Have you ever felt burned out by horse ownership? If so, what did you do?

I bought an airplane. Then sold the airplane and got more horses. ~FH

 HAHAHA, fh!  And to the OP, no, he's not kidding. 

I think all of us feel exhausted by horse ownership at times (many times) -- but we keep doing it because we love it and it fufills us.  However, if you no longer feel that way, it is permissible to rehome the horses, providing you do so in a responsible way so they remain safe and well cared for.  Not everyone stays in it forever.

For myself, though, even when I feel exhausted, I walk in and look in those eyes and lean against that shoulder with a sigh and there is NOTHING and NOWHERE that could be better than that, or make me feel so at home and at peace.  So I keep up the madness!

Ditto Solaris.

We all feel that way at times in our lives when it seems every THING is grueling and one starts finding themselves thinking "I just can't do this anymore."

 I am lifer with horses -- by that I mean I'm old enough to collect early social security.  Years of re-schooling rank horses and riding my snowmobile like it was the General Lee have taken their toll on my spine.

I flat-out refuse to have metal pins, baskets & rods inserted. The lower part of my back thankfully fused itself because there literally are no discs down there and I would be ecstatic if the rest would fuse itself.  I wear a back brace to do any sort of house & barn chores.  I still get on the tractor and help Mr. WTW maintain 22 acres.  I trim my own horses which means 16 hooves.  We do have to hire three young men to sling 300+ bales of hay that the two of us used to do by ourselves every Spring.

Two of those four horses have metabolic issues.  One can pretty much be maintained just with a grazing muzzle, the 24 yr old is more serious and requires a host of expensive herbs but he's been my bud for 21 years so there are no other options but to do the best I can financially & physically do for him.

There are a host of "issues" around here that cause me to occasionally say "I just can't do this anymore". I could just as easily euthanize my two 20-somethings, re-home the two younger ones and pray those great homes last forever (which they usually don't) --- until I go in the barn every morning and I'm greeted with gentle nickers and four sets of ears set so far forward, it's a miracle they don't get ear cramps:)

Even though the work is grueling for me these days, and I can't ride anywhere near like I used to, they gently remind me every day why they continue to be the comforting born-in-the-blood addiction they have always been; have literally kept my sanity thru family tragedy; and why having them nuzzle & blow in my ear really is worth more than that fabulous "America on Horseback" segment  where they went to Belize on cruise ship:))

That being said, if  a long-term shortage of finances is responsible for you not being able to give your horses the minimal care they require --- then yes it is time to re-home them.  If not, hopefully you can work up and over whatever things are weighing heavily on you at this point in your life and allow your horses to be a source of solace rather than a source of burden:)

YES! I totally burn out on horse ownership from time to time. When my house is falling apart and I cant afford to fix it, or my car breaks down or I cant afford new tires or get stuck eating Ramen noodles for a week. I even listed my horse for sale for a bit. But I just can't do it. When I list the things about my life that make me happiest, my horse is at the very top of my list.  So, what can you do!?

 Well I had to laugh at the airplane purchase-sell-buy more horses! I've been feeling burned out for several months but like others who commented here, there's just something a horse does for you that nothing else can do. I only have one and altho expenses are significantly more since he is "supposedly" IR (metabolic syndrome) so we're in the preventing something worse mode, which means special board (+$) plus supplements (+$).  But he's a great horse, we've come so far along together over the 6 years, and I know I could never replace him if I let him go (which would be through a breed-specific adoption group - I would not sell him). So I've thought about the "rehoming" possibilty but haven't taken any action. I'm just trying to hang in there for a few more months, and see if my job situation (income) gets better. I part lease altho that only helps with 1/4 the cost. It woudl be hard to ask the leasee for more money because I trust her with my horse, and I've seen too many other situations to know it is very hard to find someone you can totally trust (and who will work with you if issues arise). Paying board is the biggest expense and we couldn't be at a better place for lessons and training and riding in a safe environment. 

 I hope these posts will encourage others that yes, we may all get exhausted from owning a horse (horses), but hang in there if you can. I also know that if something happens with this horse, that'll be the end of horse ownership for me. I'm just a few years from retirement so that's a big concern as well. I could move my horse to pasture board only but he can't be out on grass 24/7 or places that are cheap also have very limited riding options. Anyway...I go around in circles on the  matter and come back to, just hang in there for now. Live one day at a time. 

yeah, i get a bit tired of the daily care, now and again.  i think this year for 2 months, i am going to board him up the street and pay for full board.

i have to move him cuz he has red leaf maple trees in his pasture and they are poison when they fall in the autumn, so, i may as well get a bit of holiday.  i could go for self board, but, a holiday from horsekeeping will be nice so i will pay for full board.

i will obviously still see him and ride or work out daily but, i won't worry about getting up and feeding and cleaning.

though i am also checking to see if there is a pasture available for board, cuz, i thought he might like to spend time being a real horse in a herd.  he's grown up in the track life and i don't think he's seen real pasture and hills and adventure.

Reading that just got me...so true of every thing in life that gets tough. Makes me feel so grateful for tomorrow!!

 Sorry, I can't even imagine it. I must have gotten bitten by the horse bug really badly as a kid. Right now I'm trying to figure out ways to make horsekeeping easier as I get older. If I cannot care/keep a horse, I am not going to be happy camper at all....period. There is no help for me. 

 Well, I did suffer burn out once...that horse with the blanket and fly mask on. I rehabbed his feet and he came to me in a bad way. That was a few months of walking around in an exhausted daze and talking to myself!  We made it though....

 Horse ownership caused problems between myself and my first husband, not to mention burn out for myself.  That was when I had my horse at solitary, self-care board and had to be at the barn every morning and evening, feeding, mucking the stall, grooming and occasionally riding. this was in addition to a full time job with a 75 minute commute each way.

Never being home to cook dinner for hubbie was an issue, as was not being able to get away for a weekend and having to truck in hay and feed in our previously pristene station wagon.

Luckily, a promotion around that time meant I could finally afford to keep my horse at full board, so I didn't have to schlep to the barn in rubber boots at the crack of dawn.

Things were a lot easier after that and the burnout factor disappeared :-)

 

 Thanks for everyone's posts. I am going to look for a cheaper place to board, that will relive some stress. That means making a change from doing some showing to being a recreational rider. Which was the plan after showing - go trail riding, which I also enjoy. I appreciate all your posts and what you shared. The economy is not helping, my truck just needed a major repair, and my horse can't just go to 24/7 pasture board. But I'll do some searching and see if I can come up with something that will work for us both. He's a great horse, I know I'll never be able to replace him, and if I get out of horses at this stage of my life game (with retirement around the corner), that will be it. If anyone out there beleives in prayer, please say one for me as it will be a challenge to a suitable place.

Read Jayne's post about her wonderful BO--in GENERAL--before you decide on a new place. That may give you something else to add to the list of things you check on when determining if a barn is a good choice. The title is "Thanks to my wonderful barn owner".

Another alternative you might consider is working out some sort of agreement where your horse is used in lessons (agree beforehand, in writing, what the horse will be doing and for how long per day etc ) in exchange for a discount on the board.  That will relieve some stress.

And then, if your horse is being worked in lessons, that means that the time you spend with the horse can be play time -- trail rides, spa days etc. 

Read her post - lots to consider but it's not just about paying extra money. If it's not there to spend, then I may have to consider alternatives.

 And on using my horse for lessons, he can be a very forward moving (energetic) horse as well as forward thinking - he thinks ahead, wants to please and has a good attitude but he could do an entire lesson without you asking him what to do next, so not suitable for most of the current students. But may ask that question in a couple months, when I see how things are shaping up financially.

Absolutely - if the money's not there, you have to make adjustments.  I wish you luck in your search and hope you find a good place for a reasonable amount.