Sacrifices you make for your horses

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Glooc

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So today I was ordering a few more extortionate grooming bits and bobs online and it occurred to me that I would never spend this money on myself - and that got me thinking about all the time, money, emotional effort and physical effort (and let me say 'time' a second time for good measure!!) that goes into riding and keeping my horse... I wouldn't have it any other way - I am so happy to make all of these 'sacrifices'... but I also know of someone being evicted from their house because they can't afford their rent but they keep multiple ponies... and I know of others who have broken up with partners because of the time they spend at the yard (good riddance if they don't understand in my opinion!).... so I'm just curious - what do you sacrifice for riding/your horses?
For me it's mainly time and money... and I definitely sacrifice buying myself decent clothes/ makeup so that my horse can have the best lotions and potions :-D
 
Holidays.

But then, with a horse, every day is a holiday!

Unless it is raining, snowing, windy, below zero, hail, etc

Then it does not seem quite so much like a holiday!
 
I've sacrificed a peaceful none argumentative life with my husband! Any disagreement or argument always ends (might not start with...) with 'and those bloody horses'
 
Time mainly. Trying to run a house, family and business as well as keep horses feels like a juggling act most of the time. It does cause me stress that one of the balls might fall but my life is never boring!
The thing that frequently gets neglected is the house. It’s so easy to just go out and forget about the mountains of housework/washing when you have horses. :)
 
I don't consider the time, as what I would want to be doing with my spare time is playing with ponies. Money though, that's a different story, and historically my working life has been geared around the horses. I am now looking at going back into education and changing my future though. Better late than never I guess!
 
Yep, all the time and all the money. Live in a tiny tiny rented flat, drive an ancient car, never go on holiday etc etc. Love every minute with them so it's all worth it (though I do think from time to time that I really ought to start living like an adult). :biggrin3:

Your example of someone being evicted is pretty extreme though OP, I am fortunate that if I was really on my uppers I could throw the horses in OH's field and my expenses would become extremely low very quickly. I just chose to keep this ridiculous overstretched life going because I enjoy doing so much with them :D
 
I would not make extreme sacrifices for my horses. I gave up horses a few years ago because the children hated going to the yard every day, they were too young to be left and I could only afford DIY livery.

I don't sacrifice holidays either - unfortunately! I hate going away and leaving the horses but the rest of the family love holidays so we all go away together.

But I do sacrifice things like clothes, hair cuts, relaxing evenings and TIME. All my spare time and money goes on the horses. If I am doing ok for money I just book into more events or clinics!
 
I sometimes feel like I have sacrificed everything, but actually I think I get off pretty lightly, I have been blessed with a good life and I am grateful. I have a wonderful man, a fantastic daughter, a home, a good job AND horses. My health is not what it was, but even in that regard I don't suffer as much as some. Hair, nails, sanity and a smooth complexion are all over rated hahaha
 
I’ve sacrificed some bones! They were the only reluctant sacrifice! Time and spare cash mainly - I don’t do relaxing in the normal sense as fit riding and looking after my horses at home (3 horses, 1 ridden) around a full time and often fairly demanding job. Horses are my relaxation though so I’m not sure it is a sacrifice. We (OH and I) would probably holiday better and travel more if it wasn’t for the neddies - he definitely sees that as a sacrifice!
 
Definitely clothes, make up and hair appointments. In fact right now my hair looks worse than the recent hay delivery. I'm also struggling to find socks without holes in them. I can afford new socks, but the past few weekends have been spent moving the horses to a new yard (at great expense and increased livery) so they can actually have some grazing this winter. I've forgotten what free time is and all my spare money seems to end up in the pocket of the local vet team. It would be nice if either of them would stay sound long enough for me to actually be able to ride them!!

ETA - I think the only lie-in I've had this year was when we had to travel up overnight to the far north for a funeral. Even then I still woke up at my normal 6am. I have definitely sacrificed sleep!!
 
the main thing for me is the money, my old cushings mare cost me a fortune and i didnt have any money before her diagnosis, i would gladly still be spending it if she was still here and happy but i lost her 2 years ago and am still trying to pay off my credit cards.....i live in a tiny old cottage and i would love to have enough money to do all the maintenance that it needs, i just keep my fingers crossed that i dont have any major disasters like the roof leaking and it would be nice to be able to buy some new clothes, the jeans i have on at the moment are 15 years old!!!!!!! they used to make things to last all those years ago ......
 
Having somewhere of my own to live- many years of living in shared accommodation until this year when I've been able to rent a flat with my OH. At 29 I'm still a few years off having enough for a deposit. It's a lifestyle choice I know but as I get older I feel I should be a grown up more and have a horse free year or two to get myself on the property ladder.
 
Being an adult.

My entire life's course was dedicated to horses, then to coping without horses, whilst making a plan to get another horse, then arranging my work life so it is amenable to having horses.

Horses.

I don't pay the mortgage. My OH pays it so I can have my horse. I don't have a career (just a plain old job) because I can't devote the time to it, because I have horses (and dogs). I'm academically gifted but uninterested in pursuing learning because I would rather mess around with my horses and dogs. I am still 7, and my life is about horses and dogs with a bit of family thrown in.

If OH decides to kick me out for my unreasonable reliance on his excellent wage then I will return to my parents and live there forever in order to still have my horse.

I WILL NEVER GROW UP! Luckily a string of people seem to find this tolerable and support me.
 
I don’t feel we have sacrificed anything really, we have always had horses and it’s all I have ever known in life. Growing up sometimes I did get a bit jealous when friends had all the latest designer clothes and gadgets but they were jealous of me having my own ponies
 
Time, money, spontaneity, relationships... :P My day is mapped out to the minute from silly o clock in the morning until late at night, so anything out of the ordinary throws everything into chaos. I don't have one of those pesky other halves to object to my lifestyle or complain about the amount of hay and straw being trailed all over the house.. but equally, I'm unlikely ever to meet anyone as life revolves around the animals. Not that I mind - I'm an antisocial git at the best of times! :D

It's not really a sacrifice though - I chose those parts of my life.
 
Actually finishing gutting the damn house :rolleyes3: .
I don't sacrifice too much tbh, the extra money would be nice but I'd probably spend it on motorbikes or something so wouldn't notice the difference if I wasn't spending it on the horse.
 
In the middle of winter, or when things are not going quite right, it can feel like I have sacrificed a lot. Certainly time and definitely money!

But when the sun is shining, I am out hacking in the sun, or having a great time at a competition, or even just enjoying some quiet time grooming my mare, I forget all about that. My horse has gotten me through some seriously rough times and has at times been my only reason to feel like not giving up! I owe her far more than she owes me!
 
Not much as I dont like most things that would be classed as sacrifice. Hate hairdressers, not keen on eating out, nights out and holidays. Like my old comfortable clothes and am happiest with the ponies.
 
Probably holidays, although we do get one family week away in summer when the ponies are turned out...

Never had a city break or a ski holiday though.

Fiona
 
meleeka said:
Time mainly. Trying to run a house, family and business as well as keep horses feels like a juggling act most of the time. It does cause me stress that one of the balls might fall but my life is never boring!
The thing that frequently gets neglected is the house. It’s so easy to just go out and forget about the mountains of housework/washing when you have horses. :)
Click to expand...

Yep! and housework is soooo much less important in my opinion :-D
 
zaminda said:
I don't consider the time, as what I would want to be doing with my spare time is playing with ponies. Money though, that's a different story, and historically my working life has been geared around the horses. I am now looking at going back into education and changing my future though. Better late than never I guess!
Click to expand...

Good for you zaminda. What do you do/are you going back to study?
 
Holidays and an active social/dating life! (And money, but can you really complain when you're spending your money on something you love :D) Meeting new people when you live in the middle of nowhere (as in you literally need a car or taxi to reach us, you cannot just walk or public transport to us) is a bit of a burden. But I do have my closest friends who I've known for years and years... so it's not too bad!

And also getting away from my parents. I've stayed in the family home for much longer than I had ever intended to when I was younger and that's mostly due to the fact that A) the horses live at home with us and the prospect of moving away form having my horses on my doorstep has no appeal and B) since the whole family moved relatively recently, my (and my brother's) rent helps out enormously to pay the mortgage
I have long-term plans of building a log-cabin/eco-home on the land though so I'm not too stressed about that, and my mum is one of my best friends and my main horsey buddy! Why would I want to leave to go and rent somewhere else?
 
Well.... I gave up horses or well I thought I was going to two months ago due to having a rather expensive OTTB. However thinking my life would be financially better off and I'd have more social time I ended up wasting my money on pointless things like getting my nails done and nights out etc! It just isn't the same as having my own horse, I miss having a purpose to get up in the mornings and something to look forward to seeing after a bad day. So therefor I am in the process of getting myself another one.... I've caught the horse bug and now I can't stay away
 
My horse eats a far better balanced diet than I do. She has a lot more time off. She has new shoes ever y six weeks without fail. She gets all the posh hair stuff and the best quality rugs.

I shop at aldi and my clothes come from Primark. I need a haircut and keep eyeing up the kitchen scissors.
 
Well, pre-owning my nails and hair were definitely better kept! Whether I set an alarm or not, I'm always awake at 6.15 am. So my sleep is definitely sacrificed, too :D

I don't have the latest car, array of designer handbags or two week holidays on a cruise.

But to see my pony whinny every morning or when I'm cantering through the forest on a Spring morning or just sitting with my horse whilst he's munching away, I wouldn't have it any other way.
 
I've had to take up showing :eek: His eventing career is over and we needed something to do! We're actually having quite a bit of fun but it's not the same. I can't afford another so we're doing things that suit his quieter lifestyle.

Overall, I don't really feel I've sacrificed much - part of the pleasure I take from them is being able to afford them and not scrimp and save and I'm not really one for travelling much. There's maybe been the odd night out where I've left early as I'm competing and up early the next day but that doesn't bother me too much. I'm no night owl.
 
Ellzbellz97 said:
Well.... I gave up horses or well I thought I was going to two months ago due to having a rather expensive OTTB. However thinking my life would be financially better off and I'd have more social time I ended up wasting my money on pointless things like getting my nails done and nights out etc! It just isn't the same as having my own horse, I miss having a purpose to get up in the mornings and something to look forward to seeing after a bad day. So therefor I am in the process of getting myself another one.... I've caught the horse bug and now I can't stay away
Click to expand...

What does OTTB mean??
 
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