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

Ah glad your home
grin.gif
Hope your on your way to fully recovered. I do think as we get older we do get more self preservation and we do think what happens if......... mortgages and bills etc all come to mind!
I know mine do!
Take some time and re group so to speak, then onwards and upwards you were going great guns with Dizzy before this!!. Dont forget to get yourself a new hat and check your body protector isnt too compressed.
 
I have...for ten years! I did *lots* of other things in those ten years, but none of them were nearly as fulfilling as my horse time that I have just now. Mind you, even the horse time I had back then wasn't as fulfilling - but to be fair, I had lots of horses and not many people around me to share them with. And now I'm older, I can afford my horse better (well, only just) and can appreciate her more and have more people around to share the experiences. I don't regret the time away from horses except ONE thing, I lost ability and courage. But I now get a weekly lesson, so I've probably got MORE ability now than before I quit -- but only a fraction of the courage.

I understand the need/requirement to be the breadwinner and being careful. I'm self employed and my job requires me to be physically fit and able. I can't just get someone else to do my job (eg key man type insurance would be useless for me). I don't take that many risks and I consider the consequences. If I had to quit riding, I'd be driving anyway - so either way, unless finances really become an issue, the horse is here to stay.
 
I've threatened more times than I can remember but for different reasons. I lost my amazing eventer when he was only 8yrs old and it broke my heart. I said I didn't want another but missed it within weeks and along came Jesper. Then last year Jesper was diagnosed with collateral ligament damage and retired and I swore blind I was never putting myself through the heart ache again. But somehow we seem to have acquired a new addition. For now though riding has taken a back seat as I have my retired pony, Jesper and a yearling and it's been a surprising pleasure to just spend time with them although I look forward to the day little one grows up. I know I could never be without my herd!
 
QR - No. Not even when I was lying in resus with most of the bones in my face broken, parts of it ripped open to the bone, and a serious brain injury (perhaps that it explain why it never crossed my mind
tongue.gif
). I would be so unhappy without my horses it doesn't bear thinking about.
 
It's the money factor. And that I have two children.

I'm not a free agent, I can't just give up. I've been in the position where I didn't know how we were going to buy food/pay the next mortgage - I can't go there again.

So, can't ride for three weeks, which gives me time and time and space and energy to get the 'other stuff' done. Once another revenue stream is in place I'll be happier an more settled.
 
So glad you are home MrsM
smile.gif
Yes I wonder every day why I dont give up...

I am seriously in debt, and am in a position where I dont actually know how I'm going to buy food and fuel in October as the lovely bank have cut my overdraft by £500 (they gave me 3 weeks notice of this). I am hopefully going to move shortly, which will cut my outgoings (yayyy!) but will also mean that I will be spending more on livery/feed/farrier etc for the horse every month than I am doing on my own rent and food
crazy.gif


I just keep thinking that if I didnt have my horse I wouldnt know what to do with myself
crazy.gif
 
Hm. Think I have decided that LL has to go
frown.gif
Held onto him for as long as possible, but thanks to the recession my day rate has halved and it's having a knock on effect. I've cut the out-goings as much as I think I can. No-one wants to loan LL, so I'm not sure what chance I have of selling him. Think he'll have to go on Project Horse. He'll certainly be one of the first on our site (if i ever get the blasted Ts n Cs finished!).

Ho bleedin' hum.
 
Dear Mrs. M.

So glad you are out of hospital and on the mend. It must of been a very nasty shock for you .

As others have already posted , I would recommend waiting awhile before making any decisions about the future as you must still be suffering from shock and you certainly need to time to recover both physically and mentally, so be kind to yourself and just take each day as it comes and try not to project!

Love and very best wishes xxxxxxxxxx
 
So good to see you back Mrs M

I can see where you are coming from, but give yourself a bit of time before making any major decisions.

On saying that last week I decided to aution every thing i had to do with horses, from the horses to the last pair of boots, not just mine the whole families........until a friend asked what I would do after going on holiday and having my hair and nails done.......they had a point horses are a huge part of my life, kids come first then the neddies.

Hope you are feeling better very soon, get in touch if i can help out at all.
 
Having spent 9 months in hospital due to a riding accident, i empithise.

but i will say, things become clearer within 3 months of you leaving hospital...

take care and take your time...

best wishes

JM
 
Yes, when the tough times have hit, and even when they have calmed down i have felt and thought about giving up, life would be much easier, and i would not be broke all the time. As my OH has said to me time and time again, it is an expensive and dangerous hobby! But we are still going, i feel with my mare, being with her age and health problems, she deserves the best, and i could not guarantee someone would do the best by her as i would, being as we have been together over 17yrs. So, we carry on, for now, but it goes in swings and roundabouts for me and my girl too, you are not alone there.
 
Lordy MrsM I am so glad you are back online.

I cannot advise you on decisions to make but give it some time.

A few weeks ago I sat in OH car and cried my eyes out all the way home from Casualty. I wanted my Gulliver back sound and fit and that aint happening. Drifter and I did a "Fun" ride and 10 minutes into it everything went deark as I was broncd of at full tilt. (Quiet companion bolted).

The only thing that stopped me from phoning a dealer friend and saying come and sell him for me was the embarassment at the thought of crying on the phone. 24 hours later I was ok and had rethunk.

I dont know what happened when you had your accident so if you really must Take a Break from horses but please do some Goal Mapping and plan you way back in.

I am a very lucky person my OH and I have been together for 35 years and have had a few visits to casualty and he has never ever said give itup and I really thsnk him for that but dont let on I cant have him complacent!!

Sorry for typos I have had to atke an eye out (contact lens that is) and I have blurred keyboard.
 
Oh - so lovely to see a post from you, I was so sorry to read about your accident, I really hope you make a speedy recovery.
smile.gif


Over the last few years, I have seriously considered giving up riding and having the horses, all beacuse of the frustration of my HMS, but with my daughter being SO keen, and my husband knowing that I would end up being more miserable without them, they encouraged me to going.
I have had months when I have been unable to ride, and even just looking after them is a struggle, but actually having them gives me a reason to push through the pain and keep going.
If its in your blood, then you have to keep going no matter what!
grin.gif
 
yes i have just got back into riding after 5 years off and have not been happier in a long time. sat morning riding through the fields on a warm sunny morning i couldnt stop smiling.

Accidents can happen at any time - i feel out of bed the other week and broke my toes and hurt my leg badly - 4 weeks on its still hurting.

Dont give up yet - i know it would leave a huge void in my life if i did
 
I hadn't finished my post really either Mrs M, i just realised.
I hope you feel better soon, just take it easy. Don't make any quick decisions.
I also wanted to add, that when the tough times hit, in whatever guise that is, i try to think of life without her, and yes as i said i would have more time and more money, but i truly think there would be a huge hole in my life, my horse brings me great joy.
So, i think you must take it slow, try and do what is best for you, above all else, no matter what that is.

You need to get your sensible head on and think what is best for the future for you, be that selling up, downsizing, buying another horse. But you must rest up first and let yourself get over the shock first, which could take some days, even weeks *big gentle hugs*
 
Perfect opportuity to admit that, as much as i love him with all my heart, I would give it up tomorrow if I could.

realistically I havent the time or spare money (I can afford it, but money would be better spent elsewhere).

Daughter loves him with all her heart, so that's reason one why i can't let him go, and reason two is that I bought him on the promise it would be his last home.

Right now it's such a headache, can't find him a companion, cannot afford another, can't have him living alone, one week away from the move, and I'm so stressed some days I just wish daughter didnt love him and he wasnt a veteran. I love him but for those two factors I'd sell him or give him to a friend.
 
If you genuinely seriously contemplated this then maybe you need to look into getting a safer horse? Dizzy One sounds super, but you seem to be taking tumble after tumble on her, and everytime getting more apprehensive about remounting... This sounds callous but I was in a similar situation- I had an amazing pony who was just too much for me and after a summer of being bolted and getting more scared I was seriously going to pack it all in. Mum found the ad for Cheeky and 4 years on I am confident, happy and could never ever consider giving up, regardless of what happens with uni.
 
Glad to see you're out of hospital and on the mend. I can quite see why you have thought about giving up and certainly agree that we all get more cautious as we get older and in your case, with children to consider, it's even more understandable.
I bet that in the end though you won't give up, because horses are a way of life and it means a complete change of lifestyle, including friends, and finding something to fill all that spare time - and what would you do with the house & land that I understand you are in the process of buying?
I do think though that you should check out all you safety equipment and I would also consider finding a very steady reliable horse to ride, even if only for a short time.
Wishing you a speedy recovery.
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]


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
smile.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

Ditto this!
Lifes too short

[/ QUOTE ]

Absolutely true.
I only ever think of giving up on dark cold snowing/rainy mornings at about 6am....then it wears off.
 
Yes, I am thinking about it right now.

I couldn't give up my 2 field ornaments, I owe them a life of luxurious retirement and besides I love them, but I am thinking about giving up riding.

I still love riding and if I could be presented with a nice horse by magic I wouldn't give up.

For me its all down to the fact that I just cannot bear (seriously cannot, I'm so crap at it) looking for another horse.

I tried one back in February (bucked big time, but managed to stay on board), then finally last weekend I went to see another and ended up going orbital and landing on my head and hand when it reared and spinned. (A&E confirmed fractured hand
frown.gif
Head fine
smile.gif


I just don't feel I want to go and look at any more. Ever. So that will probably be it for me even though I will miss it lots and lots. I guess I will get used to it
frown.gif
 
You have had a hard bang on the head, and one of the effects of this is to leave you feeling down and depressed.Years ago I was very down and confided in an old NH jockey.He asked me immediately if I had had a bad fall recently.I had ,(my crash hat was actually crushed.He told me that what I was going through was a perfectly normal reaction to concussion and somehow that helped me a lot, knowing why I felt bad and that it would pass. Chin up mrs M
 
I went through this last year when I had a crashing fall steeplechasing was told not to ride (yeah like that would happen) as CT scan showed brain contusions (bruising) have just got the all clear from neurologist to ride as I wish again am back on board but am finding that I need to go slower as brain cant keep up going xc schooling next week I feel you may aswell go doing something you enjoy as die retired and unhappy one life live it and enjoy
 
[ QUOTE ]
You have had a hard bang on the head, and one of the effects of this is to leave you feeling down and depressed.Years ago I was very down and confided in an old NH jockey.He asked me immediately if I had had a bad fall recently.I had ,(my crash hat was actually crushed.He told me that what I was going through was a perfectly normal reaction to concussion and somehow that helped me a lot, knowing why I felt bad and that it would pass. Chin up mrs M

[/ QUOTE ]

Sorry, not to hijack - but wanted to say that I find that really interesting - I never knew that -but it makes sense...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top