Ooh, when I was little I had a donkey then graduated to a pony. We lived in a small house (ex-farmer worker's cottage) but it had 1/2 acre of land (it's a while ago, when we still had acres!,). and after spending a week at the seaside when I insisted on riding on the donkies several times a day my dad said, "It would have been cheaper to buy one," so he did.
I had a retired seaside donkey and there is a cute photo of me with pigtails sitting astride him, aged 2.5.
When said donkey got too old to be ridden dad bought a pony and taught me how to ride.
I only ever rode round the lanes, no competitions, but I loved my pony and loved the quiet rides, seeing so much wildlife and beauty from my lofty perch. She knew when the school bus was due and always waited at the field gate to be greeted.
My SIL was a very good three-day-eventer (Mar, that may not be what you think!?) and occasionally my brother would ride out with her to help with exercising the horses. He got a shock one day when he accidently sat with one leg slightly forward and his mount did a dressage move. He tells the story well, about going sideways across a field, totally out of contol
See what you have started,
Lainey?!
By coincidence, the horsey theme shall continue over the weekend. DH and I are off to the races, having a long weekend in Yorkshire
I tell you, self-employment is the way to go. I have far less money than when i worked in an office but, boy, do we have lots of annual leave and flexi time

I have changed my work-life balance to a life-work balance.