Thank God for the horses

[myheartinahoofbeat]

Anyone else finding that their horses are helping them stay sane during these extremely hard times? My little herd keep my husband and I busy. Our land is so sodden that turnout is restricted and subsequently hacking is limited but we are getting by. Luckily no one in our family has been seriously ill with Covid but we don't know if our company, our livelihood will survive. We try not to read the news and the horses keep us in the here and now. Spending each day with these wonderful creatures keeps us going and they don't have a clue whats going on. I feel blessed to spend each day with them. I just wanted to hear how many of you felt the same?

 

[Red-1]

Yes, it could be me writing that, except that we are in the seriously good position of having pensions which are also topped up with safe jobs. But, that comes at a price was we are both frontline workers, so at more risk of actual catching the virus. We did consider quitting, but then decided that it would drive us both up the wall being locked in during winter.

Horses are wonderful, I feel privileged. Even though mine isn't capable of much work, he is a delight to handle every day, makes me smile, keeps me working physically. I also have dreams for us next year.

 

[Bluepepper]

Absolutely agree with you. Even in normal times the horses keep me sane! Think I'd be in a much worse mental (and physical!) place without having them in my life. Feel so lucky to have them.

 

[dogatemysalad]

Absolutely agree, despite weeks of heavy snow since Christmas, only interspersed with a week of heavy rain, the horses and other animals are a total delight. Although riding has been made sporadic, the very restricted turnout on sodden land, has made my days full with in hand exercising and walking the dogs. Lockdown without animals would be very hard.
I only give the news a cursory glance, the media really doesn't deserve to be given much attention these days and it reduces frustration.

 

[meleeka]

Yes definitely. Not as much as the first lockdown when the weather was lovely, but I’m still incredibly lucky to be able to spend time outside every day, sometimes all day.

 

[ycbm]

They are the only thing that gets me out of bed every day.

 

[Bernster]

Yes. True at any time as it helps me get away and take a break from work. Even more so during lock down and working from home. I try to do a daily walk but other than that the only time I’m out the house is to go down to the yard. Due to the snow I hadnt been since Saturday and was getting stir crazy (and getting a headache) so it was lovely to get out last night. Fresh air, open space, countryside (ish!) and spending time with the horses, bliss!

 

[Berpisc]

Definitely. I am lucky in that I have a job (I work in social care) but I am also very grateful that I have my little gang of horses and the dogs and cats. Like dogatemysalad, I avoid the news other than picking up the basics, too much of a circus.

 

[southerncomfort]

I'm especially grateful for my wonderful youngster at the moment.

I'm currently preparing him for backing and he is an absolute delight. He loves to learn and is just so sensible and laid back about life.

Working with him is definitely keeping me sane and helping focus my mind on something other than whats happening in the world right now.

 

[Breagha]

I feel so grateful that I have the horses and I tend to go to them twice a day (even if I dont need too, to break the day up). Although, I am finding this lockdown harder than last and I think its cause I am at home 5 out of 7 days with my 2 year old daughter and we are running out of things to keep her occupied. Although she gets to sit on her pony, its too cold to keep her out too long. I keep seeing things are getting cancelled and it seems this year will be similar to last competition wise.

 

[Abby-Lou]

Totally agree its almost like normal ! I can so see people without animals struggling. I have purpose to get out of bed this morning even though it was hissing down, even made bread and soup this morning. Been cleaning the ditch out of crab apples to let the water flow off the land secretly enjoying my time

 

[Merrymoles]

Yep another in agreement. I am still working but at a much reduced level and have worked from home for the last 15 years anyway. But doing the horses gets me up and out and I am sure I achieve much more with the rest of the day because of that. It means I see someone other than my OH too, which is good.

I am not riding during lockdown, partly due to the weather and partly because my not-very-sane horse had only just come back into work in September and I don't want to end up on the floor. But seeing to him and his fieldmate every day gives me structure and those precious moments when they come for a cuddle or give you their breath. Then once home I can crack on with some of the millions of jobs that need doing - in the last fortnight I have reduced the height of a hedge that protects my poly tunnel by eight feet. It was hard work and miserable and cold at times but the fact that I had already been out in my wellies and coat for two hours made me far more inclined to get on with it - finished yesterday!

All I need now is some nice dry weather so that my normal route to the yard reopens (flooded), I can turn out without getting blathered in mud and having to sit on a towel in my car, and I can burn the massive piles of hedge cuttings!

 

[Green Bean]

My mare keeps me in the here and now. She is a cheeky one who rewards you when you get it right. This helps to completely shut out anything else going on as I am focused just on her.
For the mud - can it get any worse!! I believe more rain is on its way - seriously??

 

[Orangehorse]

Yes, makes me get out of bed in the morning.

 

[dorsetladette]

Yes definitely. My boys bookend my day. I'm again working from home and it would be a long lonely day with out seeing them. My little Robin's antics put a smile on my face everyday.

 

[Bambelina]

Absolutely feel very fortunate to have mine! The routine and the ‘excuse’ to leave the house more than once a day/for more than an hour in the first lock down to care for them.
Over the years I have realised I’ve relied on my horses emotionally on several different occasions! Amazing creatures! By this point they owe me nothing!

 

[FinnBobs]

I am so very grateful for my dogs and my horse (and my guinea pigs) at the moment. They are just so good for the soul and they are such good friends. It's so good to get out in the fresh air and be in the countryside keeping them and me fit and to still have the routine I had before intact which is very lucky. Also good to see other people at the stables.

 

[SussexbytheXmasTree]

Absolutely my two boys and their poop mountains make sure I never get much chance to sit around moping ?. I’m lucky that my job has continued pretty as normal throughout Covid too and us flexible so I get to ride during the week too. With the added dog to keep exercised and entertained and a snuggly cat at home I’m counting my blessings daily.

 

[muddybay]

I'm feeling very grateful for mine at the moment especially as I didn't have him during first having him now makes me realize even more how lucky I am!

 

[Bobbit]

Absolutely agree. We are so so lucky and I am so grateful. Wish we could ride more but the weather and ground conditions at the moment are awful but just spending time with them is a blessing.

 

[chocolategirl]

They are the only thing that gets me out of bed every day.

Yep me too, and my dogs

 

[Shysmum]

My ponies keep me sane ! And I have mental health problems, so that's saying a lot !

 

[PSD]

Very much agree. After a day in work where I cannot escape what’s currently happening with covid (although we try our best to distract the kids from it all), getting to the yard is like entering a whole new world where nothing else seems to matter and I can escape the world for a couple of hours. I actually dread leaving and returning to normality.

plus, last (first one in March 2020) proper lockdown was made more difficult as my other horse was very poorly so I couldn’t enjoy being at the yard half as much as I can now.

 

[McFluff]

Totally agree. I owe my horse my sanity. He keeps me in the moment and brightens my day.
I’m lucky as I work from home, and I am grateful, but it is tedious.
Sadly I lost my cat just before Christmas (she was 20, so had done well), and both OH and I are really missing her. Pets give so much to our lives.

 

[myheartinahoofbeat]

Totally agree. I owe my horse my sanity. He keeps me in the moment and brightens my day.
I’m lucky as I work from home, and I am grateful, but it is tedious.
Sadly I lost my cat just before Christmas (she was 20, so had done well), and both OH and I are really missing her. Pets give so much to our lives.

So sorry to hear about your cat.

 

[myheartinahoofbeat]

Thank you for all your replies. It really is lovely hearing your appreciation for these wonderful creatures. Today, as the fields were waterlogged we let the horses out on the yard individually. I sat on the bench in the yard and one of them just came and stood with me. He could have wandered about but chose to be with him. Special moments. Let's hope lockdown is over before too long and we can have a fantastic summer with our horses.

 

[myheartinahoofbeat]

My ponies keep me sane ! And I have mental health problems, so that's saying a lot !View attachment 64483

What a lovely pair. So glad they keep you sane.

 

[myheartinahoofbeat]

Yep me too, and my dogs

Amen to that

 

[J&S]

It's quite hard work for me now, looking after two big ponies on rather a small area, mucking out, poo picking in the mud and sludge, carrying endless nets of hay etc, but I am so glad to have the opportunity!!! They get me up, keep me moving and generally motivate me, I even do a litttle WFH job to help with their upkeep but this doubles as something to keep my mind active aswell. As they are at home I am missing the social side of horse keeping and missing going to ride the big old horse who I have exercised and competed for several years, I am just hoping that when we are able to get out and about again I won't have lost the ability. Covid is stopping so much but not my advancing years!