Would you own a horse if you didnt compete?

My dancing is....

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MagicMelon

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Out of interest: Would you own a horse if you didn't compete?

Personally I couldn't imagine not competing, its what I do! I hate not having anything to work towards. I dont mind having the odd horse who I use for pleasure (ie. like semi-retired horses etc.) but I need at least one to compete regularily!
 
Nope, too expensive and time consuming to have not to compete, plus I would never motivate myself to ride in bad weather/the dark/winter/when I am tired etc etc if I wasn't competing.

I could not compete all winter as no lorry and by the end of it was ready to sell the horse as was so peed off with it all!
 
God no, everything I sacrifice in terms of the horses is just so that I can compete.
I can't imagine ever not competing but if the day came that I just wanted to hack about I'd exercise someone elses horse rather than owning my own.
 
Yes, I love all aspects of having a horse, not just the competitng. I love mucking out and looking after her as well, if not more than the riding! I live in the middle of nowhere and get to about 1 comp or lesson a month if I'm lucky so don't really compete anyway.
 
When Honey wasn't competing I lost interest in her as I had another horse to compete but now that I have her back out competing I am alot more interested. I can't imagine not having horses and I can't imagine not competing.
I like having something to aim at and like going to competitions
 
Just wrote a long reply and the bl**dy website crashed AGAIN!!!!
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I am serioulsy thinking about this myself at the mo. I am selling my mare and i am contemplating giving up as i dont have my own transport and i am not going out as much as i had hoped.

Am thinking of just concentraing on my new job until i can afford both as i am not just a happy hacker and wouldn't feel motivated as all my hard work would be for nothing.
 
I've got two horses and I don't compete. I am about to start doing a bit of Le Trec, but for me, I just enjoy being around my horses.

I do the odd little local show, but purely for fun and when I feel like it.
 
Yes I would - and at the moment do. My boy is an old man now and I have decided he should no longer compete but to have another one I'd have to get rid of him - so what do I do, just get rid of the horse that has given me so many years of service, competed his little heart out for me etc No Way do I.

So until he pops his clogs no competing for me.
 
Um well that is my life basically!

I do the occastional small show at the yard but we only have those in may, august, december and a couple of very small things in between.

I dont get bored at all to be honest, I just have very different aims to someone who may compete! like I want to hack pickle to a certain place we havent been before, and I still get him al tarted up sometimes just for fun!

Allthough would like to compete I just cant at the moment! I have no transport and no one to go with me
 
I'd keep mine that i already own because i love them too much and couldn't sell them, but i wouldn't get something just to ride, i ride to compete! Don't get me wrong, i love riding and horses are my life, but i've got ambitions and without even trying to reach them, i dont think i'd find the motivation...if that all makes sense?
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I've had my lad as a comp horse for 14 years (he's now 18) - still working and ready to compete at Med/Adv Med BUT we've bought a house with land so we can have the horse at home and at the moment I just can't afford it - haven't competed since last June and have been working at home on improving the work - I hjave the horse because I love having horses and even if he couldn't be ridden and I couldn't afford another he would remain with me.

Would love to be out competing but unless someones this weeks lottery numbers I can't afford it at the moment
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I have horses because I love horses, not because I love to compete, so of course I'd still own them. Doesn't anyone appreciate getting out riding in the countryside having adventures with your horse anymore?
 
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I have horses because I love horses, not because I love to compete, so of course I'd still own them. Doesn't anyone appreciate getting out riding in the countryside having adventures with your horse anymore?

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Kind of my thoughts, like my aims all involve going to different places hacking, picnic rides, going out with friends and making jumps out of random logs I love my riding
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I own two and don't compete. I bought my horse green to bring her on seven years ago and wouldn't be without her. I don't want to compete been there done that, don't want to anymore but still wouldn't be without my horse. My daughter is just getting into competing with our other pony this year and when she gets a bit bigger and grows into mine she can compete on her if she wants, but have never regretted not competing; they just give me hours of pleasure.
 
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Out of interest: Would you own a horse if you didn't compete?

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Yes of course!! I have 6 and don't compete. They are pets just like my dogs are...
 
yes - definitely - and probably more than one
having gotten to the 'older and aching' stage I ride less now but know Icouldn't bear a life without horses, dogs and other animals in - even though they are hard work !!
 
Probably not - its too expensive to just have as a hobby and as someone else mentioned, competing is something to aim for and get motivated for, otherwise i doubt i'd bother riding every day!! My horse thrives on competing etc so now i cant afford it, i'm willing to sell her to someone else who can compete her otherwise its a waste of a horse!
 
I do understand why some people are replying in the way they are to be honest. When I was younger, competing was a fairly large part of my horse ownership and I did compete a fair amount......however often as you get older, priorities change somewhat and things that were important when you were young, no longer are. Not with everyone obviously, but I, along with many people my age, do change, circumstances alter, and I think you become more laid back.

Just before I left England, I was competing an awful lot (3 or 4 times per week), then I moved here; changed the type of riding I did, yes I still compete but not often anymore, perhaps just once a month now, and it is a different style of competition.

I've never been a particularly competitive person though, yes I always enjoyed the thrill of it.....but for my own personal gain, not for any trophies or rosettes I may come home with, and certainly never to beat someone - just for me and my horse.

Horses are my livelihood therefore yes I probably will always have horses......just not so many in the future hopefully LOL!!
 
Yes I would own a horse if I never went to a competition. I get a lot of enjoyment out of riding and just owning horses. I would own them even if I never got to ride them. I love horses, that's why I have them. I also get a lot of pleasure from bringing on horses or just giving them a more enjoyable environment.
 
On till last year I would have said no way!!!!! But with trying to get a house eg I just don’t have the money. I now hunt in the winter and only do a little show jumping in the summer.xx
 
Yes of course, for me my horse is about having fun and learning different things (throwing me off as well as Sunday showed
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) and enjoying my time with him. I am not a VERY regular competitor as I do not have regular transport. Go to local shows in summer for jumping classes as they are hacking distance, do clinics with the riding club and camp etc as well as lessons at home, hacking out etc.
I think all these different things make it more interesting and I would be a bit on the bored side if I had to stop doing them. However owning him, loving and looking after him is more important to me than being out and about 24/7.
 
Well Bloss is retired from competing now, in foal, but still schooled/hacked out daily. She will obviously stop being worked when the time is right.

Archie i brought to compete, and i cant imagine not competing or training as i love doing both!
 
I could not do it without an aim, i need to have aims, so i could have a horse just to school but not long term

Haz
 
3rd time feking lucky

Right ......

I own but dont compete.

I do want to compete at some point. However I am a sod for being silly and putting pressure on myself.

So I shall be competing when I feel happy to.

Horses are too blasted expensive not to enjoy.

Sorry for the curt response, if I have tp type this out once more I will, I will scream!

Hb
 
I currently compete and always have, but will be very happy to keep my current horse when his competing days are over as a true friend, but I would get another to compete as I enjoy the training and continous improvement being put to the test.
 
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