Hi all,

Back again! I love this community and forum because I truly feel like I can express myself when difficult or yet happy times arise, and I always get welcomed and warm feedback. So as always thank you in advance.

I am currently going through tough time of giving up something. Not just anything- I’ve come to a point where I am having to sell my beloved horse of 13 years. I have had her since I was 13 and if any of you are an animal lover or people lover- giving up someone is difficult. I feel like I am being ripped apart inside at every angle. This is a decision I came to on my own, something that I am not being forced into but almost a cross roads in my life. I share my story to see if anyone else has been through something similar or has had any experience in giving something up that is so precious to you.

My horse and I have a very strong connection to one another. I grew up riding, horses being something I loved and having my own horse was my wish not only on my birthday but every day…. all I ever wanted was to ride horses, be around horses, love horses heck I wanted to be a horse (when I was young)….those were simpler times. I have held on to her, even moved her across the states to come live in a town out west that is the iconic west- where cowboys still live! i loved the lifestyle I loved the people I met through it all and most of all I loved my horse more then anything in the world.

though recently (last 3 years) I have entered a time in my life that I have wanted to explore other interests besides horses, I love to travel, I love to volunteer, help people, do multiple other outdoor sports…horses took a wayside and so did she at times. She was still there for me though all through college as a support system as I lived so far away from family. Now that I am on my own, I struggle to pay rent, keep her and feed myself- let alone see her a lot (my job takes up a lot of my time)- I’ve thought about switching jobs so that I can spend more time with her, but the money thing wouldn’t go away, also the nagging sense of wanting to do so much with my life- go back to school, move to a different state, etc. all things that are hard to do with a horse. She is getting older (15- horses live to around 30s sometimes though), she is still healthy so I can still sell her to a good home. Ive gotten all the way to advertising her and now having interest and potential people to come out to view her for sale- and yet I am so torn up inside if I am doing the right thing by giving her up, there is a sadness in her too like she knows whats going on, how could I abandon her after all these years? there is such a strong connection and love between us that I can’t see this ending good- I am already heart broken and I don’t know if I can make it by giving her up. Keeping her seems like I am just holding myself back in my own life, yet giving her seems like I won’t realize what I had till its gone

please help?