had a saddle put on and ridden and didnt think anything of it :eek: (TB as well shock horror!, lol)

He is perfect for me but ive been struggling to get excited about having him because i just dredd him being like the mare who has put me off riding because she was so sharp ... stupid I know because he just doesnt have a bad bone in his body and I know he will help give me my confidence back because thats just the kind of horse he is :o

Its been lovely just to hear others say that its not all about the riding, its about the pleasure of keeping them happy thats the rewarding part. OP I hope you get your mojo back but if you dont then its not a waste at all. You never know with a bit of nice weather you might find you will be looking forward to getting back in the saddle again :)
 
Can I join too please ;)

I'm late 50's and have been riding since my mid 20's. I've bred most of mine, and had really good fun doing it. I had my last mare for 18 years but didn't breed off her until she was 16. Up until then I mostly trained her and got her up to Advanced, but didn't compete for many years. I felt guilty about that but then decided, what the heck, I don't want to do it, and she doesn't know she is missing anything.

I lost her in August 2011 to suspensory ligament problems, at which time her 'foal' was 2. I did very little riding between times until I broke her foal when he was 3 last summer. Then I turned him away until now, but I really don't feel the enthusiasm I once had for riding and bringing on baby horses again :(. I think part of the problem was that I was so in-tune with his mum, and we went through life together, that I expect junior to react the same when I ride him. But he can't because he is only just going on 4 so is unschooled other than for basic stuff. I'm lucky in that he is the best I have bred and I'm very proud of him, but he has huge movement and is nearly 17.2 :eek: So much for having something around 16.2 to take me into old age :D.

I've just taken voluntary redundancy and don't intend to carry on working so I am hoping that my enthusiasm will miraculously re-appear. What doesn't help is having been decked by a friend's horse some weeks back where I really hurt my rump and sciatic nerve in my leg, and that has left me neurotic about falling off even though junior has not put a hoof wrong yet. :(

So, if anyone has any really good ideas on how to re-fire the desire to ride, I'm listening :D
 
I'm in the club too and I'm not even 30:( I think my problem is partly confidence and partly pressure from husband to be spending more family time together. The youngster I have really needs to get out on the roads in a group more to give us confidence but I dont know anyone locally to hack with so my Mam will say ride in the field and I take my tack up and end up poo picking cos I just cant motivate myself into thinking up exercises. I've joined as loacl riding club but things seem a little quiet so far and I havent been to anything but im hoping soon there will be some training days I can go to, just something to get me on the horse and doing something constructive.
I did used to feel a little bit like this when I was younger but I found if I had a show to work towards it gave me a bit of a kick up the bum to ride.
 
I didn't want to bump this thread as I feel you have all been wonderful in giving me so much of your time already but had to - to say a huge thank you to everyone who has contributed. It was so interesting to read about your own situations and whilst I am not celebrating the fact, I feel massively reassured knowing there are so many of us in the same boat.

Aaaarrghimpossiblepony asked how long I had been at my yard - about 5 months? We moved house recently and it was only meant to be temporary until I had stables put up at the house and found turnout closeby (can't afford to buy any land of my own) - which is proving difficult :( There's grazing everywhere, but EVERYONE here seems to have horses! I'm so hoping the lady I'm due to see in the morning can sort something out for me.....

Dollyanna - awesome post - thank you.

Catkin - She is also a D! First one I've had but what a character :D I shall summon up the bravery to post pics asking for showing crit asap.

Sorry it would take me about 5 hours and seriously mess with my head trying to respond to you all individually but you have all been terribly kind and I am grateful for your input. I woke this morning feeling a lot better :D
 
Glad you're feeling better about things. Section Ds can be a bit...er...lively but often settle to be lovely forward, fun but safe rides. Maybe the ideal thing would be to find someone who will hack and put a few miles on the clock (not easy, I know) and maybe test the water in the show ring, it will give you the confidence to start riding again, even if just hacking with a friend. If not, at least you have the satisfaction of seeing someone enjoying her, if that is what you want.

Have you ever considered driving? If you live in an area where the roads are suitable it can be lovely, especially in the summer (!). I once had a D who was a challenge to ride, and who was too small for me anyway, but settled into driving so well. There are driving clubs around. But again, if it doesn't float your boat there is not much point.

If I had not been leaving the country we would have kept our lad, big though he was. as a pet as he was such a sweetie and nice to play with, a quick learner. I took great pleasure in seeing him look fit and well even without being ridden, and resisted longings from others on the yard wanting to "have a go" as he was so good in every way except being ridden, and looked stunning. But we resisted everyone and went for what was best for him and us, a professional and sensitive rider who did not push him too far, and the rest of the time a pet to play with, the same as the dogs, but with boundaries.

Ah well, sacrifices had to be made in order for us to move on, and he is happy as a companion to others now. But no-one looks after your horse as well as you do, do they?
 
Hello! *waves*

Yeah she can be a little lively lol but she does listen to me and not take things into her own hooves so to speak. :D We went a little too close to one of those automatic bird scarer things t'other day :rolleyes: It goes off three times in a row and I nearly got catapulted into the field several times lol! Totally fair enough tho, we both got taken by surprise (I don't know if it was a good thing I knew there were two more BOOM!!!!!! noises to come!) but she doesn't tank off or anything - just huge bounces :D When I do ride her, she actually feels quite nice and balanced for a baby. I'm not sure it's a confidence thing....just an unmotivated thing.... :D
 
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