Life after horses?

[Peglo]

Listening to children reading at your local school?

is this a thing? ? I would rather dive head first into my muck heap and listen to the beasties skuttle aboot.
glad you’ve found activities outside of horses you enjoy though.

you never know OP, you may find a horse to ride. Getting involved in horsey events will help you meet new folk who may have a horse that needs ridden.

 

[pistolpete]

What I really want is one of my own but…

 

[Ditchjumper2]

The other thing I find odd now and shows how things have changed. If I wanted my horses exercised because I hadn't time I used to have to pay someone to do it. Now they call it a share and the sharer pays for the privilege!

 

[pistolpete]

Yep I paid £120 a month for the price life of exercising someone’s horse for them. Rain hail etc. sometimes only 30 mins in walk. Looking forward to some paid for hacks that are about my fun!

 

[teapot]

Left the industry last Jan, not ridden since July (for a number of reasons). Guess I find it a lot easier than some would because I've always dipped in and out, and never had my own.

Don't even have a dog! Hope you're well OP -waves-

 

[Crazy_cat_lady]

is this a thing? ? I would rather dive head first into my muck heap and listen to the beasties skuttle aboot.
glad you’ve found activities outside of horses you enjoy though.

you never know OP, you may find a horse to ride. Getting involved in horsey events will help you meet new folk who may have a horse that needs ridden.

Not me but definitely a thing, was suggesting it for the OP as know someone who does who really enjoys it! I'm nowhere near retired sadly, just not missing horses at all!

 

[pistolpete]

I’m retired don’t like kids! Waving back Teapot! Yes I’m well. I have my health at least! Grateful for that.

 

[Boulty]

Clearly what you need to do is move to Yorkshire & come give the fuzz ball some extra exercise!

 

[Umbongo]

posted on accident

 

[Umbongo]

I am in my mid 30's and until my mid 20's my life was horses. I worked on yards and rode every day, had loads of shares and loans etc. Then moved to London and had a share for a year, then had the odd riding lesson and kind of slowly stopped just through lack of opportunity. I re-trained in a new career, took up fitness, cycling, walking etc. I did an online course that took up most of my time for 18 months. 3 years ago I moved to New Zealand where I mostly hike and got in to photography.

I was devastated to begin with, but it was more of a gradual change. I haven't ridden a horse in 4 years, and have not ridden regularly in nearly 10 years! I would love to get back in to horses, but I would never own one now. I enjoy having more money and more freedom to travel etc.

I think you should persevere and keep a look out for other shares, spread the word around your horsey friends that you are looking. Otherwise would you consider volunteering at shows, pony club, RDA, rescues etc? And in your free time explore some other interests outside of horses?

 

[cauda equina]

I have 2 sensible hacking horses and would love to find a reliable person to ride one of them with no payment either way - atm I pay someone to ride
There must be other owners like me out there!

 

[Hannahgb]

I lost my last in 2021 and havent been near one since
I walk the dogs, go for hikes round the country
I took up running and cycling and now heavily into cycling
I go to the gym a few days a week

Also enjoy time seeing friends, going for coffee etc

I miss my boys terribly, but have also learnt theres a lot of life outside of the commitment

 

[pistolpete]

I guess it’s in my blood! Boulty I would love to see the fuzzball! I do volunteer at a horse charity twice a week and walk miles with the dog. I’m not quite the fat alcoholic couch potato just yet. I could see it going that way though. :-(

 

[moorhillhorses]

I don’t no what non horsey people do lol I’d love to no. Absolutely love having horses in my life

 

[spotty_pony]

It is frustrating. Not quite the same situation but I have one horse left that is mine (my spotty boy) he is nearly 24 and I wouldn’t change him for the world and be lost without him. He is slowing down a little bit we still enjoy hacking, a good gallop now and then and steady days out hunting. I don’t know what I’ll do after him as I know there will never be another quote like him. I’m a bit delicate at the moment as it’s coming up to 2 years since I lost my other boy (aged 17) to navicular. He was the horse I jumped, evented and did dressage with over the years and I really miss him and wish he was still here. I ride my friend’s two horses and whilst they are lovely they aren’t what I would choose and we have no arena so all I do is hack at the moment. I really struggle with the motivation sometimes to hack three of them regularly. I hope to do some schooling in the field in the summer with them but not sure either of them are jumpers and certainly not hunters which is where my heart is. I won’t have another of my own until my spotty boy is no longer here, and still not sure if my motivation is there any more to put all the time and effort in and be super careful as I was just out my ISH to lose him heartbreakingly before his time. Sorry im waffling, I’ve had a drink. Long and short of it though is horses - I moan but I wouldn’t be without them. I wouldn’t know what to do with myself. My other hobbies though are spending time with the dogs and gardening in the summer. I just love being outdoors.

 

[pistolpete]

Want to say thanks for all the replies. I’m flip flopping between being ok and depths of despair! Something said was it depends why you stopped riding and I that really resonated. Losing my old boy Pete in 2020 was the beginning of the end for me.

 

[SO1]

I am between horses after loosing Homey last year. I always said I would not get another cost and stress and worry when they are poorly but I had expected Homey to live to 30 not to loose him at 20.

So I am riding at the RS twice a week and I also play card games at a card game club. I also enjoy reading and have a busy job.

I live on my own so do get lonely despite having friends and family I can visit.

I am now looking for another pony as I am lonely but I expect it will be a while until I find something suitable.

 

[The Bouncing Bog Trotter]

Like Cortez I have walked away from ownership and can’t see myself having another horse. I ache too much, I am too heavy to ride and work is very busy. I pop back on here maybe every other day to see what’s up but I only really look in the Club House.

I don’t miss the negative side of the horse world: the sly whispering on yards and all the opinions.

I also feel huge guilt: I look at the money I have spent over the years on horses and realise that I could be living mortgage free by now. I also look at the time I have spent with horses when I should have been with my young family because they really do grow up far too quickly. Mainly my guilt is huge and unresolved because, as I got on my horse one day to hack, my mobile rang. It was in my pocket and I was wearing gloves so I told myself if it was important they’d ring back. I hacked and then listened to the voicemail an hour later: my teenager had left home but not arrived at school and it was the school ringing to ask where they were. The worst day of my life then followed as we searched with the police for my child eventually finding them in A&E. They are ok now. Huge unresolved guilt because I put a ride first.

 

[pistolpete]

I waited until my son was in his twenties to buy my first horse. I put my family first. Now it seems they come first again. They don’t want me to get another because they’re happy I’m around more. I’m not!

 

[sakura]

I also feel huge guilt: I look at the money I have spent over the years on horses and realise that I could be living mortgage free by now.

I feel this. I am saving for my first house (a pipedream now?!) and, though I still have my horse and I adore her (and keep her very cheaply), sometimes I look at my outgoings over time and think how much more of a deposit I'd have saved by now. I don't resent or regret her, but sometimes I do think about it.

 

[Dexter]

I waited until my son was in his twenties to buy my first horse. I put my family first. Now it seems they come first again. They don’t want me to get another because they’re happy I’m around more. I’m not!

Youve been unhappy about it for a long time now. I would be getting the horse and they could just deal with it. Its not like you don't have one already, so a second isn't going to be a huge change anyway.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Youve been unhappy about it for a long time now. I would be getting the horse and they could just deal with it. Its not like you don't have one already, so a second isn't going to be a huge change anyway.

Just get another one life's too short

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I waited until my son was in his twenties to buy my first horse. I put my family first. Now it seems they come first again. They don’t want me to get another because they’re happy I’m around more. I’m not!

Is there any real reason why you shouldn't get another horse? Could you find a loan?

 

[Cortez]

I waited until my son was in his twenties to buy my first horse. I put my family first. Now it seems they come first again. They don’t want me to get another because they’re happy I’m around more. I’m not!

Get the horse.

 

[scats]

If you really want another and you are unhappy without, get one. Life is too short to be unhappy.

I’m pretty sure I won’t replace my current girls. Or at least I’ll take a year or two off and reassess after that. When it’s going right it’s great, but I’m getting to the point now that when things go wrong, it’s making me wonder what on earth I’m doing it for. When Millie was poorly the other day, I said to my dad that I’m not even sure why I bother anymore. It’s relentless and soul destroying, and for very little reward. When the horses aren’t right, my whole world dissolves and I’m not sure I want that anymore. So I’ll see these girls to the end of their days but I need a break afterwards.

 

[pistolpete]

I have my retired boy to consider so that does complicate things. Money is the main issue. I made it work before though…

 

[Crazy_cat_lady]

I feel this. I am saving for my first house (a pipedream now?!) and, though I still have my horse and I adore her (and keep her very cheaply), sometimes I look at my outgoings over time and think how much more of a deposit I'd have saved by now. I don't resent or regret her, but sometimes I do think about it.

I think that's what led to the loss of interest starting, because on adding up my expenses for a pre mortgage consultation just to see how close we were, and seeing just how much went on the horse, and how much further down the line I'd be if I didn't have one. Still trudged on for a few more years. Also do not miss the yard politics one bit.

 

[sakura]

Yeah, I hear you! My horse is almost 17 and mostly retired with joint issues, so I wouldn't part with her now. But I also won't be getting another.

 

[Surbie]

I agree that it can depend on why you have given up horses. I got mine late in life compared to most of you. It's a huge outgoing in terms of money and my friends (who are nearly all not horsey) don't understand that the money they spend on going out, holidays etc is what I spend on my horse, and that I won't stay up till midnight or past that with them anymore because I get up at 4.30am.

I wobble between whether to get another after this one or not. It is so much money, and it takes over your life, but I struggle to picture life without them in it.

I waited until my son was in his twenties to buy my first horse. I put my family first. Now it seems they come first again. They don’t want me to get another because they’re happy I’m around more. I’m not!

See, to me that says get another horse. You're not happy and life is too short. Why aren't we helping you find one?

 

[Skib]

she just had to turn up, ride, get off, pay and hand over the horse. She might not have gone every week but it kept her fit and riding.

This is me. I am back to being waited on now.

My great difficulties after more than 20 years of riding remain the same as on Day 1.

How to tie the proper pony club knot in the rope when you want to tie the horse up to the bailer twine loop.

And how to insert and open the metal closures on rugs which seem designed to thwart me. Like metal puzzles one used to find in one's Christmas stocking.