It's been my childhood dream to have a pony and now I'm pushing 40, kids almost at secondary school and mortgage at least under control, I feel that if I don't do it now, I never will.
The only viable way to fit it in would be, I think, to keep a grass-kept pony and turn it away for the winter, since my pony hours would be restricted to 8pm-10pm during the week and when I can get away at weekends. There are a few livery stables a short walk / bike ride away but no indoor schools. There is quite good hacking though.
None of the family are interested, although DH does understand how much I'd like to do it. He is worried I will permanently smell of horse, spend all our money on horse stuff and lose interest in the humans in the family.
I don't want to wreck my marriage or anything, but does anyone else here keep a horse/pony successfully without family interest? How do you do it?Does it cause too much resentment if one person's hobby takes up so much time/money?
I do ride at a school regularly and have shared in the past but I'd just love to sit on the gate, watching a pony graze think, 's/he's all mine!'
Perhaps I am having an early mid-life crisis.
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With DH, DCs, job and house - is it possible to have a pony too and stay married?
wisecamel · 18/02/2012 20:12
But Wisecamel has shared and now wants her very own pony and I can understand that. My friend's parents bought her a pony when she was getting on for 40 as they'd always felt bad that they couldn't do it when she was little and they knew it had always been her dream!
My dh isn't remotely interested in horses. I've had dhorse nearly five years and I think dh has seen him twice! It's slightly different for me as I already had a pony when we met so he knew what he was getting into. 
He is very tolerant though. I think it's because I make sure the horse doesn't dominate family life (ds likes ponies, dd doesn't) and everyone has time for their own hobbies etc. Also dhorse is kept on a budget and I don't spend money we can't afford.
I think your plan of having a pony at grass is very workable. You could even have a sharer to take a bit of pressure off at the weekend if you think it will help give your dh less chance to complain balance out your commitments a bit.
I have 5dc, and 3 horses/ponies, and a dh....... he would say in that order - note he is bottom of the pile
mine are all hardy, and do not require feed, except hay. Nor do they have rugs but they do come in at night from oct - apr approx.
I think your hours would be restrictive if that is the only time you would have..... there will still be grooming, poo picking etc to do in the winter,and what about farrier visits etc.......
don't think they do evening visits!
probably not if you are very organised, and will have time to check him/her before work and after and arrange farrier etc for your day off.
will you be able to keep it at home?
Realistically, I will have to pay someone to do the mornings, or get a sharer as dh out at 6.45am. In my head, we all rush for the stables after work and merrily play with the pony. In real life, I would go on my own while they avoided their homework/played wii/hated me for spending their inheritance. I had always thought that having a dd meant that she'd do the begging for a pony and I'd get one by stealth. Sadly, dd into ballet 
Don't know how that happened.
The likelihood is that it would be kept very locally, although sadly the idea of keeping it at home really is out of the question, unless we do it gypsy-style and tether it on the grass verge (now there's an idea!)
ah, see for me keeping them at home is the only thing that makes it do able ( I am extremely fortunate to be able to I know!)
Any time travelling to/from stables will eat into your time with your horse.
Tbh in your shoes i don't think i would have one, because I think it would rarely be something you could actually enjoy, and more often something you felt guilty for doing 
Is there anyone locally you could share with? As in you be the sharer - less responsibility and outlay
Oh I missed the bit about teenagers, I was thinking of little children. That would make a big difference to how much you can sneak off by yourself. They might even be persuaded to give you a hand once they get to know the pony.
Congratulations! You are much braver than me taking on a youngster - but then, as you say, you can learn things together. Very 
but for you too. Best of luck!
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