What do you sacrifice to ride/train/compete

[Notimetoride]

I should be working but just mulling over a conversation I had with someone recently. She's a dear friend so the conversation was a perfectly friendly one. She was on about me competing during the week, to which I stated that it costs me holiday (both she and I work full time). She said she can't do that as she uses her holiday to go abroad on holiday once or twice a year. I've not been abroad for about 4 years now, and barely manage one or two nights away. Not complaining, as I've no real wish to go abroad or leave my horse and animals. (Though right now a week on a sunny beach would be heaven!).
Furthermore, we never eat out (v occasional Toby carvery), rarely have take away, don't smoke or drink, no sky tv, gym membership, buy my clothes in sales, lorry and cars are old and need a bit of tlc, and our do'er upper house isn't finished as the pennies ran out. But the horse lives an extremely comfortable life and without being spoilt, pretty much wants for nothing. Oh dear, think I've got the balance a bit wrong here . . . .

 

[LaurenBay]

When my mare was at a livery yard, I had no savings and didn't go on holiday. I was constantly in my overdraft and I found it really hard.

She is now retired and since then I have so much more money, I have built up savings again, never in my overdraft and planning a few holidays for this year. Also thinking of moving out next year! In a way as hard as it was to retire my mare, it has been a blessing in disguise.

ETA - I also had time to finally go out and meet a guy!!

 

[Abi90]

All my money... and my soul

 

[HufflyPuffly]

All my money... and my soul

What they said

 

[DD]

everything they take everything

 

[milliepops]

everything they take everything

yup, this.

Same really. I don't buy stuff for me, every bit of spare cash goes on lessons or arena hire etc. I'm perpetually in the red and I live in a bedsit because I couldn't afford to run 2 horses (let's not mention the 2 oldies) any other way. I use my holiday exclusively on horse things, though perhaps we might have a week's honeymoon this autumn OH is a farrier so can't take more than a week off either or his diary goes wild. So at least neither of us feel hard done by I wouldn't swap it for anything.. well, maybe a lottery win

 

[JFTDWS]

everything they take everything

And more...

 

[TheRedMare]

I probably sacrificed things for me, meals out and splurges. I like being sensible with money and knowing where it's going and I don't like to waste it: this doesn't feel like a waste. I haven't sacrificed saving, but I have sacrificed some of my social life due to friends going in different directions (oddly divisive when you have a horse... I never expected so many to shut me down when I tried to talk about it in hobby terms, like they'd talk about skiing and similar). So I have sacrificed some friends, as we went in different directions. I sacrificed lazy weekend mornings!

 

[Equi]

Work usually! Last year when i was still banking but working full time hours, i would just drop a shift. This year im full time and of course three shows i really -have- to go to are my shift days, so i will need to take annual leave and flaoting days or swaps if i can get them. I don't really go out or do social type things so that doesnt really matter.

 

[Wheels]

Same as you OP.

I haven't been on a proper holiday for 10 years but I don't miss them.

From work colleagues I get questions such as 'how do you afford to keep horses' right after 'why don't you ever come on the work nights out?' Well because why would I spend £100 on a night out with people I am forced to spend 40 hours a week with when I'd rather go home to ride? Lol

 

[Frumpoon]

A husband, children, social life, holidays....I don't begrudge a penny of it

 

[Greylegs]

We live on a fixed income so I have a very strict budget for my pony. As such I rarely buy clothes anywhere but charity shops or supermarkets (but always manage to look ok regardless), we never eat out (but my OH isn’t bothered, so not an issue), our vehicles are oldish but serviceable, haven’t had a “proper” holiday for 10 years, our home is pleasant and comfortable but not lavish by any means. Sometimes life has a way of telling you that it’s the things which make us happy which are more important than material possessions, so don’t think I’d change anything really. I’d love to move to a smaller house but that can’t happen this year for various reasons so well keep living the quiet life, paying for pony and enjoying the things we can enjoy.

 

[DabDab]

Nothing really...it's not really a sacrifice if it would be things you don't want.

I don't want to go on holidays - me an OH like going away to see friends around the country but that's about it.

I like driving knackered out old cars - far too hard on cars to have a nice one

I don't much care for clothes shopping, have no idea what I would do with a gym membership and get freaked out if living in a house with more than four rooms. Oh, and I'm not particularly interested in having children.

So total sacrifices = 0

 

[PapaverFollis]

We just don't have normal luxuries, we have horses instead and that's fine... I don't want half the stuff other people covet anyway. Currently feeling the pinch a bit more though since I had to give up work for the moment... eating more slow cooker stews than I would like!

Anyone else cut their own hair? To be honest I think I would anyway now even if I could afford to go back to a hairdresser, don't have to make awkward conversation with myself.

 

[mytwofriends]

I suppose I’m a little better off now that I no longer have horses, but not as much as I thought. I clearly spend the farrier/feed/vet money elsewhere. I never competed or ran a 4x4 or lorry so I don’t think I sacrificed anything really. My husband still has a time consuming sport so nothing’s changed as regards seeing him more (and I have a time consuming non horse related hobby.) All I’ve noticed since the horses have gone is how much cleaner my hands and fingernails are!

 

[scats]

I don’t have holidays, weekends away or nights out.

But I do enjoy normal stuff like shopping- I just can’t spend much!

 

[Antw23uk]

I sacrifice having an easy life at home. 90% of disagreements/ arguments are about the horses. Can be very tiring sometimes!! I would love to sacrifice holidays and luxuries to spend more time riding, competing and definitely having my own lorry or trailer but there has to be compromise in the marriage so I do need to sacrifice the stuff I want to do with the horses to keep a happy home!

Having brats is for mugs! Why bother having kids when you can have horses. Would never see that as a sacrifice!

 

[Identityincrisis]

Relationships more than anything. I would like to meet someone but I'm very dedicated to my horse so don't have an awful lot of time to give to someone, which can cause issues obviously!

Clothes, holidays, nights out, friends etc etc. But it's very rare I miss those things, I can still remember life pre horses (18yrs ago) yes I had nice clothes, always out partying and holidays but I'm sooo much happier and more fulfilled having a horse in my life

 

[Beth206]

I don't feel like I sacrifice much apart from having next to no savings and living to my means i.e. have no spare cash left at the end of the month. We live in quite a cheap area so own a nice house, a new but basic car, we do try eat out once a week as OH works funny shifts and we pass like ships in the night otherwise and we enjoy a holiday once a year - am fortunate to share a private yard with a nice livery who will sort my horse for me when i'm away and likewise I do so for her.

My horse is solely for pleasure; we hack, school and hoping to go on a few fun rides this summer which will mean taking days off work as holiday. Obviously I would love to buy a 3.5t wagon or a trailer to do more with her (arena hire etc) or be on a nice(er) yard with facilities but I can't afford that so we make do with what we have and are all happy.

 

[Wheels]

Relationships more than anything. I would like to meet someone but I'm very dedicated to my horse so don't have an awful lot of time to give to someone

Don't lose hope - they are out there, you just need to find someone who is equally dedicated to their own passion

My husband says the secret to our happy marriage is that we don't live in each other's pockets, all time together is quality time.

 

[Bojingles]

Everything except food, car and occasional heating

 

[henmother]

I have a very strict budget ,thanks to being medically retired , which horse takes most of . I don't bother with haircuts unless I have some event to attend which I cannot get out of, mostly weddings . I'd get a dress off eBay , if I have to buy something . Dont go for dental check ups unless something is hurting . Pay monthly for my prescription card so I don't have to pay for my meds , which would be well over £100 a month . Don't do takeaways much , eat home made pizzas which are healthier and cheaper, likewise with curries. I buy the bulk of birthday / xmas presents in January sales . Stuff like smellies, slippers , pyjamas and nighties can be picked up cheaply . I'll bake a cake for birthdays , which I think is appreciated more than shop bought. I miss out on nights out with the girls , new clothes , treats , but I don't care . We have a little caravan on a seasonal pitch which is where we holiday with our two terriers. I'm very lucky to have that. Being able to have time away with bloke and hairy bairns is important to our relationship. He is vehemently non horsey , not surprising as one almost killed me.

For me , I don't consider anything a sacrifice , it's just life , to go without to be able to have my horse , is fine by me . If I didn't have my horse I probably wouldn't be here, I can't ever see a life without horses . He has helped me through some dark dark days . Being without my boy would be the biggest sacrifice I could make . It is a pleasure being poor for him.

 

[supsup]

IMO, it's all about priorities, and I happen to think time and money spent on the horse is worth much more than having takeaways, sky TV or socialising. (As it happens, most of my socialising outside work is with horsey people, doing horsey stuff!) If it really starts feeling like a sacrifice, I'd re-think my priorities.

 

[Cortez]

Lie-ins. Holidays, or even a day off. Normal levels of cleanliness. But I've had horses for over 50 years so those are things I've never experienced anyway and therefore not a sacrifice.

 

[Sussexbythesea]

Nothing major as I’m pretty happy with what I’ve got materially. It would be nice to have some savings and i do struggle to do things to the house which need doing I’ve done some but it never seems to end. I’ve had temporary paper blinds for about 6 years now!

My family are not near so any spare cash goes on visiting them. USA, Iceland and a wedding in Poland in the last 18months, lovely trips but I feel that is more of a sacrifice than spending money on my horse.

I do think though once my boy is gone though that I wouldn’t be able to have another horse for some time. I’ve no savings and I need to make sure my house is in order for the future, it needs render and painting on the outside and the bedrooms haven’t been touched for over 20 years. It’s damp at the back and the garden fencing is falling down. My car is 12 years old and I’m happy to keep it until it dies but it will die one day and I’ll need to replace it.

It’ll feel more like a sacrifice to give up horses for savings than giving up savings for a horse!

 

[alexomahony]

This thread has come at the perfect time - coming out of winter, poorest time of the year and card being declined 2 days before payday when trying to get a pizza for tea haha

This has made me feel much better that I'm not the only one out there with no savings and living to their means!

I don't sacrifice anything as such, but do things in moderation and as cheaply as I can:

- I love the cinema, so go once a month - it's £4.99 and I take my own food and drink.

- I enjoy the thought of going on holiday rather than actually going, so I don't! My plan is to wait till my ponies have passed then save up some money and go somewhere like NZ for a few years to work. They are 12 and 13 now and I'm 29, so I expect I'll be about 45ish if they don't have any fatal accidents or illness (fingers crossed)

- I love to go out socializing with my friends and dancing, so I do this and drive instead of waste money drinking. I act as taxi, and my friends pay entry to the clubs and but me a redbull as a thanks. I also work in my favorite nightclub, it's super relaxed and we get regular 10/15 minute breaks so I go dancing then too.

- Going out to eat is fun, but I don't often do this as I'm not really a foodie anyway.

- Me and my mum often go to a few concerts a year - we try plan ahead with this so we can do it as cheaply as possible and priorities the golden oldies (i.e. we would never miss Paul Simon's farewell tour!!)

I have a full time job and work in a night club bar a few nights a month too which pays for hay. I use all my annual leave on farrier visits and other horsey things and they want for nothing - apart from maybe more lickits!

I would like to meet a man, but to create time for him, he won't be just anyone and I don't plan to waste any of my free time dating men I don't think are right - I'd rather be out with my friends or with the horses. He'll come along when he does, there's no rush for that, I don't ever plan on having children so I'm not living to a productive timeline!