I love my non horsey OH - tell me about yours! :)

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Gemsie

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Hi All,

I have just been reading a post on here from someone who had a ding dong with her OH at the weekend, and it made me think how lucky I am to have my OH.

We have been together for 7 years and have our own house, I also have 2 horses, one young warmblood who has just started competing this year, and my old retired ned who I have had forever!

I am at the yard every morning before work, evenings to bring in and put to bed, weekends - sometimes competions in the week, a lot at the weekend - and he never, ever, ever moans about it, he literally has never uttered a whingey word about the horses.

Whilst he doesnt get invovled with mucking out, or riding or anything (I kinda like it to be my 'me' time) he will always come and watch / video when I am at shows.

He never moans that my stables are tidier than my house, I always smell of horse and am covered in hair/shavings/ hay etc or that his dinner is very often late and served out of a tin!

He didnt moan when I spent our (one day we may want to get married so lets save up a bit) fund on my new horse - because he wanted me to be happy again after loosing my competition mare 2 and a half years ago..

He also never moans about the cost either - when I received Dannys vet bill (which is currently just shy of a grand - insurance wont pay as he is a fossil) he just laughed and said 'oh well - he is worth it - we will sort it out' - and its not like we have the money...

So I guess this message could become an - I love my other half to bits thread - would love to hear others storys about their OHs...

Gem
 
My hubby as just learnt how to put a headcollar on and as fell in love with my 3yr old newforest which i planned to sell at 3 but now cant do it . He did not really get involved with my horses until his work went slack but now sulks if i do the horses without him. He makes a wicked stable bed the banks are all level and i,m sure a spirit level as been used. He does take over a bit though and is now telling me what to do the fences are all maintained properly now, no baleing twine holding it together but he as started to move things around in the feed shed so i cant find stuff he said "i have organised my feed shed as you kept it wrong" NOW I CANT FIND ANYTHING !!!. After years of doing the horses myself i quite like that he gets involved as he is a perfectionist but thankgod he as no intention of riding he would be telling me how to ride in a week and my ego just could not take that off him.
 
Well, mine was totally non-horsey but he gave up and joined in so he doesn't count really... I spent a whole summer two years ago, working all day and then riding from seven until gone ten o'clock at night out in the hills with another man, and he never batted an eyelid, even when he was eating his dinner at midnight! He has just spent three months helping our friends build a stable block and manege, for which they paid him pretty well and I promptly spent all the money on Ari, even though OH is desperate for a motorbike. I did allow him to spend 500€ on farriery tools though, as a special treat
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He is, as I write, welding together a tripod so it is easier for him to trim (and possibly shoe, if I decide to put them back on) both the horses.
 
Where do you guys find these men? I want! Mine gets ratty and jealous of me riding so much - mainly cos it make mes tired in the evenings when he wants attention and i cant be arsed! Hes not horsey so i get that he doesnt understand, but I wouldnt ask him not to do the thing he loves (boxing) just so we could have a lie in! What is a lie in anyway?
 
Before meeting me, mine had never seen a horse close enough to pat them... Now he is the best groom ever, the only thing he doesn't do is plaiting (but given time I might teach him), he is the best support at shows (drives the lorry, gets the horse ready, takes bandages off after warm-up, videos tests, consoles me after low scores
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).
When we had Frodo at home he was mucking out every day.
And, probably the most important thing... he doesn't complain that, right now, all of the money he earns goes into the three horses. He knows it's the only thing that keeps me sane.
He doesn't ride, but for some reason he has developed a very good eye and if necessary can help me a little from the ground.
I honestly couldn't wish for more
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Where do you guys find these men? I want!

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Try next door but one!!! Oooops
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Gem, I luv your post, I posted a while ago about Diamond OH's and there were some lovely stories.

I consider myself to be the luckiest person in the world, we’ve been together 8 ½ years and married for 5 1/2 , it’s second time round for us both and having given up horses for my ex he persuaded me to have lessons and get another even though I thought my confidence wouldn’t allow me after so long out of the saddle.
He was not horsey but wants nothing other than for me to be happy. He took to horses like ducks to water, from day one he was leading, picking out hooves and mucking out like he’d being doing it forever.
We now have 3 horses (well 2 ½ really) and he’s with me every morning and every night (and any other time possible between work) doing everything he can for them; he loves them as much as me and they love him to.
I know some of you like your ‘me’ time with your horses but I love to be with my OH, we make a good team, he truly is a diamond
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my bf wasn't horsey at all but slowly he seems to be getting involved in them and if i ever ask him for some help he never says no he turns my horses out for me if i need him to moves them into other fields (including my 3yo and my friends horse) he sets up electric fencing, holds horses while i clip and help load difficult youngsters. He can take rugs off and was very pleased with himself for putting a rug on the other day. Ive only ever got him on a horse once for a laugh.

To be honest hes great with the horses and is the first bf ive had that understands the horses come first and take up alot of my time which means im not going to look my best all the time and i am going to smell of horses and have hay in my hair
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and he hasnt complained once about the fact i dont have that much time and if anything he will come and help me muck out to help me out.
 
My non-horsey husband didn't know that I even liked horses for the first 7 or 8 years. He really didn't like them or horsey people! Then he realised that I had really loved riding and a couple of years later when my neighbour was having trouble breaking a young cob and was thinking she'd have to send it back to its owners he announced "Jem likes horses and I think she's done a bit so I'll ask her if she'd be interested." That was around 25 years after I'd last had a horse. So I set to and the little chap came round to my way of thinking (it was a re-break after his owners had messed him up) and turned into a nice little ride. I was gutted when his owners decided he was still going to be too much for them and sold him.

Then I was asked to re-hab an SJ pony from a tendon injury and husband began to realise how nice they could be. She was just with me to get back to walking (led!) fitness but my daughter wanted a go so I checked with the owners and having been given the go ahead stuck my daughter onto the pony. She had never ridden before and the pony was known locally as "the hooligan" but daughter was calm and tactful and it went well. So we got the pony fitter and began trotting exercise. Husband had by now really fallen for the pony and when she went out on load to a competitive home he was very sad - as was daughter. So we took on a Section A on loan. Eight years later we still have her, she's known as his "little blond" and he is very reluctant to part with her. We had some fun when he thought she'd be as easy to stop going through a stable door as a large dog, he went flying. He does occasionally drive her but mainly she's his pet.

He then encouraged me to buy a bigger pony for me to ride and for our daughter to grow into. It was then that I realised that taking the horse hater to see prospective animals was disastrous. He falls in love with them and wants to buy each one. So we bought a chestnut Welsh nutter, the first pony we'd seen and totally unsuitable. We've had loads of fun with him and we still have him as a paddock ornament. Husband adores him and can be found cuddling him, husband worries that the pony misses being a competition pony and demands that we take him with us sometimes for a trip out! Before we bought the chestnut husband decided that we really need transport and encouraged me to buy a 3.5 tonne lorry!

Then I went with a friend to see a pony that was totally unsuitable for her, needing re-breaking but ultra cheap. When I went home and told my husband that he was unsuitable for G but was really sweet he laughed and said "So when is he arriving then?" I had to confess that actually I was going to pick hiim up the next day! He was always intended to be a bring on and sell pony and I knew exactly what sort of home I wanted for him. Husband got very fond of him and didn't want me to sell but I insisted and we delivered the pony to his new home with husband beside me saying "If I don't like Buggy's new home he's not staying and if Buggy doesn't like his new home he's not staying he will come back to us." Luckily the new home proved as perfect for Buggy as I thought it would be and he is still there, being as loved and pampered as my husband could hope for.

Husband then worried that I didn't have a horse of my own and nagged me to choose one for him to buy me. Joe proved to be a superstar and I got back to competing on him but when my daughter outgrew the chestnut I let her have him and it wasn't until she was getting big on him that I persuaded husband that Joe should be let go to do for another family what he'd done for us. Again we managed to find a perfect home.

Whilst we had Joe we decided that the lorry wasn't big enough so I found a very cheap 7.5 tonne lorry, again encouraged by my husband, and we took a punt that a £1K lorry would survive long enough to be useful. We had it for three and a half years. It meant that my husband now had somewhere to sit and we could pack better picnics!. I've always made sure that when we go out he has a chair and pcinic and tea-making equipment. He's so good with the horses that it seems a little thing to do for him.

Then I couldn't resist a little grey AA mare, a 3yo who was being bullied by her field mates. I bought her intending that she grow a hand and become my next horse. She didn't grow and, too small for me, is currently eventing with a pro. My husband fully support this and enjoys going along to watch and can happily be left in a chair with a cup of tea watching over Sprout as they both doze in the sun by the lorry.

When daughter outgrew Joe we began to look for a horse for her to move on to - I'd rather got out of riding because I wanted my daughter to be able to feel she was the one making the improvements. I'd learnt by now that taking husband along was a dangerous move and when I eventually unloaded the big mare from the (hired) lorry he was shocked. Joe measure 15.1 but looked like a decent 14.2, the big mare is 16.3 and she just seemed HUGE to him. She was a bit aloof at first but actually has a very sweet and loving nature and he loves her. She had a serious field accident in the first two weeks we had her and he agreed that we should look for another horse.

So we drove down to Devon and my husband and daughter fell in love with henryhorn's Flynn on first sight. Flynn has a HUGE character and makes us laugh. The sight of my non-horsey husband watching Flynn rolling in the sun yesterday and then moving in to give Flynn a good scratch (one of Flynn's favourite things) as he stood up and presented himself to my husband for scratching was very sweet. We've been through some bad times with Flynn. He can be a bit of a prat and managed to fall off the lorry ramp and seriously injure himself. As a result for many months he found it difficult to get up after lying down. I've had to call my husband home from work to help Flynn up but he's never made a fuss about it, just gets in the car and comes home to help me get a rung under Flynn to help lift him. Flynn is so much better now which is one of the things that made yesterday's roll and scratch incident so nice. We really thought he might have to be pts and it's partly my husband's insistence that he is still with us.

So that's the potted history of the last 8 years and the changing of a non-horsey man into a total softy when it comes to horses. He comes to all the shows and events we go to, he helps out at local BE and RC stuff, he's on the local PC committee, he's even been to most of the lessons my daughter has done - and arranged the training and camp for all our PC B test candidates as well as some from neighbouring clubs, resulting in a total of 10 children passing their B test this summer. He will go up to the field with me in the wind, rain and snow to check the horses, or in the middle of the night when I'm having a panic about something, do their waters, change their rugs or feed them. He will hold them at shows or for the farrier, he gives them endless cuddles and polos. This autumn he has been collecting apples to take every time he sees them. He will muck out, empty the poo trailer, groom and has even been known to offer to clean tack before a show.

I do worry that I take my husband for granted. The house is a mess, meals are frequently late but he rarely moans. I couldn't ask for a better, kinder husband. He is supporting me in keeping the horses on after my daughter leaves for University next weekend and will help me out as much as he can. I am very very lucky. After my mother died he took out a loan so that I could upgrade my much loved 7.5 tonne lorry, for a newer more comfortable one. It means that he comes out with me I can provide him with cold beer and hot meals so everyone's a winner. I hope he'll also come camping with me and the horses!


Contrast this with my first husband who knew I loved horses - I still had mine when I met him - and insisted I had nothing to do with them and sold my boy. Even when we moved to a farm with a barn big enough for an indoor school and a stable block of a dozen stables he refused to allow me to have a horse.
 
My OH is a doctor (read: cheap vet!) and advises on all sorts from allergies to puffy legs, cuts / nicks / bangs / scrapes, metabolic disorders, the works. He has also helped out people at the yard and jokes that he should run a private clinic just for my friends and their equestrian-related injuries.
He is a saint - has my supper on the table as I walk in the door at 8pm after riding, loves my lad, does a brilliant bed and is happy mooching around in mud looking at plants and things while I ride or compete.
Without him, there is no way I would be able to afford to keep my horse where he is and, considering he didn't know one end of a horse from the other before we met, is a pretty huge contribution on his part.
We should start the 'HHO OH of the Month' award...
 
Mine doesn't have anything to do with the horses whatsoever but I love him to bits and couldn't live without him.

He's actually a bit scared of horses but he'll tow the trailer, watch me at shows, comes out walking on hacks with me and more or less just lets me get on with it. My part of the bargain is that I have to make sure I spend some time with him by going out on walks etc. This isn't difficult as I want to spend time with him anyway.

He's also made it possible for me to buy horses by giving me the money. I could never afford to keep my horse if it wasn't for him either as I work part time.

I do consider myself very lucky as my previous partner was a bit mean and never considered what I wanted at all.
 
my oh helps out whenever he can, does poo-picking and fixing stuff around the stables and field. i think he loves my horses as much as me sometimes
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has bought me a garden tractor to tow a trailer rather than using a wheelbarrow, and built a tipper into another garden tractor to make poo-picking easier on my back.

he is my rock and supports me, i often ask what i should do
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im so indecisive
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he comes to watch me at all the shows he can.

he fixes my car for me (as hes a mechanic) saving me lots of money
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dont know where i would be without him
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I think I posted a while back... My hubby and I have been together for 8-odd years, I've been married before and my ex used to give me 15min to muck 2 horses out and would be really rather nasty on the phone while ringing to see where I was etc... it was only later that I found out he was giving my little girl (she was 6 months when it started) a big dose of medicine to make her sleep so he didnt need to bother with her while I was at the horses etc etc...another story :-( - anyway my hubby is fab, he will have a go at riding sometimes, and do stuff if I ask, he isn't keen, but I appreciate all he does, and he encourages me to spend time with my boy... happy to do stuff and babysit etc while I do... in short he is an absolute gem, even when my lad stamped on his foot a couple of weeks ago breaking it :-( I vote we have an OH of the week/month too!
 
My OH has gone from 'if you get a horse don't expect me to have anything to do with it' this time last year to coming down every day to see them. He has put up fences, built a stable, likes the odd ride (having never sat on a horse previously) but is yet to poo pick/muck out. He loves to come down and just spend time with the horses - usually while I am poo picking etc and the horses love him, even man hating Ellie
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When I recieved a phone call saying Ellie was being bullied by one of the others OH came out of work and moved her into a different paddock. He called me one day to tell me he had checked Ellies feet to make sure there was nothing in them as she appeared a bit lame. I do sometimes miss my 'me time' with the horses, but it is equally as nice not to have to worry about getting back home. Sometimes in the summer we would take books and a rug and just sit out in the field with the horses for hours - at OH's suggestion.

When Ellie got bitten by a dog OH was the first to say call the vet. He is normally a skin flint but was insistant that regardless of cost the vet would be called and everything would be done to get her right again.

He also doesn't mind when I call him and ask him to pick up stuff from the feed merchants on his way home, and when I comandeer him and his van to collect hay.

Its nice to see so many lovely supportive OH's out there
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My non horsey hubby is now a bit of a convert, and loves nothing more than to help me out at the stables. I have 2 horses, and he can do everything from poo picking, leading, and even making feeds. He does struggle with tacking up but he is getting there
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We both lead really busy lives and the time we spend together at the yard is quality time. He has 2 jobs to keep the house and the horses whilst I train at Uni, and he has also just started a course at college which is 2 nights a week. He never complains that he is tired, and often will make tea before I get home as he knows that I will have had a busy day.
We have been given an afternoon off Uni, so I rang him to say that I would be home early for once, he was at the yard giving the horses a scratch and an apple- he ate his lunch sat with them in the field
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Can see me buying him a horse of his own before long
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I'm also very lucky, we've been together for 13 years, he's not really interested in the horses but I can spend as much time as I like with them & there's no moaning, we keep our money separate so what ever money I spend is mine to do what I want with it.
He bought a 4 x 4 which he claims is for me to tow with (although I think he also bought it as a toy for himself).
He came to meet my new horse when I got her a year ago & he's seen her twice more since then but he made a fuss of her each time he met her.
But it works both ways; he's also free to spend his time how ever he wants & I never winge about what he does with his time & money
 
Ahhhh this is turning into such a lovely thread, what a lucky group of ladies we are having such fab supportive men in our lives!

I should mention that its not just me who has a massive commitment outside of our relationship - my OH is in a couple of rock bands and with me being at the yard it gives him plenty of time to crank his amp up and rock out! If anyone saw him they would think he is a big scary rocker - but he is such a big softie!

Its been great to read everyones stories about their other halves - I deffo think an OH of the week / month is a great idea!

I cant wait to see my OH tonight now!

Gem
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Mine last gf was great with Charlie, but the 1 before her hated him with a vengenace (feeling was mutual). She used to call him names like "monkey man" and "that f'ing horse of your's" and gave me an ultimatum to spend less time with him and more with her. She had to go...
 
My EX thought he was Monty Roberts. Totally useless and the horses hated him, my little welsh gave him a real good boot in the goolies once!. lol

My OH I now have is fantastic. Bit wary around the horses which is good as far as I`m concerned. But as he is non horsy, he is brilliant. Never questions the time I spend with them, Any presents from him are now "horsey", he helps muck out when I need a hand.

And when one of the youngsters got out his field whislt I was at work, My OH (Somehow) managed to get him back in, despite not having a bucket, headcollar or rope!! He was very pleased with himself..lol

Hes a real country bloke, his business is shooting and he now wont take clients out to shoot near our fields when certain horses are out or foalies due and if he is shooting on land near any of our friends horses he phones them the day beforehand to let them know! Love him to bits!
 
My OH is totally non-horsey! I think he is a teeny bit scared of them as he wouldn't come into the field with them the other day!!
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BUT he NEVER complains if i say "I can't pick you up from work because i'm going riding" He knows that this is the one thing i love and since losing my best mate (who i used to ride with all the time) just over a year ago, he knows this is also the only thing that still makes it feel like she is still around.

He's come with me when i've gone riding before and chose to stay in the car when i've said "i'll only be riding for about an hour" and about 2 hours or so later when i get back he still doesn't complain.
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Hi All,

I have just been reading a post on here from someone who had a ding dong with her OH at the weekend, and it made me think how lucky I am to have my OH.

We have been together for 7 years and have our own house, I also have 2 horses, one young warmblood who has just started competing this year, and my old retired ned who I have had forever!

I am at the yard every morning before work, evenings to bring in and put to bed, weekends - sometimes competions in the week, a lot at the weekend - and he never, ever, ever moans about it, he literally has never uttered a whingey word about the horses.

Whilst he doesnt get invovled with mucking out, or riding or anything (I kinda like it to be my 'me' time) he will always come and watch / video when I am at shows.

He never moans that my stables are tidier than my house, I always smell of horse and am covered in hair/shavings/ hay etc or that his dinner is very often late and served out of a tin!

He didnt moan when I spent our (one day we may want to get married so lets save up a bit) fund on my new horse - because he wanted me to be happy again after loosing my competition mare 2 and a half years ago..

He also never moans about the cost either - when I received Dannys vet bill (which is currently just shy of a grand - insurance wont pay as he is a fossil) he just laughed and said 'oh well - he is worth it - we will sort it out' - and its not like we have the money...

So I guess this message could become an - I love my other half to bits thread - would love to hear others storys about their OHs...

Gem

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I am worried i think we are with the same man you have just described my life even down to the 2 horses, one competition and one old. Wired but isn’t it great to have such an amazing OH.

Only to add that my OH is allergic to horses and still comes to competitions with me, bless.
 
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