Horsies at home/Your own yard... do you get lonely too?

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akashapachamama

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I realise that most people's dream is to be able to keep there neddies at home, to be able to feed in PJs and pop out and give them a carrot in a TV ad break. I know im so lucky but does anyone else get lonely too?

Im finding it very hard at the mo, probably due to the rotten weather, to keep up the motivation. Its hard being isolated from other horsie people and never being about to talk about the daily ups and downs especially as no one in my family is remotely horsie.

Does anyone else feel the same? Ive started advertising for a livery but everyone whos rung has been unsuitable or time wasters...
How do other people cope?
 
I'm the same, they're not strictly at home but on our own yard.

I find the winter hard, I find the dark nights hard (i'm terrified of the dark), and when things go wrong, I find that very difficult as I'm still very much a novice (my OH owns the horses but works so much I do them, I've only been around them 24/7 for about 2 years...).

Like yesterday, Puzzle inhaled some of her own hair and started coughing, like, full body cough. I was convinced she was choking and totally panicked, and at that moment I would have loved someone else to be around. xx
 
Hi, I have my own yard and at the moment have 2 friends their with me but one is leaving to rent her own place and other will prob leave to be nearer home if she gets a permanent job so I will be in the same situation. I think I will get very lonely too. I will prob try and find someone to share one of my horses who just wants to hack out etc so I can go out riding with them. I wouldn't want a livery as such there unless it was someone I already knew. Are there any other horsey people around who you may be able to meet up with to go hacking or cross country schooling, fun rides etc?
 
I used to keep my riding horse at home, still keep the youngstock, and I found it very lonely. Aside from having no one to have a laugh with, there was no one to help out or give constructive criticism. I ended up moving to a yard when I changed jobs, and I am happier. However, before that I made sure to take my horse for lessons and also brainwash my father into liking horses so I had someone to take horses with! ;)
 
No! I love it. We initially had two DIYs, but were so hard work, and life was much more complicated! Now we love it that its just us, and everything is put away, swept and just how we like it. I guess it helps that husband and stepson ride! I still hack out with friends when I want, and compete in summer.

I bet that there is someone on here in your area to ride with if you asked... Is there a riding club around?
 
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I have mine at home, but my riding horse is currently on loan whilst I'm at uni. When I get him back next year I will move him to diy grass livery (which is luckily very close by!)- they have an indoor school so I'll be able to have lessons then and have more social interaction. But my mare will remain at home and I hope to get a show filly as well as a future riding filly, so my gelding will free up space for youngsters and when he retires he'll come home and my future riding horse will then go to livery- all part of a complicated plan!!
 
Mine aren't at home they are on a small yard where I am the only livery and due to YO's son/work hours I am generally up there on my own. I don't really find it lonely - I love being on my own up there, however, I have 2 clubs within hacking distance so still keep in with the horsey community.
 
I know what you mean, mine are at home and yes I do get lonely sometimes and wish I had someone to ride out with. Its also hard as I don't have a proper menage so have to ride in the field alot. Love being able to give them their breakfast in my PJs though
 
I have my boy at my parents house, which is a 10 minute drive away. I love having him there, as I can do exactly what I want and don't have to worry about the bitchiness that you get at some yards.

The only thing I miss is not having someone to ride out with or have a laugh with. But I think I'm still better off with Ted at my parents, as I have my sister and her horse there, only now I have to convince her to ride her boy out hacking, as Ted can no longer do schooling.

When I used to compete Ted, I found being with the riding club filled the social aspect I missed from the livery yards but Ted is now semi-retired and can't compete due to arthritis.
 
im on a yard thats just me & friend, due to her work/my kids routeens we only really see each other weekends if we are there all day.
it does get lonley but to be honest i prefer that than the bitching you get at yards (i dont ride my boy) & i get really Pi**ed off with people telling me to get get on him they have no idea on why i dont ride but are happy to give misplaced advice.
 
We live next to our yard - which is fantastic and the reason I haven't left home yet (who would!).

We also have DIY liveries (not that many). I think the yard would feel lonely if no one came and went.

Though I do feel lonely sometimes because I am thought of as the yard owner (well yard owners daughter) and often the liveries do things between themselves, when whenever we organise things we always try to involve everyone. But then it doesn't bother me too much.
 
I keep my horse at home on my yard , pottering about the yard in my Pj's early in the morning , doing things my way , happy content horse , being able to see my horse out every window of my house , i would not have it any other way .
 
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Mine are kept at home, i never get lonely, i like to get on with my jobs with no interuptions, i know some of my friends would love to keep there horses at my place but i dont want them { in a nice way}
 
No.

I have Boarders here, my place is like Grand Central Station at times! If it isn't Boarders then it is other visitors. I love the company, I also love having the option not to be sociable if I choose.

If I am outside when owners come then we have a chat and get on with whatever, I never feel that I should go out there to see people, if anyone wants me they just come through the basement and give me a yell.

Considering that I would be extremely content as a hermit living in a shack on a mountain I am surprised that I choose to do something that requires me to socialise at all.
 
Nope. I love having my own space. :)

I also love making decisions in the knowledge that no one is going to question them or suggest a 'better' way, as seems so common with some horse owners! :p

Despite this, I am hoping to have some liveries here reasonably soon - should mean we can afford an arena which is the current goal. I guess I'll have to get used to being sociable again! :D
 
I must say I don't find it lonely at all. There are lots of other horsey people in the neighbourhood who stop to chat whilst out hacking.
 
Nope, I love it! Nobody to interfere, nobody to argue about who picked more poo than who, no hoofpicks, hay etc going walkies. It's great! I never get lonely, I love the time on my own with them. I'm much more chilled out on my own and like my own space, so it's perfect for me.
 
I rent a field so just my guy in it and their is a field of 3 ponies next door (some company for him) but thay have no idea so dont tend to talk to them, it can get a bit lonely and I am writing this thinking I should really go out and ride but im really feeling very unmotivated.

Be open minded about renting field or stable space to people, their are some really nice people out there like me that would kill to have somewhere smaller, fuss free to keep their horse, I am very knowledgeable and do everything myself (apart when i am on holiday which is rare) if my horse breaks it I fix it and well help someone out when ever they need it if i can. I think as long as you set the rules/boundaries when you possibly get a new person they would generally stick to them or if not not move on in the first place.
 
i have my own yard. its great! no one to annoy you, steal your stuff, bitch about you etc. you can do what you want no one can say anything and your the boss :D:D:D but on the other hand yes i do find it rather lonely at times and i've started going a lil crazy and talking to myself :confused: but its also good cos i can do my own thing and people don't question it (yes i'm special :o)
 
Well, we don't have ours at our house but we have our own land and stables a few minutes drive away and I don't find it lonely at all. Then again bith me and my sister have horses and my mum rides as well so I guess we're not on own and maybe it would be different if noone else in the family was horsey at all.

However, from the few stories i raed on here about the bitchiness and petty behaviour that seems to go on on livery yards i am VERY glad i am not on one. The only down sides i guess are we maybe don't have the same facilities as other yards (ie arena etc) and we have to make sure we're organised when it comes to going away as we need to make sure there's someone around to look after the horses. I guess on a livery yard things like that are easier as you have people who can help you or pay for your horse to be done when you're away.
 
Im glad this has been posted.
I am on a yard at the moment but am fed up of the bitchiness and backstabbing. So am thinking about moving down the road about 5 min in the car to a friend's place she has an old mare whom is 30 this year and will have my two boys there grazing and stables for them too.

This thread has made me think about whats its going to be like just being me and her (most of the time I wouldnt see her with my work hours etc). Im quite looking forward to doing my own thing, clearing up my mess, feeding hay or haylage, having straw or shavings, leaving my horse out or bringing in when I like.

So thanks for putting this post!
 
House is up for sale, so we can buy a place with land :D

Can't wait!

Then again, D is involved because I am, plus he will happily go out with me on hacks (him on a bike :D). D2 is the same :D. Plus she likes taking pictures :D. And we have D1, who rides as well :D

Over the years it will change, with D1 and D2 moving away when they grow up, but I'll be getting to know people through the local RC/s and competing :D. Plus, I have a lot of horsey friends who tend to visit a fair bit, so there's always that to enjoy :D

And finally, I am actually looking forward to long, long hacks with just me and the Dizz. Time for just us. Can't wait :D

Sorry OP, I might have gone slightly off-track there.... :rolleyes::cool:
 
i love having them at home, doing exactly what i want with them and being answerable to no-one. i can choose who goes out where, etc etc. there are some lovely YOs out there obv but it's so much nicer to have your own place with nobody to 'borrow' your stuff, judge what you're doing or how you're doing it, etc etc.
i can't think of any drawbacks really, if i want to chat i chat to the horses, dogs, or answer back to the radio! ;) ;) oh, and i can sing at the top of my voice any time i like without deafening anyone... ;) ;)
 
akashapachamama said:
I realise that most people's dream is to be able to keep there neddies at home, to be able to feed in PJs and pop out and give them a carrot in a TV ad break. I know im so lucky but does anyone else get lonely too?

Im finding it very hard at the mo, probably due to the rotten weather, to keep up the motivation. Its hard being isolated from other horsie people and never being about to talk about the daily ups and downs especially as no one in my family is remotely horsie.

Does anyone else feel the same? Ive started advertising for a livery but everyone whos rung has been unsuitable or time wasters...
How do other people cope?
Click to expand...

I organise regular 'Horsey Coffee Mornings' and most of the people that come along keep their horses at home. It's a good way for people to catch up, find riding buddies, swap ideas and learn from various people that I have come along to talk or demonstrate.

I have had physio's, bowen therapists, iridologists, farriers give talks and demos. Coming there is an intro to Pilates for Horse Riders in April and a talk on Homeopathy for Horses in May.

They are friendly informal and cheap!!

Maybe you could start something up in your area
 
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No, I love it. I feel very very lucky to have them at home and although they've got to stay with a pro for a bit now, I cannot wait to have them home again.
 
I am lucky to have mine at home!!

I love it no one to get bitchy,moan etc i can do my own thing and no one sticks there nose in its brilliant!!

I would rather be lonely :)
 
This has been great reading. Hearing all your points about why is so fantastic not to have them at a yard has reminded me how lucky I am. Having always had them at home I perhaps take for granted how fortunate I am tht I am in charge, no one tells me what to do, I have my own routine, no one steals my things, or gives me their unwantd opinion and I feel really blessed because it would probably drive me mad!

Lots of good points about finding a riding buddy/ joining a club but as both of them are complicated project horses, one of them is not ridden and the other is at the start of being restarted that possibility is several years down the line. I guess because im not riding and as they're quite challenging I wish I had the extra support of someone else here just for the reassurane when there's been a bad day.

Oh well, I have had a livery before and I now realise how lucky I was because she was wonderful. hopefully I'll find someone as great soon.

Thank you all... this has really cheered me up!

ps- winterwood-fab idea about coffee mornings, will have a think about it!
 
I'm torn, I love doing what I want with my horses whenever I want, but I really miss company, I share the yard with my cousin, who has a pony who may shortly be going on the market, but its still not much fun! I miss having people to school with and bounce ideas off, although I'm quite lucky having a nice indoor school 100m up the road, but its not the same as being on a yard, just wish i could afford to be a livery... :rolleyes:
 
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