How can i get back in the saddle?

Question

When i was younger i was an apprentice at a local horse stable in my town for five years. I had always loved horses and had a great passion for them. I bought and owned a horse for about three years until family propblems arose and she had to be sold. I was 17 then and seemed to care more about partying anyways so i let it go. Now the partying days are over i'm 22 and stuck in a dead end job i hate. I'm married but no kids thank god. I have a mortgage two cars and live in a suburban hell. I can't think of any way to refocus on the career i threw away. I have to have my job to paybills, but work leaves little time for any hobbies other then house work. I'm miserable and depressed all the time now and my heart aches to be with horses again. I'm at a loss and don't know what to do or how to cope. My ultimate dream would be to have my own stable or ranch and teach kids to ride and get involed with horses, but i can't think of anyway to get there. I need help... any suggestions?

Answer 1

What a trap we set ourselves up in as youth! A lot of kids do this only to find out a few years later that what they got isn't what they want. I'd try to see if my husband could be interested in horses. As a young couple working a lot, you need some play time together, too. Take him on a dude ranch vacation, and get him on a gentle horse. If you can get him hooked, then you guys will have a common thing to work for.
It sound like to me that this is more of a personal life refocus than a horse question. There are some great ideas for how to get back into horses here, and I'd look into them. What it really sounds like the question is, though: How do I get the rest of my life together so I can follow the horse dream? I would visit with a career counselor at a local college - you are too young to feel stuck in a dead-end job. See about getting some classes to work toward that career that you gave up. It will take baby steps, but some action is better than no action. With your husband, set up a 1 year, 5 year, and 10 year plan for yourselves. Write a budget, and stick to it, to reduce your debt so you don't feel like you have to work 12 hours a day just to pay the bills. Scale down the car situation -maybe keep one nice one, and get another one that won't have a payment.
Also, find someone to talk to about developing coping skills. Life doesn't come with a manual and many people just struggle along forever, never figuring things out. I am almost 40, and just getting to where I want to be after taking a route similar to yours (minus the suburban thing.) The main reason it has taken so long is I spent a lot of time waiting for things to happen, instead of taking action. Write the plan, and stay realistic for at least the first year. If you can get your husband on board you will have a much greater sucess rate. We are behind you 100% - no one wants to see a horse lover deprived of a horse! Good luck and keep in touch with the forum for more support.

Side note - this is the first question I ever remember reading, where every single answer was extremely positive and encouraging. YAY! Wasn't that inspiring?

Answer 2

Yes go directly to a barn and talk with the stable manager there. Find out about therapeutic riding programs...see what it takes to becomes certified to teach the handicapped. (I have a girlfriend on Long Island that used to certify people all the time) get involved in horse rescue even if from a distance hold a fundraiser make contacts with horse people through these methods and others and opportunities will arise. Even if all you have is 1 hour a week right now you will find a way to have more time especially when you find how much that 1 hour injects into your life. If you have a racetrack near you go to the stablegate and ask for a hotwalkers job. They start early and end early and some trainers will let you work part time if they see you that you know horses. Good Luck

Answer 3

There was a question the other day by someone who wanted a job riding and grooming horses. Can you find a boarding facility that would allow you to post a sign looking for grooming or other horse related jobs? How about volunteering with a handicapped riding group?

I had gotten away from horses, too. My brother in law went on a hunting trip here and had to buy the horse he rode. he gave me the horse. I had a one year old and was caring for my mother who had been stricken with horrific arthritis. It saved me. I have five horses and board one other.

Try to start with a reasonable first step toward being around horses. Many places offer leasing a horse, even part time with one or more people. Find a way to do what you need to and don't pine over what may not be immediately attainable.

What I think is always needed are good trainers. Either to start a horse or help people with problems. You can get library books and maybe even DVDs to keep learning. Find a way to ride, first. It will give you the energy to get where you need to be.

Answer 4

OK. Let's look at it this way. If you broke your arm, it took only seconds. But recovering from that broken arm - can take months and months.

You're not going to be able to have that horse right away. It's going to take years to recover from your foolish partying years. No way around it. So let's get started.

First, you need to get into counseling. All the horses in the world will NOT take away your inner problems - and you'll only make things worse.

Secondly, apparently you need some training so you can have the career that provides the money and time you need to be involved in horses. I'd take care of that before getting the horse. Consider becoming an X-Ray tech or respiratory therapist or something like that - that doesn't require 24/7 commitments. It takes about 2 years for certifications. Not a long time, really.

Then, when you're financially stable, you can think about the horse world again.

But sitting around whining about your dead end career won't get you anywhere. Planning and goal setting (through counseling by the way) will get you what you want.

Answer 5

make ur own ranch or saddle then go to a farm buy some horses and then make a new opening and teach kids to ride horses when few people try it and u will have enough money make a restaurant there more people will come more money more horses!!! then get poneys for little children !!! hope this info will help then when u have enough money find a good job that u like or stay with the horses and the ranch or stable!!!

Answer 6

My 2 cents worth....
First and foremost, get help with your depression. Talk to your doctor. Start looking for a better job, there may be something out there that isn't dead end and will make you happier. There's nothing worse than hating your job it makes you miserable, and everyone around you is affected also. Then, talk to your husband, see if he can pick up some of those household duties to give you more free time. Investigate the barns in your area... maybe you could get a part time job at one of those... Thre may be plenty of folks looking for an exercise rider. I know I'd love to find someone to ride my guy when I can't get out to the barn.

Answer 7

i'm not so short (5'7 long leg) so i'm uncertain what precisely to tell you! yet possibly i will inform you what has labored for me and you will circumvent them? I enjoyed using in my Courbette Pandur Spezial (until eventually my horse grew a shoulder and it thoroughly bridged over her), and now I unquestionably have an old JRD leap saddle which i won't be in a position to even discover, in certainty i won't be in a position to even come across a JRD leaping saddle in any respect on line! in spite of the fact that i'm uncertain approximately that saddle nonetheless. on a similar time because it has the cost of intense high quality it sounds like it does not have the help for leaping. you do not want a thoroughly flat seat without knee roll in a velocity journey, while you're making a mistake including your place you will possibly not get it lower back!

Answer 8

Is there a riding club nearby? If so, take lessons! Start with beginner lessons to refresh your mind and gradually work your way up! Bear in mind that riding lessons don't come cheap by the way! At my riding club it wa $1000 a month- excluding lessons!

I hear that you want to own your stable/ranch. Those don't come cheap! It took my Dad a while to find one! you have to buy land and you will need a LOT of money! ( I think you might have to sell one of your cars......) It took my dad a few good months to get some land, build the stable ( Which is next to our house LOL) and buy the horses! After all that money soent, you need to buy horses, ( which are pretty expensive : I ) Our stable has about 4 horses and nobody is going to go around and help you clean up after them! ( Ok... Dad hired some people ( Syces) to come do everything for us but I'm spoilt LOL) So its a lot of money spent! As for the kids, I'm sure you could charge people for taking lessons!

Good luck!

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Answer 9

I have gone through the same thing and am just now getting back to doing what I love =) Getting yourself known (in a good way) is the most important thing in the equine world. Your networking skills can make or break you. Volunteer at shows in your area or local equestrian centers and try talking with the owners or managers. This will give you an idea to what you will be working to. Also, work with other trainers and get certified. Buy some land when you feel comfortable and build it up at a pace that works for you. Make sure to have fun with it too... you will get there!

Answer 10

Taking this in another direction, if you are knowledgeable enough to handle a stable and teach children, if you are confident enough to say that you are then..... here's an idea. The government gives out grant money for therapuetic riding schools, you may need to get yourself enrolled into some classes to "prove" yourself to the grantors. You could start researching this stuff but make sure that your looking at .GOV sites and don't get wrapped up into the schemes of purchasing a book to learn how to get grant money. Go to your states website and try looking for grant information there. You would need to put a proposal together, get $$$ figures and a plan, how many employees you would need, what kind of certifications you would have to require for yourself and your employees, your proposed pay schedules, land and building costs etc. etc. All of this you can learn about through your state. Since you have limited time in your busy schedule, this is something you can work on learning and preparing for in any spare time you have and may really lift your spirits, even if its a long term goal you need to set. Or maybe it would just take you to on a different path in the industry and something to shoot for. Just think of the many things you could learn along the way. Ofcourse, something like this is a life dedication and isn't for everyone. I know its not for me but, maybe something for you to consider looking into.

Good luck to you! Always remember this too, when one door closes another opens, even when it seems like they are closed, there's an open door waiting for you!