The gift of not riding

Sanversera

Sanversera

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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.
 
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.
 
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.

Boys.jpg
 
Burnttoast said:
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.

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Wonderful
 
dreamcometrue said:
Riding my pony is a gift for me :)
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Me too:)

I love riding. I love groundwork. I love messing about at liberty. I also love just being with them with zero expectation and enjoying their company for wjo they are.

It's a gift to have horse's in our life in any capacity - whether we own, share, loan , ride at a RS, volunteer, ride occassionally, every day or never at all or admire them from afar.

And what a gift it is.
 
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MuddyMonster said:
Me too:)

I love riding. I love groundwork. I love messing about at liberty. I also love just being with them with zero expectation and enjoying their company for wjo they are.

It's a gift to have horse's in our life in any capacity - whether we own, share, loan , ride at a RS, volunteer, ride occassionally, every day or never at all or admire them from afar.

And what a gift it is.
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Me too! That's exactly how I feel, you put it perfectly.
 
We don't compete anymore and I love the fact I don't have to ride everyday to keep the horse fit. If it's raining or blowing a hooley I don't ride as I know we won't enjoy it, and I don't have to!! I'm enjoying my horses more than ever!
 
After a gap of a decade (caused by my ill health) I am overjoyed to have ponies back in my life again (actually they are my life ☺️ ) I can no longer ride, but am loving every last moment spent with them and so enjoying training Chief for his job as my driving pony.
 
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