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| My Bday is coming up and i am just feeling so darn old!!! I enjoy barrel racing but I'm not the best at it and get discouraged easily. It also sucks up all of my time and funds so i can't enjoy any other activities. And there are so many other things I want to do but is impossible with the barrel horses. So how do you know when to take a step back and sell your barrel horses to do other things?
ETA I wish i could just show part time but in my area i have to travel almost 2 hours to hit a decent barrel race so I'm gonna have to be either all in or all out...
Edited by Kgirl 2013-12-11 8:18 AM
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 Miss Laundry Misshap
Posts: 5271
| When you feel like it's time. That's great advice (sarcasm) I know, but really you have to be the one to decide. It sounds like you're ready to move on, based on your post. I doubt anyone is going to yell at you for wanting something different in your life. |
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 Regular
Posts: 58
Location: Georgia | Truly only you can decide. Have you felt this way for a while or has it just come up thinking about your birthday? Usually if I have a feeling about letting something go, and I don't know what to do. If the feeling keeps resurfacing I know its something I need to look at. Not sure if that helps. I am not very good either, not getting any younger but I am enjoying myself. So I guess it boils down to what you want from it and where you think its leading. If another road, other activities would give you more enjoyment then I think that's important. Whatever you decide I hope you find happiness... |
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"Heck's Coming With Me"
Posts: 10794
Location: Kansas | When you no longer enjoy barrel racing, it's time to quit. I found that standing around waiting all day to run my horse while one person with ten horses ran ahead of me was enough. It's just not what it used to be.
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 Good Grief!
Posts: 6343
Location: Cap'n Joan Rotgut.....alberta | the thought of quitting has never crossed my mind andi have been doin this barrel racing for a very long time......and im just now getting some good horses......and i can hardly contain myself to get back rodeoing
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| I get super eager in the spring to get back into barrel racing but by mid summer i'm burnt out... My husband no longer enjoys going with me to barrel races because of the long waits like the other poster mentioned... That and all of the local clubs are closing down so they are getting futher away from us. I was thinking of getting more into activities that we can do together because right now with conditioning horses and races I feel like he gets put on the back burner all the time. |
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 Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | Take a break and see if the desire comes back. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1031
Location: Oklahoma | You mentioned your husband/family. Something I have been thinking about also. Around here, there are a lot of barrel races so I am fortunate to not have to haul a long ways. Some friends of ours live around Weatherford, TX and they have play day shows around there with several different events for all age groups. I was really impressed with the "family event" setting. Three generations were competing at the same show, spending the entire day TOGETHER. Kids were riding around enjoying each other's company, not on their phones or watching TV. Maybe starting this type of group or club around where you live would give you some horsey time and the family time. I really wish we had something like that around here where I live. My crazy job wouldn't really allow me to start a club myself or I sure would.
Best of luck with what ever you decide.
Edited by Quick3 2013-12-11 9:18 AM
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 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9991
Location: Kansas | I'm more of a rodeo person....I love the rodeo atmosphere compared to that of a jackpot.
Jackpots for me are annoying, I'm sorry to say it, but thats how I feel anymore. You have warm ups that are 4 pages long because one person has to exhibition the same horse 3 times, then switches to another horse and does the same thing for like 6 other horses!
I run 3 NBHA shows a year....that's it, just to be eligible for state championships. I run at a local series here because less of a crowd.
You will know when your done, don't give up but also don't let it be something that you dread doing |
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| Three 4 Luck - 2013-12-11 9:11 AM Take a break and see if the desire comes back.
Do i sell the horses or just let them sit while i take a break? |
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Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | Kgirl - 2013-12-11 9:21 AM
Three 4 Luck - 2013-12-11 9:11 AM Take a break and see if the desire comes back.
Do i sell the horses or just let them sit while i take a break?
If you can afford to feed them, let them sit. How many do you have? |
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 Dog Resuce Agent
Posts: 3459
Location: southeast Texas | A friend of mine used to get the
"barrel racing blues" this time of year.
Yes, barrel racing is a huge commitment to your horse. Only you can decide if you want to continue hauling down that road. Clear your mind, picture not having a horse. All the time and Extra $$ you will have. Can you see yourself with no horses? Picture yourself in the spring with the "itch" to ride.
After many many years my friend has given up barrel racing. I think part of it was she didn't hit the goals she set for herself. It can get fustrating when you try and try to achieve your goal and it eludes you. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1432
Location: Never in one place long | Three 4 Luck - 2013-12-11 9:11 AM
Take a break and see if the desire comes back.
AGREE! Take a break and if you miss it bad you'll know you're not done... if you easily find other ways to fill your time and don't miss it then you'll know you're done! As much as I love my horses, I always like a few month break in the winter for my pocketbook to fill back up and to have time to do other activites and spend time with family and friends! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1034
| Kgirl - 2013-12-11 9:21 AM
Three 4 Luck - 2013-12-11 9:11 AM Take a break and see if the desire comes back.
Do i sell the horses or just let them sit while i take a break?
I'd keep two (one horse is lonely alone) and just enjoy an occasional trail ride until you are more sure. |
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Dog Resuce Agent
Posts: 3459
Location: southeast Texas | I don't get the mind set of waiting around because of exhibitions. The open starts at _ _ _ _. Any thing untill then is time I fill with doing what ever. You don't have to get there early, to wait thru the exhibition, unless you need it. And then its a part of training/seasoning your horse. |
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Veteran
Posts: 223
Location: Louisiana | I am also at this cross road in my life. I have been barrel racing for 40+ years and I absolutely love the sport, the horses, etc but I have not been able to reach my goals as well. I have three really nice geldings but none of them are 1d horses which makes winning money on a consistant basis impossible. My husband can be supportive at times and not so much at times. I like to keep my horses in the best running shape that I can but I can get really expensive. Sometimes I just want to get out and see my boys go to people that can afford to keep them running. Maybe keep one and just go to playdays. |
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I Really Love Jeans
Posts: 3173
Location: North Dakota | Just an opinion! Get down to one really great horse that is an all around that can trail ride and even enter the western pleasure at your local playdays. When horse riding stops being fun it is time for a change. At one point in my life I sold EVERYTHING, even the trailer! I gave myself several months to find a great horse that could do lots of thing and simply started over. When I reached a certain age I stopped enjoying a high strung silly horse and started enjoying a solid smart horse! Wanting a change comes with age I think. If you still want to ride get a good trail horse and find a friend to go to trail ride with and enjoy simply riding again,, it helped me! When my youngest grows up some I think I am going to get into team penning or something like that! |
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| Thankyou all for the advice please keep it coming!
I have 6 horses total.... yes they eat alot!!! I would keep two one old mare that is 22 that i still barrel race on occasion and trail ride and my gelding that is 15 and is arthritic but we still trail ride on occasion.
I could never sell out completely... I couldnt' stand it...
Around here it isn't just the exhibitons to wait around.... they will do sooo many classes... Pee Wee, Pony, Jr Horse, Youth, Womens, Mens, Open in both barrels and poles! This is at the one arena that is 1 1/2 hours away from me and has good ground. You get there at 12 pm and you arent leaving till 12 am.
I've done the rodeo scene. All the local ones are sanctioned and the competition is fierce.
Edited by Kgirl 2013-12-11 9:41 AM
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Addicted to Baseball
Location: Where the stars at night are big and bright, TX | Barrel racing isn't going anywhere, it'll be there if you change your mind. If you feel it's draining you and you're not feeling it right now, take that break, imo listen to that voice - especially as we get older. Finances are a concern for most and time is limited to put those where they need to be. If you enjoy the horses you have and like taking a ride doing whatever you feel like doing, do that. I took a break due to a few close-together moves and job changes, now we're back living where the nearest race is an occasional day-race, 3 hours one way from us. Not hardly worth keeping one fit for that. Nothing says you can't leg them back up and go if you want to down the road. Don't feel guilty about it, everyone's situation is different. Don't regret not chasing what isn't working for you. |
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 I Chore in Chucks
Posts: 2882
Location: MD | You dont have to race. Horses are perfectly fine not having a job you have to pay to do.
I got really overwhelmed at one point abouy 3 years ago. One hurt and finished and lots of "prospects" in the barn(6+ horses)... i felt like i had to work a million hours to be able to feed them and keep them just going to the small shows.
Between then and now, got a solid job, moved away from home, only have two mouths to feed. I really havent been racing much but just enjoying the time im mounted. Sometimes i ride everyday for a month or so, sometimes i ride onve a week. And let me tell ya, its making it much easier for myself to be able to go to a race when i want amd to not have to frazzle myself over it. I have learned that i don't have to enter every weekend to be a barrel racer |
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Veteran
Posts: 294
| From reading your post it sounds like you already answered your question. Take a break.. Downsize your herd and keep your best runners because you WILL get that itch again. I know how you feel. I will burn out next year and will probably miss a few runs. I have kids and a non horsey husband that just doesn't get it. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 975
Location: The barn...where else? SW Missouri | angelica - 2013-12-11 9:35 AM
Just an opinion! Get down to one really great horse that is an all around that can trail ride and even enter the western pleasure at your local playdays. When horse riding stops being fun it is time for a change. At one point in my life I sold EVERYTHING, even the trailer! I gave myself several months to find a great horse that could do lots of thing and simply started over. When I reached a certain age I stopped enjoying a high strung silly horse and started enjoying a solid smart horse! Wanting a change comes with age I think. If you still want to ride get a good trail horse and find a friend to go to trail ride with and enjoy simply riding again,, it helped me! When my youngest grows up some I think I am going to get into team penning or something like that!
This is basically what I did last year. Tired of it costing so much and spending all day at a race waiting to run etc. I felt my gelding was too nice to stand around while I took a break and did other horsey things with my mom and fiancé. I sold him and bought a cheap laid back young gelding to trail ride and play around on. He has made riding fun again and I have really enjoyed myself. I love barrel racing but just needed a break. I go to one every once in a while to see my friends and hang out. No pressure and I have a great time. This has really worked out for me. |
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Industrial Srength Barrel Racer
Posts: 7264
| Frodo - 2013-12-11 8:21 AM When you no longer enjoy barrel racing, it's time to quit. I found that standing around waiting all day to run my horse while one person with ten horses ran ahead of me was enough. It's just not what it used to be.
This is the EXACT reason I no longer go to the bigger, local races. I simply don't have time to go 3 hours in advance to get a good draw and a parking spot, then wait around ALL DAY LONG to make a run. It just isn't fun anymore and I have too much other stuff to do. This is why I starting going to the Friday night smaller jackpots (until it got so flippin cold). |
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Industrial Srength Barrel Racer
Posts: 7264
| roxieannie - 2013-12-11 9:29 AM I don't get the mind set of waiting around because of exhibitions. The open starts at _ _ _ _. Any thing untill then is time I fill with doing what ever. You don't have to get there early, to wait thru the exhibition, unless you need it. And then its a part of training/seasoning your horse.
Around HERE, they set the "start time" as "the open will not start BEFORE XX:XX" - So you know it won't start until at least then but you don't know how much LATER it will start - which I think is BS. They do that so they don't have to cut off exhibitions - which I get but GEEZ, some of us have to get up and go to a J.O.B. the next day. Also, at the bigger local races here, if you don't get there 3.0 hours before the exhibitions, you can't get a parking spot at some of the arenas. |
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| Thank you all!!!
I think I do need to take a break but I'm just so afraid if I sell my barrel horses that my old mare (22y/o) will die and I will have nothing to run if I want to. My heart is breaking at the thought of quitting but there are times I don't wanna go exercise them and I don't really even have the time to get them as conditioned as they need to be.
I'm thinkin I might sell just one or two for now and come spring see where I am at emotionally and go from there... |
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 The best bad guy on the internet
Posts: 3519
Location: Arizona | Kgirl - 2013-12-11 8:02 AM I get super eager in the spring to get back into barrel racing but by mid summer i'm burnt out... My husband no longer enjoys going with me to barrel races because of the long waits like the other poster mentioned... That and all of the local clubs are closing down so they are getting futher away from us. I was thinking of getting more into activities that we can do together because right now with conditioning horses and races I feel like he gets put on the back burner all the time.
Maybe do more trail riding and camping, that way you all can go....try something different with your horses. Some days i feel like quitting too. It's a lot of work and money and the rewards, well sometimes they don't come often enough. I can't imagine my life without my horses, but barrel racing...perhaps! Good luck in your decision!! |
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 The Rose of Rodeo...
Posts: 2560
Location: Where we still run to look when the siren goes by. | Kgirl - 2013-12-11 12:53 PM Thank you all!!! I think I do need to take a break but I'm just so afraid if I sell my barrel horses that my old mare (22y/o) will die and I will have nothing to run if I want to. My heart is breaking at the thought of quitting but there are times I don't wanna go exercise them and I don't really even have the time to get them as conditioned as they need to be. I'm thinkin I might sell just one or two for now and come spring see where I am at emotionally and go from there...
I would be happy to babysit a certain mare for you  I could send you two naughty ponies and a stinky goat in return so you can get your horsie fix, and the goat is just a bonus 
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| I think everybody gets tired and discouraged at one point or another in their barrel racing careers. I know I did! The thought of hauling down the road and paying out that kind of money, that I didnt really have, just put added stress on me took the fun right out of it! So for me I tried to find ways to do it cheaper.
What I ended up doing was picking a few of the bigger shows to attend during the summer and doing less of the smaller ones. Instead of hitting 2 or 3 a week I now pick the larger ones every few weeks where we can spend the weekend and run two or three times at the same show. Me and my family will make a weekend out of it when we go and pack our trailer with food and activites to do while waiting and basically camp out and have fun! All of our friends go to and we park in a group and have a blast.
The one thing that I noticed this year was that by taking the pressure off of me and my horse we did so much better. Even it the runs werent perfect we had more fun and enjoyed it. I ended up having the most successful year of my life winning a saddle, along with going to the finals at the world show, and making it to the final go! |
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"Heck's Coming With Me"
Posts: 10794
Location: Kansas | Griz - 2013-12-11 11:18 AM Frodo - 2013-12-11 8:21 AM When you no longer enjoy barrel racing, it's time to quit. I found that standing around waiting all day to run my horse while one person with ten horses ran ahead of me was enough. It's just not what it used to be.
This is the EXACT reason I no longer go to the bigger, local races. I simply don't have time to go 3 hours in advance to get a good draw and a parking spot, then wait around ALL DAY LONG to make a run. It just isn't fun anymore and I have too much other stuff to do. This is why I starting going to the Friday night smaller jackpots (until it got so flippin cold).
Hey Griz, it's nice and warm at the casino.
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| Rodeo Rose - 2013-12-11 2:26 PM Kgirl - 2013-12-11 12:53 PM Thank you all!!! I think I do need to take a break but I'm just so afraid if I sell my barrel horses that my old mare (22y/o) will die and I will have nothing to run if I want to. My heart is breaking at the thought of quitting but there are times I don't wanna go exercise them and I don't really even have the time to get them as conditioned as they need to be. I'm thinkin I might sell just one or two for now and come spring see where I am at emotionally and go from there... I would be happy to babysit a certain mare for you I could send you two naughty ponies and a stinky goat in return so you can get your horsie fix, and the goat is just a bonus
She will be the first to go! Come on Rodeo Rose! You can give me a better offer than that!! and NOOO Stinky Goats! My dog has recently learned that cats are tasty so i'm afraid he would eat the goat too! |
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  Color My World
Posts: 4940
Location: My perfect world bubble | I've posted this several times before but I sold out about 3 years ago now, we moved to town to get our kids in better schools and be closer to work. My daughter started taking English riding lessons and we found the most wonderful barn and trainer. In the last 6 months or so I've started taking lessons as well and am now eventing! I didn't think I'd ever find a sport I enjoyed as much as barrel racing but I am having an absolute blast and have me the nicest people. I thought running down the alley was an adrenalin rush until I started galloping across a field towards a 4' brush fence! I just bought an OTTB and I'm having more fun than I've had in years. I never lost my love of horses, just my desire to go sit at a race for hours and hours and spend thousands and thousands of dollars for a 16 second run. Take a break, regroup and then see where you are and what you want to do. |
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Porta Potty Pants
Posts: 2600
| I have the same situation as OP. I wish I had some answers …. |
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The Rose of Rodeo...
Posts: 2560
Location: Where we still run to look when the siren goes by. | Kgirl - 2013-12-11 2:00 PM Rodeo Rose - 2013-12-11 2:26 PM Kgirl - 2013-12-11 12:53 PM Thank you all!!! I think I do need to take a break but I'm just so afraid if I sell my barrel horses that my old mare (22y/o) will die and I will have nothing to run if I want to. My heart is breaking at the thought of quitting but there are times I don't wanna go exercise them and I don't really even have the time to get them as conditioned as they need to be. I'm thinkin I might sell just one or two for now and come spring see where I am at emotionally and go from there... I would be happy to babysit a certain mare for you I could send you two naughty ponies and a stinky goat in return so you can get your horsie fix, and the goat is just a bonus
Hmmmm.....I will look tonight and see what I can scrounge up.. I live on an old dairy farm so the possibilities of unusual finds are quite endless.. off the top of my head I can hook you up with 67491561875 kitties for your dog, a calf with a hairlip and a three legged deer . |
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Veteran
Posts: 114
| I have been staying home for several years ,I had two barrel horses that were hi maintainence,the competition is tuff in my neck of the woods,I sold the ones I had and started young stuff,I just can't justify the e.fees ,vet bills,fuel, anymore.I might start showing one of my young ones in the spring,I also hate the all day wait. |
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Industrial Srength Barrel Racer
Posts: 7264
| Frodo - 2013-12-11 2:44 PM Griz - 2013-12-11 11:18 AM Frodo - 2013-12-11 8:21 AM When you no longer enjoy barrel racing, it's time to quit. I found that standing around waiting all day to run my horse while one person with ten horses ran ahead of me was enough. It's just not what it used to be.
This is the EXACT reason I no longer go to the bigger, local races. I simply don't have time to go 3 hours in advance to get a good draw and a parking spot, then wait around ALL DAY LONG to make a run. It just isn't fun anymore and I have too much other stuff to do. This is why I starting going to the Friday night smaller jackpots (until it got so flippin cold).
I've been there once - and bought a Bloody Mary - not a penny on the slots - I'd do just as well to throw my purse out of the truck window on the way there! |
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 Expert
Posts: 1612
Location: Cocoa, Florida | mruggles - 2013-12-11 8:49 AM
the thought of quitting has never crossed my mind andi have been doin this barrel racing for a very long time......and im just now getting some good horses......and i can hardly contain myself to get back rodeoing
m
I concur!!! I've never had that thought cross my mind, it's a true passion and I only want to excel and ride more horses!!!! I've only ever had thoughts of retiring a horse but I ended up finding something that worked for him with his issues so now I can continue to enjoy him!!
I've given up a lot for horses, ended relationships and sacrificed other hobbies becauSe to me I'm living a dream, I feel blessed that I can make enough hard working money to keep two horses and show them both, sometimes I work 6 days a week so I can be a weekend warrior!!!
I feel like if you're not thinking on that path then maybe your heart truely isn't in it anymore!!!
Edited by RnRJack 2013-12-12 6:07 AM
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| I was one that thought I would never lose the desire to ride/show horses. However, age, accidents, work, moving, health, etc. have all hit at about the same time and have taken a toll on my extra energy and desire. The desire is there, but not always strong enough to overcome all the other issues.
Don't feel bad if you want to do something else. Not being enthused about the barrel racing, or whatever equine activity, sure does make the chores and cost seem more of a burden. It is your life and live it as you want and can.
Good luck. |
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When is it time to quit barrel racing and move on?