Horses for Courses

We often hear people using the phrase ‘Mid-Life Crisis’ but to be honest I didn’t think it was a real thing! I thought it was simply a saying which was used to justify or explain the purchase of a flashy new sports car. It turns out however, it is a real thing for many people.

According to my friend Google:

A midlife crisis is a transition of identity and self-confidence that can occur in middle-aged individuals. The phenomenon is described as a psychological crisis brought about by events that highlight a person’s growing age, inevitable mortality, and possibly shortcomings of accomplishments in life. This may produce feelings of depression, remorse, and anxiety or the desire to achieve youthfulness or make drastic changes to current lifestyle.

Some people quit jobs, leave their partners, disconnect with old friends and make new ones, make extravagant purchases or even get a tattoo.  What do I do? I get a horse!!

At 31, almost 32 I wouldn’t class myself as middle aged but for a long time I have felt that there was something missing from my otherwise lovely life. If you asked me if I had a hobby sadly I would have said I didn’t. So a few months ago I decided to do something about that.

As a child I grew up with two homes, Mums in the week and Dads at the weekend. My Dad lived on a farm where my step Mum’s sisters had their horses. One of their ponies was too small for them to ride, so he became my job at a weekend. I loved him dearly and enjoyed several years with him having all sorts of fun until sadly he passed away and that was the end of my pony days. Until recently that is….

Cue the arrival of my handsome lad Zak. This special boy has retired from racing and was looking for a new home to call his own and I just knew after meeting him that he belonged with me. He’s a playful character who loves to ‘help’ muck out, carry his lead rope and drink from a hose pipe!!

I am totally smitten with him. Midlife crisis? Maybe. But I just know I’ll enjoy being with him for the rest of his days and I can now say I have a hobby.

Id love to hear about your midlife crisis stories, I bet there’s some good ones!!

Zak enjoying his retirement snuggled up warm after his day in the paddock

Zak – aka Knights Table pictured on his 3rd win at Ripon 🙂