Tory27
Well-Known Member
Put a horse to sleep to ease my exhaustion?
Bit of a long one so please bear with..
I have 4 horses. 1 BS horse in full work, other in steady/light/happy hacker odd show work, my retired x sj mare whos 28 this year and mini Shetland - pet. All of these are kept on a private farm so are full DIY by me and only ridden by me. I do have a friend who can come on a hack every now and then.. But 99% of the time its solely me.
Me. 32 yr old mum with new baby whos just coming up 16 months. I work full time, 8-4.30 (returned to work after 9 months) and riding a horse everyday still compete most weekends. I get up every morning at 5am go feed, muck out, turn out etc, get home get baby up, dressed, get myself sorted take baby to childcare/grandparents, go to work, leave work, straight to farm, ride horse, all stable duties, leave farm by 6.45pm latest, get home, have dinner, feed baby, play with baby, bath then bed by 9.30 if I can! By the end of the day Im dead, only to do it all again the next day, 7 days a week.
I live with hubby who is a great support and helps out where he can but does not get too involved on the horse front, will do them for me if ill or busy and come to shows with me at weekends.
Over the past month or so I can feel me, my body going on a downhill slope. Now i dont know if im overreacting or just being plain stupid but i think i might be airing on the side of exhaustion?? I have had a cold/cough for nearly 4 weeks, loss of appetite, feeling ill, constant fatigue, would appear gaunt (if it werent for concealer......) and just generally shattered to the point i could sleep standing up. I am one of those people that would never admit there was something wrong i just get on with it - minimal fuss.
So ive been thinking how best to get me out of this 'rut' if you can call it that and i guess it boils down to the obvious. I cant have/do it all and sacrifices need to be made. I couldnt not ride, its my life always has been but in reality i personally dont want 4 horses. 1 or 2 would be fine, ive only ended up with 4 because once theyre with me they stay for life. My eldest mare has been with me for 18 years, i bred one whos now 17 shes been with me her whole life and my BS horse is coming up to her 7th year with us. If i only had 1 - 2 horses it would reduce my stable time and costs accosted with it owing horses dramatically!
Would i be evil and horrid it if had my eldest horse PTS?? There is nothing wrong with her except the fact she is an old lady. She pulled a tendon 8 yrs ago so retired then and had been a field ornament ever since. I ride her twice a year when they cut the corn fields and she just plods along taking in the scenery. Shes a happy healthy little horse. I know there is no right or wrong but I was always of the mind-set a horse only should be ill or suffering to be PTS. But is PTS the sacrifice i need to make to give myself a better life?? Or is that though ludicrous?
We would like to have another baby next year and Im not sure I can do it all?
Am i being irrational and selfish, wanting it all, should I just man up and stop moaning or do I need to face fact that sacrifices need to be made in order for me to lead a happy healthy life??
I know what my dad would say .. :-/
please help.
Bit of a long one so please bear with..
I have 4 horses. 1 BS horse in full work, other in steady/light/happy hacker odd show work, my retired x sj mare whos 28 this year and mini Shetland - pet. All of these are kept on a private farm so are full DIY by me and only ridden by me. I do have a friend who can come on a hack every now and then.. But 99% of the time its solely me.
Me. 32 yr old mum with new baby whos just coming up 16 months. I work full time, 8-4.30 (returned to work after 9 months) and riding a horse everyday still compete most weekends. I get up every morning at 5am go feed, muck out, turn out etc, get home get baby up, dressed, get myself sorted take baby to childcare/grandparents, go to work, leave work, straight to farm, ride horse, all stable duties, leave farm by 6.45pm latest, get home, have dinner, feed baby, play with baby, bath then bed by 9.30 if I can! By the end of the day Im dead, only to do it all again the next day, 7 days a week.
I live with hubby who is a great support and helps out where he can but does not get too involved on the horse front, will do them for me if ill or busy and come to shows with me at weekends.
Over the past month or so I can feel me, my body going on a downhill slope. Now i dont know if im overreacting or just being plain stupid but i think i might be airing on the side of exhaustion?? I have had a cold/cough for nearly 4 weeks, loss of appetite, feeling ill, constant fatigue, would appear gaunt (if it werent for concealer......) and just generally shattered to the point i could sleep standing up. I am one of those people that would never admit there was something wrong i just get on with it - minimal fuss.
So ive been thinking how best to get me out of this 'rut' if you can call it that and i guess it boils down to the obvious. I cant have/do it all and sacrifices need to be made. I couldnt not ride, its my life always has been but in reality i personally dont want 4 horses. 1 or 2 would be fine, ive only ended up with 4 because once theyre with me they stay for life. My eldest mare has been with me for 18 years, i bred one whos now 17 shes been with me her whole life and my BS horse is coming up to her 7th year with us. If i only had 1 - 2 horses it would reduce my stable time and costs accosted with it owing horses dramatically!
Would i be evil and horrid it if had my eldest horse PTS?? There is nothing wrong with her except the fact she is an old lady. She pulled a tendon 8 yrs ago so retired then and had been a field ornament ever since. I ride her twice a year when they cut the corn fields and she just plods along taking in the scenery. Shes a happy healthy little horse. I know there is no right or wrong but I was always of the mind-set a horse only should be ill or suffering to be PTS. But is PTS the sacrifice i need to make to give myself a better life?? Or is that though ludicrous?
We would like to have another baby next year and Im not sure I can do it all?
Am i being irrational and selfish, wanting it all, should I just man up and stop moaning or do I need to face fact that sacrifices need to be made in order for me to lead a happy healthy life??
I know what my dad would say .. :-/
please help.