Thinking of giving up horses.

MrsMozartletoe

MrsMozartletoe

Just passing through...
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27 June 2008
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They are taking up too much in terms of time and money - I seem to do nothing but horses and, well, I'm not sure what else! And as for the horses themselves, if it's not one thing it's a tonne of others and I'm rapidyly losing the will - I think I need a break and the only way to get one is to sell up
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Little Cob would probably sell okay, if the price was right; no idea about the Dizzy one though. As for Liitle Lad, can't give him away
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Oh poops. Why can't even a wee while be simple.
 
Perhaps one may be easier to deal with, give you some more time for yourself. Or could you not put them on loan for a while.
 
There have been times I would have gladly given all of mine away but I have no idea what I would do if I didn't have them.
I must admit to being envious of my singl horse owning friend sometimes! On the other hand who would want a 30 year old arthritic tb (except for me...I love him), a 20 something fat old mare who hasn't been ridden in years and is a crochety old cow (except for me...I love her) and a 14 year old crazy chestnut wb who is extremely high maintenance (except me...yes, I love him too)?
Maybe downsize your herd, if you can bear to part with any of them.
 
Come on Mrs M, you've got more staying power than that! Honestly though, maybe you have the wrong horses. Between LL and Dizzy, neither's really doing a super job for you, but you've still got all the workload and the responsibility. Think long term. Within the next twelve months you'll have LL sorted and you'll know where you stand with Dizzy. In that time if things haven't started to go your way, set changing horses in motion.
 
Are you back to riding yet after your injury? I find myself threatening to sell Daisy when I've done nothing but poopick and muck out but then one amazing ride puts it all back into perspective.
 
I did it last June and think it was the best decision I ever made, though to be fair I do now look after 2 for someone but I earn £300 a month from doing it (as well as my full time job). I can ride when I want to but just don't feel the inclination to anymore. I haven't looked back at all, I definitely made the right decision and feel I now get the best of both worlds (and i'm finally on the way to getting my debts paid off which horses put me in!)
 
Thankies all.

It's not just the blah factor, but also the money factor. I'm spending it all on the horses (I spend a lot on them
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), and now, in the current economic climate, day rates are coming down and contracts are taking longer to get signed off.

I need to spend less time on horses, which are costing me money, and more time on work to make the money.

f_s - no pm hun
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Think I managed it!!! Hope it's through now, I was being a bit of a numpty!!!
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Not sgocked really...normal for me!
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Oh, Mrs M - what about your lovely new home you were going to buy? It sounded wonderful for you and your horses. Why don't you get some help in for a while. You sound proper fed up and I hope you feel more upbeat soon. I've been there too, thought I would throw it all in, but I get so much pleasure from my boy, hes my therapy, I just don't think I could.
Big hugs xxx
 
I think the majority of people go through "why?" moments - as much as we love our horses it's hard work and sometimes not so rewarding! (Think back to how excited you were last week at the prospect of getting your new fandabbydozy school!
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) If money/time really is an issue then you must downsize - or find someone to loan - even if it's for 6 months or so til this darn credit crunch/recession dies out - I would recommend for tonight getting a huge glass of wine, sitting down infront of the tv with HHO on your laptop and forgetting all about bloody horses and the problems they cause
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oooh and think yourself lucky... I'm still waiting for Maxwell to go to sleep so I can go for a bloody hack!
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Little man insists on doing the great escape and then I have no option than to ride really late or not at all!
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Ho hum!
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Kate x
 
*big hugs* MrsM
sorry to hear of your troubles, think alot of us have been there
i seen to be able to barely afford my beloved horse who is not as able bodied as she used to be, not that i am sat in my flaming cast right now either.
They do take so much time and money, having a break might help you, you could always loan them out, i find having one is hard work enough, especially when i dont have my own land as i did growing up, that makes it so much easier i think, saying that, i am not sure what your situation in regards to that is.
But all the best with your decision, try and go with your head x
 
And more thankies folks. If I could put them all in stasis for the next six months then hopefully all the contracts in the pipeline would be bursting into fruitition
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. I think that, for us, three at livery is just too much - youngest daughter wants to take up scuba diving! How do I tell her "No, we're spending all the money on our hobby"? If we can get a contract, make some £ in other ways, and get moved, then we'll be okay - when horses hack me off I can tell children to deal with them or leave them in a field for a few days.

I'm thinking that daughter is going to have to get up early and we'll have to be back home by mid-morning, thereby giving me a whole day of work if I go into the evening a bit.

I'm being a bunny-caught-in-a-car's-headlights and not doing very well at all at anything
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Poo.

Onwards and sidewards, in a slightly corkscrew action
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Right - virtual slap coming your way!

Been there done that and I've come out the other end. You need to get tough with your time (easier said than done
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How are you getting on with loaning / selling LL? Can you get a sharer for LC? Dizz hasn't been a bundle of fun for you lately and I can totally understand your frustration.

Have some work suggestions for you but will email them to you
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Hugs hun, you'll get there - have faith
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MrsM - time to look at all you spending money on for the horses and see what can be cut out! Its amazing how many supplements etc can be done without - rationalise what they need. Secondly - they are all out 24/7 aren't they? Just go once a day - either early in the morning 6ish (if allowed) and do poopicking, flysprays etc and excercising and leave by a set time say 8am. Its amazng how much you can get done when you put your mind to it and you have a deadline. Then day at home working etc. The following change and just do evenings - again plan what you are doing and how long you will be there and stick to it - it stops you wasting so much time!

Secondly have a big clear out of all your horsey stuff - be ruthless and put any spare/excess on ebay/tack shops etc get it all cleaned etc and sell it!!

Thirdly make plans for all 3 neds in terms of schooling etc that you will stick to and if you decide to sell/loan etc at least you will be able tell prospective owners/loanees etc what they have been doing and know they are fit/in work etc thereby giving everyone the best chance.

Sorry - all a bit boring and practical and probably stating the obvious but I think at the moment whether you like it or not you maybe stuck with them as there really are very few people looking to take on extra commitments right now. I just think a bit of basic time management and cost cutting is needed and when you are back in the saddle in a fortnight you will remember exactly why you have them!! As for daughter and scuba diving - maybe you need to show her some of the brochures telling her about the training and the costs involved - hard for kids to understand but if she can relate it to her pocket money - ie you save up of course you can do it - she may understand why she has to wait to be able to do it. Unfortunatley for kids recessions are particularly hard to understand.

Biscuit box is of course available to have a mooch around if you fancy it.....
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SM - you are too good to me you know
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My head needs steam cleaning inside!

LL - well no takers so far. Going to reword ad. as he hasn't bobbed off or bucked for months now, despite a new rider on him this week (she's going to ride him tomorrow as well, so fingers crossed!). Worked out what we spend on the horses each month - eek
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Don't think there would be much demand for Dizz given her issues. Little Cob would sell pretty easily, but daughter would be distraught.

Will go look at email
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All I can say MrsM is that you know my girlie was on loan for 6 months (I got into a state very much the same as yours but prob more to do with the money side as me and OH split up)....and it was the most awful 6 months ever!! Thinking it and doing it turned out to be very different things for me....and I couldn't cope without my horsie...
Would a sharer be out of the question?? You get help and a bit of extra cash to ease things...plus you still get to 'oversee' your horses...
 
RL - I think a sharer or two might be an idea. Not sure who would want to share the Dizzy one, but there might be an adventurous soul out there
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. LC would get a sharer in a flash (everyone loves LC), and LL, well, there's hope I suppose...
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. Will write up ads tomorrow and put in local saddlers and see what happens
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. Daughter won't be chuffed, but until daughter can pay for pony, tough bitties
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(((hugs))) other than what everyone else has said, I don't think its a case of giving up horses, more a case of changing a few things to suit your lifestyle and money situtation, say for example sharing/loan or selling but then sharing with someone else, less expence, more time and your still enjoying what you love (if you still love it that is).

Hope you find some answers Mrs M and I'm sure with all the support and advice from everyone here who you knowk you'' find a way through it.

x
 
I think sharing might be a good idea
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that way you still get your babies without the huge hole in the pocket side of it!

As you say little cob will be fab! and maybe the sharer wont have to do 7 days a week so daughter still gets her time every couple of days or so?!

Little lad............. maybe pay someone to take him?!!! then run away and move?!
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nah he just needs someone up for a challenge! id take the bogging off out of the ad, and just mention he can do if he feels the rider needs testing if someone calls up about him!!! don't put htem off until they have decided they like him!

and Dizzy....... well she is dizzy, and maybe there is a sharer out there for her hwo is up for the challenge?! all you can do is ask! or maybe someone just wants to come and care for a horse and spend time with it rather than wanting to go compete and ride off into the distance etc!! (prob v rare, but prob out there somewhere!)

((((HUGS)))) LOVE YOU! xxxxxx

Chin up!
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*wanders into the thread a little late but oh well*
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Easy thing to do is send them all down here (EVEN LL
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) and you can have break ?
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Ok maybe its not so easy
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*wanders back out having said nothing productive*

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Thankies all.

Interview tomorrow and one next week. So all is crossed and I'm cross-eyed from reading up about Stuff!

Today has been productive
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Thanks to all the help yesterday folks.

Off to bed now as early start tomorrow
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Sweet dreams anyone who sees this
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