The Reality of Owning a Horse in Your 30s, 40s and Beyond

When I think back now I spent a lot of time as a child dreaming of having my own horse. I longed for my weekly riding lessons, was obsessed with everything pony themed and looked weekly at the classified ads in pony magazine and Horse and Hound as I grew to be an equally horse mad teen. Owning a horse as an adult is for sure a little different from the dream I had as a child. It's certainly not as straightforward as I had imaged but when I paused for a moment at the yard the other day I realised there are so many things I take for granted now, moments which I would have longed for as a child. But what does the reality of owning a horse in your adult life look like for you?

Your Social Life Looks a Little Different To Most!

As a teen and woman in my 20s horse ownership never stopped me having a good night out! It still doesn't now but it sure does make the curfew a little earlier. There's no worse look to wake up to with a hangover than that of your horse who's breakfast is served late! It doesn't matter what time you get in from a night out, that early morning at the yard is always waiting for you. And it's not just evenings, day timings take some planning too. Winter bring in times get earlier and earlier as the weather gets worse making a long lunch out with the girls a thing of the past during the colder months!

The Stables is a Place You Can Escape To

Adult life is busy, packed with responsibilities and to do lists, you often feel like you are being pulled in different directions. Heading to the stables can give you a break from that which is so good for your mental health. Horses force you to live in the moment. You won't have been there more than 5 minutes before you have forgotten all about what is waiting for you at home. A chance to switch off makes you more productive when you are at home and its good for the soul to do something you love. Even on the days when things go wrong its still good to step away from normal life and live in the bubble of your horsey world for a little bit.

The Financial Realities!

Let's keep it real, horses are really expensive. Just when you think you have paid all your bills for the month your horse will loose a shoe, rip a rug, need the dentist, or you'll run out of fly spray. Owning a horse teaches you the value of money, how to budget and keeps you grounded because let's face it you never have any money left for yourself! It does mean though when it comes to your birthday you always have plenty of present ideas for your loved ones to treat you to.

You Embrace Your Inner Child

As we get older there's a tendency for everything to become a little serious. We all have to spend the vast majority of our time being a sensible grown up - sorting the kids out, going food shopping, going to work, paying the bills etc. Yet when you're out for a hack and someone asks you if you want to go for a canter on the stubble field you're 10 years old again having the time of your life! Horses have an amazing ability to keep that sense of excitement alive. We might be a few years older now but the joy of greeting your horse every day never changes.

It's a Good Excuse To Get Out of Family Dos!

Come on, don't lie, how many times have you used your horse as a reason not to go to some family event or even just to delay your arrival so you don't have to endure seeing your long lost uncle for quite so long! Even on Christmas Day they are the perfect reason to escape the chaos for a little bit - perhaps you might even avoid the washing up!

You Can Choose Your Own Equestrian Path

In younger years it can feel that there is only one path to follow in the equestrian world. Choose your preferred discipline and train to get yourself moving up the levels. As an adult horse owner you realise that there is so much more to equestrian life than that, and its up to you to take and explore the opportunities available to you. It might be that you decide competing is not for you and you'd like to just explore the countryside hacking with your horse, enjoy training at home or join a Riding Club to experience various clinics. By now you have become more aware of the different styles of horsemanship and horse management. You can choose how your horse lives, how you train them and how you care for them. Horse ownership means you never stop learning, and its wonderful to keep extending your knowledge whether you are 30, 40 or even 70!

Whilst the reality of owning a horse as an adult is that it isn't always the picture-perfect dream we imagined for me it is still the most wonderful privilege to have horses as my hobby. When you buy a horse you have to brace yourself for endless hard work, expense, tears and stress but alongside that are all the quiet moments, the adventures and the incredible bond that makes every bit of it worthwhile. Because ultimately, horses give us something that we value so much more as we get older - a reason to slow down, get outside, have fun and make time for something that makes us truly happy.