Giving up horses (have you ever?)

Sarah Sum1

Sarah Sum1

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I just wondered if anyone has ever given up or had a break from horses for a while. If so why did you give up? and how long for? also did you miss it, or did you enjoy the freedom and lie ins?!!
 
I gave up for 25 years after my first husband didn't want me to have horses. One of the big wakeup calls came when we'd made lots of money property dealing and moved to a farm with a barn big enough for an indoor school and with another 12 stables and further barns and plenty of land and he wouldn't allow me to have a horse there at all, when I told him how much I loved living there he said "We'll sell it then". I started to realise then my happiness meant absolutely nothing to him.
 
hiya - i put my pony out on loan for about 10 months, got him back about 2 months ago. Ive had him 8 years all in all so missed him sooo much. while i know i prob could do with something younger and bigger i just missed my boy!! I gave him up as i just didnt have the time or money for him, and i didnt want this to compromise his welfare. It was a horrible decision but for the best. I did enjoy not having a horse on some particularly rank winter evenings though!! And of course my bank balance was greatful!! But I missed it loads!!
 
I gave it up when I left college (parents split up - I went to work full time to help pay Mam's mortgage).

I missed riding as I'd only been at a riding school and had never owned a horse (had loaned but it was really just borrowing someone else's horse when I fancied). So I hadn't experienced the early mornings and hard work of it all.

However, after a few years the pull was too strong and I started riding again. About a year ago I got a horse on part-loan and haven't looked back. She's now on full loan with view to buy and I have to do early mornings, late nights, the works, but I wouldn't change it for the world.

If you're anything like me, you'll be ok for a while but eventually you'll miss it too much. It's in the blood I'm afraid.
 
I have been away from horses over a year now and i miss it terribly!! i still keep in touch and go to a few events with my old employer to keep an eye and ear in but everyday now i know something isnt right in my life with out them and i would give anything to be back in the horse world full time again! or even just to keep one horse going..
Yes the lie in's are great. also being able to go out on a saterday night or go away for a weekend with out any hassel is great but if you really love horses you wont be happy for very long without them and sometimes it takes a break to see this!!
 
I had about a yr break some years ago, the mare i shared was moving to wales..boo...so thought OK i'll have a break for a bit, but it was awful I hated it so got another one and havent looked back since, although at work yest I did think sod this I'm not enjoying this anymore give it all up...but deep down that would do me in big time, horses are a HUGE part of my life and no I couldnt do without them again ever!!
 
I gave up for 13 years....... marriage, kids & no money then at 28 I met my second husband and he indulged me in my passion for horses.
19 years on we now have enough land at home & keep 5 horses. Poor but happy sometimes when the weather is terrible I have a thought or two about giving up and being able to have a winter holiday but it doesnt last for long.
 
I've had several breaks. First one was after my first pony, couldnt afford to keep it, so was 3 years before i got the next. It was a 3.5yr break after that as i was finishing school, starting my nvq/work. 3 yrs again after the next as i'd owned him for 3 years and had 2.5yrs of him being ill and i was physically/emotionally exhausted and utterly skint. I needed a rest. Then found the horse of my dreams and lost him to a freak accident, got my next almost straight away (big mistake) and then took 6 months to find Dibble after he'd gone as he destroyed my confidence by trying to kill me on several accasions, plus i needed to let all the bumps, bruises and attempted nose breaks heal.
 
I gave up for about 4 years. I had worked for the hunt and frankly looking back was massively over-worked and just got exhausted and fed up of the whole thing. Got a 2nd wind though
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Sadly yes. I had to give up my loan horse 3 years ago due to her developing arthritis (she was 22) and we'd had her on loan for 7 years.
I still miss her terribly, even in the awful weather.
I had the ride on a little mare after that for a while whilst her owner finished at Uni but I didn't have the "looking after" just had to ride her.
I keep in touch by being on a RC committee and helping out at all sorts of events with them. I also volunteer at local centres to do dressage writing or BE fence judging, stewarding etc
It still feels strange not to have to do all the stable chores etc. In fact I actually would love to go and do some mucking out now and again. (I must be a really sad person!)
To satisfy my competitive instincts I have taken up Flyball with my dogs and this has filled a gap for me.
 
I had a break for 3 years during/after Uni then brought my old mare ( I have lessons for the last year or so).
When I had my mare it all went wrong with the yard and it made me so miserable that we sold her and moved to London. It has been about 2 years and we have now left London and I am looking for a new horse. I really want a horse now and really miss it, however after my last experience I am really worried about being on a yard again. Fingers crossed I'll find somewhere nice.
 
I'm currently on a 'break' as I had to sell my girls when I split up with my ex earlier this year. My original plan was to have the winter off and buy something else in the spring but I've had it confirmed today that I need surgery on my shoulder so my break will be a little longer than planned I think
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I had a break aged 19 - left home, bought a flat etc. etc and money was v tight. But I never stopped wanting to get another horse, set up an account called 'horse fund'(!) worked hard and got another horse when I was 25, who I still have now
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Can't imagine life without now. Hopefully will never be in the position to have to have another break.
 
I have given up loan horses in the past but had my current mare 9 years and my boy for 4 (mine now prev loan). I thought about selling him about 6months ago because of money and uni. My mare wouldnt have gone anywhere, however was lucky mum loves my boy a lot:) but I have had to sacrifice my 20yr old life of clubbing and going out. I am either working, doing uni work or driving the horse now lol. A lot of people at uni said I should just sell him and start again when I could however my only thoughts were sell your kids, sorry couldn't give the big hairy pain in the butt man up!!!
 
I used to work with horses, and I got to the point where I just wasn't enoying it anymore, never had the time or energy to do anything with my own horse. I ended up selling my horse and getting an office job. 6 months later I really started to miss them and got back into it before getting another horse.

I now looking at the possiblty of having to have another break as looking into buying a house and can't afford both. Hoping it'll only be a short break and then it'll only be a share for a few years
 
Yes gave up for a while when I was 17, I could afford driving lessons and a horse so I loaned the horse for a while, I couldn't stand the thought of relying on others for lifts and public transport is expensive, crap and inconvinient!! so horses had to be on the back burner until I passed my test.
 
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