Downsides...

[Harliquin]

Hi,

So it will be quite a while before I get my own horse but I've read lots about the wonderful upsides of owning a horse.

But being realistic about it I know it's not all just fun and games

So what are the realistic downsides of owning a horse?

I want to know the pros and cons of it all before just going into it with some idealised dream of it all

Thanks
~Harli

 

[milliepops]

Right now? Dark, mud, rain and being cold.
Bills, having no money and no time for life outside horses and work.
House, car etc full of hay and shavings no matter what you do.
When things go wrong = vets bills and heartache.

but... when the sun is shining, birds are singing and you're cantering along on your horse, nothing can beat it.

 

[Natalie_H]

The cold, wet & mud in Winter when you just want to get home in the warm, the expense, the frustration when you cannot achieve your goals with them, the responsibility of them when you would realistically like to switch them off for a week to get yourself some rest, veterinary issues - & the worry when they injure themselves, their lack of understanding when you work so hard to keep them and they repay you by playing up whenever you try to spend quality time with them..............

I wouldn't be without him though.....

 

[raggydoll]

no chance to have a lay in.....ever! Mud, poo, muddy poo, smelling of horse poo, worry, poverty and cold.

There are others, but they don't seem to matter when you have a really great day with your horse, all the bad stuff just goes and it's all worth it.
Jo
x

 

[Inchy]

At this time of year:

-Having to drag myself thru the mud to find my horses in the field.
-Having to remove all mud off said horses before i can ride.
-Nights being too dark to ride.
-Mornings being too dark to ride.
-Mud Fever!!
-Getting soaked and freezing cold on a regular occaison.

Winter is a bit rubbish for having horses, too much mud and rain - however i always look forward to winter for the hunting! what ever the cons the pro's out weigh them...i wouldn't be without my gee gee's!!!

 

[ester]

be prepared to have a very limited social life apart from horses, my friends understand that they will see me when i am not competing cos that comes first, and if they come visit for the weekend they will prob have to see a horse at some point. often have some very sober nights out too!

Depends on how much you plan on doing yourself, can be problem if it is only you so you always have to be there to bring them in/ feed them etc, whatever else you could be doing.

I love most of it, and in winter cannot wait for the weekend so I can go for nice long rides in the daylight, during the week I realise how much I miss riding my boy.

 

[bugbee717]

mud
and the worry if something goes wrong, does my insurance cover enough
oh and the mud

 

[misst]

Where shall I start

Never ever having any money, any time, any life, smelling of horse pee (see Jacks Mums post in SB)

Getting to know your vet better than most of your friends, and seeing your farrier more often than your OH.
Disapointment, heartbreak and worry being your constant companions

Spending your spare time on this forum

Apart from that it is great, making some of my very best friends ever, the joy of seing him sound occasionally! The odd rosette, the laughs the understanding of likeminded (mad) people.
It is hard but once you do it you will be hooked. Seriously though just make sure you get the right horse and the right help and your finances are in place.
Good luck - you will need it

 

[Ziggy_]

For me... being tied to an atrocious dead end job that I can't stand - because I can't afford to be unemployed for even one week.

Endlessly replacing things the horse trashes - you think you finally have everything you need, then they come in from the field with rug ripped in two and a shoe missing!

Turning up for a rare night out with your friends and realising that there's STILL ingrained mud/poo under your fingernails despite three hand washes and a shower.

Yard politics, bitching, back stabbing, arguing over who didn't worm their horse/do their poo picking/borrowed someone else's hoof pick......

But its sooo worth it to get out on a hack on a sunny day

 

[Gorgeous George]

I waited 30 years before I was able to afford George, so I think I am still in the first flush of being a new owner! But the downsides are:
at the moment the wet, mud and cold
knowing if there is a problem you need to sort it out
if the horse does something to scare you, affect your confidence you somehow have to find a way to move on.
lack of social life
living with the worry that something may happen to your horse.
finding out how strong your feelings for your horse are and how far you would go to protect them.

But the upsides are priceless, and wouldn't change anything, George has been one of the best things to happen to me.