Every large horse-related expense he responds by saying “You know best about it, I trust you.” He also is extremely tolerant about my barn-hours. My birthday present to myself is to spend the whole day at the farm. His response is “do you want me to make dinner reservations, or would you prefer it for another day so you can spend all day at the farm?”
He plays hockey and golfs, so he understands the commitment.
I think I’m a pretty darned lucky gal (and lets be real, he’s a lucky guy too!)
Very. Has to be, I guess.
Still won’t let me bring the horses in the house. Intolerant turd.
If there’s a laundromat with large washers near you, contact them, and ask if they know a source for used washers. Often they resell their large capacity machines, and might have a list of interested buyers.
These stories are warming my heart, you guys 
No lie. The world needs more supportive and understanding humans (men) like these ones.
I’ve been struggling with my mare, who had an unfortunate incident (totally my fault 
) so as a result we have days where we go two-steps-forward-and-one-step-back. The one step back is always very dramatic and my life flashes before my eyes, thankfully it doesn’t happen ALL that often, but still.
I came home one day and flew into “worst case scenario” mode after one of these steps back (she’ll HAVE to be sold!). DH pointed-out that I was probably over-reacting, but if I was really enjoying this discipline and this particular mare truly wasn’t going to work out, we’d “figure something out” (which … right or wrong … but probably right… I took to mean BUY ANOTHER more suitable/“made” pony) 
On a somewhat related note, I’d LOVE to install another washing machine for stinky horse gear (which DH would be in support of I’m sure), and because I have a pony, could probably make do with a smaller machine. Do portable and/or “petite” washing machines even exist?
I forget now what the crisis du jour was, but DH cleared the cars and anything dangerous to horses out of the garage once, and brought my Hackney pony in there. The pony didn’t like it for some reason, so DH gave up on that idea, but at least he tried.
DH also spent one sub-freezing night out in our front pasture with the same pony. Pony had a really bad colic, and the vet thought he couldn’t be saved without surgery. Vet said let’s try one more round of banamine and a sedative, can’t remember what now. The other horses tried to attack this poor pony, so DH segregated them, two horses in the back pasture and the colicking pony in the front. But we couldn’t leave him out there by himself as he was small enough to be at great risk for coyotes, especially when sedated. So DH pulled his car into the pasture, wrapped himself up in a sleeping bag, and stayed out there all night.
The pony recovered, and DH did not get frostbite.
Rebecca
My husband is horsey - we actually met because of horses.
Oh, @phantomhorse. You’re like a Scholastic Book Club grammar-school horsey series come true. Sigh.
When we built our house, we specifically built a SECOND LAUNDRY ROOM to use for horse things, dog blankets, bloody hunting clothes, etc etc. Basically anything more gross than I don’t want in my nice washing machine for my nice dress clothes for work.
So. I don’t find your request unreasonable at all.
And … my husband is non-horsey. It’s okay. He puts up with my horses and I put up with his hunting. It works well.
Pshaw. What DH doesn’t know about horse stuff in the house washing machine, won’t hurt him.
I feel seen. 
Nah, mine is a good egg. He has never mentioned the cost of the Ponysaurus, his events, his gear or the amount of time I devote to him. If I seem stressed after a long workday he may send me outside with a beer, if only to scrub water tubs, groom or watch Ponysaurus graze on the lawn. He also does night check on him every night (a 10PM cookie, Outlast serving and quick scratch).
My husband is very horse oriented, I just sneak it in when he’s at the track taking care of the horses, and then run a load of barn clothes through after…maybe with an extra rinse. 
As our marriage has aged, my non-horsey husband’s tolerance for horsey-ness has increased. Just this fall, after trying every other treatment possible for kissing spine, my husband and I loaded up and hauled the mare 10 hours for surgery. Then, two weeks later, we drove 10 hours to pick her up and came home. Worth his weight in gold, that guy. Completely sweet about it - about the money, the time away from work for him, about the truck when it made a crazy thumping noise on the way there, about my nerves and on and on.
Years ago, too, he did the kindest thing ever for me and my then-horse. We came home and the old horse - he was close to 30 - was colicking very badly. Really grim. The only available vet was two hours away. It was mid-December, sunset. He ran for a gun and did what had to be done. A selfless man.
In January of 2020 i decided i wanted to try my hand at training mustangs. I signed up for a BLM online auction and when i finally got the nerve to tell my SO about it she said “NO!” and for what might be the first time in our 20 years i told her too bad you feel that way, but i’m doing it anyway. Now, 11 mustangs later, she helps me choose them! She is totally on board for a variety of reasons. First that i made the corral and barn arrangements safe and manageable. Secondly that so far, there have been zero dangerous events. And thirdly, i am so happy. And successful.
We prettymuch indulge eachother. Whatever she wants to do, or wants to have done, i facilitate and absolutely support. And she’s been pretty much aligned with all my farm and animal stuff. Though, i must say, she’s not a fan of the FEMA organization i’m a part of. There are some pretty petty ‘little’ men running things and they often piss me off royally. I’ll be retiring in about five years (when my last dog ages-out) and i think she will be relieved.
Mine is very tolerant to the point he is passively involved. He’s learned a ton about horses, hay, care, health, etc in the two years we’ve been together. He agreed that if I bought a trailer, I could use his truck to haul and even installed a trailer break on it. He has come with me every time be it to a clinic, a show, or hiking while we ride on trails. He has gotten on once to test the waters riding and was pretty sure it’s not his thing. He will join me in the cart if we go out driving. He will hang out with the horse in his stall or will take him for a walk, give him treats, and generally enjoys being around him. Moreso in the warmer weather though hahaha. He genuinely seems to enjoy being around my horsey friends and listening to horse talk. I haven’t sold him yet on purchasing our own horse property, but I am also not 100% sold that it would be the right choice for us either so there is that LOL.
Not terribly lol. Horse things in the washing machine would be a big no no. Luckily for me, we got a new washer so the old still working one went to the horses.
We’ve had our fair share of arguments over the time dedicated to horses, especially while I had two. I sold the young one recently and just have my trusty old girl, so the time has been alot less which has helped. But we definitely clash over it. He’s got zero interest in horses either which is fine. He’ll help me stack hay, or paint jump poles but that’s about it.
In fairness though, he has spent the last couple years slowly chipping away at the landscaping around the house. We built, and the budget for landscaping at the time wasn’t there (plus we’re on a hill) so it’s been a long, expensive slog on that front. He’s put alot of work in there while I’ve been riding.
He is however very grateful that the horses required me to purchase a truck for towing…because said truck has now done countless trips to the hardware and landscaping supply stores and saved a huge amount in delivery fees.
After 10 years, hubby has stopped asking how many ponies I own…and he knows when one sells, I already have a plan for the $ to be rolled into a new acquisition. 
But he doesn’t complain, he bought me my first reiner as a weanling a year after we were married as a Christmas present. I took that one horse and I’ve trained and sold and rolled my $$ to not only cash out several times, (new roof on my house, remodel my kitchen, all new flooring in my house) but also own 7 currently.
I’m sure he thinks about how much money we would have if I sold my herd and didn’t replace but he also knows that won’t happen.
Consequently, I don’t question any new guns that show up at my house and will even frequently purchase new guns and most recently a cross bow for him for early Christmas.
All that said, he’s not a horse person AT ALL. He rode my stud once and he likes to feed my one mare donuts, otherwise, he keeps his distance.
Since you used the word “yard”, may I assume you’re in the UK? If so, at least the other side of the country wouldn’t be quite as far as in the States. But he definitely sounds like a keeper!
ETA: But if you’re in Australia, that could be a heck of a commute.
If I kept my horse at home, I’m sure hubby would have him in the house, sitting on the couch together, drinking beers, and watching sports!
@Fiesta01 yes, UK although we’re right on the west coast of Wales and he has to commute to London, but in the grand scheme of things its not far.
By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You may also receive promotional emails from The Chronicle of the Horse. You can opt out at any time.
For Customers
Company
Terms of Use
