Need some motivation :/

[tonitot]

For a few weeks I've been finding it hard to actually do something with Ethel. She's 3, 4 in April, so it's not so much riding, but I find it hard to do ANYTHING with her, even just bringing her in for a groom. I feed her before work, muck out in my lunchtime and then feed after work (YO puts her out and brings her in with their own horse) I just seem to be tired all the time and generally can't be bothered. I look at her in the field, looking pretty bored, and it upsets me that I don't want to do anything with her. I don't want to sell her or put her on loan, I want to do stuff with her but can't get the motivation.

Sorry if this makes no sense, I'm writing this on my iPod and we don't get on well lol.

Does anyone have any tips or is it just normal to feel like this at this time of year?

 

[dafthoss]

I had 2 weeks like this (made worse by people making me feel like I'm not capable of anything) but I got my bum in gear last night and rode and I feel so much beter for it

 

[tonitot]

I have just put Ethel up for part loan for 3 days a week, to see if this will help me out a bit as I'm also struggling to afford her. I've already had a call from someone who was interested in a full loan, and I could hardly speak to them as I felt like I was about to burst into tears at the thought of her going somewhere else. They sounded nice enough and genuine, but I just had to say I'll think about it and give them a text later (think if I rang back I'd actually start crying!) I dont know what to do

 

[hollyzippo]

Can you change her routine to give you more time and energy?

Can she live out now getting milder?
Can you muck out before work if you go down earlier so you get to relax in lunch hour a bit?
Could you get YO to muck out 2 x week so you can do something with her before/after work?
Or leave her in so you can lunge at lunchtime and then turnout?

I am on bed rest so have army of people doing my 2 horses so am also very fed up but opposite end of the scale- lots of energy but CANT do anything! Do sympathise tho as normally this time of year ir crap anyway- seems ages til spring and we've all had enough of mud and poo by now! Not that long til lighter nights in reality tho!

 

[jm2k]

reading through some of other peoples posts on here and knowing how i have felt these last few months - you are NOT alone!!!
i stopped end of Oct as the horse decided he didnt want to be shod! (18.2hh,MW 17yr old). never been sedated etc before and no knocks, jars, injury etc etc, just decided he couldnt be bothered, i left him while i went about getting some sedatative! however, by the time i did get some, the weather turned foul, then the snow arrived, xmas and new year etc......and my mojo went into hibernation. no effort, energy, want or anything could get me to snap out of it. (not just the horses mind, only went out with my mates socialising twice over xmas/new yr!!). However.....the snow and rain went, and the sun made some appearences albeit very cold, and i have slowly got my mojo on a slight increase!
farrier was booked yest, but he didnt turn up - new farrier now needed!! but a very slow and quiet walk for 30mins around the village helped. little and often and now im starting to feel a lot better - it just needed to kick-start myself again and maybe thats all you need??
give it a try, but dont over-do it. little and often is how im planning it at the moment

my guys live out (pure TB and Arabs with 2 lovely warm rugs on each) so it defo helps a hell of a lot not having such a restricting timescale and burden to be there at X am and X pm,feeding, muck out etc. one longer visit a day is enough with me. (ok, 3 hrs lol). another consideration which makes life that little bit easier.

 

[tonitot]

Hollyzippo - Thank you, some good ideas which I'll have a think about. I may move her onto grass livery somewhere, as atm she has to come in as its only her and the YO's horse and he has to come in at night, also the grazing isn't really good enough here for her to stay out 24/7 in winter, although in summer she normally does.

jm2k - Thanks, at least I'm not the only one

After thinking about all this, I've had a brainwave. I think my main problem is the job. It takes me half an hour to get there in the morning and I start at 7 (6 in summer) and I muck out horses all morning until about 1 and by that time I think of having to do Ethel and I just really dont have the energy. We start work again at half 3 and dont finish until half 5/6 o'clock in the evening and in that time I've groomed, hayed, watered, skipped out and rugged up 4/5/6 (depends on how many people are here) horses and just want to go home and go to bed, ready to start again the next morning! So now I'm thinking of finding a different, non-horsey, job a lot closer to home, with set hours (you never know when you're going to finish here) and then I can have a set routine and save a lot of money on petrol doing the all round hour trip every day (only get one whole day off every two weeks)
Now the problem is I have no idea what else I'd do other than horses! Time to get my thinking hat on I think.

 

[bitlessbill]

I think working with horses does take the fun out of doing your own, what is a fun hobby becomes a chore! What about a job in an animal shelter, cattery, kennels, animal sitting, someting outdoorsy and caring still but different needs?

 

[tonitot]

I think working with horses does take the fun out of doing your own, what is a fun hobby becomes a chore! What about a job in an animal shelter, cattery, kennels, animal sitting, someting outdoorsy and caring still but different needs?

Hmm ... there is a boarding kennels about 10mins, if that, from me .. maybe ill give them a ring. Cant really think of anywhere else though :/

 

[MrsMozart]

Here's my motivational piece...

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=433038

 

[tonitot]

Here's my motivational piece...

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=433038

I saw your thread yesterday, although didn't comment .. that's what I want! I want to be able to just get on Ethel and just be happy, but at the moment I'm too worried about money and being able to get through this month paying for petrol etc I was only paid on Monday and already have hardly any money to pay for petrol. I just keep thinking, next month will be fine (will have a bit more money coming in) *sigh* ... Maybe I just need to go for a nice relaxed hack, on my own and just think of all the things we will do in summer, when I've either got the job I want in Newmarket, or when I have a job closer to home, and try to imagine us having fun at local shows and doing some more stuff.

Sorry, that turned into a bit of a ramble I think about things far too much ...

 

[MrsMozart]

I know the feeling only too well hun.

In that case, write down your incomings and your outgoings. See what can/should be trimmed/moved. A sharer sounds like good in terms of money and time, so go for it.

I've had to accept that for now I need D1 to help develop Dizzy's canter, but I need it. If I don't take it, I'll be in for another few months of angst and possibly more damage. Don't want it (sorry D1!), but need it.

I find writing things down, whilst scary, really does lift the spirit afterwards.

 

[tonitot]

thanks MrsM ... I've just had a thought and remembered I bought Ethel two rugs, which has wasted about £100, as she doesn't even need them! I seem to have a problem of seeing rugs and buying, so from now on, no more rugs unless really cheap!

I don't want a loaner/sharer, but agree it will help. The advert is up, although I was all teary when made it (thats how pathetic I am ) so no idea what it actually says or if its any good lol. I've pretty much turned down the full loan offer .. I don't want that, so I will now go about looking for a loaner or sharer.

Thanks again

 

[MrsMozart]

Hugs hun.

And if I can step away from the rugs(!!), then so can you

We should start a recovery club for rugaholics

 

[tonitot]

Hugs hun.

And if I can step away from the rugs(!!), then so can you

We should start a recovery club for rugaholics

Ahh but I love rugs! But yes, no more rugs ... I think... *counts* ... 10 rugs for one horse is quite enough now

Haha we should! A new clique perhaps