How do "you" explain the horse addiction?

[MunchkinsMom]

[QUOTE=coloredcowhorse;5485029]
I’ve often thought it might even be genetic…a “horse” gene or perhaps an “animal” gene that gets fixed on horses. I was an army officers kid, moved 33 times between kindergarten and high school graduation and was always the new kid on the block. My grandfather raised Saddlebreds and my dad and uncles and he kept the family farm during the Depression by training Army remount horses. My dad didn’t like horses. My mother is terrified of them and thinks I’m nuts (or maybe not even hers although I suspect that she’s given that one up pretty much). Neither husband was horsey. Older son…he’d live eat and breath them if he could. Younger one, raised with them…city kid all the way. Recessive gene? Appears to skip generations and to appear from parents without obvious traits. Just a thought.[/QUOTE]

Similar story here, army-brat, moved a bunch, I’ve been horse crazy my whole life. Neither of my parents are. My grandmother told me stories of riding the farm plow horses, but back then horses were more like the tractor or car, or at least that was their main purpose.

I give up trying to explain it, only other folks with the same “affliction” get it. I just told my brother on the phone two hours ago that it is a genetic defect, when he was wondering why I do this when I told him the latest foot stomp incident.

[bumknees]

When I say go back and see I was not talking about those who used them in daily life or out of necessity.Im talking those who made horses their way of life an that were their passions. It is my understandng that the one guy who was ‘at court’ with what ever king of england could rattle off all the good bloodlines of good horses no matter racers, or plow horses. That is obsession not just oh I like horse sbecause I need them for_____.

Now if one can believe their grandparents ( I have not yet even attempted ot confirm or discredit this ) my dd’s mother apparently rode at Devon. This would have been pre 1920… Though it maybe something I will do when i dive more into that family tree.

[AppendixQHLover]

It is in my blood from birth.

My mom is a horse lover…she spoils my boys ROTTEN. She doesn’t ride them since they are big and she likes little horses. When I retired my old man she wanted to talk to her landlord about putting up a small barn and letting him retire out there. They have about 10 acres that are farmed…so it was a no.

My cousins up in Northern Maryland are big into horses also.

My hubby has given up trying to understand it. My FIL tells me that my horses are a waste of money. To which I tell him smoking is a waste of money and yet you do it. He has since stopped saying stuff since it is true.

Everyone has moneypits. Mine just has 4 legs, beautiful eyes, and his own opinion.

When I was without horses for a time because of the lack of funds and working to much. I think I died a little bit in my heart. I filled that time with other stuff, but once I started riding again there was a piece of me that came to life. Now…I won’t go without them again.

[jen-s]

[QUOTE=AppendixQHLover;5487251]
Everyone has moneypits. Mine just has 4 legs, beautiful eyes, and his own opinion.

When I was without horses for a time because of the lack of funds and working to much. I think I died a little bit in my heart. I filled that time with other stuff, but once I started riding again there was a piece of me that came to life. Now…I won’t go without them again.[/QUOTE]

AQHL–I think you hit the nail on the head with these two statements! Absolutely perfect and so very true. Can I steal them for my signature and share them with my horsey Facebook friends?

[equusvilla]

It is a gift from God and I totally embrace it!

[Leather]

I call it “The Sickness” and I was born with it.

For those who understand, no explanation is necessary; for those who don’t, none is possible.

This sums it up perfectly.

[JackandMo]

Genetics.

[AppendixQHLover]

[QUOTE=jen-s;5487655]
AQHL–I think you hit the nail on the head with these two statements! Absolutely perfect and so very true. Can I steal them for my signature and share them with my horsey Facebook friends?[/QUOTE]

Sure if you think about it everyone does have something they dump money into.

My FIL smokes like a chimney and drinks booze.

Hubby has BMX bikes and races every weekend and goes away.

My mother is a quilter and buys fabric.

Mine just happens to be a horse.

[Bluey]

In our local performance dog club, that we worked with since about 1973, so many years worth of observations, many of those that became seriously involved in dogs came from the horse world, many had been showing and continued with both, some quit horses and said dogs were as satisfying for them and much cheaper to manage and compete with.
You don’t need a pickup and horse trailer, the dogs fit in your car.

I wonder if the interest is in animals you can work with, be they horses or dogs, that are the most common ones we do so many things with.

[RacetrackReject]

Interesting that this post comes up today.

I have a new friend who is an executive in the aerospace industry (very very very stressful job). He mentioned the other night that he had heard that I had horses and said, “I make a point to ride a horse at least once every year”. I was surprised to hear him say that because he seems very much a city boy, so I didn’t hide the surprise in my voice very well when I said, “REALLY?”.
He went on to say that he “didn’t know what it was about horses, but when he sat on a horse, he felt like his mind and body took a deep cleansing breath and everything became quiet.”. He said that he thinks that riding a horse “resets his soul and adds years to his life” so he takes advantage of any chance he gets to ride and if the oppurtunity doesn’t present itself, he will seek it out no less than once a year.
I thought that was a pretty great observation from a non-horsey horse person. Then I immediately started thinking of single horsewomen I could introduce him to (LOL), but instead I just offered him use of my horses if he ever felt the need and had spare frequent flyer miles.

[subk]

Genetics.

As a child in a completely non horsey family, I took my first lesson 40 years ago because I was driving my mom crazy with the begging. A few years ago one of my daughters had to do a genealogy project so I went digging through a bunch of my grandfather’s papers. There was a report of a family reunion that took place almost 100 years ago. It said who came, where they lived, what they ate, who fixed it, and what they talked about. It was explained that “of course the main topic of conversation was horses because that’s all anybody talks about when more than one Shields family member gathers.”

So on this St. Paddy’s Day I confess that it is the 1/4 of my crazy Irish horse blood that’s responsible.

[heatherny2]

“when he sat on a horse, he felt like his mind and body took a deep cleansing breath and everything became quiet.”. He said that he thinks that riding a horse “resets his soul and adds years to his life”

^ This…nuff said.

[kdow]

[QUOTE=RacetrackReject;5488369]

I thought that was a pretty great observation from a non-horsey horse person. Then I immediately started thinking of single horsewomen I could introduce him to (LOL), but instead I just offered him use of my horses if he ever felt the need and had spare frequent flyer miles.[/QUOTE]

Can I volunteer? (My dad has a private pilot’s license, his best friend flies gliders, his best friend’s son works in jet engine development, several of my friends also have private pilot’s licenses… I’m almost as comfortable with airplane talk as I am with horses and dogs.)

But joking aside, it is a very good observation. He should really try to ride more than once a year.

[Gloria]

[QUOTE=RacetrackReject;5488369]
He went on to say that he “didn’t know what it was about horses, but when he sat on a horse, he felt like his mind and body took a deep cleansing breath and everything became quiet.”. He said that he thinks that riding a horse “resets his soul and adds years to his life” so he takes advantage of any chance he gets to ride and if the oppurtunity doesn’t present itself, he will seek it out no less than once a year.[/QUOTE]

Wow! What a poetic way to vividly explain something so hard to grasp - and from a non-horsey person too. This guy has done some serious soul searching…

[bits619]

[QUOTE=MistyBlue;5485227]
What secret do we know that others do not? That horses have a fart button. I got $100 says non-horsie people don’t know that.
Or is it a secret? It’s only a secret if you don’t know where that button is. [/QUOTE]

This made me laugh so hard- and once i read it to MrB it confused, amused, and slightly disturbed him. Ooooh i love it hahaha!

---

These have all been excellent posts all around Who knows why i love horses like i do and my best friend doesnt. Or who knows why (HOW??!) some girls can go from horse crazy and owning a horse to dropping the whole thing come middle/high school- and selling the horse. I cannot fathom that change.

[RacetrackReject]

[QUOTE=kdow;5488550]
Can I volunteer? (My dad has a private pilot’s license, his best friend flies gliders, his best friend’s son works in jet engine development, several of my friends also have private pilot’s licenses… I’m almost as comfortable with airplane talk as I am with horses and dogs.)

But joking aside, it is a very good observation. He should really try to ride more than once a year. :)[/QUOTE]

Hee hee. I will put you on the list. He is a single father who had a very rough divorce and something tells me that he probably “found” horses at the time he most needed something in his life.

[kdow]

[QUOTE=RacetrackReject;5489510]
Hee hee. I will put you on the list. He is a single father who had a very rough divorce and something tells me that he probably “found” horses at the time he most needed something in his life.[/QUOTE]

Ugh, OT, but my sympathies to him on the divorce - my dad went through something similar with his first wife and my brother (technically, half-brother) and 30+ years later there are still Issues from time to time. It’s not a fun thing to deal with for anyone.

He should definitely be encouraged to get into the horse world a bit more - if you’re one of those people for whom time with a horse is good for your mental health, then best to take advantage of that. (I always liked that one element of it - even when taking a lesson and so ‘working’ rather than relaxing - is that you can basically just focus on you and the horse and ignore everything else for the moment. Sometimes your brain needs that. )

[DressageGeek_Ribbon]

Geek that I am, I tell people there was a somatic mutation (as opposed to germ line) and after any more of this kind of talk their eyes glaze and they think I should just leave and go play with my pony. Works every time.

[stolen_virtue]

Well, I tried to live on the “down low” meaning horseless (or really ridingless)for the past 9 months. I was miserable and so was my daughter. She finally threw a fit and ranted that she just wanted to ride a horse of her own, she had leased a couple of horses and we were not able to replace her last lease horse when he suddenly moved out of the area. I could not find a reason to get up every day, my horse was lame and my daughter was miserable. I worked and nic picked at all of my co-workers, everything was worthless, and all people were completely ignorant and thoughtless.

My new second horse came last Wednesday, and now I wake up excited to see both horses and what the new day may bring. I don’t know if I can ever be without a horse and riding. I should just call it as it is: Horses are my opiate. I dream of riding, there is a place I go to at night where I ride and jump courses. But that place is only good if in my waking life I ride, otherwise I wake up sad that it was only a dream.

I am the only person in my family to ride, it is not genetic. My husband does not like horses, that is too bad for him, I have always wished him well with that, but for me they are everything good about living in this world. My daughter feels similar but she is still young. I have no answers, just the sad realization that I am in way too deep to recover from my horse addiction.

[Chaila]

As long as we don’t end up on this show (on obsessions), I think we’re OK. But our friends and families may beg to differ :lol:

http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/wri/2273951393.html