Owning a horse is hard

Hi! This is a vent, and a warning for future horse owners, as I feel it’s important to understand what you’re getting into. I had people tell me beforehand how hard it would be, and it helped, but I’m still overwhelmed lmao. Also, some advice is appreciated if you feel you have some to offer a first-time horse owner.

I adopted a rescue horse. She is an absolute sweetheart, coming up to the fence and snuggling with anyone who walks by, and she has given the farrier and vet such little trouble. Truly, she’s an angel. I rescued her from a farm where she was kept in a barbed-wire pasture, and practically abandoned. I’m still not entirely sure what her background is, all I know is that at one point she was a race horse.

I took her to an amazing place. I had stayed with her the whole week before the move to insure that she knew me and was comfortable around me, and it helped massively. I come down every day to groom her and take her on walks around the farm so she can get used to it. She’s adjusting beautifully, and is very well behaved.

Now remember, she’s only been around barbed wire fences. For her quarantine period, she was kept in a pasture surrounded by other pastures of horses with a wooden fence. She has been chewing on the wood incessantly out of boredom, and I have to get a cribbing collar for her. The woman who runs the barn specializes in rescue horses, so she didn’t care about the fences, just about my horse’s safety. (Though I did promise to repair the more damaged bits.)

She also has off days; some days, she’s very overstimulated, and when she is, she gets pushy. She’ll push me hard with her head, almost enough to knock me over, and refuses to stand still. I broke down on one of those days, as I felt horrible. On those days, I ease the workload for her and just focus on being near her. I’m not pushing her out of her comfort zone, as I want her to feel safe. She’s also covered in rain rot from her previous place. I’ve given her two medical baths, and groomed and treat the rain rot daily, but it’s still persistent, and looking at it almost makes me burst into tears because nothing I seem to do gets rid of it entirely. It’s better than it was when I first got her, but I can’t help it.

Some people in my life are confused as to why I’m not riding her. My parents complain that she’ll “never get better” if she isn’t ridden consistently. She is saddle broke, and I rode her before I got her, but I am determined to teach her on the ground before getting back on her. I also want to finish the treatments for her, and make sure my tack fits properly so I don’t cause any pain. I want her to feel confident in me and herself before I get back on her. Still, I feel the pressure, and it stings to know that I’m putting so much work into her, but my parents don’t see that.

I’ve been riding for 13 years. I’m 20 years old, a part time nanny who’s also looking for a second job. I’ve leased horses, worked with green horses, been a co-barn manager, competed, rode English and Western, shadowed a vet, and some days I still feel overwhelmed and like I’m not good enough. I know it’s normal, but I want to vent it out. God, the first few weeks of owning a horse is so hard. Owners, please be ready when getting your first horse!