There are multiple bad habits that can be hard to quit without a very good reward to aim for. For those who love horses the time and money that could be spent riding and caring for them can represent that high-value reward.
Money
Many of the bad habits we have cost money, and if you take time to work out the amounts spent on a regular basis can roughly equate to the expenses of riding regularly or even of keeping your own horse. This is particularly true of the increasingly expensive but hard to quit habit of smoking. Anyone who wants to spend more time with horses or have one of their own but would struggle to afford it- and smokes- might want to sit down and calculate the costs of their habit, then work out the equivalent in terms of riding lessons or livery expenses. This is likely to result in a shock discovery which could be enough to inspire them to quit and put the cash they will save towards their equine ambitions. Alcohol, depending on your tipple of choice and particularly if you are aware that you are drinking more than you should, can be another area of surprisingly high expense. And if you’re eating too much junk food in the form of takeaways and snack bars, the costs may still shock you if you keep a strict record of what you have spent in a month or even a week.
Having decided to take the plunge and quit your personal vice, keep a record of the money you save each time you don’t buy a packet of cigarettes, a bottle of vodka, or a Chinese takeaway, and then either use it for the horse things you want- new boots or hat, extra lessons- or put it into a special savings account dedicated to saving up for your own horse. Seeing the money mount up or enjoying your new clothing, experiences or watching your dream goal get closer should help keep you going.
Health
As much as the bad habits we have can cost us lots of money, they can also damage our health. To get the best out of being around horses you should be at least reasonably fit and healthy, and if you find yourself constantly out of breath from your smoking habit, so overweight you are exhausted just bringing your horse in from the field, or waking up too hung over to go for a long awaited weekend ride, it’s time to take action.
Take the time to think about what your goal is and why. If you are overweight and have no horse of your own, but want to ride, this can be quite straightforward. As many riding schools have upper weight limits, if you exceed that there is a great motivation for losing weight to get back into the saddle. Get your target weight by calling up and finding out what the limit is- you don’t have to tell them it’s for you- or if you don’t feel able to do that, you could ask a friend who is riding at a school to find out what maximum weight they accept. As soon as you reach your target make sure you book your first lesson as your reward.
Often the motivation can be fairly general and just a matter of wanting to feel better to make the most of time at the stables. Take notes about how you feel each week during your time with horses when you quit smoking or cut down on drinking, and how much more you have been able to do to remind yourself about why this is important to you.
The fitter the rider, the better, and the more that is expected of the horse, the fitter the rider needs to be. For many people, riding alone is not enough to improve fitness, but a desire to perform better at a regular weekly lesson can be a effective driver towards embracing a new fitness regime. So if you feel inspired not only to ditch the old you by getting rid of those unhealthy habits, but to create a brand new you with more exercise, remember you and your equine partner in this favourite hobby of yours will both benefit.
Horses can truly be the inspiration that enables people to change their lives, whether they want to be able to afford more time with them or to be well enough to spend more quality time with them and make more of their riding. These worthwhile goals may be all that it takes to help a horse lover get rid of those bad personal habits forever.
Source
- Gallop Magazine -Reader letters June 1997
Paula Sainthouse - Paula Sainthouse holds qualifications in psychology, public relations, horse management & animal behaviour.
