Musings on selling horse/giving up... All thoughts welcome!

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wench

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I've had horses for just over ten years, and enjoy riding, however I have to admit it's become a lot of a chore recently.

I'm moving my horse next week to a yard where I will only be able to ride at the weekends; this is partly a financial descion, and partly for the horse (24/7 turnout).

I've just started a new job which is in the opposite direction to my previous job, and current yard. It's a lot more travelling around, and means I can be away quite a bit (like this week!) I've looked out for yards close to new work (to cut down miles, and there doesn't appear to be anything that fits the bill).

Anyhow!!! I will be putting my horse up for sale over the next couple of months, as I could really do with the cash, and if I keep her much longer, she probably won't be viable for sale due to age. (This isn't meant to sound mean, she's not ancient by any means, just will be easier to sell if she's younger rather than older.)

I'm not really sure if I want another horse or not, at some point, possibly in a couple of years time. I don't know. Is it usual to feel like this?
 
I have been thinking of selling up too, I lost my horse of a lifetime last year, and it's not the same anymore, I have owned my current mare almost 3 years, but the only thing is, she is great, safe as houses, and it would be hard to replace her if I wanted another one in a few years. my mare is 10 tomorrow. have a good think about it, and don't do anything you would regret.
 
I think its very normal to have your priorities and interests change over your life-- and its healthy too! Who wants to be stuck in a rut? Let's face it, horses are expensive and time consuming, it becomes more than a hobby, it is something of a lifestyle, and if you are ready to make something else the priority and focus for awhile, well why not? Horses are always there to go back to when and if you ever want to.

It's meant to be fun and enjoyable, and if the fun is gone from it all, and it is just another hassle in life, then what is the point?
 
It does sound like possibly you need a break - after all if you haven't been enjoying horse ownership in this lovely spell of weather, then maybe it is time for you to concentrate on other things?

Horses are hard work, and often for little reward. They can leave us knackered, broke, and even interfere in our relationships and careers.

I often have thoughts of giving up, especially over the depths of winter as suffer from SAD, but as soon as there is a sniff of spring in the air I quickly come round again, and can't imagine my life without equine friends.

The telling time will be when you advertise your horse - you may do a sudden u turn then realise what you are giving up....

Good luck with whatever decision you make and hope everything works out for you and your horse.
 
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Having a horse certainly restricts your life, unless you can afford full livery or have some very helpful friends and family. Not being able to rush off for the weekend, or have an afternoon go on into the evening. It also frees up a lot of money!

I gave up horse owning for 10 years, although I did managed to fit in riding by being available to exercise horses at various stables, which was a bit restrictive, but at least I was using my riding muscles! I found that in the end I didn't miss the work (!) but I did miss the riding and owning.

Really if you feel like a break from horses, have a break. You will soon find out if you can't bear it and start looking at horse adverts, or you find other things take your interest more.
 
Fortunately my horse is on full livery. Due to my job I simply cannot have one on DIY, and to be honest, unless the yard was right behind my house, I wouldn't want a horse on DIY.

I suppose it's kind of difficult, I've had current mare a few months, and she's nice, but she's not as good as my "horse of a lifetime" whom I would never have sold, but unfortunately died due to an accident in the field.

I would almost certainly miss riding, and as above it would be possible for me to purchase another in perhaps a year or so, and keep at livery yard I'm moving to, and ride at the weekend when I feel like it, but that almost seems to be a waste of money.
 
I gave up horses for years when the demands, both financial and timewise, of buying a house ,working and raising 3 children put it firmly on the backburner. I got back into it when my daughter became interested and we have had various amounts of horses ever since. I am now approaching 60, own a small Sec A.,who I drive a little and I am ready to call horse ownership a day. The problem is finding a tidy home for the little mare. Just because you feel it's not right now, doesn't mean it's forever, and let's face it there are plenty of horses ot there to fal in love with when you are ready. Do what you feel comfortable with.
 
I had the same feeling a few years ago. My late mare was constantly ill, and as much as I loved her, it wasn't fun for me anymore. I then sadly had to have her PTS due to her on-going health problems, and I had a break from horses completely for 8 months, mainly because I was too heartbroken to love another again. I then found my current horse (well she kind of found me) and I haven't looked back since. I feel as if I came back into horses fresh and ready to start over. The break did me a world of good, though it wasn't planned.

It's completely normal to feel like you do. It sounds as if you've already decided in your heart. You can always come back to it when you feel ready again. Best of luck x
 
It is not a waste to keep a horse to ride only at the weekend if you enjoy it.
My OH has two horses and rides once a week in winter and less in summer .

However it you don't enjoy it sell the horse you can always start again in the future
 
I do like the idea of being able to ride at the weekend, and I'm sure my current horse would do that, but as previous I do need to sell soon. If she was the horse of a lifetime I wouldn't, but I think it's in best interests all round if I sell her.

It would be nice to have a break, and give me chance to save up, and then spend a while looking for the right horse
 
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