Ready to give up riding? Anyone else ever felt the same?

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Nicole-Louise

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My girl is 3 and a half, and don't get me wrong, I love her to bits. And everything riding brings, the trust and bonding, and freedom. But lately, I just feel that it's all 'too much', and ready to give up and sell up.

My girl was on loan, but had a surprise call this week to say they want to legally sign her over to me. Don't get me wrong, but I'm overjoyed. But since this, my yard owners have acted completely irrational, decided they would charge me £100 for no reason, even though I'm up to date with rent.. Considering I pay £60 a month just to board her, I'm curious as to where this has come about; nor have I been paid yet, which adds to the huge struggle. I'm having to look for work and it's like an impossible journey, not to mention, college, A long-term illness and irrational family members to add to the mixture, who would rather watch than help..

The more I think, the more I question whether it's best for her to go to a better home.. I've tried part-loaning, but no interest, and I don't think I could cope full-loaning her.

Has anyone else felt this way before? And managed to work things out in the end?
 
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Nicole-Louise said:
My girl is 3 and a half, and don't get me wrong, I love her to bits. And everything riding brings, the trust and bonding, and freedom. But lately, I just feel that it's all 'too much', and ready to give up and sell up.

My girl was on loan, but had a surprise call this week to say they want to legally sign her over to me. Don't get me wrong, but I'm overjoyed. But since this, my yard owners have acted completely irrational, decided they would charge me £100 for no reason, even though I'm up to date with rent.. Considering I pay £60 a month just to board her, I'm curious as to where this has come about; nor have I been paid yet, which adds to the huge struggle. I'm having to look for work and it's like an impossible journey, not to mention, college, A long-term illness and irrational family members to add to the mixture, who would rather watch than help..

The more I think, the more I question whether it's best for her to go to a better home.. I've tried part-loaning, but no interest, and I don't think I could cope full-loaning her.

Has anyone else felt this way before? And managed to work things out in the end?
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Do you mean they have put up your livery to £100 from £60, or have they just asked you for £100 out of the blue? £60 a month is really cheap. £100 a month for DIY livery is more usual. But if you are struggling financially, then no way should you take on the responsibilty of horse ownership. What if you have to get the vet? What about insurance, shoeing, feed, bedding, etc?
 
Wagtail said:
Do you mean they have put up your livery to £100 from £60, or have they just asked you for £100 out of the blue? £60 a month is really cheap. £100 a month for DIY livery is more usual. But if you are struggling financially, then no way should you take on the responsibilty of horse ownership. What if you have to get the vet? What about insurance, shoeing, feed, bedding, etc?
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No, I am fine financially, just more to the question of it all getting 'too much'. My livery is £60 per month. But, even though I am clear of any debts etc, do not owe anything, they have charged an extra £100 on top without reason, but livery is remaining at £60 per month..
 
Nicole-Louise said:
No, I am fine financially, just more to the question of it all getting 'too much'. My livery is £60 per month. But, even though I am clear of any debts etc, do not owe anything, they have charged an extra £100 on top without reason, but livery is remaining at £60 per month..
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Eh? If there is no reason, then you should not pay it.
 
In answer to your question...yes I am ready to give up.

I lost my old boy last year and my new one is broke, with a poor prognosis.

I know im just unlucky, but yes, i do feel ready yo give up after many many years of owning horses.
 
I gave up last year. I left school to work with horses and did so for 6 yrs. Unfortunately the place i worked was not very great and took a lot of the joy out of horses for me, i seen things that nobody should have to see. (worked for a dealer and we got many sad cases in my boss bought very cheaply and i fell off so many times because many of the horses had pretty bad behavioural issues, but i had to do my job.) I left horses 5 years ago and decided to get my own horse and kept him on livery i bought him as a foal and was so pleased with myself i loved him to bits. However he broke his jaw in a field accident and injured his leg and was never going to be able to do anything other than hack i was devastated. :( The sheer cost of livery , and shoeing and vet bills made me think i should get out now because i am not in the best paying job and to be honest it was just constant money worry for me. Hardest choice i ever had to make buti found him a great home and let him go. I have not ridden since and i do miss it. But i also feel that due to my early work experience with horses i sometimes saw my horse as work rather than my hobby :( But i do miss him so badly. I have now gone back to college and do hope that some day in the future i will be able to have my own land and have a horse again some day, i keep saying i'll go for lessons again but i cant :(
 
I would find somewhere else, go and collect your horse without any warning and move yards. We had to do this once. We literally turned up to collect my friends horse no one questioned it and off we went. No one can just suddenly ask anyone for extra money for no reason.The horse was on a working livery and when she wanted it back they were funny as they had been using it on a rent a horse scheme and making lots of money out of it.

Anyhow just had my old boy PTS and my sis reckons she found me another but I have no inclination to either look although it sounds ideal(how many times have I heard that).I just dont feel ready. i think people think I am not missing the winter of getting up in dark/cold etc but I never found my horse a chore at all. I have an empty field and am not sure what I will do. Perhaps I am worried about having to go through it all again after another attachment as I really lost a good old character this week. So yes I feel like limbo land.
 
So its money you dont owe and they wont say what its for?

Dont pay it, start looking for a new yard. Pay it once and they will want more.
 
I quit 18 years ago after a lengthy illness for my horse which she never fully recovered from. At 16 I worried about the cost of the horse to my parents (keep and vet bills etc) especially as I couldn't actually ride. I haven't really been near horses since as I found it too painful, up until last year when I has proved to myself that I could afford keep and wanted to come back under my own steam. I am also fulfilling the only vow I ever made to myself. The only way I could bring myself to quit was to promise myself I would have another horse by the time I was 40. I'm actually a bit early!

It is a very difficult decision. In my case, it has been very hard not being around horses, when that was my whole life for 16 years. You sound like you would find that hard too. I hope things pick up for you. Maybe a 12 month loan would let you get perspective. You could take your time to find the perfect home, and in 12 months other yards may be free or you could have found a field of your own ;)
 
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