Giving up riding......

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mangobiscuit

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Not giving up horses....but riding - wanted people's views and experiences.

I'm seriously considering it due to personal and financial circumstances (and I'm sure I'm not alone!)

It honestly makes me feel sick to think about but I feel that if I can't compete and work on things, I don't want to ride. I enjoy a good hack out but I couldn't just solely hack - does that make any sense.

My horse who I've had for most of his life is now retiring and I'm not in a position to buy another - really can't see this changing either. So I figured if I make serious decision not to ride again I can mope around for a while now and then get over it instead of spending most of the day wondering if I ever will.

My daughter rides and I'm planning on throwing myself into Pony Club etc and enjoyign caring for my geriatric horse
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I know there's worse things happening in the world than me quitting riding but this is my little rant for the day
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So......after that long winded story of self pity (I feel better after writing all that!) has anyone given up PROPERLY?

Love to hear your stories....

Thanks for listening guys.

x
 
I certainly ride a good deal less these days than I used to, but that is down to injury. I certainly haven't reached a point where I would say that I'll never ride again. There are lots of other ways to enjoy horses though, supporting your daughter is one way, getting involved with organising competitions, or joining a committee of Pony Club or the BHS might be another.

Or you could decide to defer riding for now and maybe share one later
 
I totally understand what you are saying about "if you can't compete, then you don't want to ride". I used to compete in Canada and I REALLY REALLY miss it but now I don't here (can't afford it and my loan ponio isn't suitable for competing) so I have to be happy just to hack out until the time is right for showing again whenever or IF ever that is. At least you'll still be riding if you hack out
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my mum gave up riding a few years ago and now just looks after the family pony, she has sat on a few times and plodded round the school it really scares her but shes proud once shes done it.

even if she never got on again she'd never give up the pony, i think she'll always have one. i dont think its a good idea to say " im never going to ride again" coz u never know what the future holds!
 
Perhaps take a break-
while you are busy with Pony CLub
If daughter goes off to Uni in the future, or moves on?
It may not be a case of 'giving up' or 'never ride again' but choosing priority of looking after retired horse and supporting daughters Pony CLub- for a few years.
 
My dad gave up a few years ago now, I'm not totally sure why, I think it was down to confidence issues but he makes up a load of other excuses.
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I think he regrets it, although he'd never admit it. He's ended up buying himself a little TB who to be fair - is totally unsuitable for him, but he seems happy hacking around and mess around with him. I think it's a good excuse that he is small/young/a-bit-mad that he doesn't feel he has to jump him.
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Maybe have a break and see how you feel?
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I gave up for 10 years after having spinal surgery as i felt that if I couldn't ride challenging horses i didn't want to ride at all ( went on to ride a team chaser 6 months after surgery and had a really bad fall). However, after 10 years and a period of stress at work - I began again, riding for a lady whose horse was very nervous.

Confidence was low for a while, but we worked well together, he helped my stress and i ended up buying him - He is the love of my life after my OH and i am so glad to be back in the saddle. To top it all off, my boy is mostly a star and I have turned into a happy Hacker!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
I dont ride anymore
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, I was a pony mad child and owned one till I was 16 then came along boys and work ect
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and I was made to sell him so he could give another child some fun , I now have two pony mad daughters who pony club and show their shared pony , I just muck out , poo pick and provide the money
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, we bought one big enough for us all to ride but in reality I would rather they ride and have the fun that I used to have , could you not ride your daughters pony ?
 
Thanks for your reply - feel a bit btter after writing it all down.

Yes I think getting involved with my daughter's activities will halp me get my fix of excitement of competitions etc!

Just thought maybe I should drawn a line under so I can get over it!!
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(might stop browsing horsemart then
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) See, I'll probably get shot down for this....but I personally dont have that buzz anymore now I can't compete/school etc.

I did have to check myself earlier - I realised that horses ARE a luxury and I have possibly been spoilt when I was younger with ponies and horses. Now I'm on my own with my daughter there are other things which must come before "mummy having a horse to ride".
 
I might be forced into making that decision.Like you my daughter does pony club.I have a young tb who has injured himself constantly.He is now recovering from hock surgery if he doesnt come sound I dont think I can sell him.Hes my first horse and I dont want another I wanted to do xc and local shows on him he was my mid life crisis gift to myself it was always my ambition to have my own horse.Hes done every injury you could name in two years and I cant afford to have another horse nor do I have time to look after 3 .Like you Im feeling a bit down after 2 years of constant crisis and I dont know what to do or whats round the corner.I wont know if hes ok until he has another check up in mid march.I try and keep positive but it really p***s me off when other people dont look after their horses and never seem to have a problem.Without insurance hes cost close to £4500 in vets fees.There I feel better to after my rant .
 
I have two daughters and three ponies, two on perm loan from rescue, one we've had forever. At the moment, I ride the 14.2 once or twice a week to take them out hacking, otherwise, I'm just a ground jockey and groom!
They are growing, and we are looking for a good loan home for the little pony, so then the little girl will bump up to the 12.2 and the bigger one to the 14.2 ..... which will leave me, where?
I think it just happens, it's a season in our lives! Enjoy Pony Club, and if a horse needs you, he'll find you!
 
[ QUOTE ]
Ah - sounds a similar situation!

In a perfect world would you still ride?

x

[/ QUOTE ] Well to be honest Im always moaning that I dont ride him ! BUT if I do get the chance (which is very rare) I manage to talk myself out of it ! , Oh is always telling me to "have a go" but I feel selfish taking him off the girls !, I do just enjoy being around him and being part of the horsey scene , but if I was REALLY honest I would love to be able to ride really well and have a flashy dressage horse !! ( god I must sound like a madwoman )
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My mum gave up riding herself shortly after I came along
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I dont think there was any particular decision made, but her pony had gone out on loan to a friend whilst I was a baby, and they loved him so much she didnt have the heart to ask for him back. We looked after my aunt's horse for a good few years, but he was an old boy with recurring lameness anyway, so could only cope with the odd hack when he fancied it! Mum kind of threw herself into my horsey 'career'; she was one of three founding members of our local pony club, and has built up quite a name for herself in our local area for organising shows, which she loves! She's never ridden Ellie as she doesnt think she could cope with her, or that she would ruin her
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I think it's fine for you to take the decision not to ride now, but there is surely no need to rule it out for the future.....you never know what may happen, and one day your dream Happy Hacker may turn up on your doorstep!
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PS. would just like to add that I myself would have been prepared to give up riding when my boy Mickey went chronically lame....we could not afford another horse at the time, and I was preparing myself for having a horse who was just a companion. But he then died unexpectedly, which changed things a lot....hence I found Ellie, and I wouldnt dream of giving up now!
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Haha - I know exactly where you're coming from!

Perhaps when I win more than a tenner on the lottery
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I'll purchase us both a flashy dressage horse
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(and I really AM a madwoman!)
 
The problem is, I don't really want to give up - but as I said before, I just don't think I'll be motivated enough to just hack and not be able to compete.
Circumstances may change later in life I guess - but for now I think it's time for me to be a "Pony CLub mum"
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[ QUOTE ]
Haha - I know exactly where you're coming from!

Perhaps when I win more than a tenner on the lottery
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I'll purchase us both a flashy dressage horse
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(and I really AM a madwoman!)

[/ QUOTE ] I'm sooo glad that someone understands me ! lol , (15.2 dun gelding please)
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Oh my goodness!!! I'm absolutely obssesed with duns.....
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You're scaring me now....
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Well I've put my tenner that I won on the Lotto back into playing more lines so I'll be in touch
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....
 
[ QUOTE ]
Oh my goodness!!! I'm absolutely obssesed with duns.....
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You're scaring me now....
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Well I've put my tenner that I won on the Lotto back into playing more lines so I'll be in touch
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....

[/ QUOTE ]

LOL !! We could do pairs dressage on our fantastic flashy duns !! x
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I used to ride as a kid/teenager (in a school) but had to give up when I went to uni.
Then after a couple of years I met my boyfriend who is from a farm, and to make a long story short I ended up with two shetties.
Obviously I will never ride them. But they are so important to me that I will never give up on them. And actually since I have those two I have not missed riding for one second. Having small ponies forces you to find other things to do with them, other than riding.
These are the things I enjoy most:
taking them out for a walk, long "pet sessions" (don't know the proper word, sorry I'm Dutch, I mean just brushing them, having quality time), and most rewarding: tricktraining.

watch this movie to see what you can learn a horse:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IJnIon73hY
 
I have not ridden now for about 9 months, something i never imagined would happen but i guess we can never predict life!
I have ridden since i was four and started loaning horses when i was ten. I got my own youngster when i was 16 and got a job with a certain chairman of british dressage at 18. At that point i never saw my life straying away from horses and competed my horse at the big young horses competitions and travelled as a groom to lots of big comps! I decided to do a degree so i had more options,so came back to Kent and kept my horse at livery and still rode 6days a week and did some dressage judging. Unfortunately things have changed, and my horse gradually became unrideable due to a number of reasons, so she has now gone out on loan to be a broodmare and i find myself horseless. I can't afford to buy anything else and pottering about on other people's horses doesn't really appeal. It feels very strange to not always be thinking about the next comp or training session, i think im probably still adjusting so can't really explain how i feel yet but im hoping with time i will have another horse.
 
I gave up riding early last year when the arthritis in my hips just became too bad. However, i thoroughly enjoy handling from the ground and also took up driving. I hope that you can find satisfaction from just looking after your horse and helping with PC activities/daughters.
 
I think I will give up one day soon for a similar reason.

I love competing and can't see myself just hacking. My mare is terrible to hack anyway.

She's not over the hill yet, but I've thought of what will happen when she's only capable of a quieter life, it'd be hacking once a week or when I'd have the time to box out with friends.

Not that I'd ever sell her, loan her or give her away, she's the love of my life.

I've bought a youngster but am now having misgivings as I still live in a shared house and will soon be too old to get a mortgage in my own right!

I feel quite blue at the moment, can you tell ??!!
 
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