pioneer riders

[Rebekah Simpson]

Hi everyone!

I was just wondering how many of you all are what I call Pioneer riders. My family knows NOTHING about horses and sometimes I feel confused and alone in the horse world (but thank goodness for my instructors, friends, and NR!) :)
I don't have my own horse yet but someday I will. I've talked to horse people though and I think that a lot of people who grew up around horses do not realize how lucky they are. I feel like SOME people take it for granted. My parents pay for some of my lessons, but I have to work to earn money for some of them. I'm slowly saving money from teaching piano, babysitting, etc. as part of my "horse fund." (Actually, I was never really able to save before until I became obsessed with horses! Now I have something that I really care about.) :) I have a friend in her twenties who had a similar situation where she wasn't able to get a horse until she had a home of her own. I'm afraid I might end up like that too. Anyways, I'm continuing to save for now! What do you guys think?

~Rebekah~

[Sarah]

hello!

I'm the first person in my family to be interested in horses too. i didn't start riding until i was at university. When I graduated and helped a fied with her horse then announced to the family that I was goign to look to buy a horse, they thought i was mad (and to be honest, looking back on it, I was!).

I remember at school when I was about 13 really taking the mickey out of one girl in the class who had photos of horses stuck on her files - i told her that horses were wimpy things and really teased her for being so 'soft'. What a horrible child I was! I'd like to think that i have changed now, at least i can totally see what the girl in my class saw in horses.

I think if you have grown up around horses you do have an advantage in that you can learn 'scary' things at a younger age when you don't have The Fear. however, starting later in life gives a few advantages too - you are able to accept that you are new to horses and are able to question things more - if someone says things must be done a certain way that doesn't seem right, you can look into it and see why.

Anyway, I'd suggest you carry on saving!

bye!

[Secret Trick]

I worked my a** off to get my horse! I'm 20. Yes the learning things later is hard, but at the same time I REALLY appreciate my horse.

I was obsessed from four, and now have ended up being incredibly lucky - I own a horse, and I graze at a stud, so there are a lot of horses and foals too. Never in a million gazillion years would I have thought I could be so lucky!!

How old are you? Not that it really matters, just curious :)

[Laetitia]

I think if you really want something and are prepared to put your back into it, then you really appreciate the achievement. Horses are an expensive hobby, but if you are clever they don't have to be exorbitant(sp),and the expense is manageable. Good for you, keep saving for your horse fund, and when the time is right you will have your horse. L

[Rebekah Simpson]

Thanks for the responses! Secret Trick - I'm 15. Did you guys have to wait a long time to get a horse? That is the hardest thing. People that have grown up with horses don't have to experience the torture of waiting and waiting and waiting! :) Sometimes they don't know what the rest of us go through. I know I appreciate so much more though being around horses and riding since it is a very special thing for me. Having my own horse someday will mean more to me because I will have been deprived of it for so long. It's still hard to wait though, especially when you love horses so much!

~Rebekah~

[Sparkle]

I'm the first horse person in my family, and I've always loved horses for as long as I can remember. I've worked hard to get my parents to let me ride, and I don't have a horse yet but I will. No one in my family knows much about horses, and I live in an area where very few people ride. I have one friend at my school who has a horse, and I have a few friends who used to ride. I feel alone in my horseyness sometimes, but no one ever says anything bad about horses or riding when I'm around unless they want a grand headache:D I love riding tho and horses and I think living in a non-horsey atmosphere has made me really appreciate that I get to ride. I know people whose families own horses and they don't even care for riding...

[chapsi]

I have been labelled as stubborn as a mule by several people. I much rather prefer to call myself persevering and determined person.
In fact, I recognise that I can be obssessive with things. I can provide you with some examples:
- I always wanted a dog, since my early years but I wasn't allowed; all my toys were cuddly animals, mainly dogs, I hated dolls. I would first ask, then beg, nxt throw big tantrums (this was a daily crescendo strategy) to have a dog. No way, my parents didn't allow me it (who was stubborn here?). However, when I was 15, I just arrived home one day with a little mongrel bitch pretending I was just minding her for a friend and used delaying tactics, until she died. Ever since then, I always had several dogs, most rescues.
- My present husband was pressed, hunted down mercelessly until he agreed to be my man.
Because of him I left a lot of good things behind, including my beloved cat. But, shortly after I was so depressed for having no more the feel of friendly paws touching my face at night, that these days I don't have a cat, but 4!!!
As for horses, I didn't grow up in a horsey home, although my mother and oncles had grown up with horses, amidst a bullfighting environment. I guess my mother married the wrong kind of man, her life changed a lot. Nonetheless, I recall as a little girl listening to her chilhood memories, in particular about grandfather's brave Lusitano horse... I grew up dreaming about Dourado, I became in love and obssessed with horses, they became part of me, somehow. My drawings at 8 and 9 were all about wealthy, independant girls buying horses at the Golegã Fair (the biggest horse festival in the country). I still keep some of those as treasures.
Mainly for finantial reasons I was only able to undertake riding lessons much later in life, at the age of 33, living in England at that time. Horses always come into my life with a big blow when I feel the need to escape, to change something drastic. They come to my rescue as a powerful drug against monotony and identity crisis... I rode for almost a year, but then I returned to my homeland... I stopped soon after.
Anyway, my father died and when I picked myself up I returned to horses to find my grip. I bought my horse last year.
I have had lots of difficulties with him, ups and downs, but so far, in particular when hubby, mum, relatives and friends advise me to drop the horse, "as he is going to kill me", I get more adamant to carry on. But it's hard though....
So, Rebeckah, there is always a time for everything. Nothing is impossible, you just need to keep at it, no matter how impossible or remote it may seem.

[Rebekah Simpson]

Sparkle - How old are you? I can REALLY relate to your situation.
I feel really lucky to have the opportunity to ride too. I admit I do get jealous at times of people with their own horses though! :rolleyes: I recently went several months with out lessons and I missed them terribly. Now that I'm back in lessons, I try to make the complete most of my time!


Chapsi - You're definitely not the only person obsessed with horses here-I'm the same way! :) In fact, I think at times I drive my family and non-horsey friends absolutely crazy with all my horse talk. Even though I try to hold back, it's so hard not to talk about these magnificent, beautiful creatures and the joy and thrill I get from riding them and just being around them! That's something that only true horse lovers can understand.

Anybody else out there "Pioneer Equestrians?"

~Rebekah

[Rebekah Simpson]

Just posting to get this back on the main page! :p

[CityGirl]

Yup - no one else in my family has any interest in horses. I wheedled, whined and whimpered my way into riding lessons as a kid & rode Western for several years. When I turned 13, my instructor stopped teaching & for various reasons, I stopped riding (STUPIDITY!). I started again a year ago (at 27) & am completely obsessed again. My boyfriend doesn't understand it & my friends don't get it at all. However, I have gotten my b-f to agree to come out to the barn for a ride so I'm hoping I might have a convert:D

[Rebekah Simpson]

Hi CityGirl -

Good luck with your boyfriend! Hope he likes riding! :p

I can relate to friends not understanding. Sometimes they just don't get my obsession! Okay, I know I'm really obsessed... BUT I also know that this is DEFINITELY NOT just a phase.

If only they knew what an awesome "world" they are misssing out on!

~Rebekah~

[Drea]

Hi Ive just bought my first horse and I hope Im not going to make you disspondent but Im 34 :D so you can imagine how happy I am I used to nag my parents from the age of 10 and my Dad almost was talked into it but it didnt happen ,so keep on going with the horse fund my horse fund dissapeared after getting married and having 3 kids so go for it .I know what you mean when you talk about people taking their horse for granted ,alot of the kids at the stables I used to go to had their own pony I used to be a bit green thinking how easy they had got them ,and as soon as they got interested in partying the horse/pony became 2nd best ( not all the kids)so I think buying your own on your own will give you a bit of pride knowing you worked hard for him/her all the very best with the saving,and dreams do come true just a little later than I thought:D :D