Chilly807
Elite Member
Funny thing is, my situation was just the opposite.. I was a country boy that spent 20 years living in the city, well.. tolerating it would be a better term. After parting ways with my first wife, I met my present wife, who was a horse nut since long before I'd ever met her. Within about 5 years we'd sold our house in the city, built a new house and barn 45 mins from the city where we both work, and settled in to country life.
While I don't know whose dream (I'm not saying "dream" in a bad way, either) the horses were part of in David's situation, it's a shame they were caught in the middle and causing some stress. Usually it's the other way around, I find them to be great at relieving stress and they are wonderful therapists if you're having a lousy day. And I don't ride, at least not very often. Sounds like some of you have formed resentments towards your wives' horses?
I'd advise anyone that isn't 100% rock-solid sure they want horses to lease and board them for a while until they get a better handle on what's involved. I joke about them being "like kids who never move out", but that's closer to the truth than most realize.
And as far as horses not needing shelter? They DO need shelter if it ever rains and gets close to the freezing point. My point is, if you're going to have livestock, whether they're pets or not, you have a responsiblilty to provide the necessities of life for them, and shelter in inclement weather falls under necessities. I re-edited my original post, it was on the harsh side of civil, and had no place here.
Moving on, after 5 years here, I have no intention of ever moving any closer to the city. Up at 5 AM to feed horses and cats in the winter, snow rain or sun... although you don't get much sun at 5 AM. Home around 6 in the evening after picking her up from work, then feed the horses and cats and make some dinner for us. Mind you, everything in moderation. If one of you is a "collector" and keep on taking in more and more rescued animals just because they need a home and you want more, then you have a whole other passel of problems to deal with besides marital bliss or lack thereof. I don't think that was David's problem, anyway.
It's not so much the situation you're in, but the people in the situation that make it tolerable, or even enjoyable. I sigh about the early mornings and walks to the barn in all kinds of weather, then I'm the same one who enjoys listening to an owl hooting in the night, or coyotes yipping on a still night instead of traffic and the neighbour snoring in his house 15 feet from mine. Or being able to see the stars on a clear night.
With the right people, country life is wonderful. There's a lot of you here who are reading this and saying, "Yeah, that's about right", and others who look baffled. For those that understand, no explanation is necessary, for those that don't, none is possible.
Sean
While I don't know whose dream (I'm not saying "dream" in a bad way, either) the horses were part of in David's situation, it's a shame they were caught in the middle and causing some stress. Usually it's the other way around, I find them to be great at relieving stress and they are wonderful therapists if you're having a lousy day. And I don't ride, at least not very often. Sounds like some of you have formed resentments towards your wives' horses?
I'd advise anyone that isn't 100% rock-solid sure they want horses to lease and board them for a while until they get a better handle on what's involved. I joke about them being "like kids who never move out", but that's closer to the truth than most realize.
And as far as horses not needing shelter? They DO need shelter if it ever rains and gets close to the freezing point. My point is, if you're going to have livestock, whether they're pets or not, you have a responsiblilty to provide the necessities of life for them, and shelter in inclement weather falls under necessities. I re-edited my original post, it was on the harsh side of civil, and had no place here.
Moving on, after 5 years here, I have no intention of ever moving any closer to the city. Up at 5 AM to feed horses and cats in the winter, snow rain or sun... although you don't get much sun at 5 AM. Home around 6 in the evening after picking her up from work, then feed the horses and cats and make some dinner for us. Mind you, everything in moderation. If one of you is a "collector" and keep on taking in more and more rescued animals just because they need a home and you want more, then you have a whole other passel of problems to deal with besides marital bliss or lack thereof. I don't think that was David's problem, anyway.
It's not so much the situation you're in, but the people in the situation that make it tolerable, or even enjoyable. I sigh about the early mornings and walks to the barn in all kinds of weather, then I'm the same one who enjoys listening to an owl hooting in the night, or coyotes yipping on a still night instead of traffic and the neighbour snoring in his house 15 feet from mine. Or being able to see the stars on a clear night.
With the right people, country life is wonderful. There's a lot of you here who are reading this and saying, "Yeah, that's about right", and others who look baffled. For those that understand, no explanation is necessary, for those that don't, none is possible.
Sean
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