Who didn't get a horse until later in life?

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somethingorother

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I know there are a couple on here but if you would like to share your stories of how why and when please do.

I'm just feeling a bit down and impatient at the moment. Been riding since i was 5 but never had my own, and at 21 i'm now at the stage where i want it now! But with another year of my degree and then a masters to go... it's not going to be for another 3/4 years at the very least when i'm settled in a job and with a house and in a position to support a horse myself.

So i guess it would just be nice for some reassuring stories of how it's worth the wait
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(i know 21 or even 25 is still young and not exactly 'later in life' but i didn't know how else to put it
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)
 
I got my horse after my MA when I took a gap year to work and get used to horse ownership and like you I was about 23 at the time but desperate for my own horse and it felt like it was really late!!

On the plus side: I was independent, had my own car and could look after my own horse how I wanted to. I had been riding for years, so that helped a bit. I was also very happy to accept help and advice from people of all ages at my yard. One lovely young girl offered support straight away and it was really sweet of her - I didn't have a problem with the fact that she was a lot younger than me.

On the negative side: I did have to wait what seemed like ages, and I did buy the wrong horse (long story), but I finally got it right with my next one!
 
I'm 30 this year, and still don;t have my own, although loaned many over the years, I don't think that counts though!
I am hoping I will have MY OWN HORSE before I am actually 30 which will be in August, so am saving excessively hard!!
It is well worth the wait, although very frustrating when you see people with their 10th horse they've owned since riding at 1 yr old!!
 
Had my first horse on loan at 18 but was so broke (was a working pupil with no income just my keep so mum paid livery, bless her!) had no money to spend on the horse or have lessons etc other than when my boss had a spare half hour.
By the time I had my second horse, I'd got a good job and a husband who was prepared to help out with costs (he also shared some of the riding, altho not the work!!!!) and it was much more enjoyable - we were able to afford a trailer, lessons, bits and pieces that she needed as she was a loan that came with not much in the way of tack or rugs.
The time commitment was a big shock to my husband but he has got used to it now (current horse is on full livery which helps) and he loves having a horse. Effectively he was 48 before getting his first horse and says it was worth the wait!
 
My OH bought his first horse at 25, after riding as a child and getting back into it aged 24. He is 28 now, and has a perfect horse for him
 
Got my first horse at 35 after being career obsessed and deciding there was more to life!!

I'd always wanted a pony as a child but parents always kept saying "Next year" till I was 18 and then said you can get one yourself!

Well worth it though!!!
 
I was 29 when I got mine. Took time and patience and had to wait until I decided that there was more to life than a career!
 
I'm 25, just started a new job and have set myself the aim that within 2 years I will have a horse. Need to be more financially secure first and need to move out of the parents house then it's all systems a go go for a pony! I feel like I'm always waiting but hopefully before I'm 30 I'll be sorted! I've been riding since I was 8, have ridden for other people for years and having watched and learned along the way am desperate to get my own and do it my way and exactly how I want to (although most of the owners I've ridden for have been fabulous I still want all the control!!!).
 
Hun I am 24 and know EXACTLY how you are feeling!! I am working my arse off to pay off EVERYTHING and get a horse when I'm 30! I want kids at 27 and then a horse at 30!!

Oh yeah, I have got plans!!
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Hehe this is really chearing me up. I suppose the fact it's exam revision time and i'm on here looking at everyones horses in PG isn't helping
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Walrus, that's exactly how i feel! sharing is difficult around uni, and i know exactly what i want and what i want to do, but at the moment it's everyone else way!

Happyhack, if the job situation was better it would be so tempting to just quit uni and work full time now so i could have it now. But as i wouldn't find a job in this climate anyway i might aswel just keep trundling along at uni. And i dont want kids, horses are easier
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so at least i dont have that to fit in.

Nice to know there's people with plans the same as me
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ETS: Keep 'em coming!
 
I didn't sit on a horse until I was almost 50!! Now have my own little mare and having the time of my life.
Kids are grown up, finances are stable and OH has his own hobbies to keep him occupied. I am retired so have lots of time to play with my own real life (not so) little pony.
 
I had horses to ride when I was still at home with my parents but had to give it all up when we moved house to Birmingham and I finished school and got a job. I was 17 then and did not get my own horse until I was 29! What with needing to earn money and then meeting my OH and getting onto the housing ladder it was a long wait but I always knew I would have one of my own. It was worth the wait though!
 
Rode from being 6 had non horsey parents so was never allowed a pony as they wouldnt have known where to start, had weekly lessons and from the age of 10 spent virtually all weekend 'working' at the riding school. I begged borrowed and worked my arse off for rides as a teenager and once i started working at 18 took 1 on part loan which led to a full loan, then finally at the age of 21 i had saved enough money and bought my own who is still with me now 8 years on.
 
I'm 24 and still don't own my own. Ridden since 7 and have one on loan at the moment (had him for nearly 2 years). Having just finished my MA and being in lots and lots of debt I just can't afford the initial outlay. Hoping I shall be able to save up enough in the next year to get my own but silly bills keep coming along!
 
I started riding at the age of about 5 thanks to our new next door neighbours who had a daughter a little younger than me. Bless them they always managed to have a 'spare' pony for me to ride as my parents wouldn't/couldn't let me have one of my own.

I begged and borrowed various horses and ponies, including a fairly disasterous loan experience where the owner suddenly decided she wanted the horse back with no good reason and collected him the next day (and sold him about 6 weeks later, b***h). I finally bought my own horse about 18 months ago (when I was 25), it's so nice after years of riding other people's horses to be able to do what I want, when I want!

Next project is getting my own transport so I don't have to rely on others for that!
 
I shall get mine in the next year or two when I'm about 50. Mortgage almost paid off & can keep at home, so it'll be affordable. I rode and worked at riding schools as a teenager but my parents wouldn't entertain/afford a pony of my own, and rode a bit till my early 20s, then got career and house sorted, then husband and family sorted. I haven't ridden for 25 years but daughter is ultra keen and has a loan pony, so I'm intending a few lessons over the next year or two, as she'll be wanting a bigger pony and we can keep it at home but it'll need a companion hence one for me.
 
I was 31 when I got mine after riding other peoples for years a kid then going back to riding schools at 24. I finally stopped moving around all the time with work and wanted to do it as I was worried if I didnt do it now I never would and it had always been my dream. I appreciate him so much and love what he gives back to me - it's my space and my time and gets me away from the worry of my high stress job. my only regret is that I cant have him on DIY due to my work hours but I see him as much as I can even if its 8pm in the evening for a cuddle at least 4-5 x a week and ride at least 3 x week.
 
Came from a totally non-horsey background but was always totally besotted with horses. Had riding lessons from the age of 7 but one of my first memories is being put up on the back of a Shire horse when I was aged about 3! Parents would never buy me a horse as they said I would "grow out of it"! Did a little bit with teenage years, jobs followed by marriage but still occasionally rode but went back into it "big time" aged 30 and bought my 1st horse when aged 34.

Can't imagine where the last 20 years have gone!!!!!
 
I got my first one last year, when I was 35, although we'd bought the kids pony a few months before that. had ponies on loan when I was younger but gave up to go to Uni, then had career then kids... now my kids are a little bit older I need my horses to keep me sane!!!!
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I've always adored horses. Was desperate for riding lessons from 4-5 years old, but being one of 4 kids growing up in the 70's my parents never had enough money. Started to take riding lessons when I was 24, this was the first time I had funds to enable me to pursue my dream.

Sadly I had to have several major surgeries culminating in a hysterectomy when I was 35. I rode at stables in between recoverys. I then took a part time evening course in horsecare and stable management, then a refresher BHS approved course for horse ownership after a few lessons at a local riding school to restore my confidence. My lovely OH bought me my mare just before my 36th birthday, in fact if it weren't for his encouragement I don't think I'd have had the guts to make the leap into ownership. She was sold to me as a bombproof, novice horse....she isn't. BUT I have learnt so much from her and over 4 years later our bond is strong and I don't regret having her or the amount she costs me, initial purchase is small beans compared to the ongoing cost of "running" a horse
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So I guess you could say I waited 32 years to have my own horse and I love every minute that I spend with her. So don't worry, eventually the opportunity will be there for you and you'll appreciate it all the more when it happens
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Thankyou all you lovely people, your stories all made me really smile. I'm sort of glad my parents didn't buy me one when i was 5 in a way, as i know i'll appreciate it more when i get my own. It does drag all this working and waiting for the right time though
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Glad you all got your dream come true in the end
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and glad to hear how much you all appreciate it!
 
I started riding at 7 got my own horse at 21 when I could pay for it (non horsey parents).
I sold her when I had my first baby and didn't really go back to horses until my daughter became interested (she now has 3). My first horse was only a foal that was 5 when I sold her and is still alive and 30 this year. I did'nt have my own horse until a couple of years ago when I was 49! I still have him and he is almost as old as my original horse (about 27ish) I love having him and and it suits me that he is'nt ridden much now, I just enjoy looking after him.
 
I started riding when I was a year old and had lessons etc when I was a child - but we lived in London then so even a lesson a week was expensive! I rode at every oportunity on holidays etc but at home I started to swim competitvely which not only took up all my spare time but my coaches effectively banned us from any 'dangerous' sports (horses,skiing etc) especially when competing internationally - not that I regret that. Then I went to uni - getting degree and career were and are important to me - it means I have the money and freedom to do what I choose - and then I bought my flat when I was living and working in Birmingham. Not practical or financially possible to have my own horse there but used to work weekends at the only riding school in the centre of Birmingham (I was in my twenties then) - my parents had moved to Rutland and I got the opportunity to have the use of an old hunter at weekends - was fabulous!! I finally changed jobs and moved to Rutland and got my own horse when I was 34 - now I have 2!! Yes it was worth the wait as I not only have 2 horses I adore but I can also afford to spoil them rotten and buy everything they need - and a lot they don't!! They are my hobby and my space awy from work - which can be very stressful - so they give me time away from phones,computers etc

ETA - Do I wish I had a horse when I was younger? yes - but on the other hand I have had lots of experiences and done lots of things may not have been possible or had the opportunity to do if I had a horse.

As they say 'All good things come to those who wait....'
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They are my hobby and my space awy from work - which can be very stressful - so they give me time away from phones,computers etc

doesn't keep you away from the foal cam though..... does it
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