The Horse Forum banner
Status
Not open for further replies.

How to deal with chronic horselessness?

1K views 4 replies 5 participants last post by  Horse racer 
#1 ·
Hello,

I have ridden off and on since I was a toddler, but only on other people's horses/ponies, and not regularly. I've never taken formal "riding lessons", but feel that I'm a decent rider (at least Western) having learned just on my own.

I've never had a horse, or any close friends or relatives who did either. My parents refused to let me have a horse when I was growing up. I say 'refused', because although we were far from rich, I believe we had enough money to have a horse or pony if they had just been more open-minded about it. We had two cars, and owned our own nice home in the country, with a large enough pasture/yard (it was at least an acre- perhaps more) but I wasn't allowed to have ANY pets. We had cats, but you know, they weren't specifically mine. I wanted something of my own!

We even had a neighbor down the street who kept his two holstein steers in our pasture to eat down the grass. And people all around us, and kids I went to school with (but none I knew well) had horses, but not me. :-(

After growing up and moving to the city, I still had a chance to ride every once in a while at a place that rented horses for trail rides. But a family emergency in 2006 forced me to move far away (though I went back there on vacation last month and went riding again! First time since.) and I now live in a place that has NO opportunities to ride or be around horses unless you own one. Pretty much the only time I am even near a horse now is once a year at the fair, which is pitiful.

The area I'm living now is not really a horsey community. Lots of people around here keep horses, but there just isn't much of a 'equestrian presence', if that makes sense. There aren't even any real tack shops, just what you can find at the feed and farm stores.

Before moving I used to attend horse shows regularly. Here there just aren't many, and what they do have isn't all that great. I cannot have a horse of my own, at least not in the forseeable future. Not only because I don't have a big enough income, but also because I'd have to board it and most boarding stables here are in locations I can't get to, since I have no car. The same thing for other equine facilities, like rescue farms and such. I know of at least one, but I can't get there. And I work full-time and just don't have much free time for that sort of thing either.

It's frustrating, because for years I felt that I was meant to have a horse, or at least to work with them in some way. Now I have almost zero contact with them, and no change in sight.

How would any of you deal with a situation like this?
 
See less See more
#2 ·
I'd save up money and move or save up money, stay where I was and buy a horse. Depends on how much of a horse community I wanted. Personally I'd probably save up money, move, get a better job, a car, and in the meantime I'd take lessons until I knew what style of riding I wanted to do and built up skill so I'd be ready for my own horse.
Posted via Mobile Device
 
#3 ·
You could look for a half lease. Go to the feed/farm stores and ask...they might know of somebody. Or ask if you can put up a flyer. Go to CL and put an ad there. As far as transportation or the lack thereof...I did, when I was young, tho, 10 miles daily with a bicycle to go riding. And just recently, tho far from being young, I did the same thing:)
Posted via Mobile Device
 
#4 ·
How would any of you deal with a situation like this?
You spend a lot of time online looking at horse pictures and videos. :lol: Well at least that's what I do.

You're certainly not alone... Many people who rode as children end up having no contact with horses as adults. Life goes on.

Do you live in a city? If so, check to see if they have one of those new car rental agencies where you can rent a car for just a few hours. If not, what about getting a moped?
 
#5 · (Edited)
Talk to private horse owners and ask for a job either taking care of their horses everyday, or when they're on vacation. That's what I did. I had the same problem you do...love horses, but no horsey contact. I asked a guy down the street who has horses and he said he'd give me the job. Even with a day job, you can still do your horsey job. Feed the horses in the morning before work, and when you get off work go down and spend time with them and feed them again. All you have to do is just ask, it never hurts! the worst they can say is no. Or they can give you insights on horsey jobs with other people around town. Sometimes the people are nice enough to just let you hang around or let you ride their horses. It also helps to tell them your problem and say you'll do it for little pay, that's what I did :wink: and with that money, save to buy a horse!

You could also lease....much cheaper! Hope this helped and good luck!

I live in Washington State too!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
You have insufficient privileges to reply here.
Top