Making a difficult decision.

[littlen]

Has anyone else ever felt like giving up horses?
Did you do it and did you ever go back to it?
Did you sell your horse?

Its a decision I am contemplating at the moment as I am really struggling.
I recently started a new job and am working 6 days 9-5 with an hours commute. I have practically no time to ride, I can ride during light nights and my one day off (but sometimes I dont as I cant be bothered and want to do college work/walk dog/sleep etc instead!)
My horse has not been ridden for around 3-4 weeks, and has been pretty much left to his own devices (checked twice a day/fed/rugged etc) but not ridden.

With winter approaching I am starting to worry a little as I know with dark nights etc I am going to have no time whatsoever to ride or spend with him. He has to come in at night soon due to not being able to winter out so I will be then getting up at 4am to sort him out before work as I cannot afford to pay someone to turn him out for me and I am starting to worry a little about it as I am exhausted already! Financially I am also struggling a little, although I can afford to keep him I cant buy him any extras (or myself, and my car is on its last legs!)

I am currently trying to work out what options I actually have to manage things better?

Has anyone any tips to make winter smoother for myself? I cant afford to pay someone so will have to do the work myself
He is already barefoot and eats very little, on haylage during winter to keep the weight up, bedded on straw etc. He cannot live out and also yard dosent do winter grass livery (and its the cheapest in the area!)

I have thought about a sharer or selling him but he is a very quirky horse and I doubt he would get a good home. I am also terrified I will loose my sanity working with no 'me' time... and I will loose all of my yard friends.
I have no time to school him really so he is very green and excitable. He has always been a quirky ride, bouncy big paces and can easily unsteat a novice with his paces alone. He also spooks and has reared/bucked and will take the P with anyone he knows cant handle it (and does with me) He is a saint on the ground but you can see where I am going with this...
Our yard is also not very geared up to winter riding, and any sharer would have the same problems to me with regards to no school. He is my baby and has so many issues (health and behavioural) that I would constantly worry that he was in the wrong hands. I also would be wary of loaning off my yard as I want to keep an eye but the yard is rural and the chances of finding this great person are slim.

So, what would you do? Turn him away and let him just get on with being unridden until next year? sell? loan?

Sorry this post seems a little pointless now ive written it but OH is no help at all and says just get rid

 

[Montyforever]

Get a sharer, plenty of people out there cant afford their own, but will happily take on the work as if he was their own

 

[minime]

I understand what you are going through. I gave up for nearly 10 years when I got married and then started up again about 7 years ago. It is like riding a bike you just fall back into the routine.
You need to do what is best for you at the time and remember that nothing lasts forever.

 

[Dollysox]

I understand what you are going through. I gave up for nearly 10 years when I got married and then started up again about 7 years ago. It is like riding a bike you just fall back into the routine.
You need to do what is best for you at the time and remember that nothing lasts forever.

Same here - gave up for quite a few years then got stuck back in later on and am now owned by two horses, both of whom have quirks, but both of whom have sharers who can cope with their quirks. They are out there but you do need to look for them. That would be my first thought so at least someone can share the workload and give you the odd extra free day.

It is always hard going into the winter, and particularly so when you have a long working day. However, it can be done but it just depends on how much you want to do it. Don't beat yourself up about not riding - you can only do what you can do, and he won't be bothered.

Is there another owner at the yard who would be capable of turning out your horse so you could perhaps share mornings so you don't have to do every morning? Or could you just do the bare minimum in the morning so you don't have to be up there quite so early and finish off in the evening?

It will get better, honestly, it just doesn't seem so at the moment when you are up to your neck in it.

 

[MrsMozart]

Your options:

Keep doing what you're doing, putting horse on mats and shavings;

Get a sharer;

Loan out;

Sell up and have riding lesson instead, that way you can still have your 'horse' time, but only as an when you need/want/can afford it.

 

[joey's mum]

My friend recently had the same dilemma. She decided to loan her horse to a local college for their student use, but it is a temporary loan, so when she is able to start riding again, she will get him back. It's kind of a win-win really: the horse gets the due care and attention it deserves, the college get a good horse to ride, and my friend doesn't have to worry about him for the forseeable future, but knows she can have him back when she wants.

 

[Moggy in Manolos]

I loaned my mare out for 3years in total, 2years to a University it really helped me at the time, they looked after her very well indeed. Could be worth a shot. Just be careful about who you pick that's all, am sure there are plenty of people out there who would share or loan him.
There is no harm in turning him away for winter either, good luck