Should I follow my heart?

[EricIsMine]

Ever since I was a little girl I've dreamed of having my own horse... I'm 35 now and have realised Father Christmas isn't going to bring one and I'd better get cracking on this myself!

Anyhow, I've no kids, a stable job and an understanding OH.. Is it time to take the plunge? I've ridden on and off for years, never really clicked at at RS as at heart I'm a happy hacker. If I had my own ned I could tootle about to my hearts content... Am I living in a dream world or can this work out?

Any advise would be much appreciated, good or bad experiences welcome!

Don't see why it wouldn't work out, it seems to be the ideal time to take the plunge.

Have you ever shared? Might be worth finding a share for a while - 2 or 3 days a week to give you more of an idea of whether its for you.
If you find the right share you should still be able to potter about as much as you like!
If you do decide to get your own make sure you take someone with you who knows what they're doing when you go to look at horses. There are so many stories of people who've been sold unsuitable, doped, dangerous horses.

Thanks for the comments.. I've looked for a share but not found anything suitable, but this would give me some hands on experience before making a big commitment so I will have a trawl of the local tack shops again!

I'll defiantly rope in a horse owning friend to come along for a second opinion and some hard headed advice if I and when I do make the big decision re buying, I've heard the horror stories too and have visions of tanking off into the sunset taking my confidence along with me :)

Thanks again, much appreciated words of wisdom!

Eric I spent all my childhood dreaming, then my teens, gave up horses due to spinal injury/boys/parties etc.

Realised it was all in my hands so when I turned 30 I bought a house with a paddock and a horse. I'd dreamed of my own warmblood since I was a teen so I went out and bought one. :)

She's on full livery now and it's not always been easy - I've had some massive financial problems since I've had her and I've now got two children. But I rode this week for the first time since the baby and my heart soared.

(it's also a marvellous escape from husband/children ;)k

Good online sites are Horsemart and Equine Adverts if you haven't found them yet - they have quite a lot of shares advertised. The other way is to write out an ad and take it round local yards & ask them to put it on their noticeboard. I've always found sharers by word of mouth & I look for 'share wanted' ads rather than advertising myself cos otherwise you tend to get a lot unsuitable replies.

Unless you live in East Surrey by any chance in which case I might have a suitable neddy!!

Diagonally in the wrong direction snowpo unfortunately i'm in Lancashire :)

Off to have a look around next weekend I think, see if any perfect ponies (well, perfect cobs really!) are looking for a loan home from local yards

Im definitely going to make my horsey dreams one step closer!

Darn it! I'm in same boat, Eric, just in West Yorkshire :-(