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Comment by Cindy Jeffery on June 12, 2010 at 8:49pm

One of my joys today was taking my young student to her first horse show. Check out the pictures, even though she was the only one in the 1st year Rider classes she won first place and her smile tells everything. Ahhhh remember the days???

Comment by Cindy Jeffery on June 12, 2010 at 8:42pm

And ya know......all the comments I've heard so far just reaffirms in my mind and spirit the reason why I love this forum so much. We can come here type out our joys and hurts and concerns and know that there is someone on the other end that understands. Only other horsewomen know what we go through. Hang in there everyone and thanks for your encouragement.

Comment by Jenny Mustoe on June 12, 2010 at 6:24pm

I'm fine right up until Christmas; ride after work in the dark along the field tracks enjoying the peace and quiet - except that is for the dogs decked out in flashing lights and hi-viz coats start chasing something across the fields, yapping at the top of their little spaniel voices. Then Christmas and the New Year; slobbing out over indulging food and TV. January, back to work, and suddenly every single evening it is raining (or this year, snowing). January becomes February and then March (quite reliably) and I start to wonder whether I'll ever get riding again because the mud, the rain and the wind has so depressed me and ruined the horses' hooves despite all my daily care.

So, you're not alone, nobody else would understand but 'one of us'. I know the only thing to cure the blues is to go for a ride, but sometimes that is just an insurmountable problem. Lost shoe or a lame horse, or a coughing horse.... My friend rides at a local riding school, she pays her money, gets on a horse, rides for an hour, gets off and hands it back. That doesn't seem to the sort of relationship I want with a horse and I really don't think I could do that after owning horses for 38 years.

Stick it out, the rain WILL stop. It did here, and we're even being threatened with drought restrictions in some areas. Chin up, girl!

Comment by Jan Jollymour on June 12, 2010 at 10:35am

Hi, Vickie:

I support Cindy's stance, and I really understand it from a personal point of view, both as a rider myself and as a coach, who deals with clients feeling as you do. I think the easiest thing to cut back on, or drop altogether, is competition. Most people actually find it something of a relief to have a reason to stop competing, and just stay home and train and truly enjoy their horses. Sometimes scaling back the level or frequency of competition relieves the financial stress, and sometimes it's best to drop it completely, perhaps for a set period of time, or perhaps forever. As we age, and the job becomes harder on many different levels, it becomes more and more difficult to continue to compete, and taking that stressor out of the equation can make an enormous difference.

I enjoy competition, but my business is becoming increasingly successful, and I have less and less time to devote to competition preparation for myself and my own horses, so scaling back is looking more appealing all the time. It would give me a lot more time, and much more enjoyable time with my own horses and my family, not to mention saving a load of cash! I think the decision is looming on the horizon for me - I'm not at all ready to give up riding, learning, and enjoying my own horses, but my competitive future is due for a major overhaul.

I hope this helps!

Comment by vickie lawson on June 12, 2010 at 3:10am

gosh cindy! you are just what i need to hear. i can relate to your husband... mine is very similar. we just came back from a hack in the forest. its' about a 30 min drive away, but my husband comes along and walks the dog. my instructor texted me yesterday and i begged off a lesson. it is winter here and with the wet and work, i can't ride enough to justify checking our progress. i did think of showing unregd this year, but then ended up on the committee- i get free membership- so that's some savings.... again thanks for your thoughts. we're on the right track! and yes= i know exactly where you're coming from about needing to have your own horses. mine are oh so special-to me!

Comment by Cindy Jeffery on June 9, 2010 at 9:40pm

Something else....get creative. Some of us just have to buy more tack...I find when I walk into a tack store now it's because I truly need something, I don't just buy the first thing I see anymore. I have all the equipment I need. Making your own riding outfits is also something I have done and am working on again. I buy new to me riding boots if they fit and are not too worn or save up for new ones, my horses don't mind if I have holes in my foot gear. Be creative girl!

Comment by Cindy Jeffery on June 9, 2010 at 9:36pm

Oh Vicky I can soooo relate. And like others have said hang in there, don't make rash decisions as yet. I live in a house that constantly needs repair, in fact a whole gutting and reno would really be nice, but when I equate that with not having my own horses it just isn't a priority. I look around at others who have all the "so called necessities" but they aren't me and part of my necessities is having my own horses. Two days ago my husband was at me again to sell the horses....geez i thought we were over that. But I've come to realize it's his way of expressing himself on how he feels. Trouble is I get traumatized for a few days then get back into the relationship. Sometimes I think I'm the queen of the shoestring ranch. Fortunately we still have logs and poles we can build with and nails get reused and recycled. Here in B.C. Canada we are looking at the HST coming in July 1st which is going to really affect horse owners around the province. If we think we are broke and horse poor now, we ain't seen nothing yet. Anyway, in times when the money doesn't stretch as far as it used to, it is time to make changes and I've found by not going to that horseshow or clinic or lesson helps a great deal. Sometimes we have to drop the "competitive edge" for something more realistic like recreational riding. That's what I do now, my dreams of being a competitive reiner are out the window and I'm much happier for it.

Comment by vickie lawson on June 9, 2010 at 9:35pm

thanks for those kind words guys! i know the feeling will pass - hopefully, but it can be overwhelming by times!! and no, where i live we don't have ice or snow- hardly even frosts- just rain and more rain- often torrential.

Comment by Tracy McDermott on June 9, 2010 at 7:17pm

Vicky Get into whatever sunlight you can, it might be a case of 'SAD' (Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). You might need the ultraviolet rays that help synthesize calcium in your bloodstream. Calcium is a natural anti-depressant and the vitamin D from the sunlight helps your body be sensitive to the calcium.

Comment by April Keays on June 9, 2010 at 12:32pm

Hang in there Vickie, like Jackie says, most of us have been through that. I'm still going through it, but riding my horse is like councelling to me so in the long run it's cheaper and a lot more pleasureable. No doubt about it, horses are expensive, but no more than most hobbies and we all need something we enjoy in our lives just to stay sane. After I lost my Appy, I went for a year without a horse and even though the manager of the barn let me come up and ride his paint mare any time I wanted, it just wasn't the same as having my own.
Still, we all have to make our own choices here, so just try to relax even though it's hard when money is an issue, and the direction to go will make itself known..

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