I don't feel like riding anymore

I think giving yourself permission to not do things you don't want to do is very liberating.

I've entered 2 classes at a show today. I woke up this morning wondering why on earth I was forcing myself to go showing when I hate it, and its because other people keep telling me that I must show him!

So I'm not going, and I've decided not to book anything in the future that I don't think we'll both enjoy.

I always turn my ponies away for the whole of January and February because I have no interest in riding and I don't feel guilty at all.
 
As others have said, take the pressure off! If you are enjoying having your horses as pets, then just do the things you enjoy- maybe even consider if there are some in hand activities you might enjoy together?

If you feel like riding again at some point in the future, then great- if you don't then there's lots of enjoyment you can get out of non-ridden horses!
 
There's no harm in losing interest in riding. I had a double whammy of losing interest in both horses and riding in one hit - the cost, the time just everything.

I'm now out of horses all together and would never go back. I rode for the first time in 6 or 7 months the other day. Absolutely wonderful setting and I had a lovely time. Has it reignited that spark? No I don't think it has. The setting and the fact it was sunset is what made it special, however I won't be rushing to book anything horse related when I get home.

It's weird, I'm definitely not that horse mad little girl I was for such a long time. I thought I'd never lose it but it suddenly hit a few years ago that I'd completely lost interest. I'm at the time of my life where other things are a priority
 
I have read this with interest as it describes how I have been feeling lately, if I can find an excuse not to ride theses days I do, I have no real motivation to get me on board, however I have a friend that rides my horse 2/3 times a week and I bought an electric bike and ride with her and I love watching my horse work she rides him beautifully and I still get out on my bike. She is on holiday at the moment and I thought I had better get him out today, well I had a lovely ride he is very well behaved and a good boy so I don’t know why I have been feeling so negative about riding other than starting to feel my age I am 71, I don’t want to give up just yet completely, but I know once Barney can’t be ridden it won’t bother me at all to just mooch about looking after him, even if it does cost a lot of money I can’t take it with me so I’d rather spend it on keeping a horse. I will be playing it by ear on a day to day basis, and as he’s not bothered one way or the other whether he’s ridden or not, I’ve had quite a good riding life done a bit of everything so I have no goals I just like spending time with my horse
 
I love my mare and get so much enjoyment and comfort from being with her and doing horse chores but at the moment I don't really want to ride very much.

She is a bit lame (she is having treatment) and I would rather not ride her unless she is 100% unless direct to for rehabilitation purposes. In addition, I have an unwell parent who require a lot of care at the moment and a demanding job, so getting myself ready to ride is not high on my list of priorities at the moment.

She doesn't mind not being ridden and it doesn't change how she goes, so I don't see a problem.
 
I have pretty much given up riding Alf, He is 25, and perfectly happy mooching round the field, and I have no desire to get on him.
I think I would feel differently if I had a horse I could ride properly though. I miss being able to run through Alfs party tricks, and I miss charging up the bridlepath where he always bogs off with me. He's not up to either any more, and neither of us really see the point of plodding round the block!
 
I echo getting someone to ride with, for me, it was more about the social side of things than wanting to compete etc. I’m another who loved spending time with him.

Alternatively, how about a share/temporary loan (to stay at your yard)? Don’t beat yourself up, I was quite relieved to give up. It may not be a permanent lack of motivation.
 
I lost the love a couple of years ago when mum was ill. I was simply too stressed. It was a relief to sell up. I did, however, buy little Rigsby cob. He was just finishing box rest and had various medical conditions. It wasn't sure if he would even make a ridden horse.

That was great. No pressure to ride. We wandered the lanes for months, in hand, like walking a huge dog. I loved our times out walking. Then I started to ride. Again, no pressure as he wasn't ever going to be a competition horse, it was just whatever we fancied.

Eventually I did want to do more and have bought a smashing young horse. I don't think that would have worked though without my pause. I have changed priorities. We have had a super summer but I fully intend to take his shoes off after the next cycle for us both to have some down time.
 
Sir barnaby said:
why I have been feeling so negative about riding other than starting to feel my age I am 71, I don’t want to give up just yet completely,
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Riding is not compulsory. But I can tell you from experience that, if an older person like me (I was 80 ish) stops riding, as I did during a year Covid lock down, it is not that easy to resume.
When I returned to the yard, it felt deeply wierd to be climbing on top of a great big animal.
My worst problem after not riding was my ankles. In order to mount and to rise in trot and ride light seat in canter, one needs ankle strength, so they dont bend over or collapse sideways. I had to do some exercises off the NHS website to get mine strong enough again.
For you, OP, even a monthly walk and trot riding lesson on a bog standard RS horse might be a good idea to keep you going.
I suppose I am not being very logical here. Because I did stop riding, and I did start again. But it would have been much better if I hadnt had that long break due to Covid. Keeping going is pretty simple. Coming back after a break is much harder.
 
Peregrine Falcon said:
Could someone ride out with you on one of yours? Make it a social event for you?

Sometimes just being with them is enough for me. My mare was ill on and off and I hardly rode her the last few months. I missed that.
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I have people I can ride with but I find excuses not to do that either!
 
Do you have company to ride with? I find making arrangements to ride with someone makes me want to ride more. Failing that, there's no obligation to ride at all. There are 12 horses on our yard. Only 6 of them get ridden regularly with a 7th that gets a little plod out now and again. Of the others, 3 are old and retired but 2 are young and totally fine to be ridden, their owners just don't want to.
 
greasedweasel said:
I’m absolutely the same, have you had Covid? My motivation has been destroyed by it.
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It really could be this, maybe OP had Covid without diagnosis. It is now 5 months since I had Covid, and although I am riding it is only because I feel a duty to keep them fit. This morning I sat down for a rest halfway through a short walk with my geriatric dog. Everything feels like an effort, and although I can do everything the truth is that all I really want to do is stay in bed.
 
Thank you everyone for your replies. Obviously something worked as I've ridden twice this week as I've just really wanted to! Perhaps it was just that pressure to ride that I was putting on myself or maybe it was a one off, we will see.
 
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