Do you NEED a horse to keep you sane?

Leo Walker

Leo Walker

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Just a pondering following threads about money etc. Its also a little bit pertinent to my current situation, so I do have a vested interest in replies :D

Do you need a horse to make you happy? Would any horse do? Does it have to be a riding horse, a competition horse or are you happy with a pet?

If you have an unridden horse your keeping due to owing it a retirement etc, would you be as happy with a horse you didnt owe anything to, but was a lovely person etc? If you couldnt ride due to physical problems would you still keep a horse? Is it based on finances to any degree? Would you keep a pet horse so long as it cost less than x amount when you would keep a riding horse if it cost y amount? Is to do with time? Do you keep a horse because its demands on your time are manageable? Would that change if it took up a lot more of your time and impact on other aspects of your life?

Why do you have your horse/s? Is it because you love riding, or you love having a horse?
 
Having a horse is the only thing that keeps me sane. It's nice to get away from work the other half and everything else. Im happy enough to go for a hack. But I took my new lad jumping the other day and it gave me such a buzz. It's always nice to go to shows and come away with ribbons but I'm just as happy to not ride and fuss over him in the stable. He loves it I love it.
 
No I don't need a horse to keep me sane.

I sold my horse last year but I had her 6 years because at that time I enjoyed owning. I liked riding and caring for her unfortunately that changed over the years and I felt I needed to concentrate on myself. So made the choice to let her go.

I keep me sane, always got something going on and do have a bounce back nature so never astray for long!
 
For me personally it's like a drug addiction, I have gone cold turkey (4 years at uni) but I can't give them up - when I can't ride for long period I get really grumpy. He's currently on box rest (check ligament) and I can tell my stress levels are way up because I can't get my 'fix'

We keep them at home so low cost - if he doesn't come right, he'll stay as a pet but I'll find something else to ride.
We are having to move house and my OH and I talked about no horses (realistically I get to hack a couple of times a week) or horses in livery but for the little I do I can't justify the cost of livery/ nor the time and I can't do without them.

If we had a big cut in income - yes they would go (we have two kids so I have to be realistic) but I've found you can get the costs pretty low keeping them at home, and the money you pay in mortgage at least gets you a house at the end of the day!

My OH and I were doing late night checks a week ago and he caught me having a scratch/ cuddle with the big horse and I said (to horse) 'Oh I couldn't do without this' and OH said 'that's why they are so worth it' - I do have an amazingly supportive OH!
 
Yes, i do like to ride, but for me just being outside with them is enough. We keep at home so it keeps the costs down and makes it easier (in some respects). Of our 4, 2 are retired, My eldest daughters is in light work and has some questionmarks over his future as a ridden horse. The only one who is ok is my lad, who is still wobbly and young. Something absolutely drastic would have to happen for me to get out of horses.
 
I found having my old boy on livery actively contributed to my mega high stress level, I couldn't really afford the time or money and felt guilty going to yard but guilty about the money if I didn't. I have a little land at home but no where to ride - no school and lane onto stupidly fast main road. After losing my big boy, I have acquired a lovely pony in need of a home who isn't really ridden and I love it. I love going out in all weather's, I love tending to him, at the beginning and end of every day I get a little bit of me time ( I have 3 pre school age children !). I don't NEED it, but I value it and it really really helps me cope with life.
 
I definitely do. I have had periods without horses and I just felt totally and utterly lost. My boy has seen me through some very tough emotional times; just being around him lifts me mood.
 
Mine is currently unridden. He has had lameness issues. At the moment, I'm not bothered if he can't be ridden again because I'm not riding, nerves and a nasty accident have left me pretty much totally lacking in confidence and with a big chunk of leg missing.

I don't know if I NEED him to keep me sane, but I think I might go mad of I didn't have him and I certainly wouldn't get out anywhere near as much. I'd definitely be bored, although today, I haven't stopped and I wouldn't mind the occasional day off! I'm very glad to be at a yard with lovely people who do help if I'm not up to things and that makes a huge difference to being able to have my horse still, in both a financial and practical way.
 
For me, I have horses because I like to train. I like to watch the progression, improvement and learn new things along the way. Because I like to train, I like to compete as it shows me how I'm doing. I've had times when I just like to hack and have fun, but that's because the horse I was riding then didn't really want to learn and therefore schooling wasn't enjoyable, so we worked on his fitness and rideablility instead.

It's tricky because along with my mother we have three horses who fill several roles. There's the old guy, he's mums, I never really got on with him, but he's retired and happy. There's my boy, the opinionated Connemara who doesn't really enjoying training all that much (he knows best) but loves to hack, jump and hunt. So that's what he does, I love riding him - he's marvellous fun, but unless I'm having to keep him fit for something I tend to lose motivation as we're never really attempting to achieve anything. He's really mum's now, and she hacks him about as and when. She's going to do some jumping clinics with him this year and some small hunter trials which he'll enjoy. We bought a youngster for mum a couple of years ago, who I stole, and we've swapped, and I train him to compete. He loves to learn, is very clever and picks things up well. I love riding him and setting goals and targets and working towards them.

If I couldn't ride, I'd still have horses (couldn't sell any of them) but I don't think I'd be as enthusiastic. When the youngster was off work recently with an abscess I must admit I was getting bored of all the hard work with non of the fun stuff, especially as I'd scheduled things I wanted to be doing with him, goals that I wanted to work towards. It was more the lack of progress that grated, rather than the lack of riding.

But no, not any horse would do. I'd have to like it for a start and I wouldn't have a pet that didn't owe me anything. If my situation changed and one horse had to go, the old guy would be put down. My Connemara isn't really sellable and the youngster is the horse with the most potential.

Selfishly I give up a lot to keep them and I'd quite like to do the fun stuff too. If I couldn't ride due to physical problems, then I would either have one of them broken to harness or find a talented individual to ride for me, so I could still be involved. That said I couldn't imagine life without them, and I'd keep my present boys as pets if it came down to it rather than not have them. I wouldn't go out specifically looking to buy a horse as a pet though.
 
Not sure really. Sometimes I fantasise about how lovely it would be to have a lie in, to be able to go straight home from work and just do nothing, but when I think about getting rid of them, it breaks my heart - particularly with the TB. The native I would consider selling at some point in the future, but they are so attached to each other, that at the moment it wouldn't be appropriate. As for riding, I'm not really bothered. The TB was written off by the vets a couple of years ago so I had given up all hope of ever riding her again anyway. As it is, I've got her sound and we're out and about hacking again and doing some low level dressage which I'm enjoying. But if I couldn't ride them it wouldn't matter to me as long as I could still provide the same level of care and they were happy.
 
I think I definitely do, mine is the only thing I really have to keep me busy at the minute. I can't really go anywhere in general but haven't been at school for nearly two years now with mental health issues and the first year was nearly impossible because I didn't have anything to distract me. Spent this week in bed feeling sad and then the guilt of feeling like I'm neglecting my horse added to it, but today dad literally dragged me out of bed and made me go see her. Ended up with me realising that my cheeks were sore/numb because I was smiling so much, even just being around a horse improves my mood:)
 
I cant live without them I have tried but I simply cant go on without at least one to care for I don't ride anymore due to ill health but at least I have to go out of the house daily I have to meet people and I have to do some physical activity Without the ponies I would be chair bound and bored silly.
I have a dog for the same reason without the dog I wouldn't have to walk miles everyday and again would be housebound. Would any horse do I doubt it I am fairly competitive and like a quality animal I can show and I am also a sucker for a pretty head so they have to be good looking, shallow I know but that is what I like. I also like to see the progress the babies make as we usually start out with foals and they learn everything here. I don't breed anymore so usually have weanlings around the place although our youngest is at the moment a rising five year old home bred as OH redundancy and the total lack of market have meant that this one has been backed and ridden away here and is now competing under saddle instead of in youngstock classes in hand
 
I don't need horses for sanity, though whether or not I have that with or without horses might be a matter of opinion ;)

I do need a riding horse to be happy. I don't know if its from nature or nurture, or a bit of both but my parents follow football. Not like normal people, like, one team, mostly on the TV, hoping for good results, going to some matches as and when, etc. No, they follow Man Utd, Man Utd reseveres, Man Utd Youth team and FC Utd of Manchester all over the world! They're often at matches more days of a week than not, their holidays are usually a football tour, there is always football on their TV or radio and all they talk about is football.

Football didn't do it for me, but I took to horses with the same kind of obsession/dedication.

I need a riding horse, a pet isn't enough. Riding other people's horses isn't enough. I love the mind **** that is horse sport, managing horses and the partnership challenges that always come with horses, but mainly I used to go on riding holidays in South Wales as a teenager and just found that pure happiness was charging around the forests and mountains on horses. Nothing's ever managed to change my mind. :)
 
I'll keep my lad until the end of his days (barring any financial disasters of course!) as I've had him since he was 5 1/2, apart from him I wouldn't have a non ridden horse as riding is my sanity. I'm not sure if I will get another after him but hopefully that's another 15-20 years away yet lol.
 
I don't know what I'd do with my time if I didn't have horses, imagine coming out of work and going straight home or having a lie in at weekends :confused:
 
xgemmax said:
I don't know what I'd do with my time if I didn't have horses, imagine coming out of work and going straight home or having a lie in at weekends :confused:
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This, definitely! I'd be lost without a horse and as someone's said above, riding other people's isn't the same. It's the building of a bond, looking after them, when you 'get' what you've been working for, the feeling of getting to the big fence or round the course absolutely right, leaving them tucked up in the stable on a cold night... I couldn't be without one :)
 
I def def think it keeps me on the straight and narrow. It's a fantastic way to chill out and take the mind off work / stressful situations. I so look forward to going up and seeing my horse every night! I can't imagine not having a horse even on the days where it feels like a chore. I'd be very very disappointed if I couldn't ride - I'd be devastated but couldn't afford 2 and cudnt get rid so id prob have to start a new hobby or something to go alongside
 
eleanor79 said:
This, definitely! I'd be lost without a horse and as someone's said above, riding other people's isn't the same. It's the building of a bond, looking after them, when you 'get' what you've been working for, the feeling of getting to the big fence or round the course absolutely right, leaving them tucked up in the stable on a cold night... I couldn't be without one :)
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This 100% sums it up!
 
Yes, I do need a horse to keep me sane!
I got my boy when I was in a very dark place and I felt the only thing I needed to help would be to have a horse. Sounds silly but I needed that responsibilty, a real friend and I just adore horses.
Now I'm pretty happy with life! If I have a bad day my horse cheers me up.
If I work a long day at work, I have to go to see my horse, just for 5 mins, even if it's 10pm. It's what keeps me going!

If my horse couldn't be ridden I would equally enjoy having him as a pet. If I didn't have him at all, I would love to have an unridden horse to care for.

I think there is something so special about horses, unlike any other animal. I really need them in my life to keep me happy and sane! Sometimes I wonder how horseless people get through life..!
 
I'm sitting here sobbing my heart out as I dont think I can physically manage my boy any more :( But I'm also pretty sure I cant justify the horrendous cost of keeping a horse where I currently live purely as a pet. And if I'm being honest the work involved with a stabled horse is too much for me :( I posted this thread as my lovely OH suggested that I sell Frankie and spend the money on lessons, but for me its not about just riding. I do want to ride, and its bloody brilliant for my disability (riding once a week has got me off all serious painnkillers) but I dont want to do that!

Its helped a lot hearing other peoples opinions :) I have a lot to think about :)
 
My OH always says that I am a happier person when I have the horses to look after. I have five at the moment, a retired home bred mare that I will never part with even though she has been a field ornament since the age of about 7 due to health issues, she is now rising 21. I also have an eleven year old Welsh sect d gelding and three miniature mares. They help me get out of bed in the mornings and make sure I get plenty of fresh air and exercise. I do wonder sometimes what other people do with their time without horses to look after. I work part time and have a family to look after and with the horses my time is taken up and I love it. My sister doesn't work has no horses, dogs or even a cat, her children are grown up and independent and I really do wonder how she fills her days.
 
FrankieCob said:
I'm sitting here sobbing my heart out as I dont think I can physically manage my boy any more :( But I'm also pretty sure I cant justify the horrendous cost of keeping a horse where I currently live purely as a pet. And if I'm being honest the work involved with a stabled horse is too much for me :( I posted this thread as my lovely OH suggested that I sell Frankie and spend the money on lessons, but for me its not about just riding. I do want to ride, and its bloody brilliant for my disability (riding once a week has got me off all serious painnkillers) but I dont want to do that!

Its helped a lot hearing other peoples opinions :) I have a lot to think about :)
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Oh bless you, having a stabled horse is much harder work and so expensive.

I think I do need horses as part of my life now, I really need the outside time and it gets me out of the house. I don't think I need a ridden horse as my small companion pony often gives me more joy as she just likes me more and she is a baby so I have more of a bond with her. My riding horse is a haflinger so pretty easy to keep and not bothered about not being ridden for long periods, but she can be marish, uncooperative and I don't always enjoy riding her, so I haven't ridden this winter while I sorted out a new saddle and it took the pressure off. I am sure we will be pals again when we are riding as we are moving somewhere with better hacking. I think she is one that you have to ride to feel connected with.

I spend no more than 100 a month all in on mine living out on rented land, and I like that it is more flexible. If you can find a bit of land that is quite cheap then I would do that :-) it can get tiresome in winter trudging through the mud, hefting hay and poo picking, oh and wet rugs, but that's about it really, in summer its pretty easy. Just don't get somewhere that doesn't have water, I find that a massive chore!
 
Get your cob out 24/7 if you can Frankie cob it isnt easier or much cheaper but it is less tying as you can come and go as you feel well enough and he will always have grass and water if you can only manage a count legs and cuddle time with him, better still if you can find somewhere that harrows the fields and swaps them round as that is a lot less work.
 
Mine is my best friend. If I didn't have her, I wouldn't go out and would probably quit work and be a recluse. She definitely keeps me sane and gives me the motivation to get up and out of bed every morning :)
 
I do. I have been through some horrendously difficult times in the past couple of years and my horse was the only thing that kept me from the asylum. Just the routine of looking after her gave me a break from the overpowering anxiety that dogged me constantly.
 
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