I just don't know what to do - seriously thinking about selling Archie

[zeuscleoharmony]

As many of you know, Archie is my pride and joy and I adore him but since my accident, which was my fault 100% I am just not enjoying things as I used to. I think if I could find him a wonderful 'forever home' I would seriously consider parting with him as he is being totally wasted - he is 7 years old and doesn't do much, just the odd hack. But then I get thinking about how special he is and the thought of parting with him is like a knife to my heart, but in all of this I have to think about him and his needs. I have just got someone to help me get him out and about, this was meant to be their first week and they couldn't make it and so yet another week has gone by with him sat in his field ... eating and dozing.

I have thought about on loan and him move but honestly think if he goes he will never come back because if he was settled I wouldn't want to uproot him again, but then its an awful lot of horse to give someone - I know its not all about the money but if I was to sell I would advertise at £4995. Then I thought about loan with view to buy but what if he gets injured whilst on loan? Then selling ... finding a home which ideally would be 'forever' is a tough call and once I have sold him I would hate to think I had made the wrong home choice for him and he was sold on again.

Do I give it time to see if I get over feeling like this? I am sure some of you have felt like this at some time - what did you do? I am in turmoil.

 

[gigs]

Dont know how long ago your accident was - but I would give yourself time and not be too hard on yourself .What about a sharer that way he would get more exercise and you could rebuild your confidence slowly .Good luck

 

[ForeverBroke_]

I seriously thought about selling Darcy a number of times

He was being a complete swine - so it was a bit different but I wrote his advert out in my head so many times and would feel sick/ crying at the thought of riding him. I never ever really get upset but he made me

Infact I didnt step foot in a field with him for about 7 months and I was scared to trot in the school!

Anywho, I ended up sending him away to chill out in the field for about a month and when I got back on , everything just sort of clicked

Sounds corny - but I was a more confident rider that when I said no to Darcy, I apparently seemed to mean it!

Havent really looked back

Have you thought about purposefully letting him have some time off? He may be having 'time off' at the moment but have you told yourself that he's having time off, for a reason? Get back into the swing of it when you feel like it and set yourself tiny , tiny goals. Doesnt matter what everyone else is saying you should be doing/ what they're doing

Time is a healer!
x

 

[Natalie_H]

Give yourself some time. I promise you that Archie is not sitting in his field thinking what great things he could achieve if he were out & about more!

As long as he is happy & healthy, and you can afford to do it, just take some more time.

 

[spike123]

I think this is due to your lack of confidence as to why you want to sell him,but you say he is your dream horse and you can't bear to part with him.I think you need someone to come out and help you regain your confidence to get back on and enjoy your horse again.Where abouts are you? Do you keep him at home or at a livery yard?

 

[Pony_Puzz]

I did this with one of mine, I wouldn't get on due to other falls from horses and a massive drop in confidence, then March this year a friend got on her after she had had some time off.. and she was fab! So it came to easter and I decided to get on myself

Best thing I did because now I enjoy having a laugh and yes she's not perfect but riding is about fun. I occasionally push my limits with her but I don't go too much.

Time is a big healer, also you have to sort of think to yourself that you can do it. I hope you keep him and work something out!
Also on a side note: I think you are blaming yourself too much, things happen and at the end of the day if he can forgive you then you should forgive yourself too! (Sounds corny but true!)

 

[Fii]

Give yourself time, i had a nasty fall from one of mine last year and am only now starting to ride him. I am taking everything slowly and touch wood am getting my nerve back with him,. I think we all feel like this from time to time and if you make a hasty decision i think you may regret it .

 

[zeuscleoharmony]

Thank you all for your kind words and support xxx

 

[Dubsie]

I do think from what you've written that you'll regret parting with him.
And I don't think there's anything wrong with him having a few months off. He's probably been enjoying eating and dozing anyway.
I think you said it'd be a while before you can ride again, but I'm sure it'll be fine when you are fit enough and feel up to it, and Archie sounds such a star I'm sure he'll look after you when you do.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I'm sure your loss of confidence is due to the injury, not necessarily because it was a fall (if I remember rightly). When I broke my ankle whilst walking on my own two feet across the yard, my confidence to ride dipped and I had a course of lessons on a mechanical horse, which combined with my very careful mare (RIP) who stood in exactly the right position for me to climb on gingerly from the mounting block helped enormously. This was my first serious injury in over 40 years of riding and it came as a great shock that I'm not indestructable.
As you recover from your injury I'm sure you will go through a variety of emotions. You don't need to make any decisions about your or Archie's future atm. He will be thoroughly enjoying dozing and eating in his field, that's what horses do best.
Wishing you a speedy recovery

 

[Fransurrey]

The first time I rode a larger horse after my accident (aside from my own exmoor, which I didn't have the accident on), I was so tense it was unreal. It took a heck of a long time to get over it, mentally.

Give yourself more time. Archie won't give a stuff about being allowed to eat and doze. Sounds like horsey heaven, to me. If the thought of parting with him makes you feel like this, then don't! If this new person is cancelling a lot, try to find someone else, but don't rush - I'm assuming you don't want him out at Badders next year, so even the odd hack out with a friend riding him will be enough to keep him ticking over. Hope you feel more upbeat soon. We've all had those, 'Shall I sell?' moments, but let's face it, if we did, we'd just contribute to the obesity problem in this country. I for one would be the fattest blimp on the planet and the thought of knowing what happens in all the soaps and sh*te on telly puts all thoughts of selling firmly out of my mind, lol!