Recently I stood in line at the grocery store behind a mom with three kids, ages ranging from toddler to 6 years old. While the kiddos were definitely cute and not necessarily poorly behaved, mom certainly had her hands full.
“I’m hungry.”
“I’m bored.”
“Give me attention!”
Mom looked happy but tired.
Wow, she’s way outnumbered, thought I, who doesn’t have children. I drove home and didn’t think much more about the mom and her children. That was until I got out of the car and saw the three eager faces of my horses looking over the gate.
“I’m hungry.”
“I’m bored.”
“Give me attention!”
Wow, I’m outnumbered, I thought.
Now, I’m not saying that managing my horses is the same or as challenging as raising children of the human variety. But in my world my horses are a huge commitment, both of time and money. And my horses are, basically, my kids.
So how did I, one person with a supportive but fairly nonhorsey husband, end up with three horses?
Well, I bred, raised, and showed my then-Quarter-Horse-futurity-prospect, Jack, who’s now 11 years old.
Then I started competing him at the lower levels of dressage.
My husband and I moved to a small horse property, and it’s best not to keep a horse alone.
So, I bought Marathon, a Hanoverian with super gaits, to go up the levels in dressage.
Marathon went lame, and I spent more than a year with my veterinarians and farrier trying to get him sound.
To lift my spirits and have a h
re: I Have Too Many Horses
I am currently without a horse of my own, and I am lost with all of the "free time" I have now. I don’t know how to fill the void left empty.
re: I Have Too Many Horses
I have four horses; the youngest is 8 and the oldest is 19 years old. In any of my spare time I’ll ride one horse and pony the other on miles of trails; it’s my one passion in life; they are my family!
re: I Have Too Many Horses
I have 10 horses. 4 Tennessee Walkers in their 20s who are retired, 1 Walker who foundered is not ridable, 1 Mule, 1 Pony, 1 Thoroughbred rescue, my 16 year old trail riding horse and my husband’s 7 year old trail riding horse who are both
re: I Have Too Many Horses
Four here … stallion, mare, 2 year old and a 2 week old full sisters. Don’t plan to do any more breeding but may end up with a rescue gelding. I’m retired and have the time.
re: I Have Too Many Horses
Is it bad that I couldn’t quickly say exactly how many I have? Lets see, at home there is one racking filly, one day she is goanna be a speed horse but until then she is the best pasture mate and loves everyone. There are 4 Saddlebred broodmares, two o
re: I Have Too Many Horses
Yes I have always had too many horses and have loved each and everyone. I have been a breeder, and rescuer, for more than 30 years from which I have retained 5 stallions and 10 mares and one gelding. Of These only 5 would not be considered senior. I al
re: I Have Too Many Horses
Being a newbie to horse ownership (2 yrs now), I share them with my friend. They spend winters with me while she is in Florida and the rest of the time with her because she has plenty of acreage. I’ve just started this journey at the age of 55 and woul
re: I Have Too Many Horses
Thanks everyone for sharing your stories! I’m glad I’m not the only one with "too many horses"!
re: I Have Too Many Horses
This is why I love horse people. I visited a wonderful rescue last week in Encinitas that has saved over 100 horses in the past 7 years. They have 7 permanent residents, and it’s obvious that the people who care for them love them all. &nbs
re: I Have Too Many Horses
Your story really touches a nerve. I have only 4 footed fur children which include 13 horses. How does one accumulate 13 horses? By giving them forever homes. I have 3 retired broodmares, 1 rescue horse, my husband has a rocky m
re: I Have Too Many Horses
I have 2 horses, 2 cats and 2 dogs, all on my 5 acre property with no kids and a non-horsey hubby that helps with the horses without argument. When I am feeling a little overwhelmed, I remember that if I didnt have them I would most certainly be
re: I Have Too Many Horses
You don’t have too many horses! When you are out working with one, the other two can keep each other company. I wish I could talk my hubby into one more…. 😉
re: I Have Too Many Horses
We rescued and rehomed or lent out horses for over 20 years; now I’m 63 and find myself with only my husband’s horse (that I no longer can ride) and our donkey….. what happened?
re: I Have Too Many Horses
I have both horses and kids, together we own and love 7 beautiful, but all very different, horses. Can’t imagine my life with out them. They range from wild rescue brumbies to an elderly ex-cutting horse -we have 2 thoroughbreds, 1 thoroughbred x paint
re: I Have Too Many Horses
I have 3 too many. They are my kids. Someone offered to buy one of them a year ago. I knew it would make my life easier, and I can devout more attention to the other two. I couldn’t sell him. I would rather have him as a l
re: I Have Too Many Horses
I have 4 GORGEOUS boys…September Wind, Captain’s Cheer, I am what I am and Electric Lightning. They are all retired Thoroughbred race horses. I love them all but yes, do find it hard to spread my time between them. I also have a hubby who is very ner
re: I Have Too Many Horses
Well, everyone has always said I had too many horses… As mine are BIG! I raise Shires and do currently have 11. I have a sales contract on one, so really, even though Bullwinkle still here, technically, he belongs to someone else… I stand one stall
re: I Have Too Many Horses
I actually have 7…. Love them all and wouldn’t get rid of any of them for the world. I DO have a girl that free leases one of them and works with him, but he lives with my guys and I have free access to do anything I want with him.
re: I Have Too Many Horses
I worked on horse farms in my early adult years. For some reason, many farm owners feel a single groom can handle more horses than a "regular" person. I had far, far too many horses to care for (sometimes over thirty) at any one time.
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