u/Defiant_Selection849

Hi guys. I am 27 years old and have been riding and competing all my life. I’ve gone up to the upper levels of eventing as a teenager into my very early twenties before my one horse got injured and had to retire from jumping. I kept him and just enjoyed riding him as I brought up a 2 yr old who I took up to training. But over the last 2 years I’ve been plagued by vet bills from everything under the sun; tooth issues, front end lameness, hock injections, sinus infection ect… I take care of my horses myself and pride myself on how well they are cared for. Farrier appts very 5 weeks, vaccines, best hay and grain, anything to make them feel their best. But my younger event horse has been on and off lame going on year two and no vet can figure it out. The financial burden is getting to be a lot and I can feel myself cracking. I work 3 jobs; one 9-5, 2 night bartending and 2 evening riding horses for a client. But it feels like I keep getting the feet kicked out from under me because my horse cannot stay sound and I do not have the money to keep dumping into vet bills that lead to no answers. He’s very happy and I love him more than I can express but I cannot afford to buy another horse in general let alone own 3. I can’t imagine selling him since I live in fear they would end up in a bad situation and also it makes me physically nauseous to think about someone else having them. I really am at a loss and am willing to take any advice or experience you guys have had with thinking about giving up and throwing in the towel. Horses have been my whole world basically since I was 6 years old and I cannot imagine going in without them but I’m so tired and defeated.