*help* interested to hear from those who have given up riding, but not horses...

NeverSayNever

NeverSayNever

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i posted a couple of months ago about feeling a bit down, to save me typing out all the back ground again - here is the thread.

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=414374

well since then the snow has come:rolleyes: and ive ended up away getting my arm xrayed where there is an old break , after it giving me a lot of pain after hauling water/hay about etc. Ive ridden a few times and have bought a Sec A bubba who is a companion for my horse. I am LOVING having the wee one and am doing little things with him most days. I just feel no pressure with him and am enjoying teaching him to lead, load etc. But I still have no motivation to ride :( I went out for a hack the other day and felt on edge the whole time, i didnt enjoy it at all. After the fall I mentioned in the other thread (from a youngster, not charlie) I ended up on crutches with torn ankle ligaments and off work,that waslast april. It was the first time ive ever hurt myself coming off and even though i know Charlie is a saint.... at the back of my mind all the time now, is a little voice asking myself if Ive had my fill of riding and do I actually want to partake in such a risk sport anymore. TBH happy hacking bores me, Im only really happy when Im working towards something and I had planned to continue our XC careers and start BE. However Im not even really enjoying working with my horse on the ground now- even though he is 100% a diamond, he is rightly-so a bit bored and fidgety and sharp given the weather and again that little voice returns asking me is it worth the risk anymore? I got some lovely horsey things for Christmas and usually having nice new things to play with perks me up no end (materialistic blighter that i am:o) I have lovely new event boots for him and am having a bridle M2M, and yet, i still feel depressed about my future riding. Im actually finding Im fantasising about having another littly instead and getting into inhand showing and poss driving.:o I feel awful, Im sat here with a horse that was like hens teeth to find, that we broke the bank to buy :(
 
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as i have said on other posts my confidence in saddle is all time low BUT give up horses???? never . I enjoy being with my 2, mucking out grooming etc and hey ask them if they are bothered about not being ridden lol - I am stopping beating myself up over not riding and now accept I simply love being with my 2 :) xx
 
You have to be happy.

Havent taken a break from horses but have lost drive in the past. Mine just sat in the field and went the odd hack until I got my mojo back.

Nikki :)
 
I have to say I sympathise with you!

I broke my leg 4 months ago (horse riding accident) and still not fully recovered but still don't really have the inclination to go back and ride. But I hear of people back on their horses when they are still in cast!!

I have a 2.5 year old that was turned out 24/7 that I was enjoying grooming and handling. He unfortunately had an accident before christmas which now means he is on box rest for at least another 3-4 weeks. I dont mind the mucking out, grooming etc - its challenging handling a large bored youngster with me still hobbling around!

But since my accident i have lost the motivation/interest/confidence (i dont know which) to back him when the time comes. Perhaps this will change in a years time - but feeling a bit precious about falling off again!

NB. In the past i have lost interest in riding so have had a bit of a break but had a youngster to still play with. The riding bug came back when the horse was ready to back - suppose it was the challenge.
 
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NeverSayNever said:
i posted a couple of months ago about feeling a bit down, to save me typing out all the back ground again - here is the thread.

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=414374

well since then the snow has come:rolleyes: and ive ended up away getting my arm xrayed where there is an old break , after it giving me a lot of pain after hauling water/hay about etc. Ive ridden a few times and have bought a Sec A bubba who is a companion for my horse. I am LOVING having the wee one and am doing little things with him most days. I just feel no pressure with him and am enjoying teaching him to lead, load etc. But I still have no motivation to ride :( I went out for a hack the other day and felt on edge the whole time, i didnt enjoy it at all. After the fall I mentioned in the other thread (from a youngster, not charlie) I ended up on crutches with torn ankle ligaments and off work,that waslast april. It was the first time ive ever hurt myself coming off and even though i know Charlie is a saint.... at the back of my mind all the time now Im there is a little voice asking myself if Ive had my fill of riding and do I actually want to partake in such a risk sport anymore. TBH happy hacking bores me, Im only really happy when Im working towards something and I had planned to continue our XC careers and start BE. However Im not even really enjoying working with my horse on the ground now- even though he is 100% a diamond, he is rightly-so a bit bored and fidgety and sharp given the weather and again that little voice returns asking me is it worth the risk anymore? I got some lovely horsey things for Christmas and usually having nice new things to play with perks me up no end (materialistic blighter that i am:o) I have lovely new event boots for him and am having a bridle M2M, and yet, i still feel depressed about my future riding. Im actually finding Im fantasising about having another littly instead and getting into inhand showing and poss driving.:o I feel awful, Im sat here with a horse that was like hens teeth to find, that we broke the bank to buy :(
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Hi
I rarely ride now due to a hunting injury. We have 2 horses, they are ridden by Elizabeth my daughter and I occasionally take Fany out for a hack. But I have never met a horse who demands to be ridden. Sounds like you enjoy doing doing stuff on the ground so I would go with that for a while.

What about showing? You can certainly spend a fortune on that if you feel like it.

Don't feel awful there is much more to horses than riding and competing. Relax and enjoy them and take it from there.
Rosie x
 
I think it's the weather to be honest, and winter blues. You usually can't prise me off a horse - OH and I have four between us and I usually ride at least three a day. At the moment, it's a struggle to get the enthusiasm to ride one. They've been out of work, get antsy in the cold, and it's not fun and relaxing like it is in the summer. Perhaps turn Charlie away until the spring, and see how things go then, when the world is a brighter, warmer place. If you're worried about safety, maybe give dressage a go - I've recently decided to just jump my safe girl and not push it (getting older, don't want to fall off any more!), and dressage is a whole new ballgame, and def something to work for!
 
I do not ride at all anymore. I have various aches and pains that make riding uncomfortable and I have no confidence anymore. I was never very good or very competitive anyway.

For the last 10 or more years I have been a PC mum and groom for my daughter. At present she only has a retired mare and a 2yo so not much chance for being a groom there! However I love doing them each day with her or at opposite ends of the day from her if we are both working. I enjoy just being around them and would have to find something else to fill the gap in my time if I did not do horses. I think it is perfectly possible to enjoy being with them and seeing them grow and progress without riding them yourself.
 
I stopped riding for a couple of years, the horse I was bringing on died, I lost my nerve on the roads and felt I was getting to doddery to get a new one - I love OTTBs - but I was lucky enough to find a Highland mare that suits me down to the ground so I toddle out on her now.

But I have a shetland and love http://www.horseagilitygb.com/
 
thanks for the replies. I think Im going to give myself til summer and see how i feel...as you say it may just be winter blues. thing is though, if im not really going to ride I wouldnt keep Charlie. He is only 7 and is a decent competition type, I am still paying for him,lol, and i just wouldnt be able to justify the ongoing costs.

ETA lol intouch - my dogs would be rather jealous :D
 
Why don't you wait untill the spring before you make any big decisions. It could be the weather getting you down?
You know in your heart of hearts if you want to ride or not and if when the weather improves and the evenings are lighter and you still don't want to ride then you will have your answer really.
Don't feel bad if you have to sell your horse, you can find him a wonderful competition home and you only have one life, you must do what makes you happy. Driving/showing ponies can be really competitive so you could easily get your buz that way and feel safer doing it.
I have days when I don't want to play horses full stop and days when I feel nervous and wonder what the hell I'm doing with a competition horse. However my down periods are really short and with the snow I was gagging to ride and I'm so excited planning my shows for this year, quite often I'm on a high for days after riding my horse.
If I didn't bounce back from my down days as quickly as I do, I wouldn't ride. Honestly life is too short :)
 
I think you need to stop putting pressure on yourself. Horses are wonderful beings who enjoy human company as much as we enjoy theirs. Just because you think to have a horse is to ride one, it does not mean that that is the only thing to do with a horse... look at all the people who have them for pets/games/guideponies/tricks etc!

If being with horses gives you happiness and all you need is their company then you have answered the age old question we all have... just BE and be happy with yourself and with your horses. No-one who cares about you will judge you and those horses and ponies have a loving friend and will be the luckiest beasts alive! I hope you will realise that and actually enjoy your beloved friends and I am so sure you will really enjoy your time with them. Anyway, you can always sell the big one to a home where you think he would be better suited and have yourself a herd of minnies (my dream!!!!) xxxxxxxxxxx
 
thank you.... see im now 34 and dont have family yet. but i do feel like i just dont have the guts or energy i used to. i know im not old at all, i know there are women 20 years my senior still competing.. but i guess we are all different.
 
I know you're probably fed up of the "wait til Spring and see how you feel" comments but I do think that would be best! After what you went through to get Charlie I'd hate for you to make a decision you ended up regretting and remember just a few months ago you were talking about eventing and competing into your 40's!

It might also give you a boost when you start seeing others out and about - I know that often gives me to nudge I need to get my bum in gear and ride!

See how it goes, don't worry about it just now - try to put it out of your mind for a couple of months and then revisit in the Spring. In the meantime you've got Phoenix to play with to keep you busy :)
 
As Tallyhohoho says, stop pressuring yourself. And remember there is life after riding.
I have chosen not to ride again after our accident, we now have a sec B who I adore, and I am as happy, if not more , than when I was riding.
 
Babybear said:
I know you're probably fed up of the "wait til Spring and see how you feel" comments but I do think that would be best! After what you went through to get Charlie I'd hate for you to make a decision you ended up regretting and remember just a few months ago you were talking about eventing and competing into your 40's!

It might also give you a boost when you start seeing others out and about - I know that often gives me to nudge I need to get my bum in gear and ride!

See how it goes, don't worry about it just now - try to put it out of your mind for a couple of months and then revisit in the Spring. In the meantime you've got Phoenix to play with to keep you busy :)
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no, no not at all - id already decided to give it til summer. I just want to hear from other people who might have felt the same etc
 
If you want to work towards a goal and compete but lower the risk a bit, maybe you could get into endurance or le trec or even just showing? Less pressure and less risk as it's not fast and furious :)
 
When people ask me what I do with my 8 I just say their pets. Rode five days a week two hours a day, worked full time and ran a house when I was in my twenties now I just do what I want. I love feeding them, planning and poo picking and feel no need to prove anything to my self.
I do a few in hand shows in the summer, am interested in anything horsey apart from that silly thing with the carrot sticks(???still can't beleave anyone would pay for that) and love watching other people have fun and are pleased when they do well. Lovely life really, but I have no sold my saddles just in case.
 
NeverSayNever said:
no, no not at all - id already decided to give it til summer. I just want to hear from other people who might have felt the same etc
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If it makes you feel any better, there are eight horses at my farm. Two are ridden, the rest are pets including the youngest gelding at 9yo. One mare's owner stopped riding at 28 after a baby and never wants to sell her, in fact I heard her talking of a welshie for the daughter.... of course as your namesake, never say never but just because you have one is not an automatic warrant to ride!

I ride all the horses when I can with permission but sometimes even I feel like giving up when my wellies get eaten by the mud (usually between Nov -Feb!!)..... ho hum...
 
thank you tallyhohoho... i think if money werent such an issue i wouldnt feel the pressure so much maybe? But as i said, charlie cost a lot of money i went back to work FT in order to pay for having bought him. I was PT before and spending a lot more time training/competing my dogs. Now all this is worthwhile if Im living and breathing riding and moreover progressing my riding which is why I went for a horse like Charlie.Tbh, I never expected to feel like this:o:(
 
I no longer ride due to a shoulder injury, but look after 4 equines. Slightly different scenario to some as really only one of them (a donkey) is mine, the others are my daughters, a 15.2 she rides and 2 retired ponies. She is at university so I am in charge most of the time, whilst I have to admit the past few weeks with all the bad weather has been hard, particularly as one pony has been in with laminitis and an abcess, but I can't ever see myself without a horse or pony to look after, as long as I am able to do it.
 
I gave up riding/competing in October 2005, Athough I have another horse again now and im back competing anyway lo....

when I gave up I sold my showjumper but kept my first pony charlie and we bought a shetland foal as a companion as my mum never though I would want to ride again although secretly I did and never really wanted to give up in the first place! although i had started secondary school and competed nationally at high jump so I couldnt do everything, but I hated the pressure of high jump and was soon back to horses!

I took up riding lessons again 5 years later as I couldnt ride Charlie as he is 12.1hh and I am 5ft 10" and obviously couldnt ride the shetland, he isnt even broken in! And in september I bought Java and im back to my old self of jumping although at the moment not the 1.15m tracks I used to do!

So for 5 years I had two ponies and didnt ride although we did have a girl come to ride charlie
 
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