Oh, God! I so relate. Wonderful piece! Funny and poignant! Thank you! I rode as a kid, a little in my 20’s and then seriously for several years in my 30’s-40’s. Gave it up when I got to the point where in order to progress I needed to buy my own horse, something a then demanding job precluded. Now, at 75, I am too “Rubenesque” 🤣 and arthritic to do so. BTW, there’s a wonderful group on FB, “Riders of a Certain Age,” for women and many of those returned to riding after many years. And, yes, it’s a money pit. BUT, I am so glad you had a turn with Honey. You’ll never have to wonder if you should have returned to riding and sounds like you made a match for Honey and her new human. I’m still passionate about horses and thanks to Go-Pros & social media I can ride virtually whenever I want. Happy trails, Kate!
Lovely comment. Thank you for sharing that. Yes, once a horse lover always a horse lover. And you’re right, I had a stab at it and I’m glad I did. Thank you for reading xx
You have made me laugh out loud 😂 purely because I can relate to nearly every single word! It was practically the main reason my husband got divorced! (Alongside being a self centred prick) so thank you for perking me up this much… I’m chuckling again!!!
Such an entertaining read, as usual! I can relate. I have a daughter who owns a horse. She has been living overseas for 5 years now with no sign of coming home. Guess who has oversight of the horse now!
To be fair she is now relatively old (27) and living in a retirement paddock with other retired horses where there's lots of grass most of the year. She just needs a bit of supplementary feed occasionally in winter and a visit to the Farrier every 8-10 weeks to get her hooves trimmed. We do visit her quite often with carrots though. We have become very attached to her! In New Zealand most horses are grazed rather than stabled.
It sounds like she having a lovely retirement. So many horses aren’t so lucky. The preference here is for grazing too but they usually come in at night in winter. I’m at the age now where a grazed retirement horse that I can just feed carrots to would be perfect!
This tale is worth both a follow and a subscribe. I understand and empathize completely. My story runs along the same lines, except I sold my last horse in my late 40s and have not ridden since. In between I, too, spent a fortune and suffered through buying horses that seemed to hate me, culminating in the one whose aim in life was either to maim or kill me. Finally I realized my life was worth more than my lifelong dream. Good for you to accept that horse ownership was not for you. Yet for me there are still those lovely spring days when I think, “What a wonderful day for a ride!”
Thank you Heather ❤️ I feel your pain. Horses are not for the faint hearted! I so know what you mean about riding days. There’s nothing like a spring day or a crisp autumn morning for riding. When I’m out walking I still come across lanes and pathways and imagine hacking down it. Still, at least we got to experience the pain and joy which is more than many get to do 😁
You had me with your description of Mrs. Pilkington.
I was another one of those kids routinely seen as "having ideas above his station", because I wanted to go to University and become a scientist. I hadn't learn survival filtering back then, and so when someone asked me a question, I would give them an answer that invariably got me either side-eye, or a good thumping later.
A poiniant tale from my home City of Sheffield, and yes I remember the days of, "Mr Ed," the talking horse and, "Champion the wonder horse."
Although if the equine virus strikes, that love will find a way. My late sister was smitten at the age of 14, like many money was tight for working class families. But she found a way, including repurposing leather dog leads into a halter. Having got permission, she trained up on an ex-milkfloat draft.
Working years caused a break in the plan, but once a horse girl, always a horse girl. She became an equestrian, taught her daughter to ride and enjoyed many a happy hour trekking on a rental.
When I needed to research for my Centaur character, she was more than willing to give me a lift to the riding center, my first lesson at the age of 58. While there she asked me what was my favorite horse, well Friesians certainly had character. To which one lady overhearing this proudly stated that she had one, I asked my sister how much? She laughed, and said, "Around £75,000."
Sadly my sister succumbed to cancer at the age of 53, there was only one option, a horse drawn hearse. I found it surreal that as we passed fields of horses, each would stand by their fence head bowed down in silent tribute.
A super read, Kate. Loved your descriptions of Mrs Pilkington and of horsey people. I love horses too and rode until my late teens. I think we all dreamt of owning a horse and if I’d ever had the means later on, I would have jumped at the chance like you. Fortunately too old and decrepit now !
One of my bffs has a horse so I get it! She won’t tell me how much the “horse care” is monthly—haha—because she said I’d fall over! She is praying her husband doesn’t decide to retire soon as it may cut into her horsey budget. lol
Ahhh, horse people! My cousin got into horses. She built a stable block for her horses and for years lived in a caravan next door. The horses lived in better conditions than she did! 🤣
Horse & Hound. Thelwell pony bedspreads, wallpaper, everything. Another horsey girl here. I went on riding holidays and never wanted to go home. Then one winter I came home from school to a horse box attached to our car. We were off to pick up Sally, a moody grey mare for me to look after until spring when she went back to being a trekking pony. I was in heaven. Then moved to London, found a stables and worked every weekend to ride. Still dream of owning one (or several) but it’ll never happen unless I win the lottery. 😂
Thelwell girl! I’ve still got my Thelwell books!! I can only imagine the utter joy you must have felt when you got to look after that pony!! But trust me, if you win the lottery, it’s a different game when you’re older!!
Haha. About 8 years ago I went back and had lessons. Bought all the gear (obvs) and fuck me, I was in agony. My mate is going to a ranch in the states on holiday this year and I am soooooo jealous!!
I have a complete right knee replacement, so it doesn't have the same flexibility as the one supplied by nature. It was interesting mounting from the left, but once over I found Margaret a six year old Clydesdale mare was a true gentle giant. True it was only a half hour private lesson on a lunge rein, but I thoroughly enjoyed it, like sitting in a comfortable air chair.
Next day I did have aches, and pains in areas I never knew existed.🤣
"They rarely, if ever, take any bullshit from anyone, don’t tolerate fools and every last one of them believes they are an expert equestrian." Bahahah I was gonna say have you met my sister? but i guess they really are all like this! lol
I really love Your stories. Mine is from a different perspective though. Two weeks ago my youngest had First Communion and afterwards we went to celebrate at equestrian club a few willages avay. My line of thinkinking was:" Let's spend our special day outside, kids can get properly dirty, see and feed real live horses and a donkey with some apples and carrots (I asked the owner before for a permission). The owner, really nice young man, offered to take for a ride anyone who was interested. I really didn't expect that there will be many interested, but, as it turned out, it was the highlight ot the day. And my youngest one fell madly in love with horses. So now, he is expecting at least a riding school. He naturally want's a horse but I've managed to pospone it because we really can't fit a horse in our flat.
And that's the Catch 22, how to let your kid have his dream when all I can think of how much money we will need to spend on basic equipment if he starts riding and how much extra time that we don't have will go into driving to and fro for those lessons. How to not break your kids heart, and yours as well? And, according to the owner of the stable, the boy is natural.
I feel your pain but it wasn’t doable for my parents as it’s a ridiculously expensive hobby, and sometimes you have to accept that and make your dream come true yourself! Horses are a money pit and a total lifestyle, not a pastime but of course it’s a wonderful life if you can do it! I wish you all the best with it and send love ❤️
Sadly in the UK our dire economic situation has piled pain on employers with increased minimum wage, National insurance, energy and running costs that many liveries and equestrian schools are closing.
A local rescue center has 25 horses, they normally have 120 huge bails of hay with the possibility of a second cut. This year with the driest Spring on record, they have 49.
It’s so tough out there isn’t it. I know a lot of yards have closed around here. Horses are expensive animals and not everyone is prepared for it but also age and illness play a big part, not just of owners but the people they may have to care for. It’s a game for fit people that’s for sure. It’s such a shame. It’s a great life but it is a life, not a weekend hobby.
I empathize. I also went down the path of horse ownership, not for myself but for my youngest daughter. She was a lovely Tennessee Walker, fully trained show horse, and terrifying for the 50 something dude to ride a horse of her size. It was all fine for about a year, then she started to lose interest. The owner of the barn where we kept her started asking us for more help. Actually did some fence repair, on top of taking care of 6 horses and 8 goats while she was away. Then the owner of the land the barn was on decided to sell out. We had to move. And then move again and then move again. I was done. I was lucky to pawn her off sell her to a friend at work. I think I got $200.
You are right, it is a lifestyle. I know for certain that I am not a horse person.
It’s a huge commitment. I had her for 5 years but aging parents and the arrival of grandkids put more pressure on. If I had t have sold her to that particular person though, I’m not sure I would have sold her at all. I did love the beast!!
It was honestly not the horses fault. She was lovely. But liek you said, it's a huge committment. More than I had bandwidth for. And I wasn't aware at th etime, but you can get good horses for nearly nothin ghere if you know the right people. They is always someone looking to find a home for a horse they love. It's probably similar there.
Oh, God! I so relate. Wonderful piece! Funny and poignant! Thank you! I rode as a kid, a little in my 20’s and then seriously for several years in my 30’s-40’s. Gave it up when I got to the point where in order to progress I needed to buy my own horse, something a then demanding job precluded. Now, at 75, I am too “Rubenesque” 🤣 and arthritic to do so. BTW, there’s a wonderful group on FB, “Riders of a Certain Age,” for women and many of those returned to riding after many years. And, yes, it’s a money pit. BUT, I am so glad you had a turn with Honey. You’ll never have to wonder if you should have returned to riding and sounds like you made a match for Honey and her new human. I’m still passionate about horses and thanks to Go-Pros & social media I can ride virtually whenever I want. Happy trails, Kate!
Lovely comment. Thank you for sharing that. Yes, once a horse lover always a horse lover. And you’re right, I had a stab at it and I’m glad I did. Thank you for reading xx
You have made me laugh out loud 😂 purely because I can relate to nearly every single word! It was practically the main reason my husband got divorced! (Alongside being a self centred prick) so thank you for perking me up this much… I’m chuckling again!!!
So pleased to have helped my fellow horsewoman lol!!
A huge thank you 😄!!!
Such an entertaining read, as usual! I can relate. I have a daughter who owns a horse. She has been living overseas for 5 years now with no sign of coming home. Guess who has oversight of the horse now!
Oh bless you for taking that on!
To be fair she is now relatively old (27) and living in a retirement paddock with other retired horses where there's lots of grass most of the year. She just needs a bit of supplementary feed occasionally in winter and a visit to the Farrier every 8-10 weeks to get her hooves trimmed. We do visit her quite often with carrots though. We have become very attached to her! In New Zealand most horses are grazed rather than stabled.
It sounds like she having a lovely retirement. So many horses aren’t so lucky. The preference here is for grazing too but they usually come in at night in winter. I’m at the age now where a grazed retirement horse that I can just feed carrots to would be perfect!
This tale is worth both a follow and a subscribe. I understand and empathize completely. My story runs along the same lines, except I sold my last horse in my late 40s and have not ridden since. In between I, too, spent a fortune and suffered through buying horses that seemed to hate me, culminating in the one whose aim in life was either to maim or kill me. Finally I realized my life was worth more than my lifelong dream. Good for you to accept that horse ownership was not for you. Yet for me there are still those lovely spring days when I think, “What a wonderful day for a ride!”
Thank you Heather ❤️ I feel your pain. Horses are not for the faint hearted! I so know what you mean about riding days. There’s nothing like a spring day or a crisp autumn morning for riding. When I’m out walking I still come across lanes and pathways and imagine hacking down it. Still, at least we got to experience the pain and joy which is more than many get to do 😁
Brought back memories....and the scent...
Ahh the scent!! ❤️
You had me with your description of Mrs. Pilkington.
I was another one of those kids routinely seen as "having ideas above his station", because I wanted to go to University and become a scientist. I hadn't learn survival filtering back then, and so when someone asked me a question, I would give them an answer that invariably got me either side-eye, or a good thumping later.
A poiniant tale from my home City of Sheffield, and yes I remember the days of, "Mr Ed," the talking horse and, "Champion the wonder horse."
Although if the equine virus strikes, that love will find a way. My late sister was smitten at the age of 14, like many money was tight for working class families. But she found a way, including repurposing leather dog leads into a halter. Having got permission, she trained up on an ex-milkfloat draft.
Working years caused a break in the plan, but once a horse girl, always a horse girl. She became an equestrian, taught her daughter to ride and enjoyed many a happy hour trekking on a rental.
When I needed to research for my Centaur character, she was more than willing to give me a lift to the riding center, my first lesson at the age of 58. While there she asked me what was my favorite horse, well Friesians certainly had character. To which one lady overhearing this proudly stated that she had one, I asked my sister how much? She laughed, and said, "Around £75,000."
Sadly my sister succumbed to cancer at the age of 53, there was only one option, a horse drawn hearse. I found it surreal that as we passed fields of horses, each would stand by their fence head bowed down in silent tribute.
Aww that’s such a lovely but sad story. ❤️
A super read, Kate. Loved your descriptions of Mrs Pilkington and of horsey people. I love horses too and rode until my late teens. I think we all dreamt of owning a horse and if I’d ever had the means later on, I would have jumped at the chance like you. Fortunately too old and decrepit now !
Me too Maureen!
Possibly cheaper than a car……then again, maybe not.
Most definitely not. I could have bought a fleet of cars for what that little lady cost me!!
One of my bffs has a horse so I get it! She won’t tell me how much the “horse care” is monthly—haha—because she said I’d fall over! She is praying her husband doesn’t decide to retire soon as it may cut into her horsey budget. lol
Ahhh, horse people! My cousin got into horses. She built a stable block for her horses and for years lived in a caravan next door. The horses lived in better conditions than she did! 🤣
That made me laugh so much as I completely believe it 😂😂😂
You had me at blancmange!
😂😂😂
Horse & Hound. Thelwell pony bedspreads, wallpaper, everything. Another horsey girl here. I went on riding holidays and never wanted to go home. Then one winter I came home from school to a horse box attached to our car. We were off to pick up Sally, a moody grey mare for me to look after until spring when she went back to being a trekking pony. I was in heaven. Then moved to London, found a stables and worked every weekend to ride. Still dream of owning one (or several) but it’ll never happen unless I win the lottery. 😂
Thelwell girl! I’ve still got my Thelwell books!! I can only imagine the utter joy you must have felt when you got to look after that pony!! But trust me, if you win the lottery, it’s a different game when you’re older!!
Haha. About 8 years ago I went back and had lessons. Bought all the gear (obvs) and fuck me, I was in agony. My mate is going to a ranch in the states on holiday this year and I am soooooo jealous!!
I have a complete right knee replacement, so it doesn't have the same flexibility as the one supplied by nature. It was interesting mounting from the left, but once over I found Margaret a six year old Clydesdale mare was a true gentle giant. True it was only a half hour private lesson on a lunge rein, but I thoroughly enjoyed it, like sitting in a comfortable air chair.
Next day I did have aches, and pains in areas I never knew existed.🤣
There’s nothing like that feeling 😁
"They rarely, if ever, take any bullshit from anyone, don’t tolerate fools and every last one of them believes they are an expert equestrian." Bahahah I was gonna say have you met my sister? but i guess they really are all like this! lol
Pretty much all the ones I’ve met lol!!
I really love Your stories. Mine is from a different perspective though. Two weeks ago my youngest had First Communion and afterwards we went to celebrate at equestrian club a few willages avay. My line of thinkinking was:" Let's spend our special day outside, kids can get properly dirty, see and feed real live horses and a donkey with some apples and carrots (I asked the owner before for a permission). The owner, really nice young man, offered to take for a ride anyone who was interested. I really didn't expect that there will be many interested, but, as it turned out, it was the highlight ot the day. And my youngest one fell madly in love with horses. So now, he is expecting at least a riding school. He naturally want's a horse but I've managed to pospone it because we really can't fit a horse in our flat.
And that's the Catch 22, how to let your kid have his dream when all I can think of how much money we will need to spend on basic equipment if he starts riding and how much extra time that we don't have will go into driving to and fro for those lessons. How to not break your kids heart, and yours as well? And, according to the owner of the stable, the boy is natural.
I feel your pain but it wasn’t doable for my parents as it’s a ridiculously expensive hobby, and sometimes you have to accept that and make your dream come true yourself! Horses are a money pit and a total lifestyle, not a pastime but of course it’s a wonderful life if you can do it! I wish you all the best with it and send love ❤️
Sadly in the UK our dire economic situation has piled pain on employers with increased minimum wage, National insurance, energy and running costs that many liveries and equestrian schools are closing.
A local rescue center has 25 horses, they normally have 120 huge bails of hay with the possibility of a second cut. This year with the driest Spring on record, they have 49.
It’s so tough out there isn’t it. I know a lot of yards have closed around here. Horses are expensive animals and not everyone is prepared for it but also age and illness play a big part, not just of owners but the people they may have to care for. It’s a game for fit people that’s for sure. It’s such a shame. It’s a great life but it is a life, not a weekend hobby.
A brilliantly told story!
Thank you 😁
I empathize. I also went down the path of horse ownership, not for myself but for my youngest daughter. She was a lovely Tennessee Walker, fully trained show horse, and terrifying for the 50 something dude to ride a horse of her size. It was all fine for about a year, then she started to lose interest. The owner of the barn where we kept her started asking us for more help. Actually did some fence repair, on top of taking care of 6 horses and 8 goats while she was away. Then the owner of the land the barn was on decided to sell out. We had to move. And then move again and then move again. I was done. I was lucky to pawn her off sell her to a friend at work. I think I got $200.
You are right, it is a lifestyle. I know for certain that I am not a horse person.
It’s a huge commitment. I had her for 5 years but aging parents and the arrival of grandkids put more pressure on. If I had t have sold her to that particular person though, I’m not sure I would have sold her at all. I did love the beast!!
It was honestly not the horses fault. She was lovely. But liek you said, it's a huge committment. More than I had bandwidth for. And I wasn't aware at th etime, but you can get good horses for nearly nothin ghere if you know the right people. They is always someone looking to find a home for a horse they love. It's probably similar there.
Yes, and never more so than in a recession. The expense is unbelievable!