half an hour a week not enough!

[sophie33]

Sorry folks - this is one of my periodic 'none of my friends want to hear this so you're going to get it' moans!
Last week I took three days off work and spent them on a kind of 'intensive course' at my local riding school. It was wonderful. I got to ride out through the forest, I learned to tack up, clean the bridle etc. Sadly I even enjoyed mucking out (although I can see the novelty would wear off pretty quickly!)
Best of all my riding definitely improved. So I was really disappointed that in my lesson last night my horse was reluctant to canter and I couldn't co-ordinate keeping her going and stopping her cutting in. I know the improvements were still there - when she cantered I can move with the horse instead of bouncing - but I expected to do better!! Anyway, never mind the rant. It is not like I don't know why - I should have been firmer from the start of the lesson so she knew I meant what I said. And I should have used the crop when my leg didn't work (I did but I left it too late). Never mind I'll get it next time.
And there were some good things - I managed to leg yield for the first time.
But the worst is that after three days of bliss - half an hour is just nothing! I WANT MORE! I have limited money and time - but I'm seriously addicted. During my three days of horsy heaven the instructor starting saying things like 'she's about the right size for you, if you were thinking of buying your own'. I've always excluded horse ownership - I don't have the time or the money - but a lunatic fantasy is growing at the back of my mind. HELP!

[MadMumInKent]

I went through that 'half hour isn't enough' thing too.... so I decided to part loan a horse.... That was fine for a few months, until 3 days per week wasn't enough either!! I'd always thought horse ownership wasn't for me, as I've young children, so time is limited, but here I am now, with my new pony, (had him 2 weeks) and having a ball! Even now, in the summer holidays with the children off school, I'm still managing to spend a couple of hours with him every day. Its amazing how I don't mind getting up at 6am when its for Tally!

So perhaps you could look around for a share? Riding schools sometimes share out their horses too, or failing that, they may know of someone looking for a sharer. Its less expensive and requires slightly less committment, depending on how many days a week you wanted to do.

Good luck!!

[Trewsers]

Ha ha ha, its like a drug - you WANT MORE!!!! teee hee, cutting down the fags from 15 per day to 3 at night and cutting down on the old alcohol was easier !!!! :D I COULD NOT give up horses now - and I'm a late starter (34 years old when started lessons). Its been niggling away at me since I was a child though - but it took a few years to come to fruition..... :p Once it gets a hold of you..... Echo what mminkent said, about a loan / share! Good luck and welcome to the horse addiction club..................... :D

[sophie33]

Thanks both of you for the sympathy. Just ike you Trewsers I'm a late starter - 34 now and started consistent lessons a few months ago. Always wanted to though. And it is ridiculous - I'm obsessed! I've been following your new horse ownership with huge interest (and jealousy!) MadMum. Honestly though - I sometimes have to work away and obviously I'm still a novice, so there is a limit to the type of horses I could cope with - could I find a sharer who would have me? Suppose the only way to find out is start looking...

[finski]

I'm sure that there is the right leasor out there somewhere for you!! All it will take is some searching on your part and there are all sorts of ways to lease. When I was leasing Finski all I was looking for was someone to clean two stalls for me every day and to ride Finski on a regular basis. That gave me the time to focus on training my younger horse Des. I took care of all the bills. Other people might want you to pay for all the bills asscoiciated with that horse plus the care and excercise. Hope you have good luck on finding the right situation for yourself!!!

[MadMumInKent]

Sophie, I still class myself as a novice, I'm learning something new each day with Tally. It was in January that I started lessons again after 15 or so years, and only a couple of months after that when I started the part loan, so yes, it is possible to find a share when you're still a novice.

My share was perfect in that the horse was at the riding school where I had lessons, so I had everyone on hand when I needed it (which was quite a lot!), and also could continue my lessons on the share horse. The owner was very flexible with my days, let me change when I needed to etc, and didn't mind if I couldn't make it on a particular day - the horse was on full livery so that made things easier. If you let it be known that you're thinking about it, you may find a share horse landing on your door step, so to speak, thats what happened to me :) If I were you, I'd have a chat with your instructor, see what develops.

I wish you loads of luck, you sound well and truly bitten by the bug :)

[momofsix]

Hahaha! Of course it's not. When I started riding again last year, I had told my OH that I would be fine taking a lesson every few weeks. Every few weeks became every week, plus helping a friend with horses in the early morning. Then we had a lease horse for a few months. And now we own 2 horses of our own. I still go around saying "I wish I could spend more time with my horses" It is so addictive!!

[NSCHMIDT]

Sorry folks - this is one of my periodic 'none of my friends want to hear this so you're going to get it' moans!
Last week I took three days off work and spent them on a kind of 'intensive course' at my local riding school. It was wonderful. I got to ride out through the forest, I learned to tack up, clean the bridle etc. Sadly I even enjoyed mucking out (although I can see the novelty would wear off pretty quickly!)
Best of all my riding definitely improved. So I was really disappointed that in my lesson last night my horse was reluctant to canter and I couldn't co-ordinate keeping her going and stopping her cutting in. I know the improvements were still there - when she cantered I can move with the horse instead of bouncing - but I expected to do better!! Anyway, never mind the rant. It is not like I don't know why - I should have been firmer from the start of the lesson so she knew I meant what I said. And I should have used the crop when my leg didn't work (I did but I left it too late). Never mind I'll get it next time.
And there were some good things - I managed to leg yield for the first time.
But the worst is that after three days of bliss - half an hour is just nothing! I WANT MORE! I have limited money and time - but I'm seriously addicted. During my three days of horsy heaven the instructor starting saying things like 'she's about the right size for you, if you were thinking of buying your own'. I've always excluded horse ownership - I don't have the time or the money - but a lunatic fantasy is growing at the back of my mind. HELP!


Please be careful this person's job centers around horses and the ability to sell them. Buying a horse is much like buying a used car "buyer beware" I am speaking form some experience. They are also expensive to maintain. Find a very reliable person to go with you if you decide to buy. Good luck

[sophie33]

Thanks for the advice. I will let it be known I am interested in sharing and see what happens. If I could find something like your share madmum, that would be perfect. And thanks also to N Schmidt's sound advice. Don't worry I definitely cannot afford (and am not experienced enough in my opinion) to buy a horse, I won't go that mad just yet. As it happens I really don't think my instructor was trying to push me into anything. The horse he was talking about is definitely not up for sale. They don't do livery and are not particularly involved in selling horses - they are purely a riding school and centre for hacks in the forest - and horseless I am a very good paying customer! Nonetheless, you are quite right to warn caution. If I do ever get to the buying stage I will take plenty of advice from different quarters before rushing into anything.

[pattir7]

Oh gosh, can I relate?!!

I'm 39, been back in lessons (45 minutes/week) for the last year. And like you, once a week just isn't enough anymore. I wanted to own, but now is just not a good time for us to own... possibly next year though!! So..... as a compromise, I found a nice horse to lease at my trainer's barn...and I simply 'pretend' he's mine and now I can ride all I want. Leasing or sharing really is a great thing if you aren't in a position to own yet. It also gives you a glimpse at what ownership would be like.... so that would be my advice to...find a nice horse to either share or lease....

Patti

[rabbit]

Definite "me too" here...

I wanted more than just weekly lessons, so took out a full lease. The main problem with the weekly lessons is that its generally not possible to practice until the next lesson.

Everyone says how much work it is to look after a horse, but I just can't get enough.

I bought my own horse 2 months ago, and even enjoy picking out the paddock (as much as its possible to enjoy picking up poo!! ) as its time spent with my horse. And I still have weekly lessons too.

[denise42]

You poor ( or lucky ) thing I see you have been bitten by the bug too. :)
There is no use trying to ignore it , it will just get stronger.
I went in to this just taking lessons also, and have been the proud owner of a QH mare for almost 5 years now.
I went from one lesson per week and on my horse and that was the only riding I did to now riding 3-4 days per week. My OH was not happy at first with the time away from him..he got use to it. I also take her camping with me , so that I can spend even more time with my horse.
The best you can hope for with this infliction is that you are able to keep it at ONE horse. So far I have managed to do that.
Welcome to our world and good luck :p :p

[eventingrules]

I have been in your situation. I have never had a horse, but I've been riding whenever I want for the last 2 years on other people's horses. The manager at the barn I used to take lessons at let me muck stalls (only 5 stalls 3 times a week) for riding privelages. He had a few horses for sale that needed exercising so he let me do it. It has been a great experience...especially being able to ride many different horses! I have recently switched barns and the manager there has hooked me up with some boarders that don't have time to ride, so it looks like I will be able to come out and exercise them. The key is to just let everyone know that you really want more saddle time. In my experience, if you are patient and vocal about what you want, the right opportunities will come along. There have actually been times where too many horses were availbable to me and I just didn't have enough time for all of them. Plus, I haven't had to pay a cent (except for lessons...although, I used to work for those, too!). Good luck!

[mayS]

If you're on a budget and can't afford a 2nd lesson a week, hate to say it but buying a horse isn't going to be any cheaper for you. She may also be a bit biased since she's trying to sell you one of her horses. :p

I vote that you stick with lessons and try to do them more than once a week. Some barns may give you credits towards your lessons if you help out there and/or assist with others' lessons. It can't hurt to ask.

The next step from there may be to look into part or full leases. There's so much to learn about horse care, health, shoeing, etc and it can be overwhelming. Not to mention the hardest question of all -- how to pick the right horse for you while passing over the unsound, poorly trained or unsuitable ones.

Best of luck!!

[timarti]

Waving hand in air, jumping up and down! Yup, I've been down that slippery slope! Started at age 52 with a half hour lesson a week, that wasn't enouth, one month later moved to a barn where I could part-board and have a lesson 3 times a week. A year later I convinced hubby that buying an Icelandic foal on a special plan over 5 years would cost the same as part boarding and at the end I would have my own dream horse. The foal is now 2 and I have just started part boarding another Icelandic for a weekly ride, plus I ride for free at another barn in exchange for some work. It seems I spend every spare moment scheming how to get on the back of a horse. Last winter I didn't get to ride from November to April and thought I would go mad! (But I did knit lots of sox, LOL!)
This winter should be better, I will have a horse to ride.
It's definitely an addiction, I'd be hiding horses in the closet and under beds if they were more portable :D

[Trewsers]

Timarti - tee hee, couldn't help laughing about you knitting a lot of socks!!! :D :D Its amazing just how addictive they are (horses not socks :p ) I live and breathe them now - work is just something sandwiched inbetween stable visits, it just pays the bills and keeps our horses in the lifestyle to which they are accustomed :D

[timarti]

Re the "horse camp" thing. In June I spent ten days at the Icelandic breeding farm where my foal is growing up at a "dressage clinic for pleasure riders of Icelandics". So Fun! Picture 8 adults, mostly horse crazy ladies of a "certain age" all staying together in a gorgeous large farmhouse, doing a morning lesson and a long afternoon hack. If it weren't for the blackflies, it would have been totally perfect. :p I'm going back in September for another week clinic, this time learning how to put together a demonstration ride with music, etc. and then doing the demo at a local fall fair. Hope I don't fall off! :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

[iluvhorses28]

Hi everyone.... I am a late starter as well- 33. And I find that it is more difficult for me to learn as does my 10 year old who takes the same lessons... she is now starting to advance mor and more-- while I am left at a puny trot...which I have yet to perfect....

Do any of you ever feel intimidated by riding, since you started as adults? Some days, I do quite fine...but at times, I gotta be honest... I think I am not doing anyhting right.
It takes me awhile for my horse to listen-- probobly because he knows I know nothing to begin with--haha
But I don't know how to change that.

I ride one hour a week... and yes-- it is never enough. 30 min., lesson-- 30 min. trail riding.... goes by FAST! Especially when you have a horse that won't walk for the beginning 15 minutes! :)