pistolpete
Well-Known Member
I just don’t know what to do with myself! The anniversary of losing my best friend Pete is on Monday. All seems so bland and dull without him.
Time after horses AGAIN
- Thread starter pistolpete
- Start date
NinjaPony
Well-Known Member
I really really sympathise and I’m very sorry for your loss.
I lost my horse of a lifetime back in November and my world has been a darker and unhappier place ever since. He is irreplaceable and I wouldn’t even know where to start. Like you, I’ve got my retired field ornament to look after. I’ve had him 15 years nearly and he keeps me busy with his various health issues and difficult behaviour, but I really really miss the riding and faffing with my other boy. I’ve been having riding lessons too because I’m planning on having another horse when I’m more financially stable and can support two. In some ways it’s great, in other ways it’s depressing because no horse can live up to my boy, and it reminds me how easy and fun it was with him.
That said, it was a choice between ride another horse, or never ride again and unfortunately horses are like a drug for me so I’ll never be able to stop. For now I’m just accepting that other people’s horses are just filling a gap, until I can form a new relationship with a horse. There’s no hurry to make any choices, just see how you feel and be open to the right horse coming along.
I lost my horse of a lifetime back in November and my world has been a darker and unhappier place ever since. He is irreplaceable and I wouldn’t even know where to start. Like you, I’ve got my retired field ornament to look after. I’ve had him 15 years nearly and he keeps me busy with his various health issues and difficult behaviour, but I really really miss the riding and faffing with my other boy. I’ve been having riding lessons too because I’m planning on having another horse when I’m more financially stable and can support two. In some ways it’s great, in other ways it’s depressing because no horse can live up to my boy, and it reminds me how easy and fun it was with him.
That said, it was a choice between ride another horse, or never ride again and unfortunately horses are like a drug for me so I’ll never be able to stop. For now I’m just accepting that other people’s horses are just filling a gap, until I can form a new relationship with a horse. There’s no hurry to make any choices, just see how you feel and be open to the right horse coming along.
Skib
Well-Known Member
By my calculation it costs more to own than to ride a RS horse or to share. But it isnt too late to own another. I am over 80 and I would buy one if I did not always seem to have a very safe and enjoyable share.
If I want to ride twice a week, I can also go for the occasional lesson locally, choosing the teacher and level.
It is easy to blanket all RS horses as unsatisfactory. As an older rider, I know what it is like to be given the oldest slowest horse for a W T C test. But take 5 minutes to show a jaded bored horse how you personally like to ride, and the horse will usually respond and love you too for not kicking it.
With any horse, the situation is that the human is responsible for initiating the partnership. As that partnership developes, the horse (and I include almost any RS horse) will learn to anything you ask of it in the most sublte way. And often with no visible cues. The difficulty is that one really needs to ride a RS horse twice a week to get this communication going. But my current ride is coming on nicely with only one hack a week.
Megan V1
Well-Known Member
I haven't ridden for over four years now but own six horses, three retired older ones and three minis. I just love looking after them, grooming and walking out in hand. Have you thought of having a mini? They are great fun and so easy to care for and love going out for walks. They also attract lots of attention and make a walk a very sociable event as everyone wants to stop to see them.