Does it ever scare you??

Perfect_Pirouette

Perfect_Pirouette

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I have read a few posts on here lately about very poorly horses and their tremendous journeys through their illnesses, some of which have won, some sadly not.

I'm not sure if it's because mine is practically kept at home at the moment and so therefore I have no help, I HAVE to be there twice a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year that I am feeling the pressure more.

....Does it ever scare you that YOU are SOLEY responsible for your horses physical and emotional well being? That they are the most beautiful animals in the world and give so much and therefore you really are obligated to give back in terms of time, finances and worry??

It has hit home that I really am 100% responsible for my boy, in every way and he depends on me entirely and the thought is so utterly over whelming and not necessarily in a good way.

Do you ever feel exhausted and overwhelmed with it all?

Horses have been my life since I was 7 and I wouldn't change it but having no help at all (think I am going to move him back to livery in the next few months though so that should eradicate that) and the realisation that I and I alone are his sole provider and carer have just tonight got me feeling anxious and worried.

Sorry, pointless post I know.
 
SummerxStarsx said:
I have read a few posts on here lately about very poorly horses and their tremendous journeys through their illnesses, some of which have won, some sadly not.

I'm not sure if it's because mine is practically kept at home at the moment and so therefore I have no help, I HAVE to be there twice a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year that I am feeling the pressure more.

....Does it ever scare you that YOU are SOLEY responsible for your horses physical and emotional well being? That they are the most beautiful animals in the world and give so much and therefore you really are obligated to give back in terms of time, finances and worry??

It has hit home that I really am 100% responsible for my boy, in every way and he depends on me entirely and the thought is so utterly over whelming and not necessarily in a good way.

Do you ever feel exhausted and overwhelmed with it all?

Horses have been my life since I was 7 and I wouldn't change it but having no help at all (think I am going to move him back to livery in the next few months though so that should eradicate that) and the realisation that I and I alone are his sole provider and carer have just tonight got me feeling anxious and worried.

Sorry, pointless post I know.
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God yes... Having lived through it this year, So many people on here lived through it with me, breaking me apart. The concept always scared me and the reality was even worse but the strange thing is, the knowledge that I was in control, knowing how very much my girl meant to me, no one loved her more or wanted her to live more than I could, and that comforts me and helped me see it from a different side, I was able to provide the absolute very best for my closest friend, and that is comforting. After I lost her, I was so very scared, knowing that I could and probably would at some point live through losing my boy ben, he is only 3 but I have no intention of ever letting him go. Then I think, if he was to ever go through any hurt or pain, would I rather someone else was in charge of this? The answer is no, because although it is awful, and the fear, hurt and stress and utter helplessness is desperate and I wouldn't want it if given the choice, I would rather be responsible for his care whatever the circumstances, good or bad, because then I will know there will never be any 'what ifs' for him or me. I will give anything and everything to ensure my horse recieves the best possible care.
 
alma said:
Yes it does, as I have no one to step in for me if the worst happens (to me). Trying to make some sort of provision for them
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Me neither, non horsey parents (although mum does try and do bits bless her) and OH. Lots of horsey friends though, however the best ones are (at the moment until I move) 15-25 miles away and so not really able to step in should I need it.
 
I have had one of the worst years of my life. I nursed my boy through a horrid disease (visiting 6/7 times a day), whilst looking after my beautiful 18 month old Daughter too. I never had a day off and it was physically and emotionally knackering! I was very fortunate that my boy never lost his appetite to the extent where he needed syringe feeding - this played on my mind all the time and terrified me! I knew I wouldn't have been able to dedicate the time to it and it made me feel terribley inadequate. I am very lucky that my OH will help out if needed but he was poorly and we needed eachother! I had some fantastic support from people off here and in RL but when I was at the yard looking at my horse wasting away in front of my eyes I had never felt more alone. I willed him to live and pick up and eventually he did! even though now he's caught a nasty virus I know he's on the up and will hopefully come back into work at Christmas time! It truly has been an awful few months (since June 7th) but I am so happy I gave him the chance and decided to fight for him.

I can relate to your feelings. When I first bought him I was always thinking 'what if's' and paranoid about getting things right - when it comes to it, nothing else matters except getting your horse healthy again - and you'll try everything in your power.
 
I always did my horses myself and relied 100% on me to be there but some time ago now I had a period of time where I suddenly had to be away from them without notice. Fortunately I was on a yard and YO took over. Nowadays I make sure to keep as many people as possible available to provide emergency back up. You really never know in life when you might not be able to get there even though you would always willingly move heaven and earth to do so. Sometimes you just cannot do that.
 
No i have never let the thought of being responsible for my horses scare me. I bought my first horse when i was 16years old and i knew what i was taking on then and i have always done my best for then and made sure i could get to them at least twice a day. It has been fantastic since i got them home 12 years ago as i don't have to have anyone else near them and trying to tell me what i should be doing with them.
I also have kids so i know about responsibilty.
 
Every time I get a new horse I have an initial panic for a few weeks then I relax into it. I do know what Im doing and actually having sole responsibility comforts me a bit. I know that I will move heaven and earth to keep my horses safe and well. I don't have to watch someone else make a decision I don't agree with for a horse I love. I will make all the decisions even god forbid to PTS a week too early to avoid even a moments pain or suffering.
 
I'm the same as Allie5, when I get a new horse can't sleep and worry about them. It settles as we all get into a routine, my horses are on DIY private livery so only have me to look after them. They have the best of everything
 
Im lucky to have a good friend who shares one of my horses with me, so when disaster struck 2 years ago and a field kick led to a fractured leg, the two of us got through 10 weeks at the vet, 8 months box rest and a year of rehab. Couldn't have done it without her.

I try not to think too much about what I'd do if any of my three were poorly again. When the worst does happen you find a way of getting through it. When I look back to when my boy was so poorly I have no idea how I travelled 30 mins to the vet just about every day to visit him, in addition to working full time and having my other pony on diy. Or how I got through getting up at 5.30 to go to the yard before work to muck out, bandage, feed, muck out my other pony, and one I borrowed as his day timecompanion, then do it all again after work.

If I knew then what I know now, I think I would have thought I just would not phyically be able to cope - but you do somehow!
 
Sister and I share the horses, so share the responsibility. This has always been the case, from when we got our first horse, many many years ago. We made the decision to pool resources and buy our own place, so that we could have the horses at home, a good while ago now. This means that we get the best of both worlds, no interfering from others, but someone to help, take over if one of us is ill etc etc. Having said that, you can almost guarantee if one of the horses decides to be ill, it will be when one of us (usually sister :p) is away!
 
I have a massively accident prone 2 year old and yes, it scares me. I often wonder what will happen next. Im almost finished paying off the last vets bill, im expecting some injury or other to happen and i'll be in debt to them once more!
My appy is relatively good *touch wood* But i worry that because he's not had any accidents in 2 years that something awful will happen...
 
MrsMozart said:
Nope. I have children, so am used to it :cool:.
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same here, i have kids, dogs, horses and a husband who all rely on me to keep them fed and watered and nursed through any ailments ;) If i actually thought about all the 'responsibility' i have it probably would scare me momentarily, but i generally don't have time to ponder on it too much:p
 
it used to more then it does now

i do worry that ive never seen collic or lamintus etc but i figure that i just aim to know every inch of her and if something wrong ill know.

i used to stress when she got a cut or tiny bump but now i just deal with it

its still scarey
 
It was brought home to me when I was taken into hospital in an emergency and I had to try and explain to my OH how to look after 3 horses while being in extreme pain (we have two children too). He struggled for a day and then got a friend roped in.
 
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