Dogs, cats, horses, minis, have you ever (or almost ever) thrown in the towel

[Carolyn R]

I usually don't post here, but I guess I am searching for others pearls of wisdom.

Have any of you, regardless of what it was, if you had a hobby/bussiness have you thrown in the towel (or almost thrown in the towel). Please share if you did or didn't and what made you give up or stick with it.

I keep telling myself that if I have a lousy year, thats it, no more breeding, sell what I have (except for my 17 year old mini) and get two dead broke riding horses.

When I say a lousy year, its not that I haven't been through it before, it comes with the territory with horses, you learn to never take a year without incident or a text book foaling for granted. It seems like when you give your all, try to put your best out there, try to give the very best in care (tons of hands on time, vet care, all the proper horse husbandry skils and so on) then your faced with all the doom and gloom topics, realizing the kids aren't getting younger, the husband has been wonderful and maybe he deserves all of us having more family getaways, maybe it is all the deaths in the family in the last 6 months, I don't know.....

Please share your experiences, what was it that made you stay or give up, a bad year, a good turnaround, lousy market/great market, great clients/lousy clients, your heart won't let you give up/ your heart isn't in it any longer, you love the joys of it/ you can't take the hearbreak, whatever the reasoning please share.....

When I ask myself why I started with the minis..it is because I have always had a love of horses, I have always had them and can't imagine life without them, one mini lead to two (which were eventually placed in pet homes), then before I knew it, I was critcally evaluating what I wanted to purchase and very slowly building a small,select program. My goals were to produce something better than what was available in this area, something that had the disposition to be part of the family and strive for the correctness of a showhorse, something healthy that was given excellant care, because it seemed like there were so many out there that were lacking in one or more if not all of these qualities.

 

[Reble]

Many times, but hubby says I would not be happy without my fur companions, just when I think I have had enough, a nice email or someone calls to say oh we are so happy with our puppy or mini and than hubby says "see" that is why you breed.

I think when I have accomplished it all, and do not see all the blessings around me, it will be time to sell and move on, and yes I sure hope someday to do a bit of travelling. But for today, will enjoy what I have and not what I want....

 

[Flying minis]

I usually don't post here, but I guess I am searching for others pearls of wisdom.

Have any of you, regardless of what it was, if you had a hobby/bussiness have you thrown in the towel (or almost thrown in the towel). Please share if you did or didn't and what made you give up or stick with it.

From the time I was 19 until I was 32 I trained, showed, judged, and gave riding lessons. I started with Arabians, by the end of that time was working with everything - Pintos and Arabs at breed shows, everything else (hunters, quarter horses, some dressage, lots of halter and showmanship and equitation) for 4-H kids and open shows. Stood 2 Saddlebred stallions for breeding too. At 32 I was in mid-divorce, with a 2 year old, and didn't enjoy the horses anymore - they were just work. So I stopped. Sold almost everything off.

Then met a guy who was horse crazy too, but never showed, trained, etc. Just trail riding. He had 2 boys, one of which was horse crazy. Started trail riding - for FUN. Realized that I didn't want to work so hard, I wanted to enjoy my horses again, not have them be a "job". Ended up teaching the horse crazy son to train horses. I eventually bought a paint horse, started showing at small local shows, where I would show pleasure and all 3 boys and hubby (by then we'd married) ran the games classes. It was GREAT! It was once again FUN to ride!

Quit showing again when the boys quit showing, then, 3 years ago, was diagnosed with MS. Realized I missed the showing, and my hubby said "if you want to show, do it now! You don't know how long you'll be able to." So I got a been there, done that Saddlebred gelding, then 2 minis.

Sorry for the long story, but basically, I started with horses because it was FUN, and I quit when it wasn't anymore. Now I've learned how to keep it fun - it's a hobby, not a job, and I strictly limit what I do - have one show riding horse, the 2 minis, and a trail riding horse.

If I were you, I'd look at WHY I'm doing what I am, and decide if your goals have changed. Mine went from making money off the horses to just wanting to enjoy them again. Am so glad I made the choice I did, because I regained my love of the animal, and the joy of riding. As a side note, at my first pinto show with my Saddlebred (I hadn't shown Saddleseat in 15 years), I couldn't stop smiling, no matter what my horse did! The show photographer loved me, he told me later - "I have to take pictures of you, you and your horse look like you're having so much fun out there!"

 

[Shari]

First... ((hugs))

I know about bad years and there have been times I wanted to throw in the towel, or at least just get down to just having Maggie and a couple of cats. But my DH keep telling me I would not be where I am without the animals and he is right. You sound the same way.

I have down sized awhile back, no more breeding sheep, having goats, raising and breeding heritage chickens and ducks.

Then I moved here, got up to 6 horses a couple of times but after the accident that was too much. So got down to 4 again...

And then when we almost moved, (still waiting too) I sold Theia to a really good home because I honestly wasn't doing anything with her and she loved attention. Then MA offered to give Ella a very good home too. At the last minute the person's farm we were going to rent backed out.

Anyway, think everyone has these kinds of years. So you are not alone.

So I am down to 4 horses yet again (would like to down size a bit more there), 3 chickens(will go to another nice friend, when and if we ever find a place in VA), 3 cats (one is our outside mouser). I did end up getting two lambs, because the grass is getting out of hand in the paddocks, I don't want to use poisons get rid of the grass, so the lambs can crop it short enough, I won't have any hoof issues with my horses and I just can't physically keep up with it. So the lambs will save me work.

Maybe just down sizing to your favorite animals will help. Then you can figure out what you want to do from there?

 

[gimp]

I think I may put a slightly different spin to this.

Ten years ago I was sent home on hospice care. I was also going thru a bad divorce. Long story short when I got thru the divorce a couple of months later I moved out of the house in which my kids were born and into an area in which I knew no one. It was just me and my three dogs; one of which was end stage Wobbler's.

Taking care of those animals became my focus, and my own health became so much more important as I was the only one to be there for them. A few years later a retired brood mare moved in. My health continued to improve as I settled in to my daily routines with my beloved animals. Many tears have fallen into my mare's mane, but I am so grateful to have a reason to get out of bed every day.

I don't have a huge farm, or even a small one. I do, however, know that without my dogs and horse I would very likely have let myself cross that bridge.

 

[hobbyhorse23]

Quit showing again when the boys quit showing, then, 3 years ago, was diagnosed with MS. Realized I missed the showing, and my hubby said "if you want to show, do it now! You don't know how long you'll be able to." So I got a been there, done that Saddlebred gelding, then 2 minis.
...As a side note, at my first pinto show with my Saddlebred (I hadn't shown Saddleseat in 15 years), I couldn't stop smiling, no matter what my horse did! The show photographer loved me, he told me later - "I have to take pictures of you, you and your horse look like you're having so much fun out there!"

I have to admit I started tearing up reading this. What a wonderful man you have there! What a treasure! And how lucky you are, diagnosis and all. To be true to yourself in knowing both your limits and your goals and making them happen with such gratitude for the chance to have fun...I would have been taking your picture too!

Aw, Gimp, you as well! I'm just weepy today.

Leia

 

[Katiean]

We used to raise and show Rabbits. Mini Rex to be exact. It was fun and a challenge because we purposely started with "raffle" rabbits. These are those that no one wants. You get 5 tickets for $1. You deposit the tickets in the bags marked for the rabbit you are interested in and they draw the winner. Some we got because of pedigree. Some we got just because. As we continued we watched what the judge wanted in the breed. We then bought a few choice animals and we got better from there. When we quit we were at the top getting best of breeds and a best in show. At one point I had 150 animals in my barn and about another 60 in the overflow cages. We never felt it was right to charge the $250-$300 some of the well known breeders were charging. We occasionally put a show quality Jr rabbit into the "raffle" just to get our rabbits out there. We even had some people drive from OK to NV for 4 rabbits. They drove strait through and drove right back. We had a show every month. Some times 2x's a month. My brother showed with me and his daughter. However, I did all the loading the truck, set up at the show, breakdown at the show and all of the unloading. Then I had a car accident that required surgery. It was an unsuccessful surgery. We now have the last 2 of our show stock. One doe is well over 6 years old and the buck is well over 5 years old. We sold all but the old folks.

Do I miss showing? Yes! In fact there is a show this weekend at the Grand Sierra Casino. There is a total of 45 specialty shows this weekend. Included in the show is the Mini Rex National Convention. I am going to see what we can maybe get started with. But, if I get more rabbits I have to thin down my horses. It is quit a struggle. It is very hard to make the choices to choose one over the other.

 

[anoki]

I think this has been an awful year for many people and for many, MANY reasons.

I will be posting more about mine in a few months....need to get through a couple of more speed bumps before I can bring it up.

But to make things short...yes, I have hit that 'time' in ALL 3 of my 'hobbies' ALL within the last year or so, and some because of other things going on in life. With the dogs, I was getting quite frustrated with the ringside politics, and certain other breeders in my area (those "BIG" wins mean a lot less when you learn how they are really won). I even had a bit of a blow up with a very good friend of mine, because she crossed that line, and I knew exactly what was going on. I was close, soooo very close to packing it in and giving up on it because of a few people. But the dogs have kept me sane for the last year, and well, politics aside, I am very proud of my dogs and I enjoy showing them (something that I NEVER enjoyed doing with the horses-big or little). So here I am, still at it, trying to take it a little less 'serious' and trying to get back to the fun of it. I got hooked on herding, and I absolutely LOVE it!!! I was in a herding clinic in the fall and some of the others that were there were commenting on the fact that I always had a big grin on my face whether things were going ok or whether I was getting run down by sheep because my dog wasn't doing what I wanted her to. But I just love doing it soooooo much!

The minis-I am getting out of (not that I was ever really 'in' them, but....), except for a few that I cannot part with. I love my little horses, but my heart isn't in it anymore, and they deserve more attention than I have time for at the moment. And after the loss of my only foal this year, I'm just done with it....

The big horses-well there are new plans in the works for them too....I can't part with them for many, MANY reasons, but that part of my life will be changing drastically again (it has been in much turmoil over the last year anyway....).

A friend of mine said to me late last fall "There is no wrong direction, but doing nothing isn't an option. You need to make a choice and go forward with it". It was something that stuck with me and after the death of a different friend (far too young and a very agonizing death), and some other 'issues' that happened around the same time, I made a choice and am moving forward....keeping my fingers crossed that things turn out the way I am hoping they will.

~kathryn

 

[Flying minis]

Thanks Leia, he's a keeper, that's for sure. I hear every day how much he loves me and how glad he is to have me, but it's a mutual feeling!

I think sometimes we think of "throwing in the towel" when we really just need to recognize our limits (or changes as we get older!) and move from a bath towel to a hand towel, as it were : )

We have a total of 7 horses now between hubby and I, at one time I had 25 - when I realized I didn't need that many to enjoy the horses, it got so much easier, and so much more enjoyable!

Kelly

 

[Carolyn R]

Thanks for the replies. Guess I am just overwhelmed with the fact that it is frustrating to care for them all like they are family members (care, upkeep, socialization, love that goes into them) then reading people's ads wanting it all and a side of fries, for next to nothing. Even worse, forgive me, but those that are looking for their breeding stock in the auction yards, from unscroupulous breeders, and from horse flippers.

I grow tired of telling people to go through reputable breeders, and if not a reputable breeder, at least go through a responsible owner who is rehoming their animal. An owner/breeder that has proper housing, gives proper vet care and vaccinations, trims, floats, vaccinates, worms and handles their animals! All these things cost time and money, it is very dicouraging.

 

[Shari]

Thanks for the replies. Guess I am just overwhelmed with the fact that it is frustrating to care for them all like they are family members (care, upkeep, socialization, love that goes into them) then reading people's ads wanting it all and a side of fries, for next to nothing. Even worse, forgive me, but those that are looking for their breeding stock in the auction yards, from unscroupulous breeders, and from horse flippers.

I grow tired of telling people to go through reputable breeders, and if not a reputable breeder, at least go through a responsible owner who is rehoming their animal. An owner/breeder that has proper housing, gives proper vet care and vaccinations, trims, floats, vaccinates, worms and handles their animals! All these things cost time and money, it is very dicouraging.

I understand your frustration.

Now a days many people think they should get an excellent quality well taken care of horse(or any animal) for free, just because so many not so good horse's are being given away for free.

(hugs) with having to deal with people like that.