Help me decide: Am I being mad, or should I go for it?

Durhamchance said:
I think you're mad. I'm a mother to a 4 year old and a 2 year old and I have very little spare time. I'm not sure what your child care situation is, yes at this age baby can sit in the pram/ push chair while you attend to the horse, but once they get more mobile, they get bored easily. Mine wouldn't sit still for more than five minutes and couldn't be trusted not to run between a horses back legs if they were loose. I can only go to the yard when someone can watch them, so I'm sticking to helping someone exercise a couple of times a week until they're both at school.
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Nudibranch said:
Dulciedusty I'm afraid that's one of my pet hates. Dumping the baby in a pushchair in a corner and expecting others to keep an eye on it is unfair on the other liveries, and grossly unfair on the baby. I'm sure I'll be jumped on for saying that but it's my opinion. If I had to do that I'd give up horses for a while I'm afraid. I do the pushchair thing while he is asleep but he stays behind a gate, despite the horses being sensible. And the minute he wakes up he either goes to play with OH, or I stop what I'm doing and give him my undivided attention.
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Its about being committed and organised.

When my daughter was a baby, we have 6 at one point.

id get uo an 4.40 to see to them in the morning, get back home for other half to go to work.

Then take baby with me.
Usually asleep in the car or in pram, but i never asked anyone to loo after her.
she stayed wiith me but a safe distance away from the horses.

Then i go back in evening once other half was home from work.
 
I love ex racers, my first horse of my own was one and she was my horse of a lifetime, I got her when I was 14 and thought I was invincible, she was insane, had injured her pelvis racing, never had it put right and was not treated well in the yard when she acted up through pain. We got through all of this and she was awesome. Sadly she had a freak accident in the field and had to be PTS at 19 (I'd had her 13 years) due to work and life in general she had been turned away for about 18 months then I was horseless for 2 years because she was "irreplaceable" but something was missing from my life so OH said to find a horse I wanted and if not too expensive he would buy it. I wanted another horse that felt "mine" not a ready made push button pony and I'd had loads of experience working in a breaking and schooling yard so wasn't fazed by getting an unbroken youngster, problem was it was so long since I'd ridden properly the muscles that stick you to the saddle when things go wrong just weren't there any more so the first time she broncked I flew through the air, after this happened a few more times I lost my confidence, we have stopped and started many times but now she is a field ornament and I don't have the funds to get a safe confidence​ giver. My point is you may feel confident dealing with whatever this horse throws at you but after some time out of the saddle that confidence is very easily shaken and that's without a baby to worry about.
 
I find myself horseless after sadly having to have my boy pts in March. I had my little girl in November and had great plans to get back riding this spring, convinced I'd fit it all in!
Right now, although I ache for another pony, I really wonder how on earth I could manage. And realistically, I could only consider it if I keep said pony on full livery, and no matter how confident I felt, horses are unpredictable. There's not only me to think about but my family, if anything were to happen to me how would I manage to keep up our lifestyle? If I died, she would be without her mother! Extreme perhaps, but I now put her first. I will get another pony, but it will be a sensible, steady type. Life is a compromise, especially where children and hobbies are concerned. I don't know how other babies would be but I know my daughter wouldn't stay in her pushchair for long whilst I ride/do jobs.
The prospect of this horse might feel too good to be true, but I can't help think you might struggle to fit it all in OP.
 
Agree NL.

If I ever get another horse I will be getting something sturdy steady and u unbreakable!

(Current horse only fulfils the steady bit of my criteria!)
 
I havent read any of the replies. Wanted to reply before going back to read but I say NO, dont do it. When you are ready to get back in the saddle and ride there will be a suitable horse out there for you. If you are prepared to buy and turn away now then it sounds to me like you arent ready or desperate to get back in the saddle so why not wait, keep your options open and dont tie yourself to anything that potentially wont heal or take to being a field ornament whilst it recovers and may not be a happy hacker!
 
I cannot live without a horse or two about whether this one is the right one for you I dont know but I do understand where you are coming from. I have three kids all grown up with kids of their own now but when I was pregnant with the youngest I bought an arab mare and foal. I made time for my ponies while my kids were small but I did have wonderful support from my husband with the kids He never had anything to do with the ponies then but would take over completely from me feed get ready for bed etc. What I dont understand is how many people put up with men that dont care for their kids fully so they have time for themselves. Babies are not just mummy's responsibility they have two parents usually or maybe not in these times. As long as baby is in a safe environment with either with a family member or nursery I think it is important for every parent to have me time
 
Wouldn't touch with a barge pole - its not sound. you dont know if you'll like it. you don't know if you'll feel confident after baby - there is no arguement for it at all tbh..
 
In reply to someone's comment..... earlier on the thread.... I was meaning.....:

If I was the OH working all week to provide for my family and a new baby... I would be rather miffed if my wages were paying for my partner to have an expensive hobby at this particular point in our life.

I would be much happier for OH to help out and share a horse, without financial commitment, until 'baby' is older.

I'm not saying they cant have a horse... but would be better further along the line x
 
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