What would you do?

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EquestrianFairy

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So.. After a really bad time I'm toying with the idea of giving up horses for a while.

To do this I would put my current horse on grass livery as a companion with a friend.

OR.. Do I move to a large yard, who hold weekly comps and give it one last shot?

I'm torn- I don't even know what I want anymore.
 
EquestrianFairy said:
So.. After a really bad time I'm toying with the idea of giving up horses for a while.

To do this I would put my current horse on grass livery as a companion with a friend.

OR.. Do I move to a large yard, who hold weekly comps and give it one last shot?

I'm torn- I don't even know what I want anymore.
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what do you mean one last shot? one last shot to enjoy it? You could put your horse on the grass livery for a month or so to give yourself a breather and then see how you feel?
 
how about... if your friend doesnt mind... putting him on grass livery with your friend for a few months and if you find you miss riding and having the horse, move to the big yard and see if it will work then... although it would mean a lot of messing about so it would have to be and agreement with your friend

i found at one point i just didnt want the horses anymore. i wasnt interested and i was relieved when i didnt have them anymore (parents had them) i was sad to see them go but i know this sounds bad but i wasnt interested anymore... 2 years later i sat back in the saddle and i completely fell in love again and i got the horses back and it was good! i gave my gelding 10 months field rest this year and i now have no motivation to ride but i still enjoy looking after them.. and when i do ride him and it goes really well i just want to keep going although the enthusiasm rarely lasts long. tbh i would take a break... im curently thinking about one again for the fact that my drive to work them has gone... or im hoping my mums new horse will give me back my spark either way riding just doesnt give me a thrill anymore but i still love looking after them which i didnt last time... give it a break for a bit dont see him for a little while and see how it goes!

good luck i hope you find a decision that works for you! hugs!
 
I might be getting you confused with someone else, but were you looking for a sharer a while back? I take it that didn't work out?
No one else can really say whats best for you. Why don't you enjoy it anymore, is it a confidence issue, lack of time, troubles from other liveries? Perhaps a short break would help, it would certainly give you time to think longer term. Or maybe go back to basics and just have fun with lots of hacks and fun rides with horsey friends or small scale competitions...
 
That's something I could arrange- as friend is very flexible.

It's odd- I see people going away to weekend shows I feel gutted I'm not going but on the other hand i could happily have a total horse break the way im feeling ATM. My horse is young, there won't be any detrement to her having a few months off.. Either that or I put her out on loan but she's a quirky, sensitive thing and I'm not sure this would suit her.
 
I needed a break once years ago. I was very competitive, pushing myself and horse hard, plus struggling with work/boyfriend/horse/life balance. After months working towards a competition, I got home after and thought I don't care if I never sit on a horse again. I turned horse away and groomed when I felt like it. Horse wasn't impressed and got snappy so I took to hacking out in walk on a long rein once a week to keep him happy, slouching along taking in the scenery. It was 6mths before I wanted to do anything else.

You mention a bad experience, is it the kind of thing most people bounce back from after a while? Or is it something more fundamental like you've been round all the yards in your area and don't like any of them, but not prepared to go out of area?

I don't want to be a horse owner at the moment, but I'm hugely attached and don't want to sell, so I'm making the best of it. Minimizing the things I don't feel upto dealing with and maximizing the fun stuff. To look at me at the moment I'm carrying on like some teenage first time owner, taking photos, plaiting up and hoof oil just to plod up the road and back, trotting around the arena bareback in a headcollar. I'm actually an experienced adult horsewoman capable of being hugely dedicated and taking things seriously, I just don't want to right now :p

If its a motivation thing I suggest taking the pressure off. Think about what you want to do in terms of horse care and riding. If you want to turn the horse away at your friends place then do. If you want to do a quiet 10min schooling in walk one day, lead up the drive to pick at the hedge the next day, put up some tiny 1' jumps and play around over those the day after, then do. None of its time wasted if you're getting something positive out of it. Riding doesn't have to be all hard work and no fun. If you think a busy yard will make you some new mates or the competing will give you something to aim for when schooling, then go for it. Maybe try competing purely for fun, entering classes you suspect your horse is hopeless at, just to see what happens.
 
Sugar and spice- im unsure what it is tbh.. It's not a confidence loss in myself. I wonder if a busier yard with regular clinics and comps would help get me back in the saddle properly again.. But I'm unsure.. It may send me the total opposite way.

I think I'm just generally fed up and unhappy and it's adding to the stress of it all.

If I don't ride I often sit and wonder WTH would I do instead? Would I adopt a new hobby of shopping.. *shock horror* for myself? Would I go on holidays? Would I socialise more or less? Would I find a new hobby?
 
"I think I'm just generally fed up and unhappy and it's adding to the stress of it all."

I think this is your answer tbh; stress in any area of your life can suck away at the pleasure of other things.

Personally in your shoes I'd turn away for the winter and just spend some time doing what you want to do. Come the spring you'll either be bursting to get back in the saddle or happy to move on.
 
touchstone said:
"I think I'm just generally fed up and unhappy and it's adding to the stress of it all."

I think this is your answer tbh; stress in any area of your life can suck away at the pleasure of other things.

Personally in your shoes I'd turn away for the winter and just spend some time doing what you want to do. Come the spring you'll either be bursting to get back in the saddle or happy to move on.
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I agree with Touchstone

Best of luck
 
I was feeling like this, had a stressy time moving yards and generally. I advertised for a sharer and this has absolutely saved me. I'd be gutted to sell my boy but having a sharer (two, actually) is making keeping him easier all round. I don't even have to go to the yard some days, which is making life so much easier. Could you maybe try this?
 
Ohhh you have no idea.. I was booked on a 5 day horse camp and the evening before we were due to leave my horse went lame.

I think that was my 'making or breaking' point.. And it broke.. Properly.
 
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