I am dealing with back to back injuries on my only riding horse and it’s starting to take its toll. I know I am not the first or the last to go through it but how do you find other things to do when you are used to spending all of your spare time on this one thing? Been trying to stay busy with other activities but it all feels like a chore compared to riding.
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Following and offering commiseration - I retired my horse due to unending issues and now don’t really know what to do with myself. I could afford a second, but really should be focusing on other financial goals so I’m just… spinning my wheels. It’s a strange feeling, not having riding goals at the moment.
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I am sorry you are going thru this. Big expensive pets are experts at leaving us wondering about our life choices.
Is there any option to part lease something while your horse is mending?
I filled some of my spare time while my horse was not ridable with volunteering at local horse activities.
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When I only had one horse, and he ended up needing some time off, I refocused my efforts on grooming. Instead of riding, I spent the same amount of time grooming. Not like a pre-ride, knock the dirt off with a brush or two, but an intensive curry-brush-curry-brush all the way down to my softest brush and a damp towel.
In addition to that… you could learn TTouch, Masterson Method, basic stretching/massage techniques, teach horse clicker training. I don’t really have any other hobbies that interest me enough to take the place of horse time, so I would just find a different way to spend the time with your horse.
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I am in a different situation since I do not own a horse any more.
When I get rained out from my lesson, when my riding teacher is ultra busy or gets sick or any other reason I can’t ride (like the initial phases of the Covid-19 pandemic) I would end up near despair as my riding muscles weakened.
I bought a Home Horse riding simulator (https://www.homehorse.com. It does not replace riding a real live horse, but it keeps me fit enough for riding so I am not always starting at the beginning yet again.
Now when my riding teacher calls me to cancel for whatever reason I shrug my shoulders and tell my husband he has to help me ride my Home Horse. I have actually built up my endurance in the saddle by riding my Home Horse once a week for 30 minutes.
It is just something you can do besides going out and grooming the horse when you cannot ride your horse. I have been a lot less depressed the days I cannot ride since I got it. With it I can work out while in a saddle (my ancient Crosby PDN Wide Front with stirrups) to keep my riding muscles fit.
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When I had a series of crappy things happen that culminated in my horse’s death, a good friend told me, “I know you just want to lay down and die right now, but remember, you only get to lay down so you might as well just keep going.” Now, I just quote Monty Python when I feel really low, “I’m not dead yet!” and stay off the cart. IYKYK.
Hang in there.
ETA: walking, walking and more walking.
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I feel your pain. I’m on month six of nine for rehab. Five of those months were hand walking which I could not physically do. I traded someone a saddle for it. I spent a lot of time grooming and doing ground work with my young horse. Friends lent me horses to ride so I wouldn’t be painfully sore once I could ride her again. I actually found that I enjoyed just “being” with the horses - something I never really appreciated before this.
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I too have had long periods where I could not ride…due to me. Horse was right as rain. I probably rode 100 times in 6 years. I couldn’t afford full time training. I did have a friend ride her a couple times (for 3-4 months each) in that period when her horse was on stall rest.
I did lots of ground work, grooming and just hanging out with her. There is lots of things to do besides riding and I truly enjoy my time with her, even if I don’t ride. She is cool to be around 
.
I agree with learning some body work methods or give clicker training a try. Lots of ways to connect with a horse besides riding.
Jingles that these injuries will heal and pass.
Susan
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Jingles for your pony.
I’ve had a lot of gaps in my riding due to my own injuries (bad back just won’t quit). Unsure if you had your horse at home or boarding, but I still spent a lot of time at the barn hanging out, watching my friends ride, clinics, even going to the shows with them - pitching in where I could. I got some horse time and still felt connected to my community. Maybe that will help?
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I was in the same boat as you for different reasons. I bought my horse as a weanling because I wanted a horse to just pal around with on the ground. Once it was time to start under saddle, I moved her to a trainer and… I did not get to ride my horse. There were lots of setbacks and issues that led to me not being able to ride; it is only within the last month that those issues are finally resolved and I can ride.
Still, the on-ground time was very rewarding (and is still my preferred activity). Now, I wasn’t someone who loveeedddd grooming until I started grooming my own horse. My mare is very tactile and enjoys being fussed over. So I spend ages doing it. I do a full work up (hoof pick, body curry, face curry, hard body brush, medium body/leg brush, face brush, body spray, finishing brush, fly spray, etc.). I fuss over her mane/tail once a week; take it out of braids, detangle, wash, condition, and rebraid. I spend lots of time just running my hands across her so I know her by-feel and where any issue spots are. I learned some basic massage techniques to try on her. We’d also do stretches.
We’d go on long walks, just the two of us. If I could find a friend we would go out on trails on the ground. Sometimes I could borrow a friend’s horse and I’d pony her with a group.
I worked on her manners. I taught her to drop her head to the ground and hold it from a bit of poll pressure. We were working on food manners before our move. Next on the list is picking up feet/holding them up with just a tap on the side.
Sometimes I would just hang out at the barn, put her in a turnout, and sit nearby reading or on my phone. She might sun herself or go run around. I chat with my barn buddies. I take pictures so I can annoy everyone with how much I like my horse.
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