Give up ?

Kayfm

Kayfm

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Last night down my yard, a friend said to me 'if the weather & winters continue to be bad like this then I am seriously considering giving up horses'. I can understand really if im honest as its been hell. I am finding things very difficult myself and am not able to do alot with my horse but dont think i could sell my horsie. What are your views, has it crossed your mind ?
 
I can honestly say it hasn't, and I don't think it ever would they are too big a part of my life and besides what else would I spend all my time and money on, clothes and holidays??? Boring! I'd rather have silly ponies to play with any day, even if it is cold and horrible - besides it'll be summer again soon!
 
Never in a million years. . . as much as I hate snow and ice!!

Ice does have its down side tho I slipped right under my wheelbarrow the other week :-( Bruised bum 4 me!!

I hate the snow too but just look on the bright side at least if everything is frozen its not muddy!!!
 
Has the winter really been that bad??

Sure we've had some snow, which has made things a bit inconvenient at times.

BUT - we have not had howling gails, torrential rain or generall all round awful weather. Just cold weather.

Give me a winter like this one anytime
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I agree I'd rather have cold than rain! It has been tough. Mine live out and caring for my old boy has been hard since we've had some really freezing nights but you adapt and muddle through.

I can't imagine not having to trudge down through the snow every morning to see them. Plus, what the hell would I talk about if I gave up horses??!! I have no other hobbies
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Hell no! lol

Doesn't bother me at all, don't get me wrong I cannot wait for the summer but I just try and get on with it regardless of the what's happening with the weather.x
 
Hmm, I am thinking about giving up at the moment, though not because of the weather really but a few other factors...a very difficult decision though.
 
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Has the winter really been that bad??

Sure we've had some snow, which has made things a bit inconvenient at times.

BUT - we have not had howling gails, torrential rain or generall all round awful weather. Just cold weather.

Give me a winter like this one anytime
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I think the weather can be very regionalised - I know this is definitely the worst winter we have had since I moved to this area 13 years ago. Torrential rain through most of November then mid December we had a thick covering of snow that only cleared Christmas Eve. Then beginning of January we had another 8" snow and now this week we are being hit with more snow.

Whilst I don't like the mud it doesn't usually stop getting my daughter getting the pony exercised or prevent us taking her out to lessons and competitions, whereas snow and ice often do!

Not thinking of giving up but am definitely looking forward to Spring arriving!
 
Two of my horse friends have also been saying this recently too, I think Feb is always the hardest month with horses. The weather is horrible, we are all tired from the early mornings and the costs are high with little grass and everything else. Personally I would never consider a life without my horses but I do understand how the winters can put people off, it is really hard sometimes. I just keep thinking its only a few weeks now to the light evenings and warmer nights and then spring will be here, my favourite time of year. Hang in there, not long to go......
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Although this weather has been awful, I wouldn't consider giving up- i'd only end up regretting it in the summer when it's nice and warm and everyone else is off enjoying their horses
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I think everyone in winter has moments of 'oh god, i really can't be doing with this, it's not fun' but you just have to pull through it and wait for weather to be better. Even winter weather can be nice sometimes- a nice crisp, bright (but cold) day can be lovely for a hack!
 
Many times but I think that's because I have too many years on the clock and they have to be in at night due to clay ground! If I can get down to the two mares I will be happy so anyone looking for two year old TB X Cob geldings or a sports pony colt yearling then I'd love to hear from you!
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I think this winter has been quite tame compaired to some, our yard taps have not frozen up nearly half as many times as they have done in the past, not as much ground frost neither, yes we have lots of snow but between the bowts of snow/slush its not been that bad for a February.

Mind you it did snow on Easter Sunday last year...or was it the year before? (sorry can't remember now) but its certainly been worse.

Maybe your friend is just feeling a bit down and out, it all gets to us at times.
 
I wouldnt give up! yes we have had a harsh winter in the south-east but its what up north prob have most winters and they cope fine.
The horses have had a nice break and Ive just made sure there warm and feed well.
I can't wait till spring to start ridding properly again but havent let the winter get to me to much
 
It's been tough this year, not helped by the hay shortage! Having to buy haylage because we can't find good quality hay anymore, which has never happened before. The school at the yard i'm at is sand, which means it's unusable after a light frost. Not good at all, because my tb often needs to be lunged to take the edge off him before he'll hack out safely, and I've had a few scary rides out recently. Oh and the snow. I don't think i've been so exhausted. My other half used the 4x4 to go to work during the snow, so i had to walk the 2 miles to the yard through the snow as well! (to the yard and home twice a day, 8 miles!)

Looking forward to spring, and as long as I'm not bronked off on the roads I don't mind the extra hard work, as I keep telling myself how fit and toned I'm becoming
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Every morning when my alarm clock goes off, I think 'why the f do I do this???'
Then I see my boy's face at his stable door, all warm and snuggly and sleepy and sweet, and I know why...
Besides, if I didn't have him, I'd be about 3 stone heavier because I love my food and I hate the gym!!
 
Would never give it up, too huge a part of my life and I'm miserable without horses in my life. BUT, I have turned into a fair weather rider a bit - it's just got so cold and there are only so many layers a girl can put on!
 
Nope cannot give up, no matter how tough it can get living a mile out in the ocean and having the worst storms known to man and this winter 70cm of snow down for 4 months continually.

I am the luckiest wife in the world to have a great farmer husband to help me when I am struggling. Without him it would not be possible for me to have the horses in winter.

Early morning summer rides, light all night in summer for riding at crazy hours when it is lovely and cool and the world seems to be asleep. Not a chance I could give up although a long winter over here can be depressing, I just keep looking at the summer pics to put it all into perspective.
 
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Two of my horse friends have also been saying this recently too, I think Feb is always the hardest month with horses. The weather is horrible, we are all tired from the early mornings and the costs are high with little grass and everything else. Personally I would never consider a life without my horses but I do understand how the winters can put people off, it is really hard sometimes. I just keep thinking its only a few weeks now to the light evenings and warmer nights and then spring will be here, my favourite time of year. Hang in there, not long to go......
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Yep....deffo getting lighter in the mornings and evenings now.....I am fed up too, as every time I get my boot anywhere near the stirrup its snow/rain/ice ......I am fantasizing about warm summer evenings and hacking out .....
 
I have just given up, not sure whether its a permanent thing or not. But it certainly isnt the weather but other issues around loss of confidrnce and loss of enjoyment that there were the reasons. I think that the weather is rather a poor excuse!
 
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