How to meet horsey friends in your area? Feel pretty lonely

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Anna2015

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Always wanted a horse as a child but never knew a thing about horses, their care or even where to start. Last year a friend mentioned her horse (that I didn't even know she had) explained how she would give me lessons and I could handle her horse whenever I wanted. Anyway, long story short.. She chucked me in the deep end I ended up full time looking after her horse while she had many boyfriends and completely had no interest. Even ignored my texts and calls when her horse was hurt After a year I thought apart from the riding I am doing EVERYTHING with her horse which gave me enough experience to buy and care for my own.

I now have my own horse (and companion pony) and rent my own land. I ride in the field (after a horrible experience I now don't ride out) but feel like I am missing out on so much as I see woman in groups chatting away going for hacks, I see on facebook people talking about local shows they are going to and even though my horses are cared for, vaccinations, farrier, dentist etc I lack on a lot of knowledge when it comes to behaviours and some handling and riding as I really learnt on my own. So it would be nice to have a friend or friends that I could pick up the phone and ask general questions or even when I experience something would be nice to tell a horsey friend as when I mention it to my family or friends they look confused, smile and change conversation lol

Everyone else seems to have started out young so they are already in the horsey world or at liveries so around a lot of horsey people. Is there anyone else like me and how do you meet other horsey people?
 
Welcome to HHO forum, it is a great place to make contacts.

What area are you in, as some people may know places to meet up....

Is there a riding club in your area? They can be a great place to meet on small lessons, or even at camp.
 
Hi. I know exactly how you feel. I learnt to ride as a kid in a very basic riding school. I bought my pony when I was in my thirties and keep her at home. I work full time so mostly ride at weekends. No-one in my family or at work is horsey. Nobody local seems to hack, and if they do its in the week when I'm at work. I'm not competitive (or good enough to be) and wouldn't know where to start with shows. I ride on my own or with my hubby on his bike, but would love to have some horsey friends. Whereabouts are you?
 
Other than that would you like a livery? Someone who would like to ride with you?

A trailer sounds a great idea, you can meet people at a club, the first one sounds quite low key.

Have you looked on your local Facebook page?
 
Perhaps you could put a message here too >>>>>> . http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/forumdisplay.php?98-Wales
as well searching the horsey facebook pages. Maybe search facebook for Cardiff Horse pages to see if there are shows/clubs/tutors/people asking for company out hacking etc etc.(I see there a re quite a few) . We are moving from West Wales back east, but sadly a tad further than Cardiff. Hope someone will soon turn up
 
Where I live I have met everyone horsey by either stopping anybody riding a horse or they have stopped me whilst I have been riding or asking locals if they ride if they look horsey :) most horsey people are always happy to have another horsey friend
 
Join anything and everything you can, smile and wave to everyone, knock on doors of horsey homes and ask if you can hack with them, book lessons with a local instructor, better still if you can have shared lessons. FB will be a great link to others too.
 
Do you have any time to spare to help out at your local RDA group? I made lots of horsey friends when I moved here by joining the local group.
 
Foxy O said:
Where I live I have met everyone horsey by either stopping anybody riding a horse or they have stopped me whilst I have been riding or asking locals if they ride if they look horsey :) most horsey people are always happy to have another horsey friend
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Totally this. I relocated to an area where l could afford to have my horse at home but l missed the companionship of a livery yard and having people to hack out with. I flagged down any riders going past and also asked on facebook for riding companions. Also even if you are not confident enough to compete or don't have a trailer, riding clubs always want ground helpers so that is a good way to meet people.
 
I know this is a bitof an old thread, I was just wondering if you ever found anyone local oe any groups or anything?

I'm within the region and was just thinking the same thing in all honesty lol
 
I met one of my fave riding buddies when she stopped beside me in her car & asked if I fancied some company to ride with as she was new to the area. Good year on & we still have some great rides out. I made a good friend!
 
Camilla's Aunty Em said:
I met one of my fave riding buddies when she stopped beside me in her car & asked if I fancied some company to ride with as she was new to the area. Good year on & we still have some great rides out. I made a good friend!
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Thats so cool!

Fair play to your friend for being so confident
 
Foxy O said:
Where I live I have met everyone horsey by either stopping anybody riding a horse or they have stopped me whilst I have been riding or asking locals if they ride if they look horsey :) most horsey people are always happy to have another horsey friend
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me too, and now I have lots of new horsey friends
 
Hibou said:
Thats so cool!

Fair play to your friend for being so confident
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She's been a godsend, as I had issues hacking alone (nappy pony), as did she (spooky horse). The neds are best buddies now & we've even been to a dressage comp together. Not everyone in the world is a t**t.
 
Hibou said:
I know this is a bitof an old thread, I was just wondering if you ever found anyone local oe any groups or anything?

I'm within the region and was just thinking the same thing in all honesty lol
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I run a facebook page just for this purpose. I had let it slip for a while, but have recently picked it up again. I don't get anything out of it financially etc, so I don't think this counts as advertising. I just do it so that people can meet new horsey friends. This is the link if you are interested: www.facebook.com/RidingBuddies/ Good luck. :) x

ETA I actually started it a few years ago triggered by a post on this forum, so a lot of HHOers were on there in the beginning and it has now grown. x
 
nikicb said:
I run a facebook page just for this purpose. I had let it slip for a while, but have recently picked it up again. I don't get anything out of it financially etc, so I don't think this counts as advertising. I just do it so that people can meet new horsey friends. This is the link if you are interested: www.facebook.com/RidingBuddies/ Good luck. :) x

ETA I actually started it a few years ago triggered by a post on this forum, so a lot of HHOers were on there in the beginning and it has now grown. x
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Thats brilliant, thanks a lot for showing me this! It's great to find people who like the same sorts of things :)
 
I am in S.Wales area so feel free to message me if you want to chat. I'm on livery but always end up riding alone as many, as you say, ride in the week while i'm in work or focus on dressage etc so don't hack out.
There are lots of riding clubs in and around Cardiff which you could join and attend without your horse to get a feel for things. Riders 2000 is very good and very friendly.
 
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