Horses are two different hobbies.

pistolpete said:
It’s fine @ycbm I totally agree and am always looking for signs of pain. I alternate magnet therapy physio and occasional bute and also boswelia and devils claw. Try not to have him on any one thing all the time so i can tell if it helps. I am aware them at pain causes behavioural changes. I have had the vet assure me he’s field sound but he hasn’t had a review for a while.
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I haven't met a vet yet who has a clue about seeing pain in a "sound" horse. Blink rate, eyelid creases, small tight eyes, tension lines in the nose, a finger fan of clamped muscles on the jowl all seem to be invisible unless the horse has a noticeable limp.
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@j1ffy Ah that’s kind of you. And I don’t think I do enough for him as I don’t do as much as I used to!
@ycbm I agree but luckily I do know those signs. The poor behaviour is always around food. Rightly or wrongly it’s the only time I spend with him so he resource guards like mad! Highland pony is starving you know!
 
I do think there are some horses that are not very people oriented. My first pony was a bit like that though never had any physical issues. I didn't really realise how much she wasn't until I had another that was and since then all the horses I've had have wanted a human of their own. My last horse could be very selective and very grumpy with some people but not others. The way he switched it on and off suggests it wasn't pain but personal preference.

@pistolpete I believe you have a move planned. In your shoes I might wait to see what the situation is there. You may find yourself in a situation where you need a companion in which case he'll have a job.
 
j1ffy said:
I’m definitely into riding more than the care side - I adore my horses and always make sure they want for nothing but wouldn’t choose to trade in riding for pampering and ground work. I wish I could bring myself to care more about grooming and turning out to a high standard but somehow I always find something better to do 😜
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I am not so into turnout, more diversifying the field / improving drainage / improve range of herbs / groundwork training / improving his environment and stimuli and building our partnership. I quite like doing massage techniques and the bond.

Pulling manes / plaiting / tack cleaning / trimming tails etc does NOTHING for me either.
 
A bit late to this thread, but never mind...
I always thought I was only into hobby number 1: horses and riding. I thought, any horse would do, as long as I could stay up there somehow. But one summer, a lovely mare taught me that it wasn't the case. She was lovely, gentle and genuine, and I felt absolutely nothing when riding her. I was happy to chat to her, groom her, feed her. But I didn't like riding her. If she had been the last horse on the planet, I would have stopped riding.
I am now lucky enough to combine hobbies 1 and 2, having two lovely mares of my own at home. My Little Madam, I fell in love with the first time I saw her as a foal. I never dared imagine one day she would be mine. We're doing well on the ridden front at the minute, but winding down as I'm hoping to get her in foal this year. I think taking the pressure off has allowed us to enjoy ourselves again, and it's like coming home, finding the trust and confidence that somehow got lost along the way. My Old Lady is a lot more hobby number 2, though she happily still carries me out for hacks. I got her as an old horse, with no expectations but for her to be a companion to the Little Madam, she's such a gentle, even tempered horse that I couldn't have asked for more. If I get my say, neither horse is going anywhere.
I am very lucky in that if both my girls end up being number 2 type hobbies, I live a short distance from the riding school where I bought Little Madam from and they're always happy for some help exercising the school or livery horses and bringing on youngsters. So hopefully, I'll be able to keep up both hobbies 1 and 2 even if they end up separate.
 
j1ffy said:
I’m definitely into riding more than the care side - I adore my horses and always make sure they want for nothing but wouldn’t choose to trade in riding for pampering and ground work. I wish I could bring myself to care more about grooming and turning out to a high standard but somehow I always find something better to do 😜
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My grooming is shocking!! Quick scrape around saddle / girth area and feet picked out before riding. When the old boy was still here I used to wait for winter mud to fall out with his winter coat.

4 white stockings looked great when I bought Babycob in spring - believe me when I say they're less than great in winter 😁
 
Definitely riding for me, I'd happily (and did for my old boy!) pay for a retired horse to live out on retirement livery or turned away. Which even if I don't have the money, gives me the time to loan/ride someone else's. But if they couldn't be ridden or turned away I wouldn't spend years mucking out every day with no riding. As the vast majority of horses adapt to being retired to grass, it shouldn't be a major issue, but if I had a horse who didn't, I would PTS.

To me, its absolutely madness having a fit, healthy horse but only riding once a week or less, it's so expensive and time consuming for what seems like v little enjoyment. I ride 4/5 times a week, every week (obviously not if any vet issues). I enjoy it even if the weather is terrible (although I went for a run in the rain/wind last night and quite enjoyed that too, so accept I may be unusual 😂) I like fussing her and snuggles, but if that's all I wanted to do, I've got a cat for that!

If I had horses at home obviously it would be different but I simply do not have the time to look after more than one on DIY and I don't have the money for more than one on full livery. I'd happily make sacrifices to keep an older horse turned away eg less going out in the lorry/fewer lessons. But I'm 35 now, if I didn't ride for 5 years or something my fitness and bravery to jump etc wouldn't ever be coming back!

Maybe that's selfish, but as long as the horses are well cared for in their life, I'm OK with my choices.
 
Bert is off riding at the moment. I think part of the riding issue is that when I have been not able to ride my ponies it has been due to lameness or an ailment and caring for good doers who can't be exercised is very stressful and I don't enjoy it because of the constant fear of laminitis.

Caring for a horse that does not need weight management and does not have an health issue to worry about actually would be enjoyable still even if not being able to ride it. Caring for horse that cannot be exercised due to health reasons just saps the joy out of horse ownership for me.
 
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