Anyone with young children got a horse?...am i being selfish?

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Pencilbeckett

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Mar 12, 2009
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Staffordshire
Hi

Just wondered if anyone out there has young children and a horse. I am planning to buy myself a horse as a 30th birthday present in august. I have waited 20 years very patiently. However, my twins are only 3 years old, they go to nursery term time all day tues and weds and start school next year. We have just moved to live on the farm where the livery is, so the horse will be outside the front door and the stables about 30 seconds away. I feel so guilty to the twins getting the horse. My hubby will turn the horse out before leaving for work in the morning and i am planning to muck out and do any jobs during the day. Problem is when the children are off nursery they will have to hang out at the stables with me, which from a safety point of veiw is fine as all the horses there are turned out and the farm is small and friendly with lots of us living there and it is barely a working farm now. I will have to go out in the evening and feed, pick hooves etc. My husband also has a weekday and a sunday off so its not going to be an everyday thing for the kids.

Am i selfish please be honest.

Thanks Jenni xxx
 
I don't think so - why would you be ??

I grew up on a working farm surrounded by horses.. I had a great outdoors childhood, wasn't maimed in anyway and it taught me responsibility, empathy and common sense! I think your kids will be lucky to have such a life!
 
I don't think you are being selfish at all. You are giving your children the chance of a life better than most. I'm sure that they will love helping you out around the yard etc. It will also teach your children responsibility and get them away from the dreaded goggle box.

I too went back to horses last year after a long break and having children (mine are 8 & 9 now). I wished I had done it sooner!! I currently only part loan 4 days a week, bt my two love coming to the yard, they run around the farm, help the other liveries and both of them now ride too. Its the best decision I have made in years, and as soon as I can afford it I will be getting my own horse again.
STOP FEELING GUILTY AND ENJOY!!
Good luck horse hunting and let us know how you get on:)
 
Not at all, I have 4 children aged from 8 months to 8 years and several horses. I do limit the amount of time the children have to be at the yard etc and makde sure we have plenty of days where we do stuff for the children.

My horses keep me sane and I would be awful without them! Live your dream and enjoy every minute:)
 
No way is it selfish, i have 1 horse and 2 ponys and two girls aged 2 and 6, they are always out and stables with me and love it so much they both have they own ponys now and i love thatt we can share a hobbie together.

Iam sure your twins will be the same, they might end up with the horse bug to and want a pony!! haha.xxx
 
not at all..i have a 6 years old(full time school) and a just turned 1 year old..id say its beneficial to them, they are outdoors much more than before and we walk a lot and get out in the country fresh air etc. id rather go riding and leave them with a sitter than go out clubbing and leave them x
 
Dont be daft ! Your allowed a bit of life for yourself too !


My older kids are 18 & 17 & they grew up with mum's horses just outside the door. (and im proud to say are both horse daft)

My younger two, kinda missed out on the horse & toddler relationship as I had really bad time having them & couldnt walk for 3yrs so had to sell on the youngster I had.

But here we are, all fixed & patched up, lil ones are now 6 & 5 & mums getting back into riding & unknown by the lil 2, not only has a horse for mum sorted out, but also a pony for them to both learn the art of being horse daft with.
 
I could have done it sooner if I'd been able to keep one at home. For me it wasn't possible until my daughter started full time school.

I'd kill to be in your position you lucky thing :D
 
No just make sure they dont get bred. Get them painting pictures and stuff like that because if they get bored and start wining then they could get in trouble with you :)
 
No, not selfish but I agree that you may have to limit time that they are with you doing horses or make it fun for them eg take drawing, colouring, small toys etc. or give them fun jobs such as washing feed buckets out/helping mix feeds.

If you need to, get jobs done quick. When I'm taking my kids out for the day I can get all the neccessaries (bring in, feed, do water, turn out) done in about 15mins (two ponies). Having them on your doorstep makes a huge difference too, mine are only 5-10 mins walk from me.

Btw, I have 5 children aged 9yrs (autistic) 6yrs, 3yrs (dyspraxic, signs), 2yrs and 7 months (has MCADD) It isn't easy but is possible. My eldest two are at school all day and my next two go to playschool, my 3yr old starts school in sept)
 
I too waited until my 30th year (I'm still 29 :p) to buy my first horse. My boy is 7 and is at the age where he loves helping and so is totally involved therefore lessening the guilt of having another one to care for in my life (I'm sure any parent reading this will know what I mean). As long as you have the time to devote to both your children and the horse then you shouldn't feel you are being selfish, hopefully the horse will become an extension to your family like Ruby has to ours.
 
I got my first horse(Molly) when my girls were young (2+4 ), they enjoyed her so much they went on to have their own ponies and many happy years at pony club later they are now 18 +20 and still come out on the occasional hack with there old mum. they don't ride as much now , I have 4 horses and they still chose Molly who is now 30!!!!
Go for it
 
Thanks so much for the replys so far i feel alot better knowing i am amongst other mums. Having little ones you feel you should come last. I am really hoping at least one of them takes an interest, i would much rather they grew up hanging with friends from the riding club or on the yard than by a spar shop. I would love to get a pony later if they showed real interest.

Thanks again you guys are lovely.:o
 
You are not the least bit selfish.

Mothers owning horses should be subsidised by the government; the current bunch of losers subsidise a lot of far less productive things and this is something that gets children outdoors and exercising without even knowing it!

I am a crabbed old thing and don't even like children very much (my own 'grew on me' - it wasn't an instant rush of maternal love immediately they were born) but even so, I think that children and horses are, in general, very good for each other.
 
Totally agree with everyone else, I have a 3 year old daugher and work full time. My horse is on DIY and i sort him out on my way to and from work and then if i want to ride go back up later in the evening once she has gone to bed. I take her up to yard with me at the weekends and think it is great for her to be outdoors in the fresh (and not so fresh :rolleyes:) air. She loves 'helping' to muck out and fill hay nets etc and thinks running up and down the muck heap is he best game in the world! :rolleyes: If she starts to muck around she has so sit in her buggy and read a book till i'm done which she doesn't mind. Everything takes longer when shes there but is much more enjoyable. Only thing i find with a young child is that i cant ride as much as i'd like as i would never leave her alone at least for a few more years yet. My only suggestion is to invest in some all in one waterproof suits! My 3 year old manages to find the wetest muddyest spots even when its warm and dry :rolleyes:

Good luck and enjoy xx
 
I'll just add that the only thing to beware of is if your children attend a nursery or playgroup ... reports of 'mummy chased me round and round with a big whip', 'I picked up all of Rosie's poo in my hands' and 'Did you know that Jack has got a great big wee-wee?' will not always be understood in the fashion in which they are meant by some over-zealous PC-indoctrinated paid carers ...
 
I don't think you are being selfish, infact quite the opposite! I would have loved to have grown up with horses and had a 'horsey mummy'!
 
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