I'm giving up horses (sort of)!!!!

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Lollii

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While mucking out this morning - on my own again, I have been thinking ..

I am seriously thinking of giving up horses! I have lost my riding mojo!

I have a yard at home with two horse's of my own, also OH has 2 huge driving percherons that do nothing but eat & poo! and I have 3 full liveries that I look after, it's hard work and I am fed up with not having a life & being lonely!

I have decided to loan or sell one of mine, I will be left with one who doesn't need too much work, he is no trouble (and I love him!)

Should I get someone to come in to run the yard without me? I will need to get a job to pay for them (although there is a small income from the liveries) or should I close the yard and just be left with our 3 here that I can turn out or bring in as and when I feel like it?

Or will I regret it? I'm just lost and feeling fed up!
 
I'll come work for you ;-) I'm dying to get into full time work with horses.

I gave up on horses for 3 and a half years after selling my little mare....and don't know how on earth I did it. I couldn't be without the horses now. Although maybe the break did me good. So mayybe if you take some time away you will feel better for it and be dying to get back??
 
Well from my 6th story air conditioned office with constant interruptions and stress I can only say please think very very carefully....I work to pay for my lot and end up working whilst someone else gets the fun of bringing on my youngster, looking after him, walking my dogs and looking after my house...I would rather be doing it myself!

maybe take some time out sometimes a change does you good....Anyway someone could come in and help you out to give you some obviously much needed "me time" which may make you feel a bit better?
 
If you are feeling like it is all too much I would be speaking to your 3 full liveries and asking if they would consider moving to part or diy livery, at least for a while, in order to give you a break.
 
I think you may be feeling fed up but also have got stuck into a rut, work hard & play hard and if you have not got the balance right, well maybe not to that extreme but still denying yourself the pleasures in life....such as a break now and again then of course your going to feel like you do.

Not only that but what is the point of having horses and not having time to ride and enjoy them for the purpose you bought them for if your busy seeing to everyone elses? because not only are they missing out but you also feel guilty for not putting the time in, so that will also get you down and annoyed at times.

You could bob one on loan or sell one, either way you may generate more income from either of these (if they kept it at livery on your yard) and also employ a stable hand to do a few hours for you everyday, give you some 'me time' or time to ride and enjoy your other horse?

Then you can decide after you have given that a shot for a few months if that makes you any happier, if not explore another option.
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Maybe I do just need company, but I could just do with a break from the 24/7, 7 day a week - 'only horses to talk to' life that I have.

I know there are a lot of people who would love this life, I did when I came here 6 years ago, but I am feeling a bit depressed now (not sorry for myself) I just feel there is more to life than this?

Maybe I could get someone in part time and get a part time job myself - hhhmmm thinking cap on now.
 
Do you want a job purely so that you can pay someone else?
Do you like having other peoples' horses on your yard?

When it gets to the stage where everything is a chore, and you feel like posting a thread like this then it is time to regroup.

Personally, I am a great one for the pro's, cons and no harm done lists. It helps put things into perspective.

Me? I'd close the livery yard down, sell one if you want to and just keep what you have. Do things the easiest way you can for a bit and take a breather, have some 'Me' time, and stop clockwatching for a bit, it gets to be a treadmill at times. Then get a job and have some spare cash, or not, as you wish.

I have stopped taking Boarders, sold a couple of mine, doing the bare minimum with the others and am sitting back and taking stock at the moment. I actually have time to enjoy the foal and the puppies, train the mini, mow the lawn, mend fences, split logs, clean the pool, or not, depending how I feel, all the things that got squashed in between the "I have to do" horse stuff and made life downright miserable. If I want to sit in the sun and read a book in one sitting, I do.
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Good Luck.
 
I was just about to suggest getting someone in part time, even if you get someone in whilst you are there then you could have some company

To earn some extra money to you have a spare stable/outbuilding anywhere? If you do how about investing in a large washing machiene and taking in rugs to wash etc? It may well be a pants idea though
 
Could you clear enough space to give someone the opportunity to keep a couple of their own, run the livery side, do some teaching, and get a chance to build up their own business, looking after yours for you by way of rent?
You could start with an annual contract, so that if it didn't work out, you could come back to it?
 
Maybe if I sold the one horse (to empty one stable) fill it with another full livery then I could employ someone to run the yard, I could then go out into the big bad world and get a part time job (more for the company of humans) then I could have the best of both worlds?

I don't mind the other horses on the yard, the ladies are lovely, we have become good friends but they only come here a couple of times a week.

Thanks for all of your replies, some interesting stuff there, I am stuck in a rut, and I do feel guilty about not having enough time to ride mine, I am going to have a good hard think about this.
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[ QUOTE ]
Maybe if I sold the one horse (to empty one stable) fill it with another full livery then I could employ someone to run the yard, I could then go out into the big bad world and get a part time job (more for the company of humans) then I could have the best of both worlds?



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I think your on the right tracks, see how it goes, you can always go back to how things were, if you put one of your horses on loan, could make a lot of difference for you
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I would look at getting a part time groom in and maybe a part time job that way you get the best of both worlds - some for yourself - with the company od humans and then less to do in the yard freeing up more time for you to spend with your horses instead of doing other peoples.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Could you clear enough space to give someone the opportunity to keep a couple of their own, run the livery side, do some teaching, and get a chance to build up their own business, looking after yours for you by way of rent?
You could start with an annual contract, so that if it didn't work out, you could come back to it?

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That may be a plan, we have a one bedroomed annexe that I could let out with the yard - hhhmmm!
 
TBH, I'm not sure that you will necessarily be able to find a suitable part-time job atm. There are a lot of people out there looking for jobs right now, unless you have a particular skill which is still in demand. If you can afford to, and can free up enough time, what about taking on some voluntary work for company? There are all kinds of different opportunities, depending on what you are interested in.
 
I used to be yard manager of a riding school had my horse there etc it ruled my life. My daughter was with me when not at school and rode but OH did not. Paid very little and made home life hard.

I now run a small DIY yard and work 20/25 hours a week the balance is much better my new OH!! backs me and helps with the yard but because they are all DIY i dont have to be there to do there horses etc works much better
 
Ok! I have been having a think & a chat to a friend about this,

I am going to loan my horse with view to sell to someone who can take his jumping further .. .16.3hh ISH, 10yrs old, he is big and forward going, he is a little bit quirky but safe and has a very forward jump (which is too much for me - but not others) has has full mot but he has pidgeon toes (not a problem) & a sarcoid on his side which is also not a problem as it doesn't rub anything and looks fine (as he is 10 now I don't think he will get anymore) I was going to get it 'fixed' this winter.

Is he a project horse?

Then I am going to look for a part time person to run the yard in the mornings while I go and get a part time job doing something to meet people and get me away from horses for at least part of the day.

So, job vacancy for experianced/capable person - weekday work, hours flexible (mornings) can have free livery (as part of wage) and teach at yard if needed, East Sussex (Nr Rye/Hastings) what do you think?

I will pop this up in the local tack shop I think.
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