I'm going to give it all up...

[kezz86]

Anybody else ever feel like this?

I have one mare with a hind suspensory injury, one mare with reoccurring ulcers that we can't seem to prevent from reoccurring despite lots of investigations and moving to a quieter yard! (Which she is much happier at as she is actually sleeping here!). Which means it's difficult to ride her as I don't know who I'm riding from day to day. Some days she's wonderful and easy and everything you could dream of. (this is the real her!). Then other days she's resistant and Bucky/reary. :'(
Then I have one lovely little pony who was a rescue, and has come so far! We are working on getting her backed, BUT she's faaaar too small for me so even once she's backed I still won't have a horse to ride.

I've been quietly looking for a new riding horse, for at least 6 months. I've seen all sorts, sooooo many lame horses! 2 I've had vetted and 2 have failed. (this is not budget related as I've got a friend who's had the same! with a generous budget.)

I feel like it's a sign that, once my pony is backed I should just sell up (turn away) and call it a day with horses....


Please tell me I'm not alone in feeling this way?!

Sorry for the rant! If you've made it this far, I'm sending you a virtual prosecco

 

[scats]

You will find one, and it will be worth the wait.
I have been in your shoes. I found the Diva after 15 years of non-stop disasters (honestly, you wouldn’t believe me if I told you what I’d been through with my horses) and she absolutely turned my world around. I was on the verge of throwing in the towel but she reignited my love for it. Then I sadly lost her last year, aged just 10. My other mare had been diagnosed with PSD just a few months earlier.
But Millie came into my life last June. I sort of stumbled across her advert and went to see her not expecting much, promptly fell in love but convinced myself she’d fail the vetting... then she passed!
She will never be the Diva, but she’s a fabulous little horse in her own right and she’s kept me going through some really low times after Diva died.

Keep your chin up, the right one is out there and your luck will change x

 

[kezz86]

Aww, Thanks scats.

I had to have two horses put to sleep 3 years ago and on the same day. Had another put to sleep last February. It just feels like it's been downhill since then.

It gives me hope that I'm not alone, and that things have turned around for you. I've officially "stopped looking" for a new horse now, to concentrate on my pony. (I just wish I could make her bigger!).

 

[splashgirl45]

speaking as someone who gave up my loan horse last september i really wish i hadnt. i gave up because i am quite old and suffer from really bad arthritis in many joints and also after 3 hip ops i have nerve damage and sciatica, i physically could not go through another winter of going to the yard twice a day, mucking out, poo picking etc and although riding was pretty much ok, i couldnt afford to have the heavy jobs done...physically i am much better but mentally i am really missing having a horse to care for..i lost my own horse at age of 25 in 2016 and couldnt afford to buy another but my lovely loan horse came along and i had a fab 2 years with her. if i won the lottery i would have horses again as i can do the grooming and riding and would then be able to pay someone to do the rest. you are going through a bad patch but if horses are in your blood you will regret giving up...keep looking and maybe let us know what sort of horse you are looking for as someone on here may have what you want or may know of something...

 

[kezz86]

Thanks!

I know deep down you're right!

I think I'm going to take a break from searching and start again in the spring. Take the pressure off for now.

 

[blitznbobs]

Yes every January and most of every February and March ... but then april
Arrives and I remember why I do all this

 

[catembi]

Yup. I won't bore you with the horse woes I've had since Catembi died in 2007...

The latest thing is that, having spent £££££££££ on a bigger house with more land, planning for permanent stables & arena has been turned down on the grounds that...wait for it...they didn't have enough time to look at it properly. Decision was originally promised by 28 December 2018; heard the news today. I simply cannot bear another day of trying to school on wet clay, temporary electric fencing, trying to manage with temp stabling, woefully inadequate hay barn & tack room... I paid for a preplanning report from a specialist equine planning lawyer before buying this place, so have forwarded the whole mess onto her for an opinion.

I could struggle on while I thought that there was an end in sight, but now I am soooooooo fed up :-( **sighs**

 

[kezz86]

I've literally never felt like this before!

But then I've never been totally without a sound horse to ride. (and still 3 to take care of!)

We can do this folks, keep going!

 

[Pinkvboots]

Yes every January and most of every February and March ... but then april
Arrives and I remember why I do all this

This is me totally I loose the will in February!

 

[Pinkvboots]

I've literally never felt like this before!

But then I've never been totally without a sound horse to ride. (and still 3 to take care of!)

We can do this folks, keep going!

It will get better can you not ride a friends horse for a while or find someone who needs one ridden, might help you feel like it's worth carrying on, if you were near me you could come and ride one of mine.

 

[Nudibranch]

It's rubbish getting that feeling, isn't it? If it's any consolation, I have given up big horses after too much heartbreak and too many vet's bills (and that's with a great vet who never even charged for a lot of it). However...I have switched to natives despite being 5'10 and I am really enjoying it all again. All the fun and touch wood, none of the worries.

I hope things improve for you!!

 

[pippixox]

My native that was meant to last me decades and was also great for the kids to sit on was PtS in December from liver failure aged 7. May-December last year were spent trying to fix him and also being stressed as was finishing a diploma, raising a toddler and being pregnant! Talking to the vet on my way home from giving birth with some slightly improved blood tests in August but nothing worked. Sapped all my energy and joy.

Yes I’m lucky I have my retired boy who I love dearly (my first horse) and I don’t begrudge looking after him as we had many great years (but sometimes I wonder if he would be better in a retirement heard now he only has my mare and I am always rushing) and my mare is rideable, 16 but with low mileage. I just never have the time and seem cursed to have bad weather on the weekends that I do.

 

[bubsqueaks]

Yep Im feeling February fed up too! We too have an ulcer conundrum to restart & not looking forward to it at all! We also have the nowhere to school issue as have no arena - yes I know I know you don't need one but what Id give to have one right now especially as we have one rather too good doer who we really need to fat bust right now before grass kicks in! I dread to think how much money I spend on physio, saddler, forage, bedding, vacs, lessons, entries, & feel absolutely knackered keeping it all going ……………….

 

[kezz86]

Thank you. Lovely people! It gives me hope! I've actually decided to be "non-breed specific" in my new horse search now. Most important things are now, brain and soundness, the rest I no longer care!

 

[SpringArising]

I go through phases all the time when I wonder if I'd be happier without the worry and expense. I worry about my horse ALL THE TIME for no reason and it's exhausting! I'd love to have him on full livery but I have to have everything my way.

 

[Leo Walker]

Mines been away for 5 weeks. I've popped down to drive her and mainly sit about in the tackroom eating biscuits and gossiping. Its been a delight! Now shes home and I'm back to slogging through mud, no school and no electric and its horrid! The place she was at had a big clock tower and courtyard. I want to go back there!

 

[irishdraft]

I'm another who's teetering on the brink of calling time. 4 to do with a broken shoulder hunting accident so poor OH doing everything. Having my retired mare put down next week one gelding hasn't eaten properly for a week so trip to vets . Seriously wondering how much longer I can keep going & is it worth it .