do you agree with this?

[Equilibrium Ireland]

Well let's see I could have got pregnant in high school. Could have hung out with the kids that got drunk every weekend. Got married stupidly young and had loads of kids in my small town and ended up always searching for where I fit in. I would have had loads of mommy friends and talk about potty training and drinking as soon as it's 5pm. And make sure everyone knows I run 10 miles a day with my FB app. Or decided no kids but I'd become a reality TV star.

But horses kept me sane in HS. When I left I went to the track. I spent 12 years criss crossing the States. Made the best friends of my life and shared more adventures than many get. Never missing a sunrise, winters in Florida or Southern California. Seeing the sunrise over the Zion National Park, the most amazing thing ever. Getting stopped and stripped searched by Border Control in Canada. Being on TV, being in newspapers. All these things were shared with people near and dear to me to this day. Part. Well we did loads of that too. Teaches you how to be a responsible professional when you need to be at work at half 4am 7 days a week. Then moved to Ireland. A whole new life. New adventures, new people.

Ain't no life perfect. Things don't have to measure up to ideal to be freaking awesome. It's because of horses that I haven't tried to top myself because I needed to fit this round peg into a square hole. The world needs horse people too. Normal is so overrated.

Terri

 

[Spookywood]

I don't see the two as being mutually exclusive (having horses and having friends) Playing devil's advocate, who is to say that the people who feel depressed/have no friends/feel like they didn't have a childhood, wouldn't feel this way regardless of whether they had horses or not.

^^THIS^^

I am happier than I have been in a long while since I got my horses. It's made me a much more confident, happy person to be around and has made me appreciate my time with my OH much more. Yes there are ups and downs, but that's life whatever you choose to do with it.

 

[merrymeasure]

I can see your point of view, but far from horses taking my childhood away, I feel they enriched mine. Gave me a sense of responsibility for something else other than myself. I had plenty of friends, and interaction with my family, so I don't feel they robbed me of anything. As to what I would be doing now, my art, but then, I do that anyway, fitting in with my horse, I like being with others, but I also like my own company, and can't think of a better way to spend some time in the open air (yes, winter or summer!) with my horse.
She can give me a peace, that, frankly, humans can't, and yes, I DO love my family and friends. Maybe I am just one of the more fortunate ones, I don't know.

 

[_GG_]

No. I don't agree.

To be perfectly honest, this world is full of either victims or triers.

The victims of this world will always be victims. You can spot them a mile off. Everything is a bigger drama than it needs to be. They always suffer more than others, they always have more to deal with than others and so on. The important thing is...they ALWAYS have someone/something else to blame. Things are never their fault. You can give them every plan or solution in the world, but they will find a way to say it won't work.

The triers of this world just get on with things. Take responsibility, don't dish out blame and are generally happy despite often going through awful times.

OP, whoever this person is, the more time you give to their musings on this...the more fuel you will be adding to the fire.

It's life, we can either waste it analysing everything, or we can spend it actually living.

 

[moodymare123]

And make sure everyone knows I run 10 miles a day with my FB app. Or decided no kids but I'd become a reality TV star.


Terri

LOL XD

 

[Paint Me Proud]

Having a horse really helped me get my life going in the right direction. Without the routine of seeing to the horse everyday I would be nothing more than a recluse sitting at home staring at my laptop all day.

It is the social side of horse ownership i like too, being surrounded by like minded people who share your passion.

 

[Equilibrium Ireland]

GG,

Spot on!

Terri

 

[LittleRooketRider]

I don't agree-personally i think that the bitchiness on yards, want for attention and loneliness is self-created and could/would happen without horses i.e. people bitch at school/work etc, non-horsey tend to seek more attention eg. latest clothes/fashion/pulling and general misdemeanours. As for loneliness, the majority of my friends are horsey-met at competitions, lessons, rallie etc. and i still manage to make friends outside of the horsey world.

I understand that this is your opinion but i also think that if this is what you see of your life and how it turned out perhaps you should look at it yourself and work out how you can change that eg. bitching is not something you have to do because you are on a yard and as for missing out on your childhood i expect there are a lot of children who would die to have the oppurtunity of looking after a pony.

Personally i think your comments are selfish and ungrateful, i don't know about your personal circimstances but families will sacrifice a lot so their child can have a pony. (directed at person who is author not you but find it easier to write directly)

 

[moodymare123]

I don't agree-personally i think that the bitchiness on yards, want for attention and loneliness is self-created and could/would happen without horses i.e. people bitch at school/work etc, non-horsey tend to seek more attention eg. latest clothes/fashion/pulling and general misdemeanours. As for loneliness, the majority of my friends are horsey-met at competitions, lessons, rallie etc. and i still manage to make friends outside of the horsey world.

I understand that this is your opinion but i also think that if this is what you see of your life and how it turned out perhaps you should look at it yourself and work out how you can change that eg. bitching is not something you have to do because you are on a yard and as for missing out on your childhood i expect there are a lot of children who would die to have the oppurtunity of looking after a pony.

Personally i think your comments are selfish and ungrateful, i don't know about your personal circimstances but families will sacrifice a lot so their child can have a pony.

it wasn't me who wrote it.. I clearly stated this at the end

 

[shmoo]

Personally i think your comments are selfish and ungrateful, i don't know about your personal circimstances but families will sacrifice a lot so their child can have a pony.

Hi LLR, I don't hink OP wrote this - but is just quoting to see other peoples reactions.

 

[shmoo]

That 'hink' should be a 'think'

 

[LittleRooketRider]

sorry, i know find it easier to write directly

 

[Caol Ila]

Oh, I thought everyone was supposed to be depressed and angsty in high school. Is that not part of the standard teenage experience? Didn't think horses had much to do with it either way.

 

[LittleRooketRider]

Oh, I thought everyone was supposed to be depressed and angsty in high school. Is that not part of the standard teenage experience? Didn't think horses had much to do with it either way.

ditto

 

[Black_Horse_White]

I've made some very good friends because I've had horses, and still kept my horse-less friends. I was diagnosed with depression before I had owned horses, and to be honest not had it since. I love my horse and spending time with him, but I also spend lots of time with friends and family.

 

[SatansLittleHelper]

Very interesting post.
I didnt have horses as a child though wanted them desperately...non horsey family and lack of funds prevented that.
So started riding in my teens. I think I hsd a fun time, I rode, went out clubbing etc. Personally for me I think my big mistake was getting into a serious 6 year relationship at 17 and a half...that definately took away my teenage years.
I have a severely disabled child and alot of peopl dont know how to deal with that...esp once you cant just drop things and go out etc. So for me the animals are a massive part of my life and, quite frankly, my sanity..!!!!!

 

[WelshD]

Your life is what you make it, how your hobbies influence you is up to you

 

[Rollin]

I soo wanted a pony all my life. I had been married for 25 years before I realised my dream. I now have 14 horses including a Shagya and CB stallion. Very hard work, I have been soaked to the skin twice this week.

I love my life.

 

[FionaM12]

I was forced to give up contact with horses for over 30 years. I had no choice.

I coped, my life wasn't exactly unhappy because I made the most of what was left. However, underneath there was a deep sadness and sense of loss and it always felt like a tragedy that I couldn't do what i really wanted with my life.

It hurt so much I dropped my horsey friends and didn't even watch horse-related films or equine sports on tv.

Now in my 50s I'm back with horses. I know so little, I've come back as a novice and a very nervous rider with creaky joints. But there is no doubt about it: horses make me happy!

 

[FionaM12]

To be fair, I would say that piece of writing was written by someone very young and inexperienced. Do they know you've posted it here?

I do wonder how the writer thinks something written in a novel (Of Mice and Men) could "prove" anything?

 

[Bertolie]

I came from a non-horsey family (they still don't see the attraction!) and didn't start riding until my 40's. I bought my first horse at 44

Whilst I had close friends at school, those friendships petered out after we left school. I got married at 19 and had 3 children by the age of 24 and whilst I had people I would talk to at the school gates, I had no close friends that I would socialise with.

I got into riding through my daughter, and haven't looked back since. I get to spend a lot of time with my daughter who also has a horse, I have friends at the yard, and the evenings/weekends that I would have normally spent sat in front of the TV/PC are now spent caring for and riding my beautiful boy. My OH has his own hobbies so spending less time with him isn't really an issue.

I have more of a 'life' now than I ever did pre-horses, and I love every minute of it

 

[Artful]

For me, as a fairly ancient rider, my time at the yard is my downtime -it kind of allows me to get off the 'treadmill' and have a bit of peace and quiet. The actual riding is a bit of a bonus !! When I eventually lose my boy I think I will be at a real loss to know how to fill that empty space in the mornings -it's just been a huge part of my adult life -probably have to get a dog just so I have something to look after and spoil. Maybe it has something to do with my age and no children at home to care for!!

 

[DabDab]

Horses are the only part of my life that is just for me. My boy may just be a big lump of a mammal that can't talk but I love the bones of him and any achievement with him is mine and his alone, which for me makes it all the more special. I wouldn't be without horses in my life.

Having said that, giving up working on other people's yards was the best thing I ever did. I wouldn't change those years for the world, but they were tiring and the culture of the industry can easily sap the life out of you, particularly when you're young. So if that is the rut that the author of that piece is in then I can understand he emotions, even if I don't agree with them.

 

[putasocinit]

I wouldnt care if i didnt have to speak to another human for the next month as long as i had my two boys, cob and shettie, and i am far from depressed, i find humans depressing.

 

[hessy12]

I don't understand your viewpoint, but I respect your opinions, it's a free country. Horses have been a lifeline for me and literally are the reason I am alive today. Enough said.

 

[Ponytrecca]

It all depends how you chose to view life. Maybe she needed to spend more time developing people skills but it was simpler to develop horse ones...maybe she will come back to horses one day when she's older...

 

[Marydoll]

My horses are among the major players in my life, but they enhance it not hinder it and ive 4 to look after. Ive met loads of lovely people through having my horses, had great laughs but my horses are a lifestyle choice, not a hobby.
I work,meet friends, both horsey and non horsey refularly, i wouldnt want my life any other way

 

[windand rain]

I sometimes feel sad for my OH he is wonderful and supports me and the ponies fully now but he see other people buying holiday homes in the med and wonders how they do it as they are not any better off than us they just have never had horses eating their money
I cant live without them so it is no use me saying any different and personally I like my loneliness most of the time
We have had 37 wonderful years of marriage next week and I know we only manage it because we have the ponies as they get us out and about we meet acquaintances and a few good friends We get to fulfill our need to help out by taking our neighbours out and about in the lorry and we have to get fresh air and exercise every day regardless of the weather. They keep us alive.

 

[Champion1969]

Since I got back into horses ~nine months ago, I've come off the anti-depressants I've been on for six years, made new friends, have picked up a new sport (ice hockey), and am generally happier and healthier.

So, no, I don't agree.

Same here without the Ice-hockey

 

[Kaylum]

I have no idea they people think the horse world is as bitchy any other place. I work with mostly men in IT and its the most bitchy place ever. I also go to the gym a lot and that's pretty terrible.

As for everything else your lucky a lot of kids dont get the chance to be with horses they are stuck in flats or even worse bed and breakfast homes.