I have had my Welsh Sec D for 7 years. She was my fav horse at the riding school when I returned to riding. She was in working livery there, I then got her on working livery loan before buying her when I was 33. This was on the suggestion of my RI. She's my first horse and I thought she'd be with me for life.
I loved her because she is typical welshy with that welshy spirit, clever, forwards, strong, opinionated and spooky and thrived with a rider she trusted and respected but had her moments. In other words, a challenging but fun ride. I am a happy hacker who likes fast hacks.
That was fine, she suited me. However, over a period if a couple of years, my wants and needs as a rider have changed. I've found as time has gone on that I've gradually been doing less and less of what I'd always enjoyed. So now we don't do prolonged canters and I avoid the faster work we used to love. She's frustrated, I'm frustrated. Having ridden other horses, I've discovered that if I had a more predictable, less drama queen, horse then Id be back to the long fast hacks I'd always enjoyed.
I should just mention at this stage that she's not changed at all, she's everything I always loved about her. I should also mention that I'm more than capable of riding her but it's got to the stage where I am irritated by all the things I used to love about her, her forwardness, her spookiness, her will to discuss anything she doesn't want to do! She's a sensitive girl who picks up on my rise in energy and can't I stand why we can't just have long fast canters anymore.
So there's no doubt about it, it's best for both her and I if she finds an owner that loves her as I used to for who she is and can either hunt her, do x country or lots of lovely fast hacks. She'd make a perfect teenagers horse and that's how she started off in life.
So here I am in winter, with a horse I love dearly but am no longer suited to, a horse who I thought would be with me for life and yet I'm prepared to put my riding needs first and sell her. I'd always assumed that if I could no longer ride her anymore then I'd keep her forever and she owed me nothing. However, she can be ridden and likes to be and needs it for her health and well being.
We've got at least another 2-3 months before I can find another home for her and I'm feeling so low, so guilty, so sad. I'm trying to emotionally detach myself from her ready to be able to part with her in very early spring. Every time we go out and have a good ride at walk trot and collect canter I feel guilty because she can be so good and clearly is itching to do more but I'm not prepared to on her. None of this is her fault, she is who she is and at 13, she's not going to change her personality so this isn't about training. I have changed and the more time goes by, the more over horsed I am and the less and less I want to have to manage her so the more I step back from her and the things we used to enjoy.
I never thought I'd part with her and I'm going to miss her so much. I've tried advertising for sharers/loaners etc but horses need riders are 2 a penny here. It doesn't help that last week I had to have my old boy PTS.
This isn't a thread for advice, I don't want to try anymore with her and have taken years to come to this decision so it's taken a while to be fully confident that this is right for both of us.
I was wondering how anyone else who has rehomed a horse they love dearly but wasn't suitable anymore has coped? I've put her on full livery since my old boy was PTS and am going to her today to ride but am filled with dread and would rather she found the right home tomorrow. Ideally I'd turn her away through winter but feel compelled to ride at least 2-3 times a week.