Conference noted::equitation

    If you think you will have time for her after the baby, I would
    definitely keep her.  She sounds like a very nice family horse.  A
    three year old and a baby at the same time would be too much for me to
    handle.
    
    Good luck on whatever you decide.
    
    Kathie
    

    I vote with Kathie. If you are concerned about not having the time for
    an 8 year old already trained horse, how do you plan to have time for
    a green youngster and an infant (and a full time job if you plan on
    coming back to work) this coming spring?  Sounds like a real big
    mouthful to me.  
    
    Do you have any horsie friends you would trust to ride her through this
    fall for you, rather than leasing her to strangers?  If she's quiet and
    well behaved as you say, this may be a good compromise. I lucked into
    a situation like this with my companion pony.  "Pesky" came on just to
    keep my lonely mare company, but turned out the have a bundle of energy
    and a wonderful attitude under saddle that I hated to see go to waste.
    As it is, my neighbor has a 9 yr old horse crazy daughter who has been
    riding for several years and now comes over a couple times a week, 
    cleans my stalls, and rides the pony.  They adore each other, and have
    so much fun I'm out looking for some 'no grow' pills to start feeding
    the kid so she doesn't get too big too soon! Look around, you may be
    overlooking someone you hadn't thought would enjoy riding a bit!
      
    It probably won't hurt her any to stay idle until fall, anyway. At 8,
    she'll bounce back quick enough in the spring when you are ready to
    begin riding again.
    
    Congratulations on your soon-to-be new family member!
       

    Boy, it's a difficult one, isn't it? I just made the decision to sell
    my hunter and buy a baby to train. Every once in a while I have that
    "feeling" come over me again - am I doing the right thing?

    My first consideration was - would *she* be as happy elsewhere?
    Well, I'll see to it that she goes to a good place. My trainer is going
    to handle the sale and be sure she goes to a good hunter barn.

    Second, what is *my* situation - do I want to do what I can with her,
    or do I want to do something else?  And I really do want to try my
    hand at training a baby, and bringing it up to show. Due to various
    things, I don't think I'll be doing this for much longer.

    And I have the same problem- I couldn't afford to maintain both, and
    I would have time for both, and I'd rather see someone who will love
    and care for her own her, than go through a number of leases.

    So, I guess basically I got to a point where I was certain I was doing
    the best for both of us, and now feel a lot better...but again, I
    still have those "twinges".

    Good luck with that - and congratulations and best wishes on the new
    human baby! And the new horse baby if that's what you decide in the
    spring.

    -julie

	sorry - typo on .-1 - I *wouldn't* have time for both.

    Tough one....
    
    Can your trainer lease your mare and use her for lessons?
    
    Is she breedable stock? 	You could consider breeding her while
    you're out of commission (congratulations!!!! you must be excited)
    and that way she's doing somethig useful, and you'll get your baby
    to work with when you are ready.  The young ones are a blast!
    
    Do you have any young neighbors with an interest in riding? (my
    salvation)  I was considering selling my mare, I even had several 
    interested buyers, however, the girls across the street started
    riding, so as long as all my critters get used.....then they stay
    (plus I really don't want to sell my mare......she's my favorite to
    ride).
          

    Why can't Ed rider her? Jan and I work the others horse(s) when one of
    us is sick or something. Works pretty well for us.

    	
    My husband (ed) rides her some but, he hates to ride alone.  My 
    father is out of the horse back riding lessons he trades in ponies
    and small stock.  I wouldn't want her in that situation.  
    
    Lady is a small mare like a arab, around 15'1 so when Ed gets on her
    it looks like he's riding a pony.. 
    
    I have asked the girls at the barn if they would like to excercise her,
    but they are all showing right now but, said they would when show
    season was over.. 
    
    I have pulled the shoes off and thought of breeding her she pride and
    coin breeding and had a nice foal 3 years ago , and if I had her at
    home that's what I would do for sure but, currently I am boarding her
    down the street with 12 other horses - She moving home next spring.
    
    I ride alot so it seems like big empty hole in my life right now , but 
    I know it's only temporary.  Ed and my sister will ride her, so I know
    that she'll be ridden atleast once a week.
    
    I have decided to keep her since I would be hard pressed to find
    another mare that I enjoy so much - she will just have a vacation for
    6 months' .. 
    
    	It's such nice riding weather - she is going to be the cleanest
    horse in the barn.
    
    Donna
    
    	Thanks for all support - I am sure that you here me whinning again 
    when Fall hits....

FWIW, my friend in the stall next to me just completed two Registers of Merit 
this weekend at the Paint Horse Futurity and she is having a baby October
25th.

She is very tall, very thin and you can hardly tell she is pregnant.  One
of the judges told her that she her back wouldn't be so hollowed if
she let her stirrup down a notch...  He didn't even know it was her belly!

She is giving her horse a well deserved rest (he gets really crabby!)

Good luck

Karen

    I have no time to ride my  horses!!!  and I said last year if I went
    one more year without riding/using/paying attention to my horses it
    would be time to let them go to someone who would use them.  BUT...They
    are my pets, BUT...it's not fair to them to be bored!!!  If I had a
    pasture I wouldn't feel so bad.
    
    So tell me, has anyone had experiences with free leases...or talk me
    into keeping them!!!
    
    I hate to get rid of them, but know I should...any feedback
    encouragement or discouragement appreciated!!!!
    
    Caryl

    I know of a great place for them to go if you are considering 
    a free lease.  This way you don't have to "totally" give them
    up and who knows....as time goes on...your time available to
    give to your horses might change.  In the meantime, they'll
    be loved, worked and taken good care of.
    
    The good thing about a free lease is that you can get them
    back pretty much whenever you want them.  Send me mail
    if you are interested on EDWIN::KRUPICKA.  This place is wonderful,
    warm, clean, and if your horses need any training, they will do that
    in exchange for the free lease.
    
    Good luck, I know how hard it is to make this kind of a decision.
    
    
    Wendy/Apache/Aladin