Breathing Space

I noticed this thread on COTH and read through it with interest.  It is the question posed by a woman who has multiple horses and a full time job, "How do you do it all?"  Many folks chimed in with their schedules, and many reiterated, "It's hard!"

Dee with a training team

This year, I am reducing the number of horses I own, because I have realized, or long-known, actually, that one rider cannot sufficiently exercise five horses while also having a full-time job to pay for said horses.

While they were too young to be ridden, no problem.  I could do ground work and give them all sufficient attention, but now that they are all riding age, I see it’s just physically impossible to train and ride them all on my schedule. 

So, at this writing, Dee is at a trainer’s, learning how to go well under saddle.  As I have mentioned, I believe that this training is necessary for her to have a shot at a good home. 

Paying a professional trainer is an expensive proposition for me, but I see it as the best option, due to my time constraints, desire to focus on another horse (Starlight) and lack of interest in getting hurt again while training a greenie to be ridden.   And it’s expensive because I want it done well, and kindly.  Finding a quality trainer who does what she says, puts in the hours she promises, and shows steady progress – well, it’s just not cheap.

While watching Dee’s trainer working with her, I see a team of people in support, something I don’t have.  So, I congratulate myself for having trained those that I have by myself, but admit that in some cases, as with a more difficult horse such as Dee, it’s better to employ someone who has time and resources to give to the horse.   

In the jailhouse now...lucky number 7?

I have also asked the trainer to sell Dee for me.  Again, this is a matter of her having the time to give to all the lookers, and people who want to come back and see her multiple times.  It’s also a matter of her having an indoor arena to be able to show her anytime, no matter the time of day or the weather.  

And, frankly, it was hard enough to separate Dee from her little herd once.  I don’t want to bring her back, just to do it again.

My goal is to reduce down to three, which means one more will exit the farm this year.  Even at four, as I am now, I notice the breathing space from having one less horse.   Starlight is benefiting from the focus, and hurtling forward in her training. 

And I’m thinking to myself, “Dang! Fewer horses is funner!” (I don’t always think grammatically correctly).   

Sometimes, you just don't realize how much pressure you put on yourself until a little of it is relieved. 

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