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 Expert
Posts: 1612
  
Location: Cocoa, Florida | I'm not a horse trader, I have bought and sold a few colts, I enjoy training and bringing them along, I have one special horse that I've had for 7 years that I absoutely love to death BUT I know it's time to let him teach someone new. He won't be more then a 2/3D horse in big shows for me and I want more! I have bigger dreams then the 3D but unfortunately I have An emotional attachment to this horse. I cannot afford more then two at a time and I want to give my 4 year old a chance, she is already almost outrunning my gelding.
I guess what I'm asking is, what should I do, realistically? He is a great kids horse, super honest and easy. He had no vices, no gate issues, but he has a a couple pretty serious health issues that can be maintained with commitment. He alone is worth having with the issues. But he is my security and im so afraid once he's gone he's gone forever and I will regret it, not because I want to run him again but because I'm fearful he is no longer under my control and aomeone could hurt him if they're not serious about his Issues
I'm just in a hard spot right now, it's not like I have to make a decision anytime soon but the longer I wait the harder it will be :( |
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 Regular
Posts: 98
| I have a horse just like this, I have had him since a yearling and he is now 13yrs....... I have him full leased out, the reason I will not sell is I really hope to see my daughter on him in the future. It is a hard choice, my old coach always said to sell that the horse could break its leg the next day but I just can not do that, he is worth more than money to me.........
That is them in my avatar, but my daughter is now 8......
Edited by Mcque 2014-11-17 11:49 PM
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 694
Location: SW Washington | I've had some that were tough to sell...huge emotional chains tethered....but hAd to. (Going thru divorse) I cried my eyes out as they pulled out of the driveway ...but they went on to be great step up horses...and that made me really happy. Went to great families. It is so hard... But seeing them doing well with another rider & teaching them (& knowing that the work you put into training ) is teaching that rider is a good feeling. good luck...I hope this helped!
I try to remind myself that they aren't pets ( even though they are) |
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The Resident Destroyer of Liberal Logic
Location: PNW | I JUST did this. I have a really nice upcoming gelding that I just got back from the trainer, he was there for a year while I was pregnant and then healing from a cesarean. I had a 2/3D gelding that was honest as the day is long and just EASY to ride. I STILL adore him. I sold him for two main reasons: 1. He hates sitting around doing nothing; I only REALLY have the ability to haul one horse to a race because now I'm wrangling horses AND two little boys, and my other gelding needs the seasoning - so he'd be the one to get hauled 99.9% of the time. And 2. He was my security blanket. I didn't want the option to "just ride him" when my other gelding was being difficult. Because I'm lazy, and I would.
When I put him for sale, it was by word of mouth. He was a REALLY nice horse that would do anything from cows on the ranch, heeling, barrels, or huntseat - and he'd do it for anybody. I also decided that should the right person come along, I would make it happen, even if that meant taking a lower price. I didn't sell him for the money, I sold him for his own sake. I ended up selling him to a local gal who just lost her old gelding and needed something finished but not blazing fast. I accepted almond half of what I girl in Texas was willing to pay for him, but oh well. His new mom loves him more than anything, they are burning up the 4D together AND she agreed to sell him back to me when my boys are ready to learn from him. I couldn't be happier with how things worked out, but it definitely was not easy. |
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Expert
Posts: 1612
Location: Cocoa, Florida | It is hard, I posted an ad today to see who's out there, I know I will struggle but when I find the right person and it's meant to be it will all work out. I won't ever be able to move up if I keep hanging on to him but I'm so saddened to have to sell. :( |
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 Expert
Posts: 1367
Location: mi | Have you considered just leasing him out? If you don't need the money from selling him and it is just a matter of getting his daily care of your bill that is a great way to go. You could even do an on farm lease if it is not a matter of space. That would get you out of all of his daily care expenses yet you still have some control over his care. |
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Expert
Posts: 1612
Location: Cocoa, Florida | I did write in my ad I would lease to own! I would much rather go that route! |
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 Certified Snake Wrangler
Posts: 1672
Location: North MS | When they aren't there as a backup or safety net you feel like your world has been turned upside down. That race you always took him to because you knew what would happen- now its just uncertainty of what will happen. Will the new/young horse run good or lose his brains? Having one you can trust to do anything is very valuable. I lost my boy a month ago due to an accident. Now I just don't know what to do or where to go. There is an event this weekend I would have taken him to. Now I've got two young horses I can ride, but the faster one who runs just as fast as my boy I lost can do it without me ever kicking him. But I've found out in a big pen he just gets faster and does what I call "lose his brains" and not be as soft and responsive as I would like. The other is dependable at playdays, but you really really really have to push past the barrels. But that new breakthrough in my head can get her solid in a few months if I work with her. But which to try this weekend and pay the big entry fee? That is when you wish you had the dependable one. Then you could take the young one and run a trainer on it. I know its a hard decision, but sometimes you just need one you can depend on too. |
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When it's time to move up and let go of your security blanket?