Have you ever taken a break from horses?

DJ

DJ

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I may have to take a break from horses due to personal circumstances at the moment. I won`t bore with with the details lol, but have you ever taken a break from it all? If so, how did you feel? Did you miss it every waking second, or did you find you acclimatised quickly to the lack of Equine/Equine activities in your life. How long were you with out it? Did you find it easy getting back into it? and did you still wear your Jods (ha ha ha, had to throw that question in, as apart from my work uniform, I live in mine).

Just feel like I have so much to think about right now and some big decisions to make, I`m hoping hearing others experiences might help in some way. Out of my 35 years, I`ve had horses in my life for 28 of them, I can`t imagine what I`d do with out?

Thanks ... Cream and Jam scones and tea/coffee/wine for anyone who read this far lol x
 
I went without for three years whilst at Uni as I couldn't travel a horse from north to south every term. It was easy to get back into it because it was so hard to live without! Having horsey friends help, so there is still the possibility to ride if you wanted to on the odd occasion. There is nothing to stop you going to shows etc as a spectator so that was a good way to get around it for me.
 
I went without for 3 years after Dylan was PTS as I was just finishing uni and couldn't afford another. I found it hard to do without, I rode friends' horses occasionally but it's not the same.
 
Yes, from the age of 17 I stopped riding for about 4/5 years, I didn't own a horse at that time and it wasn't a conscious decision I made, it was just at that age of going out and I just stopped. I got back into it sharing a horse after that period of time and now owning.

I regret it massively now, even though it didn't cross my mind at the time. I realise from your post that you may not have an option with your circumstances but I would just say think about it long and hard before you walk away from it, and make sure you are happy with your decision. I really wished now I'd kept my hand in at least.

Wish you all the best x
 
I started riding when I was 16, went to college at 17 to do horse studies, and then I've had periods off and on due to life and lack of finances. I've just started again after 5 years break after having kids (the longest break). It wasn't a conscious decision to stop, just how things worked out.

It wasn't until I started again that I realised just how much I missed riding. The first lesson back was tough, physically and mentally, I felt like I'd forgotten so much and my legs ached for about a week afterwards. But it's all coming back after a few lessons.

I will say I've never had my own horse, just lessons, so it might be different for you.

PS I'm 34 next week.
 
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Yes, I've been without a horse for four years. I missed it dreadfully at first.

I am now riding again, which is lovely, but with no plans to buy another.
 
I'm over 50, started riding at 9, got my own pony in my teens, then took a seven year break to have three kids in my late 20's/early 30's.

When my oldest daughter was 5 she asked to take lessons, followed by my other daughter a couple of years later (my son never showed an interest) and this got me back into horses again.

We've had various horses/ponies over the years, and even though the girls are grown and have left home, I still have two horses, one retired, one semi-retired.

I won't get any more after these two, but in answer to your question, OP, yes, I did take that break, and it was completely fine.
 
I took a 10-year break, after a bad fall (that was entirely my own fault) shattered my confidence, as well as my spine. I got fed up of being scared, so decided I'd have just enough lessons to get a bit of confidence back. That was about four years ago, and I now share a gorgeous AndalusianX gelding, who doesn't help so much with the confidence but is teaching me a lot of other stuff!
 
I had a break for about ten years after riding for at least thirty years. I didn't think I would miss it, especially the work, and I didn't at first. But then it crept up on me and I now have another horse. I did still have two aged ponies out on loan and they came back to me so it all started again. I am loving it.
 
Had a break, totally, of about eight years.

Somehow managed it, being in a very demanding job where I had to work all sorts of unpredictable hours meant that it wouldn't have been possible anyway, or fair.

However, when my circumstances changed, I found the right horse (or rather he found me!) and that was it, hooked again :) Even in the eight years that I'd been away from horses, I was shocked at how much costs had risen, like the price of a set of shoes, saddles & equipment, etc etc.

I always said I'd "only have the one horse". Ohhh famous last words, coz I've somehow acquired the two now!!! LOL. That's horses for you. Blimmin things.
 
I had a couple of years break when I got married - but was desperate to start again after about a year. It took me another year to persuade OH to let me start again, he wanted a mountain bike, so I trade mountain bike for riding lesson.

I lost my horse in March this year, and haven't re-started riding yet. I plan to get some lessons and then maybe look for a new horse. I am missing the yard life, especially the social side.
 
I've had a few breaks with children and trying to find a "better paid" career but after a month or two I'm getting itchy feet and gazing longingly and a bit stalker like into people's paddocks/yards etc. if it's in you its always there nagging away in the back ground. A break is great but getting back into it is so much better. Good luck with everything😀x
 
I had a break hen I was devastated after loosing my once in a lifetime horse...
wondered how I actually found the time - then a friend who was desperately stuck for someone to look after her horse begged me and I realised that I missed it terribly so I bought another
although I do think she had an ulterior motive! it worked!
 
I am currently having a "break". I haven't ridden for the last six years for various reasons, including health problems, unemployment and homelessness to name but a few. I am now in a position where I have the stability to start taking lessons again, but I just can't bring myself to take the plunge. I know it would benefit my mental and physical wellbeing to get back into it, but for some reason I have put a barrier up. I believe it is partly because I feel like I will have forgotten it all and will never feel confident in the saddle again, and also in part because although I am now financially stable in reality, I still psychologically struggle to spend on anything that isn't "essential".
I must say I miss it terribly every day, to the point that I moved seats on the bus on the way home from work just to get a better look at two police horses that were in front of us; I felt like a pony-mad little girl again! My parents are bringing my riding gear up when they come to visit next month, but whether I will find the courage to actually book a lesson we will have to see...
I think in many ways, having a break can be a good thing; it means that you can take care of yourself during difficult times but have something to look forward to for when things are a little less stressful for you. Remember, horses should be fun and if you find them to be a chore when life gets too much it may be best to take a step back for a while. I wish you all the best with things, whatever your decision regarding horses will ultimately be. Take care. x
 
I had a 5/6 year break. I lost my way a bit, I think, after the riding school I spent my teenage years at sold up. I had a horse at the time but I lost interest so sold it all a couple of years later at 19. I then moved to Cornwall and got a life without horses as was at college etc. It was when I was bought another horse at 25 by my mum (bless her and long story!) that I realised how much I missed it BUT the break for me was the right thing to do and I appreciate my ponies so much more now. Do what you think is right for you.
 
yes, seven yr break . You know when to do it when it becomes too stressful . Of course its weird at first because this is a lifestyle change, especially in the winter. Yes I did ride other friends horses and it wasnt the same and quite depressing, but went back to it two years ago and love it now. My circumstances have changed and have time for it now. I was amazed how much more choice of rugs / bedding etc there is now and I have more confidence than before.
 
I had a 3 year break to do my nurse training,initially was v sad ,gave everything away and the first thing i did after qualifying. Had a short break in between horses and was so grumpy my oh was keen for me to get another. Daughter is having a break to train as a nurse,missing them but sometimes you have to be sensible.
 
I had a six year break. I didn't realise at the time but I had health issues that were making me feel crap all the time. I had my pony back from loan and my horse was on eight weeks box rest. I struggled through the winter and found somewhere my 25year old pony could go out for the summer and brought my horse back in to work but all the joy had gone out of it for me. I got a sharer for the horse and by the autumn realised my piny wasn't going to make it through the next winter (I'd owned her since she was two). She was PTS in the November after a very mild autumn and the sharer asked if she could have my horse on full loan. I didn't even think about horses for the next six years (this was 2006 and I was 46 at the time.

2013 and I started thinking about riding again. In June I started weekly riding at a local RS. I was horribly unfit and very nervous at first. I thought weekly riding would do as I was now 53. WRONG!! Feb 2014 I bought Samuel and it was one of the best decisions I've ever made.

Clearly I needed to get away from horses for a while to give me chance to sort myself out but once those issues had been resolved I missed horses dreadfully and getting back in to it has made me feel twenty years younger :)

Oh, I got terribly overweight once I gave up, I mean 8 stones overweight. I have now lost almost all of that thanks to no longer being a bored couch potato :)
 
I did; sold mine to go to uni, rode others whilst there for local people and then worked a polo season abroad. After that mortgage and grown up life took over and I did triathlon for several years so just rode very occasionally on friends horses. It was only after I gave tri up and decided I could afford my own horse again (after sharing one briefly to get back into it) that I realised how much happier mentally I am when I have my horse time. Tri was fun at the time but not a patch on the downtime and relaxation of hacking after a busy day or the buzz of achieving something new with my girl. Once they're in your blood they are there forever I reckon!
 
I've had horses all my life but living with my Non-horsey father meant I always supported it myself & it was a hard slog.
When I was 18 & I saw all my friends having nights out, holidays & buying cars I got a case of the green eyed monster & decided to jack the horses in again.

I went off to uni, living the dream, ready to spend my new found 'no longer paying for horses' wealth & have some fun. I dropped out of that degree 2 years later, probably on the verge of alcoholism & with a penchant for shovelling expensive class A Colombian marching powder up my nose 😏
I drifted for another year 'living the dream' & just managing to stay out of rehab 😆 before a chance encounter got me riding again & within a few weeks I was riding regularly & looking for another horse.
I took on a scrappy ex-racer (who turned into my horse of a lifetime eventer), enrolled back onto another degree & generally sorted my life out over night!
Now married, 2 kids, a beautiful farm & 4 horses 😊

I need horses in my life, they are in my blood & without them I lose my purpose & focus.
 
I had a break of 5 years after I was injured at work. I could not even lift my arms to out a bridle on, so keeping a horse was out.

I thought I was doing OK, but OH told me I was NOT, and once I gained some strength he and my mother hatched a plan to buy another.
 
I had a 9 month break after losing my mare a few years ago and then got my boy and I'm currently in month 6 of a break after losing him in Feb. I have to say I’ve been ok with it, just as I was last time. I miss him but don’t miss ‘it’ if you know what I mean. Until I miss the whole horsey life I won’t get another. As much as I adored him, I don’t miss the stress nor the pressure I put myself under. I have come to the realisation that I'm an ok rider but will possibly not be as good as I want no matter how hard I try, that puts me off getting another as the sort of horse I need is very different to the horse I want.
I know I will want to get another when I miss the whole horse side of life, I mean how could I not miss the expense, drama, stress and general time consuming way of life horses bring. I probably hit this point in the middle of winter as well knowing me. For the moment I'm quite enjoying my free weekends and spending more time with my oh.

Like someone said above I need horses to focus, I can be a bit self-destructive otherwise and my relationship did suffer a bit last time, luckily I have be concentrating on buying a flat with my oh but both of us are dreading it once that’s all done and decorated, my oh especially is hoping I want a horse soon after as I'm much better to live with with a horse than without!
 
Yup, I sold my pony at 21 to get a mortgage and get married. Then spent the next few years banging out three children in quick succession. Kids weren't interested in riding and I was bogged down with child-rearing and working to contribute to the home income. Horses didn't even enter my head and I didn't see one as I lived in Greater London so not a lot of fields! 21 years later, with grown up children, one divorce and a re-marriage, I decided to go for a riding lesson aged 42. 4 months later I bought a safe cob and I haven't looked back since. That was 10 years ago and I can't imagine life without my horses now. The really lovely thing for me is that my now-husband had never even touched a horse yet he has discovered a love of riding (and being a man just had that confident get on and go attitude!) so we hack out together.
 
Thank you all for your contributions to this thread. Certainly food for thought. It won`t be forever, I don`t think, but right now I don`t have a choice, I think that`s what`s causing me the most upset, I`m not just drifting into lack of horse ownership, I`m actively having to make the decisions to let everything go due to my circumstances. I think this is why it`s so hard hard. I have some amazing friends who have been supportive, it`s just not the same as not having your own x
 
I took a break (sort of) when my horse went out on loan. I had to put her out on loan for financial reasons (new house etc). I had more time for friends, more money etc, but I did feel a bit lost and bored. I wasn't quite sure how to spend my Saturday mornings, or sunny evenings anymore, and I missed having a reason to get out of bed in the colder, darker weather! I was still having the odd ride on friend horses.

Then I found a horse advertised for share. And then my horse came back from loan, who is now retired. And now I am well and truly in the thick of it again.

I think once my horse is PTS and/or share horse situation changes for whatever reason, I will probably give up the riding for a while (but perhaps will still offer my help to sharer, as she and horses are great!). I just feel that I need to concentrate on getting my finances and life in order a bit, so I highly doubt it will be a long term change.... And I can bet as soon as I realise how different life is without them, I will be looking for another!

What I will say though, is that if you are going to really miss it, then try and get your fix through horse friends, at local shows or trips to some of the bigger events. If it isn't forever, just see the positive that the break will be over soon!
 
I will be having a break from ownership once my old man goes. I have plenty of offers of horses I can ride from friends or I may even share a few days a week but I won't be buying my own straight away as chances are the next one I buy, if I am lucky, will be the last as I will probably have it from weaning/yearling if all goes to plan.
 
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