Hobbies!

[WickWood]

I desperately need to find a new hobby! I have been involved with horses for the past 20 years, having had my own for the past 11, but gave them up recently so there is definitely something missing from my life.

I'm late 20s, I live with my OH and our animals, no children (yet but I hope to have one in the future) I work full time 9-5 Monday-Friday.

Would love some suggestions of any hobbies or interests!

Why did you give up horses? If it was due to financial or time constraints, could you part loan? I am mid 40's and have been involved with horses on and off since I was a small child. I have had breaks, but always end up going back!
I also enjoy open water swimming, although probably not the best time of year to take that up for the first time!.

I took up figure skating in my 40's.
Used to work with horses and needed a new hobby that had an element of danger 🤣. I love that it's so difficult mentally and physically.

I crochet whilst watching TV at night. Just basic lap rugs which I donate to hospices and charities. I also made a sunflower pattern as a christening gift and small hairclip flowers for nieces. The granny squares, I was shown how to crochet, but the rest I learnt from youtube. I recently saw some pretty, crocheted Christmas tree decorations I'm thinking of making.

I also garden and had a thriving vegetable patch over the summer.

It depends whether you want something crafty, one your own, with others etc. Some other ideas: - join your local WI.

• Take up a fitness/sporting group. Yoga, pilates, walking/running club, tennis, swimming
• Jigsaw puzzles
• Learn a new cooking skill or cuisine
• Make terrariums. You can often find large jars/vases at charity shops
• Local amateur dramatics group
• origami

Pottery? Sea glass collecting? Upcycling? Cooking?

I know a few ex-equestrians who now do cycling of some sort, either road cycling or mountain biking

@Pinkmagic1
I just stopped enjoying it. I have part loaned twice for around 5 years each time (was trying to be vague in the OP) but both times ended in me basically full loaning the horse I was originally sharing and the owners other horse(s). I did everything and felt I was massively being taken advantage of and I started to resent going. Ie I'd go in a morning and the barrows would be unemptied from the night before, no nets were done (I'd always fill in advance to make it easier for us), the feeds wouldn't be pre-soaked. So I started to resent paying to sort out their other horses also. It was obviously my fault as I didn't put any boundaries in place!

@SM4713
I'm not actually sure if I want a solo hobby or to interact with others. I need to think about that!

Thank you for the ideas everyone! I don't know whether an idea will jump out at me or whether I should try things to see what interests me.

Photography. Not a cheap hobby though.

I show my dogs, not a cheap hobby either and something I was born into but I’ve swapped breeds over the years as my family life has changed but always stuck with it. I have friends from so many varied walks of life and the dogs bring a lot of social interaction too - I walk them and I go to training classes during the week as well as actual shows at the weekends. It’s not for everyone but it’s fun!

Cycling, sailing, canoeing, wild swimming, marathons / hill running/park runs, triathlons.. football, hockey, netball… pottery, upcycling, painting, sewing/crafting… yoga, Pilates.. am dram, choir, conservation

Try a few things

I play the piano (badly!), I knit, and I go to the gym/swim. Plus I go to the cinema most weeks.

But what I love most is volunteering as a cub leader. It's quite time consuming for me as I'm the section leader, but it needn't be quite so full on - some of my assistants just attend the weekly meetings, or help on trips. It's a great hobby, can be very sociable, and you give a much or as little time as you have available.

I do leatherwork. I love the challenges, it's not easy to produce a really good piece of work. The downside is that it's expensive, you need good quality leather and lots of tools.

Tap dancing? It's great fun and will keep you fit.

It will depend to some extent what there is, close to you,

I think you need to narrow it down a bit for us

Do you want to do things with other people ?
Do you want to do something active?
Outdoors ?
Can you commit the same time each week ?

Do you want to volunteer ?

For yourself you could do cycling, rock climbing, walking, orienteering maybe?
You could volunteer as Leader in Scouts or Guides or with local sports teams or what about using your skills with something like Riding for the Disabled ?

Or do something completely different - join a choir or a netball or football or rugby team or a badminton or squash league. Or a craft group - maybe one that fundraises for your local hospice or hospital.

Thank you all for the good ideas!

@UsingChangeofName
RDA is a great idea, thank you! I have a centre 30 minutes away from my house and they run lessons 9.30-12.30 on a Sunday. I'm going to apply to volunteer there now. Its a great idea to get my horsey fix without all of the commitment, and I would love to share that passion with others and support them where I can.

I think I'd also like something to do at home. I waste so much time scrolling on my phone. I'll have a look at some different crafts.

I also have a passion for horses, I enjoy going to the gym, photography, and painting. I work four days a week, (due to go back to five days from September) and work for a charity once a week. Variety is the spice of life, so they say 🙂

So I am older than you but I like running and I train for a couple of ultras a year - one big race and the others are just social. I do parkrun with the dc ( although they smoke me now). I also like word puzzles like the NYT spelling bee, wordle and all its spin offs etc. I go to the gym but that’s just to ward off osteoporosis- don’t actually like it. I do like yoga and should go more often! Finally I’m a non executive director of a charity- that’s rewarding rather than fun but I guess is a sort of hobby.

@Soccermumamir @LaPalmaLlama
Some great ideas, thank you! Things have changed since I posted this, i am now pregnant with our first child, so that will definitely keep me busy!

I took up colouring and knitting, I bought some lovely intricate colouring books and I have really enjoyed them!

Aww that's lovely news! Congratulations 🤗🤍