horse doing nothing.. me feeling guilty.

luckyoldme

luckyoldme

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i wonder if any other members have felt the same as me.
I bought my horse 3 1/2 years ago after waiting all my life for my own horse.
I basicly went to the worst dealer in the country and paid to much for a horse i couldn t handle.
I got him home got on him and then got thrown off many times. Ive been to casualty where they not only knew my name they knew the horses name. Then somehow we bonded and he turned out to be the perfect hack for me. I loved the time with him and rode for miles for three summers.
This year my business has gone crazy and im just to tired to ride. I work 12 hours a day and the horse is stood in the field.
I find him to be a really safe ride.. but im not sure if would revert to his bad behaviour if he was uprooted or could sense someone new and nervous on his back.
I brought up the subject of selling him to my oh at the weekend as i feel so guilty about the lack of time and energy i have for him..He said the horse is fine and i am being silly. If i could sell the business i most definately would!
have any other members given their horse a year off to concentrate on work then gone back to them... i really am in two minds.. but then selling him on might land me in bother too!
 
it doesn't sound to me like you want to sell him.
I don't think horses stand in the field all day wishing they were out and about going to shows or being ridden.
If your horse is being looked after and has company I am sure a year off will do him no harm. Stop beating yourself up.
 
There are loads of reasons for horses being unworked, pregnancy, lack of time, family commitments, etc. I'd focus on getting your business to a point where you can have a bit more free time and then ride if you want to. As long as your horse is looked after with plenty of turnout he will be fine. There are plenty of horses that are unridden and quite happy. You can only do what you can do and will get resentful if you force yourself to ride if you are so tired, I'm sure you'll get the opportunity for a chill out hack at some point. :)
 
Agreed! Given the choice I think most horses would love to mouch around a field all day every day :D.

I don't ride my two very often these days; My enjoyment is looking after them, I get just as much pleasure out of it.

I wouldn't worry as long as he's healthy and happy try not to feel guilty
 
It sounds to me like you did a great job of dealing with your horses issues and have built a fab bond out of it. That kind of relationship is difficult to come by and takes hard work, to sell him would mean that you would have to start that process again with something new at a later date.
Often a year off can help a horse to relax and settle, you may find that you come back to it at a later date and that he/she is even more settled and happy. Also look at he positives being turned away can have, your horse will be walking around most of the day in a field not seizing up, constantly grazing will help with top line and back muscles. At least if he/she is turned out and left to it, in my experience most horses are happy.
Dont beat yourself up over it, life sometimes gets in the way, it may not be what you want, but so long as your horse has suitable grazing he/ she will be fine.
 
Don't feel bad, your horse is probably enjoying a little break. After working that hard they are nice to have around for a cuddle and to remind you why you work so hard. My horse always lived in overnight and was competing lots until last year when he went to live out and I got pregnant so he has had a very quiet year but is very happy living out he doesn't seem to miss parties. Most horses are very adaptable to change and if like mine all they really care about is food!
 
thanks everyone..
i have kept him in shoes and thrown the saddle on him a couple of times and gone for a short hack... he is no trouble at all. They reckon horses like that are hard to come by.. ones that you can leave out and still ride once in a blue moon!
If you saw him in the field he looks anything but safe.. he is a total loony flying round the field kicking and bucking for no reason at all. Yet as soon as he is ridden he is a darling.
actually i think you are all very right .. i would never find another one like him!
 
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