Wasted?

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classybutwild

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Bit of a rant but what do u all think, brought my horse nearly 2 years ago, had confidence issues myself and then realised horse was just as bad so put us together and what combination. Well persevered got confidence back but didn't ride regularly, horse is so much better, now got a bad back and can't ride, but i love my horses, have my own land still look after them myself as well as a sharer now as can't ride as often.

All i get is comments of friends and family that i should sell them i don't ride them.

I will not get rid and to be honest i couldn't care less if i never ride again i enjoy the looking after.


What do u think .
 
I don't ride as much as I should also had confidence issues, do have someone ride him so he gets to do something till I can do more, but the way I see it and people will disagree but they dont sit in stable or field reading a forum or book and thinking well I'm such and such so I should be doing x y z as long as well cared for then I don't see any problem. Everyone has horses for different reasons and all do different things with them. If you and you horses are happy then that's what matters IMO at the end of the day
 
The joy is in the owning of a horse.

I agree I couldn't care less, I haven't ridden mine in nearly 2 years now after she developed laminitus from Cushings and EMS, came sound after a 3 months box rest, she started getting ridden again last year but it was by the kids and is now having great fun teaching the kids bad habits and the fact that just because she's 24yo now doesn't mean that she can't/won't dump them if they irritate her (she's very good at teaching children that getting angry at your pony doesn't help as she normally introduces them to the ground if they get shirty with her), in fact she went out with the kids on Sunday and done her first dressage test in 16 years and got 70% (and wasn't quite the bloodbath I expected).
Even if she wasn't getting ridden at all, she would be quite happy as a field (well indoor school) ornament and will stay with me until the decision has to be made.

Keep them and enjoy them, as long as you enjoy looking after them why would you want to get rid of them, after all the horses aren't telling you to get rid of your friends are they.
 
Naryafluffy said:
Keep them and enjoy them, as long as you enjoy looking after them why would you want to get rid of them,
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That's a very important point.

I know a few who own horses, but don't ride because they are scared of their horse. I don't understand that, why would you own an animal that scares you? I don't like spiders much, so, unsurprisingly, I don't keep a pet Tarantula. :eek:

I have a friend, who almost never rides, but gets great pleasure from owning quite a number of horses and ponies. That would not suit me, as I think a horse enjoys getting out and doing things, but she gets a huge amount of pleasure and satisfaction from owning and caring for her heard, so where's the harm.
 
I do hate it when people say a horse is wasted, particularly if it is in a for sale ad. Horses don't have ambition as previously said. if a person feels it is wasted I feel it is often due to the fact that person is no longer getting anything out of the horse. No small jockey, horse too much for rider etc. I agree some horses do better when worked and get bored out of work.
Your friends don't understand that yOu like to look after them. I you didn't derive pleasure from their care the only thing wasted is the opportunity for the horse to give someone pleasure. If I didn't enjoy my horse anymore I'd still keep him as I promised him a home for life.
 
classybutwild said:
All i get is comments of friends and family that i should sell them i don't ride them.

What do u think .
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I wish people would mind their own business. I hate it when I hear folk say a horse is "wasted". I could understand if there weren't enough to go round, but there's shortage of horses so what does it matter to them whether yours are ridden or not?!

If your horses are well cared for and you're happy, who cares?


Ignore the comments and enjoy your horses.
 
Agree most horses don't care if they aren't ridden and many probably prefer it as long as they are looked after and have company etc. if you want to keep horses and not ride that is your business -many people do. I have 4 and only 2 are ridden - and not that often due to lack of time, weather , injuries etc. when mine can't be ridden any more I will still look after them.
 
I'm in roughly the same position as you, I've got 2 mares, mum and daughter and have to work all the hours I can to pay for them but I work so much I don't have the time to ride then :mad: I only ride maybe once, twice a week and I love the looking after horses part.

A couple of weeks ago for example I was up at 4am every day to get to a cleaning job at 6am then did my own job (dog walker) then off to second cleaning job 5pm - 7pm finally flopping into bed at 9pm :eek:

However, I love my two girls to bits and they are my family and the thought of selling them breaks my heart but as my friend says they know they are loved to bits and they are happy so whats the problem!
 
Horses weren't put on earth to be ridden in the grand scheme of things.. So as long as said horse Is happy and healthy/comfortable and the owner is content and there are no welfare issues, what's the problem with a casual working relationship if a working relationship at all?

Most horses are more than happy to eat, poo and do natural horsey things..

I wouldn't worry about it :)
 
Agree with the others. A horse is never wasted if it is happy and well looked after. I bet your horses are far happier than most are at a competition yard!

I also hate it when people decide to PTS using the excuse that the horse would be unhappy as a light hack or retired. Bull*****. So long as the horse isn't just dumped in a field and forgotten about they can live very happy and contented lives.
 
Wagtail said:
I also hate it when people decide to PTS using the excuse that the horse would be unhappy as a light hack or retired. Bull*****. So long as the horse isn't just dumped in a field and forgotten about they can live very happy and contented lives.
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I understand where you're coming from but we have a lovely ISH who when not in regular work gets very very naughty! He'll jump in & out of the field for fun, because he's bored & needs to have a job to do - obviously this poses a huge threat to his safety and to be honest it's a real worry so whilst I understand where you're coming from I don't actually agree that he would be happy to just sit in a field, even if he was totally pampered and I'm sure there are many others just like him.

At least 3 of our 5 are much happier when they have regular work.

I think if OP is happy and her horses are content then that's fine but it really depends on the horse.
 
Sarah1 said:
I understand where you're coming from but we have a lovely ISH who when not in regular work gets very very naughty! He'll jump in & out of the field for fun, because he's bored & needs to have a job to do - obviously this poses a huge threat to his safety and to be honest it's a real worry so whilst I understand where you're coming from I don't actually agree that he would be happy to just sit in a field, even if he was totally pampered and I'm sure there are many others just like him.

At least 3 of our 5 are much happier when they have regular work.

I think if OP is happy and her horses are content then that's fine but it really depends on the horse.
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You have proved my point. Your boy is not happy just left in a field, though some horses are. My own retired mare became naughtier and naughtier until she badly injured one of my liveries barging past her when she tried to put her own horse back in the field. But there IS a solution for these types of horses, that are usually the more intelligent sort. You still have to occupy their brain, and that means taking some of your precious time and dedicating it to them. In my mare's case, I give her sessions of clicker training several times a week and this has returned her to being a well behaved and thoroughly contented animal. Certainly much better than dead. :)
 
Naryafluffy said:
The joy is in the owning of a horse.

.
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True.....I go through phases of riding a lot.....and then not riding at all. My horses are looked after the same whatever. I get as much joy out of leaning on my fence watching my horses as I do riding them.

My time, my money, my horses......no-one elses business.

Enjoy yours in whichever way you chose.:)
 
I get this all the time, everyone seems to think my kissing spine (unrideable) horse should be shot. Poor old beggar, it's not his fault he's crooked. It has gone beyond irritating with me, every time I mention his name I get "well you know my opinion, you need to have him shot".

When I ask "why?"
Answer is always "so you can get a better one" :(
Nice :(

You have my sympathies.
 
Oh I echo all the other replies you have had. Sorry but horse ownership is 80% 'doing' and 20% riding max imo anyway. Unless of course one can afford to be on part/full livery.

The only time I have an opinion on anyone's lack of riding their horse is if they are not caring for it properly. You would wonder why own one? Loads of owners get sheer enjoyment from tending to their horses rather than riding them.

I think the problem lies with non-horsey folk - they just do not get the attraction and commitment. They see the huge cost and work involved and they just don't get what we get out of it :D :D should you care -no not a jot! :D
 
I gotta be honest - if people don't want to ride & get pleasure from watching their horses in the field etc then that's up to them, I wouldn't personally do it but they're not my horses so it doesn't matter to me.

Caring for them is a huge part of having them but my 'reward' for months of mucking out in the dark and battling with the elements & hardly any riding in winter is a summer full of riding! :)

I have horses myself & don't understand people having horses & not riding (if they're able to obviously) so I can understand non-horsey people thinking it's a bit odd. But I wouldn't constantly comment to someone about it if that's what they choose to do and I think OP should probably just ignore her 'friends' & family & get on with it.
 
Thank you for all your reply's, I've never looked at my horses as wasted, i personally have had my ups and downs, they make my day just to see them, I'm so glad other people agree that we all have our horses for different reasons. I actually showed the girl in question who keeps saying there being wasted, well to see her face was priceless!, i don't compete, show etc, me and my mum happy hack and im satisfied with that. Thank you for your support x
 
Some horses do get bored, but if they are happy really thats all that matters. At the moment there is no real market for horses, so if you are happy having someone else ride them, and just pottering around with them, so much the better, you don't know where they will end up if you sell, it may be great, it may not.
 
I don't think i would ever sell, I've had horses all my life come from a horsey family, own my own land so not got the outlay, it just irritates me when people give there opinions which don't really apply to m,e mine are natives, hers is a competition horse that has to have strict routine.
 
What business is it of anyones elses, they are your horses and if they and you are happy whats the problem.

I do disagree with the comments some people have made about "wasted" though. I have just done an ad for a rider because my younger horse IS wasted.

I didn't buy her for me, she was for my daughter, I would never have dreamed of riding her. She is too big, too quirky and I'm too old and stiff.

I dont want her to be passed on, but she is bored, not unhappy but she misses doing something. I could work with her in hand but I have three to look after.

My two older horses are very happy being field ornaments, I might ride occasionally, but it doesn't matter if I dont.

So it depends on the horse and no-one knows your horses as well as you do.
 
I always have the view that horses are pets not just things to ride, they are animals to love, you can still bond with them, play, teach, entertain them, without ever having to ride them, it's often much more rewarding than riding.
 
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