How did you get into horses?

My family (not immediate...but aunts/grandparents) have always been horsey.

one aunt had a riding school as I was growing up
smile.gif


and my great aunt/ second cousin? summat like that
tongue.gif
breeds ID.
 
As an under sized 7 year old, my sister who was then 12, was having occasional lessons. We went on holiday where she spotted a riding school and nagged mum and dad who said she could go if we both wanted to go (not wasting a day of the holiday for just one of us). I didn't want to go, was scared of horses, but sister bullied me into it. I must have enjoyed it because we then both had lessons back home until I was 15 and mum and dad bought us our first horse. We both had a break for a year after he died and then went for lessons and then got the first Appy, 18 months later got a TBx WelshD. Then Dad got a section A driving pony (his dad had driven). Then came the first ShirexClyde. A few since then and now we have the second Appy, A black and white retired ride and drive cob and a beautiful grey Irish Draft.
I think I am quite glad that my sister bullied me all those years ago
smile.gif
 
I'm the only horsey one in my family (mum rode a bit when she was much much younger). Got into it through a couple of friends so had the odd ride or lesson.

It wasn't until I moved schools that I really got into it. Hard not to when there's a RS next to the school
grin.gif
grin.gif
Started off with just lessons every week but soon found myself spending every free hour of school and the weekend down there
grin.gif
 
I remember my sister having a friend with a horse when I was very young, probably about 4/5 that sparked my interest initially. We moved away from that village when I was 7 and that was it til I was about 12 and just started high school and a friend said she was having riding lessons at local RS and did I want to go? Do bears sh1t in the woods??
laugh.gif

After that I got a paper round on a Sunday to pay for weekly lessons and rode every week til I married and had the kids - at which point I gave up. Last year I was offered the chance to bring a cob mare back into work and she was described to me as ' an armchair ride' I tell you an armchair probably has more go than her
grin.gif

Then a workmate said 'I've got a horse would you like to come ride her with me?' I didn't need asking twice
tongue.gif
After a few months of that I decided I wanted my own horse but finances won't permit owning so I do the next best thing for me and share Ellie
grin.gif
grin.gif
 
I have a totally non horsey family and got into it through my best mate, (who's still my best mate 23 years after meeting!) who rode all the time and got her first horse at 12 years old... I carrie don in riding school then loaned a horse and had a bad fall when I was 14 (hence my crappy bad back) and pretty much stopped (apart from the odd hack) until I was 19, when I loaned horses again. Dad realised I was actually serious about riding and wasn't giving up (!!) and when we got peeved with loan owners being jealous and not very nice to me, we clubbed together and bought Benji when I was 24, my first 'real' horse, ie one I could compete on. Then sold him as he was only 14.1hh and I wanted to affiliate, so bought Connie (mistake) and sold Connie as we didnt get on and she made a hash of my nerves, then got Victor in Jan this year and haven't looked back... BE here we come, he's fantastically laid back and jumps everything I aim him at!!! Yay!! And all this with a completely non horsey family!! im just the black sheep!
 
My parents are not horsey, we lived in a big city, but I remember dreaming of riding horses (actual dreams, not day dreams) even before I had ever seen a live horse!
 
my whole family on my mums side are horsey- careers have included show rider, jockey, vet, race trainer x2.
I started having lessons at 5 years of age- and loved it.
My first pony came along at the age of 11- a 4yo connemara- not recommended but it all went well!

I'd feel lost without horses now- and I dont understand the friends I have that just mope around at the weekends with nothing to do.
 
A friend from school asked me when I was 14 if I wanted to go horse riding with her at her local stables. But my parents wouldn't let me as they felt horse riding was far too dangerous. So at the grand old age of 20 I took the plunge and booked myself a riding lesson when I was at uni and absolutely loved it! I'm also from a non-horsey family and my mum still can't understand why I would want to do such a dangerous hobby, (and most probably has a heart attack every time I tell her I've fallen off again!). I do feel a bit behind and inexperienced with riders who have been riding long before they could even walk or talk! But after helping out at lots of different stables I'm thinking of taking another plunge and working towards an NVQ in Horse Care, which will probably have my parents tearing out their hair! A lot of people in my family have well paid jobs, living in London with mortgages so my parents will probably go mad when they hear I want to work for pittance at a horse stables!
 
When I was 4 years old my Dad used to take me to a shetland pony riding school...when I was 5/6 he left, we had no money but I had the opportunity to start again when I was about 11years old.
My Grandad on my mums side worked all his life with horses, and my mum always loved them, tho never had the chance to get involved with them, until I came along!!! So I think it was in my blood really...
 
I went with my horse mad friend to the local riding school to see what all the fuss was about when I was 10. I was taken out on a hack with about 15 other horses where we trotted and cantered for an hour. It was quite terrifying and I only hung on by hanging round the ponies neck! Despite this first encounter with horses I wanted more but my dad took me to a different riding school where I could have lessons. When I was 12 my dad bought me a pony as a surprise for Christmas (yes, he's the worlds best dad!) I learnt how to look after him from my friends and lots of books - I've always done a lot of research on whatever I do and I was no different when I was 12. That was how I started. Thirty five years later I have 3 horses, I'm always skint but I never regret that first terrifying ride!
smile.gif
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top