A hypothetical question for you all :)

[maggies_lens]

So I was out in the paddock with my elderly brumby gelding the other day, rugging and feeding (we're in winter here in Australia) when I got to thinking. What would you do

Comments

[xxxx_jenny_xxxx]

Yes I would keep the horse! That's what I have at the moment, I'm not big on competing so my mare is purely pleasure, sure she's done a few showjumping, but not with me. It wouldn't bother me at all if I couldn't compete or breed my dream horse/pony as I will have it for the rest of it's life regardless having so much fun just going on hacks/trails and pottering around! It's not about competiton at all with me.

I'd never get bored as it would be my dream horse, my mare would be like the one you described at the start, for me anyway, I know pleanty of people who arn't able to ride her because apparently she's a 'bitch' haha, she's only good with me! I'd never get bored as there's always a new hacking route to find, there's always the beach rides, forest rides, learning new things just for the fun of it! I've had my mare for 3 years and have never competeted her, and I havn't gotten bored yet!

Maybe I'm just weird, but I love my horse for her compantionship and friendship, not because I can go out and win a few ribbons, she's my baby

[xxxx_jenny_xxxx]

My baby!

[maggies_lens]

oh wow, she's a serious beauty!!!!

[alicephilippa]

There is only one sensible answer, IMV, and that is I'd keep the horse. Competing has always been a sideline for me. I suffer from chronic social anxiety and competing has always been difficult, so not competing in any shape or form is no biggie.

Not cpmpeting would not stop me from honing and improving my skills as a horsewoman, nor would it stop me from improving the training of the horse.

Beyond training, going out on hack/trail rides is a wonderful way to unwind. So there is always that.

I've never been bored when working with horses.

[maggies_lens]

Awesome! Well, apart from the social anxiety thing, that's not so awesome. But I totally agree with you, it's NEVER boring being around horses :)

[fusaichipegasus]

Easy answer, I'd keep it. I pretty much only do pleasure riding with my current horse anyway. Hes a fat and happy horse.

[maggies_lens]

Happy horse is the only thing that matters really, hey :)

[coanteen]

I'd keep the horse and do what I currently do. I don't show anyways :)

But if I was into, say, endurance in a big way and this was presented to me, I'd consider rehoming it. I mean, it's a weirdo hypothetical, so if competition was very important to me I might go in that direction.

[maggies_lens]

Yeah it was a bit of a weird one, I was curious to see what people would do in sucha situtaion. Here it's quite cheap to own a pasture puff, I assume the costs go up quite a bit when you are in an environment that means stabling, hard feed etc, and that would be a huge consideration for many riders.

[nightchild01]

I'd keep the horse. But I hated the few shows I did and it wouldn't bother me to not have to get up at the asscrack of dawn and struggle with anxiety the whole day. Plus I'm not big into breeding because when I was a kid we had friends who raised Shires and there was one year that they lost their whole set of foals for an unknown reason (they had people come out to test the ground, water, everything -- nothing was ever found); it was devastating.

[maggies_lens]

OMG that's so awful D: Those poor foals. I think I'd have a mental breakdown from the anxiety if I ever owned a mare in foal :P

[nightchild01]

It was just terrible. I was at their place during one of the births. At first we thought the foal was going to be fine but then he just fell down. They had to rush the mare and foal to the veterinary teaching hospital near by but the little guy didn't make it =( It was awful being there and helping with the birth and then having the little guy die like he did. Very traumatic and left an impression, for sure.