It was a very long time ago now but no I didn’t give up my horse for college, however I left him behind when I went travelling for 3 years around the world. My parents paid for him during my time away however on my return I promptly sold him to the person who had been riding him for those years. Shortly after that I went off travelling again and when I was all done with that I started back up with horses again. During my travels I still rode other horses at least once a month - couldn’t give them up so easily. No regrets with anything I’ve done in my life and selling the horse at that time was one of my better decisions to allow me to progress in life.
I did sell my horse prior to college because I knew I wanted to concentrate on college and experience what it had to offer without the outside responsibilities a horse entails. It was the right decision for me. I didn’t buy another horse until I was 40, but in the interim, I took lessons regularly, went on riding vacations, and generally enjoyed doing lots of horse related things. I also worked on my career so that by the time I decided to buy a horse again, I could buy what I wanted. After that, I descended down the slippery slope of horse penury by getting a farm and more horses. But that’s why I went to college – I can make enough money to have horses.
yes… and no
I left ca to go to Va for school and my family graciously continued to help pay not only my education but one more mouth in the barn. I came home at Christmas and rode him maybe 5-6 times and left again… real trooper he was… I showed up for 4 years once a year and threw him in the Rose Parade all dressed up and he behaved like a champ. Best.Horse.Ever.
I think I would die without him- its stupid in words but my horse is everything to me, I’ve had him his whole life and he is THAT horse, the one of a lifetime, and sometimes I regret for him that maybe if we had sold him he could have gone on to have a much more illustrious career as he is a phenominal horse albiet a little on the smaller side. He is one of my biggest achomplishments in life as far as raising and training him.
But I finally have him with me (well thats relative, boarding a stallion can be rough so its a 30 minute drive) and I have no regrets over not selling him cause whenever I have a bad day I can always go and cry in his mane and he is there for me.
no regrets, I know not everyone can do that but for people who have had their horses for so long and have to sell them for money I really feel badly for them. It sucks ass to give up something you care for so much.
I actually BOUGHT my boy the summer after my freshman year. I love him to death, and I’ve learned a lot, and its given me a great group of friends via the boarding barn and kept my head on straight with finances and time… BUT the money crunch prevents me from doing a lot of other things I want to do (like visiting the boy in Boston).
The ONLY way I’ve been able to do it is to live in less-than-ideal housing so that my total monthly expenses are still reasonable, and my mom helps me out paying for his farrier bills. Plus, he had an accident in June that ended up costing me about $2k so I’m pretty in the hole right now. Luckily I’m a senior so I’ll be able to start paying off all that debt here in the next 9 months or so.
I will say that staying involved with horses in college was the best decision I ever made, because I’ve met a TON of awesome people as well as learned a lot about the sport and improved my riding… Plus, like I said, its kept my head on straight, and gives me a place to go that has grass and trees and lets me get away from college.
I did…
Gave up my horse when I went to college (she went to a fabulous home and later died of old age), and didn’t get a horse in vet school, but stayed sane by riding other people’s horses. I got to exercise polo ponies, foxhunt and start OTTBs during the time I didn’t have my own horse. It was fun.
Then finished all my schooling, got married, had a baby, got an OTTB, started working with him and got pregnant. Had to take a little break again (way to sick pregnant to ride!), but now the little one is 10 mos and I’m back to riding. Not having anymore kids, so I don’t see a horseless stretch in my future again anytime soon…
Actually college got me back into horses. Joined the equestrian team, a really important part on my college experience.
I did, but pretty unintentionally. I knew I couldn’t afford to ride at school, and didn’t think I’d have the time, but planned on going home most weekends (I went to a college a bit over an hour away from home) to ride my QH. Unfortunately, he ended up having to be out to sleep halfway through my freshman year, and I didn’t have the heart to try to find another way to ride after that.
I wish I HAD tried - I ended up not riding for like 8 years after graduating, and then having to stop again when my husband and I bought a house. I’ve only now restarted again and don’t plan on stopping EVER again! I sort of wonder if I would have had those long breaks if I had found a way to keep riding after Buddy was put down.
I never stopped. For me it is like a genetic trait.Like knowing that the centering focus of being a doctor, or an opera singer. It comes from the soul. I did college and grad school always with an eye out for horses. At one time I was riding at the barn that kept the university mascot herd of buffalo. I tried to stop to become what a husband wanted me to be, but I couldn’t become someone else. That marriage failed.
I am happily married to someone else who wanted me because of my joy in horses and family.
yes and no
I sold my horse after senior year of high school so I could go to college (to a great home where I could go visit him). Ended up leaving college for horses! LOL After a year or so of college, I decided I wanted to train horses instead of treat unhealthy ones… So I broke my mother’s heart and did just that… Eventually I realized I needed to go back to school full time but I also knew the horses kept me sane… I left the horses at home for the first year and a half, but eventually brought them with me to school. The were with me through all of vet school and graduate school and I am very glad they were. They provided a much needed diversion from school (although I did not have the time to devote to serious riding and showing while in school, trail riding was very therapeutic). I did leave them with a friend during my one year internship, but other than that I had them the whole time…
It was a severe financial strain, but one I felt was worth it…
I did for part of college. My wonderful mare was hurt (career ending) my freshman year, so that kind of made my decision for me. I didn’t have money to show the A circuit anymore, or even the locals for that matter. Luckily, my parents owned a breeding farm, so I was able to keep her. I ran track during the first two years of school, which was a year-round commitment, helping me not to miss riding as much. 
After getting hurt (and having to give up track), I started riding sales horses and was able to work w/ several of our retired racehorses preparing them for the hunter ring. While it wasn’t the same as working w/ my own, it got me in the sadde. I bred my mare before my senior year of school and graduated to a brand new baby, who is now my current show horse.
While I paid my own way through school, I could never have continued my horse interest w/ out the help of my parents. I was blessed to grow up on a horse farm.
when i go to college next year i wont have to worry about my horses at all for they will be here back behind my house getting fat. we own the house and pasture here so as long as there’s hay/grass to eat and clean water to drink my 4 are very happy.
and my parents don’t want to sell them especialy my QH gelding…and i agree with them…my QH gelding is my everything and i would just fall apart if i didn’t have his mane to cry into…i love the others…love them alot but he is something else and will always be mine.
Yep. I stopped riding the winter of my senior year in high school after being seriously burnt out. While I did teach riding lessons at a summer camp for both the summers of 07 and 08 I didn’t start riding again until this past February.
It was one of the best decisions I’ve made. I’m riding once a week (occasionally schooling a horse for someone) and my riding has improved incredibly in the last 6 months.
Of course now I’m looking for a place to ride again but I won’t give up!!
I had a horse through high school and college. Once I hit college, I was responsible for my horses’ needs, but I still worked and had a second project horse even. when I got married (3 semesters before finishing undergrad), I brought my horse with me. Once I started teaching and was still working a second job, I just didn’t have time to ride much (DH was still in school) but kept her anyhow. About the time I decided to work on my master’s (while teaching full time) I was offered a nice amount for my then mid-20 year old mare. I took it knowing she’d have a great retirement home and get more attention than I could give her.
I was away from horses for about 13 years, until DD got me back into riding. My only regret is that I didn’t take her to meet my childhood horse before she passed at age 36. I don’t think I’d change a thing.
I quit when I went to college and didn’t regret it at all. My horse was sold, I got a car and college tuition It was always part of the deal, my parents let me show a ton in my last two years to qualify for the big eq finals, but they were not wealthy so it was a sacrifice for them. In my family, my horse wasn’t a pet, he was an investment…I knew that going in (much as I loved him for the 5 yrs I owned him). The deal was that the horse would be sold after finals and then I was on my own.
I did ride my freshman year on my IHSA team but honestly found the rest of the college experience more intriguing so I quit and only rode during the summer breaks. I ultimately quit riding period when I got a full-time job and had little time and no money. I started back riding again at 37 and though I haven’t ridden in over a year at this point, i still consider myself a “rider” and will have a horse again eventually if its also my daughers, well then so be it.
Never regretted quitting in college, had the best time and got a great education.
[QUOTE=xabbracadabra;4319986]
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?[/QUOTE]
Yes/had to/could not afford both…I got back to the horses after I graduated from college.
I started college with my one horse. Now I’m in my Senior year and I own three. :rolleyes:
Nope - I’m now going into my junior year of college. I was in serious debate between 2 schools. Mine won because I have a full scholarship and was allowed to bring my horse (and truck and trailer) because I have no tuition costs. I’m so glad I made the choice I did now. Came with a horse, bought another one in the winter of my freshman year. Had 2 for a few months, then donated my older guy to the barn we ride out of. Was elected captain of the hunt seat team both last year and this year. Some weeks I can’t find time to go out and ride my guy, but he doesn’t mind…he likes his life of leisure. I still have a lesson for the riding team every week, so at least I’m riding something. And my guy is still there when I need to just go hug him or hop on bareback
Oh, and the guy who I’m going to marry has a 93 acre farm and 30 ponies so I’m thinking that I won’t have to give up my horse when I marry him! :winkgrin:
I was very fortunate not to have to. I didn’t own a horse in college (or before), but I did lease horses while I was in college. I did very well academically, and I found that I had plenty of time.
I actually bought my horse between college and grad school, and kept him through school. I was very fortunate that I had help from my family to be able to do that. It would be out of the question for a lot of people from a financial perspective. I found that the horse and the barn was a great break for me and kept me active at a time when I probably wouldn’t have been otherwise. It was kind of nice to, at times, have to stop studying and go to the barn.
My horse came with me to college, and we did four years of eventing and studying together. It was the greatest time of my life.
I never gave up my horses through career, marriage and kids. Even lived in San Francisco and still managed to keep a horse. My two horses were mothballed (leased) for 5 years when I was doing the pregnancy/baby thing, but I held onto them.
I am proud that through all of life’s adventures I have managed to keep that lifetime commitment I made to each of my horses. I ate a lot of Top Ramen along the way…Would do it all over again.
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