Shelving lessons for awhile

So I had to put lessons on hold for awhile, probably until the spring. Money is super tight and I can't afford the lessons or all the things that go with it. I feel pretty darn low and depressed about it. I can still trail ride here and there, but it's not the same as the challenging, adrenaline-filled reining lessons I am used to. I have a horse of my own, but he's very green and will need a lot of work before I can ride him. I'm thinking he'll be my "project" while I can't ride, but I'll still miss it.

Has anyone else here had to stop taking lessons for a bit due to the economy? What did you do?

The only thing you can do.....vote Republican.

We had to cut DD's lessons last year.
Is picking up some extra income of your own an option - ie part-time side job, etc?

With the rising cost of hay here, I can't afford lessons, I can't even ride my horse (who's is very ill). The cost of keeping my sick horse is a lot to say the lest. Hoping to bum a few rides for the next couple years, maybe longer. Which is awful, but for me being on a horse is one of the only times I feel like myself, free from pain, stress, frustrations and most of all depression.

HAHA! Well, I promise you that's a given!

Man, I'm sorry you guys. That totally sucks.

Amen! I feel completely alive and at ease when I'm riding. It's one of the few times I'm legitimately happy and carefree. So it's a shot to the soul to not be able to ride.
Hay out here in Cali is anywhere from $17 to $24 per bale! It's insane. Not to mention I'm trying to fatten my OTTB up a little. Lessons out here run on average about $50-$60 per hour. It really, really sucks to give it up.

Same boat here. My hours just got cut so I'm putting my lessons on hold for awhile. Hoping to keep the son going, but if need be, they will get dropped as well. Lessons are a luxury, not a nesecity

I agree with everything everyone has said so far...while my husband was only working at our business, before he took on a full time job working for someone else as well, money was VERY TIGHT...We still have to CAREFULLY BUDGET for everything.

I don't own a horse & here my lessons are only $35/hour, but I still have decided up until we find a second vehicle to buy I will likely only ride twice a month. It's very tough because I feel SO GREAT after riding, and since I don't own a horse, volunteering helps somewhat because even though I can't ride those horses, just having a reason to be at the barn and AROUND HORSES helps a lot...

Can you do any riding working on the same practice you would be doing in lessons, in addition to trail riding? Or maybe get a good book that has similar exercises as your instructor was having you do and "work the book lessons"?

Maybe there is some middle-ground for you and your greenie, like ground work, possibly?

Best of luck to all...can't wait till we get someone new into office and pray that will help our desperate economy start to turn around!!

You could try to negotiate a work for lessons deal but doesn't always work.

As well as trail riding pick things to work on.
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