I just read the thread on giving up college for horses and it had me wondering if anyone gave up horses for College/Marriage/Family.
How did you deal with it if you did?
Not exactly…
Thought I really didn’t get to ride much in college because I was so busy working full time and going to school, I kept the horses I had prior to college.
Then again a few years later when I had to move overseas, I kept them but obviously couldn’t ride.
Still have them.
So I’ve taken some breaks, but nothing that required me to sell horses or get out of it altogether.
I have been very lucky to be an EQ Major in College and to have a very supportive husband who would rather live off of Top Ramin than me give up my horses. Especialy in our situation it would have made sense not to be hauling horses to new duty stations every few years; but he wouldn’t hear of me not doing what I love.
I guess that is why I specialize in giving lessons to fellow military wives; alot of them HAVE had to give up their horses and riding and i feel so sad for them. I love seeing them smile when then realize they have a place to ride for a while!
At various times…certain circumstances made me give up riding for a time for College.
Well…I first sold both my own horses to help pay for college. I had a large pony that I was aging out from and then a young horse. Both were awesome, but not suitable for the riding programs at my school. So my own horses were sacrificed for College.
I also started out strong - went to a very horsey college - rode on the IHSA team and rode almost every day. Then came a pretty bad injury - took about 6 months off and focused on school. It was a good thing I did, because I realized then when I quit riding, I was not a good fit with the college I had chosen (mostly for horse reasons in the first place). So the fantastic grades I had from “taking a break” helped land me a good spot at a top notch University. Then, I started riding again - this time University Polo and doing H/J on the side. However, in my final semester - I was killing myself with graduate school applications and I had a very ill family member. I just couldn’t do it. Ended up quiting riding for my last semester and I credit the extra time I had to really push me to my best (academically).
Now I’ll be a graduate student at the University of Oxford in the fall. I hope that once again I can ride - either privately or with one of the University’s team (hopefully Polo again!).
I think that there are many oppertunities for students to ride during University. Find local barns, ride on teams, etc… You DON’T have to give up horses for college unless IT IS YOUR CHOICE!
I started riding when I was about 9 y/o. I took riding lessons until I graduated HS. I didn’t have an opportunity to ride in college my Freshman year. By my Sophmore year, a bunch of us got together and formed an equestrian club/team. We were able to work out discounted lessons with a local stable and arrange for carpools. I stopped riding when I went to graduate school followed by marriage at 23 y/o. I started back again a few years later once we were earning enough money to pay the bills and afford some “extras.” Five years after that, I was finally able to afford my first (and still only horse). That was when I was 28 y/o. My husband isn’t a horse person, but he doesn’t mind my hobby one bit. In fact, I think he enjoys that I stay out of his hair for a few hours each week. :lol:
Stopped riding cold turkey and sold the horse when I went to College. No regrets. One of the better more mature decisions I ever made. Probably at the very core of why I am still able to pursue riding today–delayed gratification if you will.
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I worked, a lot. And I had parents who helped with my educational bills, which means the 2-3 jobs while carrying 15 credits per semester enabled me to keep my horse and ride. My grades were good and typically I worked full time summers and breaks and 20-40 hours per week during the semester. I lived in hovels (heck, one winter my rental house was so pathetic that the toilet would freeze over during cold snaps!), kept shopping for clothes, music, etc to a bare minimum. I had lots of housemates to share out the bills. My horse lived somewhere I could work off the board and I share leased her to help cover the bills some semesters, and I field kept her as well.
I went to school in a relatively horsey area without a tremendous cost of living and a good school, which helped also. I took the horse to grad school as well, became the caretaker at a small farm and worked there off the record, and also taught lessons and share leased my horse.
I slept 3-5 hours most nights during the semester between my hopping social life, jobs, and school. I have been blessed with a lot of energy and high RPMs, which means I could do that and not be ill or miserable. Some people simply have to have more sleep than I do to function–if I needed 6-8 hours a night I could not have done the horse, work, school thing.
I didn’t compete, rarely had a lesson, but did ride 3-6 times per week average all through college and grad school, so I kept it worth the work. Some folks work so hard to keep the horse they never get to ride it.
My Grand Prix horse paid for my not-terribly-cheap private liberal arts school. I missed riding like crazy, but always had something to sit on when I came home. I rode for my trainer all summer long that first year home, and then pretty much gave it up for the next couple of summers. I bought a 2yo between my jr and sr years and let him sit out in a friend’s pasture until I graduated.
I always felt like taking that break (I worked for my trainer for many years prior to graduating) is what allowed me to focus on school and realize that I REALLY DID want to ride. I was rapidly approaching burnout status, and what a refreshing time college was! 
Now I have a fabulous job (thanks to school!) that allows me to have my own farm and 6 of my own [very nice, if I may say so myself] horses. I love being able to do whatever I want with the horses without having to rely on it for a living. That’s not to say that I don’t work really freaking hard to keep my horse stuff going, but it’s sure nice being able to do things on my own terms.
I will always value my parents’ wisdom in forcing me to pick college over horses. I will forever miss the horse I sold (he colicked and died shortly before coming back to me for retirement), but he allowed me to do things horse-related and school-related that I will forever be grateful for.
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[QUOTE=subk;4320039]
Stopped riding cold turkey and sold the horse when I went to College. No regrets. One of the better more mature decisions I ever made. Probably at the very core of why I am still able to pursue riding today–delayed gratification if you will.[/QUOTE]
Same here, though my horse was sold at the end of my Freshman year.
Better for the horse, better for me, better for my riding, and dramatically improved my prospects to access riding as an adult.
I would not do it, ever.
Horses are my lifeblood… good for you if you can give that up for 4 years (or longer) but I cannot imagine it.
I gave up riding for school, but still had the horse. Sadly, I was tricked into to going to school because I thought I would have more time to ride:)
I’m currently in college, junior with two more years. I have not given up riding at all. I still have both horses. I don’t go out to the barn quite as much maybe 4-5 days a week. But I still ride the same amount. Unless things drastically change with my parent’s finances then there will be no way I’m giving up my guys :no: I haven’t had any problems juggling my academic work, riding, and being in a sorority (I also hold an officer position). Good time management really helps me :yes: I usually take between 16-18 credit hours/semester.
I think as long as you have the finances and make it a priority it can be done. I don’t regret one second of it.
I gave up the horse because my parent’s got divorced. I had him through half my 20’s. I lost interest a bit when boys came into the picture and the parent’s split.
When I wanted horses again I couldn’t afford it at all. I could barely afford my apt never mind a horse. Board was so high in Central Mass. I did take lessons weekly though…
I didn’t buy a horse until I was in my mid-30’s. I could finally afford a horse and wasn’t traveling all the time. I was spending a couple weeks in CA a month. Not fair to a horse…so I held off until I could do it the way I wanted to.
I don’t regret one bit holding off coming into horses again. I forgot how much I missed a horse when I had to work all the time. I missed the love and affection that they show. The bond that is between horse and rider. The gentle eyes that are window’s to the soul.
My eyes used to have a lot of sadness…now the sadness is lessened because I have horses again.
I took my horse to college with me the first semester, but I didn’t have time for school, riding, and mucking stalls to pay board.
Through college, I took “riding” one semester.
Through grad school I worked with the local pony club giving lessons, and ended up exercising some hunt horses.
I also took up motorcycle racing for a competition/performance outlet.
3 years into my career I bought a horse, and have had horses ever since.
I have no regrets about the 10 years I was horseless.
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I gave up riding when I entered my freshman year of college. Before that I had half-leased and owned for years, so the transition was a little difficult; going from riding on average 6 days a week to a sporadic lesson when I went home for a rare weekend.
Then I went home for the summer after my freshman year, and half-leased until I went back to school. I transfered to a different school, however, and I am SO HAPPY. I did the university’s IHSA team this previous year and had a good time. Now i’m living down here full time and considered Columbus my home, and had been half-leasing a fantastic horse up until recently. And now I’m at crossroads unfortunately.
I have options, but what is stopping me is money and school. I’m really determined to have a deposit for my own place saved up in about 5 years, even thought I only work part-time during the school year (and let me tell you, it’s a great job). In addition to that, my education is kicking into high gear. This fall quarter alone I’ve got 5 classes, 17 credit hours, in addition to working during the week. Plus I want to have a social life since I’ll be 21 soon and can actually go out whenever I want and do whatever I want.
If it’s not bad enough, I’m planning on having a personal surgery over my winter break. I’ve been needing it for a long time, and it’s got a hard recovery - I wouldn’t be able to ride for at least 4 months post-op. So it seems silly to do the team when I won’t be able to ride winter and spring quarters, or I can just not ride entirely.
Or, another plan of mine is to just take a once-a-week lesson at the barn where I was leasing that fantastic horse until my surgery. The trainer/BO seems very understanding to my situation, so that makes it a little easier.
But, to sum it up, riding is not my whole life. It takes a backseat to my education and to my social life, which I have no problem with. If anything, doing all of this NOW is what’s going to allow me to have my super deluxe A/O hunter ten years down the road. I’m willing to wait.
Yes. Sold my horse so I could go to college (paid for most of my tuition money). I knew I probably wouldn’t have time for him between school, working, etc.
I did go to an Ag/Tech school and was on the Equestrian team so I did get to ride some. Unfortunately, I had a really bad accident (horse related) and ended up taking a 13 year break. Just got back into it about 4.5 years ago.
I was in a similar situation. I tried to keep my horse during college. It worked for the first year. By 1st semester of my 2nd year, everything fell apart, especially towards the end. I couldn’t keep up with riding (especially on a 6 y/o TB), academics, and everything else I wanted to do. I was rapidly approaching burnout status not only concerning riding but a lot of other aspects of life. I decided to study abroad a semester early, which turned out to be one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I started doing much better academically, and rode a couple of times that semester, but didn’t force myself to. I joined the hillwalking club @ the university which I love (and still do!). I haven’t ridden much in the year and a half I’ve been at Edinburgh Uni, but I’ve spent this summer working on a ranch in Wyoming. I’ve remembered why I love horses and riding so much and know I’ll definitely go back to it at some point, but probably not until I’ve finished University and have a steady job/money to support my own horses. I could go back to Edinburgh and take lessons, but I’ve realised I’ll have a really hard time riding around in circles on someone else’s horse after being here for a summer, where I’ve ridden outside every day & worked with a lot of project horses, which has been really rewarding.
My 2 cents in a nutshell is what someone else said - if you want to ride badly enough, you can make it work. BUT if things aren’t working out, take a step backwards and make sure you choose a college that you’ll enjoy as a college, not just because it has a good riding program.
I gave up my horse when I went to college. It was always understood that I would have to do that. I sold him to a great home and I bought him back again after I graduated, became employed and could afford to keep him. I never really missed doing horses while I was in college. I had a lot of time to devote to my studies and to try out a lot of new experiences/sports. I was lucky in that my sister still had a horse for a while and when I would come home on vacation I rode hers until she sold him my sophomore year. One year I taught riding at a summer camp and had plenty of horses to ride in my off hours. I was lucky in finding lots of riding opportunities from friends during visits home.
Not doing horses during my college years worked well for me. I have certainly made up the 4 year dry spell with a vengeance as I currently own five horses and a farm.
Gave up horses for college due to the lack of money… it was really hard to put it aside though! I rode when I went home for fun but that was only in the first year.
I started to take lessons when I was out of it for three years (but not living at home at that time) and enjoyed it a great deal. Then moved back home to start a new job.
I waited about three months before going back to the barn and start riding again but I found it so stressful at the barn (new owners, green horse, no coaching) that I quit two months later… now that was the best decision ever 
About two years later, a former coach called me up and asked me if I would be interested in riding again as she had two horses and needed help. Not a lesson barn or a boarding barn but her own personal horses… I did that for one year before buying a horse of my own (first horse owned).
Fast forward 3 years - I still have my first horse but since have moved on to other barns (boarding barn) and really enjoying it.
I think the break did do me a world of good, make me really appreaciate having my current horse, something I’ve been wanting since I started to ride when I was 14…
It was tough not having them in college but I knew they would be waiting for me when I was ready…
Nope, have not given up horses for college or family or childbearing/other family concerns, or starving new college grad status either. Have owned at least one horse since 1965. One gets creative as needed- cheaper pasture boarding options, boarding deals where barn owner can use horse for hunting/lessons/whatever, etc.
