If you have built your life around horses - how do you stop?

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JillA

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The problem with the liveries has tarnished my enjoyment of my yard, and at approaching 70 as a chore it is beginning to get too much for me.
So..........after 50+ years of breeding horses, breaking and bringing on horses, competing horses (all around a full time job), rehabilitating problem horses, both health and behaviour, now all I need to worry about are two, my own at 19 years and a rescued TB at 14. No family to concern myself with, no partner, it has always been the dogs and horses.
Anyone been through it? How did you downsize without becoming hopelessly bored? It seems my options are sell up and find somewhere much smaller (the thought of moving is very scary) sell the yard and keep my two at livery (urgggh, I doubt I could cope with the typical yard after being my own YO for almost 20 years),or find someone I could pay to do the chores (tried that for holiday cover and they weren't beating a path)? Or what else?
WWYD?
 
I think it depends if you are financially independent? Would it be possible to split your Yard - keeping a couple of stables and a paddock for personal use and then rent out the rest?
 
I did...from 4 horses to none ...and I've got my life back...won't miss mucking out on cold winter mornings, but I can still help my friends and still enjoy a social life with horsey friends, and I am now doing more helping at events. I am also less poor!
 
Can I suggest that you beat the boredom by volunteering at horsey events? Someone with your depth of experience would be a blessing to anyone organising shows or events. I fence judge for BE which is great fun, particularly if you like cake, and that will give you a way of making contacts to find other options that might be more fun/challenging/varied according to your own interests.
 
Do you actually want to stop dealing with your own horses, or is it just the liveries? Moving out of the area you are used to, with your own horses, I would think was a non starter. Can't imagine having to find and train new suppliers, vets, farriers etc! Can you organise your own two into the most labour saving system you can? I think in your shoes, providing you don't need the livery money, I would have no liveries over winter this year, see how it goes and reassess next spring.
 
This is something I will have to face up to sometime in the not to distant future and I really don't know how to fill the void. I don't have liveries but my horse is my life.
I doubt if you would be happy on a livery yard after having you're own place.
If the liveries you have are giving you grief maybe ask them to leave. You may find new people who you get on with better.
Or could you maybe rent out part of your yard?
 
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