The gift of not riding

[Sanversera]

Horse owner of nearly sixty years. I now appreciate the gift of not riding. No guilt. No pressure. Just feeding,grooming,being with them in the stable and field. Ive enjoyed riding and occasionally still do ride the old cob. But just being around them is best. They dont have to justify their existance. Its wonderful freedom.

 

[Burnttoast]

We may disagree on some other things, but I couldn't agree more with you on this.

 

[Widgeon]

I completely agree. For various reasons I'm not riding my teenage horse at the moment, and the baby is too young to ride. But they're both lovely calm natured horses and I really enjoy just having them, mooching around with them, taking them for walks. There is a chance the teenage one will not be rideable again - he's under investigation for a heart murmur - but he owes me nothing and if I can't ride him then we'll spend the next few years going for in-hand adventures with his pack bags on.

 

[lme]

Totally agree - what I enjoy most about the horses is spending time with them. I do ride, but its not why I have them, which takes the pressure off massively when its in their best interest to retire.

 

[Burnttoast]

It always made me laugh when I'd go up, do the chickens, faff about and not actually see the boys at all (until I went to look for them). The hedges I planted grew to such an extent that when they were on the track I often had to climb onto an IBC to see where they were. They didn't care that the human had arrived, they had horse things to do. If I yelled they'd come eventually but I swear it was just to shut me up Here they are, leading the unstimulating life of the field ornament and failing to care a jot about their lack of a job to do...

I saw my role as 'field facilitator': making their environment work really well for them. It was incredibly fulfilling.