Have you ever seriously thougth about giving up horses/riding?

MrsMozartletoe

MrsMozartletoe

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Having spent two days in hospital feeling very ill indeedy, and being a whisker short of having a neurosurgeon drill a hole in my head, I have given this some thought
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Give up horses.

Daughter rides, so do I tell her she has to give up too (she's under eighteen)? Other daughter has taken up scuba diving (she's also under eighteen), which is hardly the safest of passtimes.

Hubby says he would be happy if the horses were to go (time, money, effort, etc.), but he knows it is my passion and would not ask it of me: if I sold up he would merely be counting the days 'till I had 'just one riding lesson'.

So, I have lain in my hospital bed and wondered what to do. And have decided to keep riding - this is based on the simple fact that just over a year ago, I banged my head getting into a car (an Audi TT), so nothing in Life is really Safe and who knows how many times the simple fact that I have been with my horses has stopped me being somewhere else where I might have got hurt or worse.

We can only do the best we can in terms of protective gear and get on with it
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My mummblings for the day
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As you know I'm in the process of giving up - temporarily
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Just til I'm back on my feet financially and all else is sorted - planning to be horsey shopping again in the spring - and am already fancying trying to find either a clydie x arab or a clydie x hann about 15.2 ish that me and small child can share
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I think you have to work on the basis that you could die crossing the road and life would be very bloody boring if you only did what was 'safe' and 'good for you'.

Have fun
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I think you have to work on the basis that you could die crossing the road and life would be very bloody boring if you only did what was 'safe' and 'good for you'.

Have fun
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Ditto this!
Lifes too short
 
I have and did - for about a yr and a half and regretted it ever since! Of course I would get back on eventually and I did and struggled with technique and confidence for a good few months!
My outlook is that, if horses are our passion and one love then id rather be injured doing the thing i love knowing i did it to the full then get hit by a bus one day having missed out and and been sad without that thing i love
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Please think long and hard before you make any decision.

I gave it all up a while ago but I missed it terribly and eventually the yearning was too much and I had to get back into it. Don't want to sound morbid but any of us could be hit by a car tomorrow.

I think you'll find after a while that you miss it and want to get back into it; by then you've sold your horse and would have to look for another one. It's a bug and something in your blood, it will never go away.
 
Wey hey hey MrsM i think this is a bit soon for this question.
Understandably it's knocked you for 6 but i would like to respond to this question in a couple of weeks time when you're feeling a bit better.
Take some hugs from us and give lots to the Dizzy one, she loves you. x
 
I've thought about it loads the last few months. I lost a foal, lost my nerve riding and am having a nightmare with a loan ponies feet!
Decided to give up riding, sell a bit of my land (just got too much to look after)and indulge my 2 little ponies. I think that as long as you enjoy what you do, whether that is pottering about looking after ponies or top level eventing, you must keep it FUN!
 
I did give up riding, but now have a horse on full production livery. I still see it twice a week still enjoy the whole show scene but the horse is now a strain on the purse strings and not a pet!
Do i wish I was back at my old yard with the taffster being a happy hacker then the answer is probably
 
Glad to hear you're home and doing okay Mrs. M.

Having twice had to undergo surgery to have bones plated following riding accidents, I've had plenty of time to think long and hard about giving up.

But I've come to the conclusion that even if I ultimately had to give up riding (for whatever physical reason), I know for certain that I couldn't give up the horses themselves. I know I would need to find something else to do with the horses (non-ridden) if that was the case - even if it meant just keeping a couple of pasture ornaments. I simply couldn't and wouldn't walk away completely.

Anyway, as Scotsmare so rightly says "you could die crossing the road"....

Wishing you a speedy recovery.
 
I did,and now i am buying another horse. I shouldn't because i have arthritus in my knees. But i'm happiest when with horses and will just have to do sitting trot instead of rising
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. Life is too short, my dad died suddenly
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and i just thought, i could have some happy years with a horse and have bu**ered knees at the end, or sit at home and have bu**gered knees anyway
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Dont do it till you had long hard think as you will prob really regret it and its harder to get back into after a break if you choose to go back( espesially after accident)
 
I think as we get older you become more conscious of your own mortality etc and yes whilst riding (and scuba diving) has its own dangers os does everything we do. Whatever your chosen hobby and its dangers nothing can replace the thrill you get from doing it whether its a ride on a summers day or a trundle through frosty fields it puts a smile on your face and helps ground you in this mad, fast world we live in. Your daughter that dives will get the same feeling when she goes out into the blue with sharks/dolphins whatever. Yes there are dangers but getting up close and at one with nature and its animals is a privelege and also healing.

When thinking of giving up think back to how you felt when it looked like it was a descision made for you - like when you were loading Dizzy to go to Newmarket - and you have your answer. If it makes you feel complete keep doing it - if not give it up. Only you can decide.
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SM - I never it wouldn't be long until you were looking again....
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I'm so glad you are home Mrs M, and hope that you are up and about very, very soon!!
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Yes, yes and yes!!!!
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Sometimes every day!!!!
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On a more serious note though, I've had plenty of problems in my life, health, work, family etc, and throughout it all I have had the horses, who, although they drive me to distraction, drain my resources and do nothing for my temper, they have always been there and put the biggest smiles on my face!!!
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To give it all up would leave such a large gap in my life, that filling it with something worthwhile would be very difficult. Also, my mare, has got me through some of the most awful moments!!
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I really admire people who can give horses up and not look back, but, unfortunately, it's in the blood,and it is an itch you just have to scratch!!!
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It's early days Mrs M, take it easy and think about everything!
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Sorry, should have qualified slightly
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I'm currently the breadwinner - there are 'things' that should make us a fortune in the future, just not ready yet.

Maybe it's timely reminder to get my finger out and finish the other stuff off!

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So pleased you are home and recovering, make sure you take it easy for a while.

Please do not rush into any decisions. Horses are your life, and I am certain you will regret it if you give up. I too have thought about it, taken a few days away from them, and found that I just could not live without them, even after I ended up badly injured once.
 
Hmmm as I was lying in the back of an ambulance 5 weeks ago thats exactly what I was thinking, time to give up. I think lying in a hopsital bed makes your mind go in over drive. All the people in the beds around me have numerous broken bones from slipping in the street in summer time?!?! After a week or so I was dying to get back on and did get back on after 4 weeks even with broken pelvis - just had to have a wee go, like a pony ride really. Can't wait to get back going and bizaarly feel more fearless that ever and normally fairly cautous horse wise so thats a bit scary!
Hope your feeling better very soon!
 
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I'm currently the breadwinner -

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I understand this totally as I live alone so pay all the bills - as I explained to a friend the other day who was struggling to understand why I didn't want to go hunting. I like trundling around and doing what I want to do - I have nothing to prove to myself or anyone and I can't afford to get hurt as there is no one else to pay my bills - and would get little or no sympathy from work. So I tailor my riding activities accordingly and do more 'low risk' activites such as stressage.....just need to tell the BGL is supposed to be 'low risk' so he stops throwing his toys out
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Oooh, yes, every day for the last 5 months since I broke my back falling off in trot in the school (the shame) but today I got given the all clear and it was only today that I finally realised just quite what it would have meant if I had not been able to ride again.
I don't do anything special with my boy but he is part of my family and suddenly as the prospect of having to consider loan, sale etc melted away the anxiety of the last 5 months melted with it.
Life is to be lived not existed, of course you will question your decision to ride again as I have, but at least we have that choice - imagine if it had been made for us. How sad would that be......and we would regret every day that we didn't ride! I am going to enjoy my second chance
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Oh, I'm giving up at least one day a week. I dream of holidays in the sun, and wonderful wardrobe and brand new car.

But it only takes one look from the lad to know I can't.........
 
I have thought about it one horse had arthritis other one was headshaking and couldn't get along with my TB after he ditched me on the floor and i broke 2 ribs. I stopped riding for a couple of months and gave them all a holiday and now i am loving it again just needed a bit of a break and my cheeky youngster helped
 
Wey Hey!! Your'e home!! Thats excellent news. I know how you feel but I still get on and go and I dare say you will do the same. Think of the Dizzy one. Where else would she go? Who would love her like you do? Ask yourself these questions and then you will have your answer............Bet you are riding her again soon.
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I have currently given up riding as financially both my daughter and I cannot ride/have pony and as she is only 6 we can't share......yet! (I spend ages dreamily staring at the ads for perfect mother daughter ride)
I am using the free time for a career change.
Luckily I was in the position to choose to give up. I have a friend who came a cropper and the choice to never ride again was made for her. She misses long summer days hacking, frosty mornings when that head pokes over the stable door and whinnies at you.

Maybe take a small break and see how you feel afterwards.
Glad you are better though.
 
Yes, I have decided to give up riding, but not because of an accident but because over the last year my confidence has drained away. I have tried hard to regain it but it keeps spiraling down. i no longer enjoy riding so have decided to sell up. It is about me and not the horse. I have decided to sell up and have a break from horses. if I miss riding in the future then I will buy again. I had a break for 20 years, back in again for 8 so i know i can take it up again if i want. I think you know in your heart whether you want to ride or not. it just takes abit of time to admit to yourself sometimes. It took me several months. Hope you have a speedy recovery and get back to enjoying your horses, thats what its all about.
 
Glad you are home and on the mend Mrs M.

I seriously thought about giving up horses when Alee was PTS last december. She was supposed to be my horse of a lifetime and I had put all my savings into buying her so financially never thought I could buy another one of my own.

It took me 2 months to find another horse to ride and now nearly a year on am hopefully getting my own!

It woudl be difficult for me to give up as my OH is also horsey and I don't think he would ever give up!!
 
I think about giving it up all the time, but only to be more financially stable, or to live a 'normal' life... But, i know for a fact i could never ever walk away from my horses. Despite having metal plates in my leg and back, its never knocked my confidence too badly, having said that I'm only 21 and dont have children to support etc. If my attitude will be the same in the years to come when I'm married and have a family to support...Only time will tell.
Glad to see your home and recovering well Mrs M
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