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 Veteran
Posts: 133
  Location: texas | alrighty so here goes...im 16 years old, i have a job and pay for all my entry fees, stall shavings (which i get like 4 dern bags every week) all my supplements, any tack i want, part of his feed and any chiropractic or equi-resp treatments i want done i also give my parents $100 of EVERY paycheck i get from work. but the problem is my parents hardly ever want to take me to any barrel races or anything even when im paying for all of it. my horse and i have been sooooo not consistent with hauling and its REALLLLY showing. and if we do ever haul the furthest my parent will take me is to terrell(i live in rockwall, which is like a 30 minutes drive) i ask to go to barrel races that are like 70miles away and they always say its too far...i dont know what to do or how to persuade them to go to different arenas. i literally only go to the same 2 arena. never been to any others..gettin bored with these arena as well as my horse too!
Any tips from any parents and how they would put this into there perspective? sorry it was so long but id appreciate anything!  |
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Expert
Posts: 2531
   Location: WI | I grew up just like you did and thought myself lucky to have a horse and go to 4-H shows. I wasn't allowed to drive the trailer until I was 18. Can you find someone that will take you if your parents approve? Will they let you learn to drive the truck/trailer? |
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 I Prefer to Live in Fantasy Land
Posts: 64864
                    Location: In the Hills of Texas | You need to find someone you can haul with.
Good Luck! |
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 Veteran
Posts: 133
  Location: texas | linds - 2015-08-23 5:25 PM
I grew up just like you did and thought myself lucky to have a horse and go to 4-H shows. I wasn't allowed to drive the trailer until I was 18. Can you find someone that will take you if your parents approve? Will they let you learn to drive the truck/trailer?
there isnt really other people to trailer me sadly. and i hardly drive as it is now i was kinda a late bloomer with driving lol im not the best driver lol |
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Common Sense and then some
         Location: So. California | It may seem like it's unfair that your parents won't take you to the races when you want to go. but there may be a reason they aren't sharing with you. Can you sit down and talk to them adult to adult? No drama, just have a nice conversation, talking about your desire to go more often, and ask if there is anything you can do to make that happen. Don't argue. Just talk. If there is a special race, maybe you can sit down with your parents and work out a plan to make the race happen way in advance. Gas money, entry fees, time off work, etc...
There may be nothing you can do, and you may have to wait a few more years until you are an adult. Seems like an eternity, but it will go quickly if you give yourself short and long term goals. Write these goals down and make sure the are achievable. In the meantime keep practicing, keep a positive attitude and remember that the path to your dreams will open up when the time is right. |
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  Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
     Location: Wonderful Wyoming | My dad hated horses. He had one for packing elk. I trained her for barrels and went on to win a lot of small jr rodeos, 4H, FFA and gymkhanas. My grandpa hauled me to all by the rodeos, but I kept to usually an hour driving distance. Rode the hour to the gymkhana. I also paid for everything except fuel. My grandpa just really liked to help me out.
I never got to haul much until I moved out and bought my own trailer with my boyfriend in college. It was about 20yrs old and a 2 horse bumper pull. All I had was a single cab F-150 that I was making payments on while going to college full time and working nights. It's tough, but you are luckier than a lot.
Edited by wyoming barrel racer 2015-08-24 10:04 PM
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 Take a Picture
Posts: 12842
       
| I lived on a ranch and my parents did not help me get to any barrel races. I did not have a stall until I was over 50. My husband would not even let me ride. My husband died and I bought new young horses. No one has ever supported me except my trainer and that has been in the last few years. I have the nicest horses that I have ever owned and I am too old to really ride them. With the help of my trainer, I have one that is a world champion and another one headed that way. Hey, I am happy that I can still go to barrel races. I am trying to make a point here. If you want to go to barrel races get there yourself. Learn to drive your trailer, back it etc. and go yourself. You create your own destiny. Get a good education, get a job that pays well and you will be able to afford your horse habit---don't rely on anyone to get you where you want to go. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 490
      
| Its tough being 16, horse crazy and having parents that dont support you. Been there. Done that. Bought the t-shirt, hoodie, hat, socks, everything. What I did was bummed rides with people. My 4-H leader was awesome about swinging by to pick me up. Shoot my horses were 25 min from my house at my grandparents. They were lucky to get fed everyday. But atleast they had 40 acres to graze on. I started off with nothing. At 27, I have my own truck, trailer and 3 pretty nice horses. Be patient. Figure out ways to compete and it will all pay off. |
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Bad Puter Scooter
Posts: 3190
      Location: Texas | Find a hauling buddy and give them the $100 for hauling you! |
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Red Bull Agressive
Posts: 5981
         Location: North Dakota | Lucky you to HAVE a horse at 16! Have you talked it out w/ your parents as to why they can't/won't take you to more races? |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 629
  
| I'll say like the others, you should still be very grateful for what you have at 16. Yes, you pay for it, but you are still under 18. They don't have to let you go, and they don't have to take you.
My parents bought me a horse at 11, and promptly sold it the next year when they realized how much work horses were. We had a small acre front yard they fenced in and built me a small stall on. But, they never owned a truck or trailer. They didn't even go to most of my shows and they were 5 minutes from my house.
I got into horses thanks to my neighbor across the street, and I always had to bum a ride from her.After my parents sold my horse at 12, I had to bum HORSES from other people to ride. Thankfully, there were quite a few people in my area that had spare horses to ride. By 17 I was dating a guy that wasn't using his trail horse. I told him I wanted to run barrels, so I trained him. I didn't get my license until I was 18, we took out a $3500 personal loan from the bank and I bought a $1500 truck and $1000 trailer. They were both old rust buckets, but they got me to and fro, and I was glad. I paid $170/month for 3 years to pay that loan off, and it was the best thing I ever did.
My point is, again like the others. Be thankful for what you get to do now. Whenever you can't go to a race, take the money you would have spent, and set it aside. Eventually maybe you'll have enough to buy a truck or trailer.
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 Balance Beam and more...
Posts: 11511
    Location: 31 lengths farms | I'm impressed, what type of job do you have that you are paying for all of that at 15? |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1131
  
| I wasn't going to post because this really has irritated me reading some of the comments.
I'm going to be the different person here and say that it drives me CRAZY to hear people say 'well you are lucky to do anything'. I had a mother who encouraged my barrel racing, because I was the only one in our family to not be a college dropout or drug addict. If you are paying for all of that with your own money from a real job, then your parents should quit being SELFISH. That's all I'm seeing here. Just my opinion. |
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 My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
      Location: Arkansas | Ashlen1515 - 2015-08-23 5:05 PM
alrighty so here goes...im 16 years old, i have a job and pay for all my entry fees, stall shavings (which i get like 4 dern bags every week ) all my supplements, any tack i want, part of his feed and any chiropractic or equi-resp treatments i want done i also give my parents $100 of EVERY paycheck i get from work. but the problem is my parents hardly ever want to take me to any barrel races or anything even when im paying for all of it. my horse and i have been sooooo not consistent with hauling and its REALLLLY showing. and if we do ever haul the furthest my parent will take me is to terrell (i live in rockwall, which is like a 30 minutes drive ) i ask to go to barrel races that are like 70miles away and they always say its too far...i dont know what to do or how to persuade them to go to different arenas. i literally only go to the same 2 arena. never been to any others..gettin bored with these arena as well as my horse too!
Any tips from any parents and how they would put this into there perspective? sorry it was so long but id appreciate anything! 
I want to say that I think it shows maturity that you have come on here asking for helpful advice rather than other ways (temper tantrums, acting out, etc) some young people your age have been known to do. And having a job and being responsible enough to use that money in a productive way speaks very well of you, and it also speaks well of the way you were raised. Maybe if you all sat down and discussed things rationally then something could be set up for at least a trial run. . . |
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  Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
     Location: Wonderful Wyoming | FlyingHigh1454 - 2015-08-24 8:36 PM I wasn't going to post because this really has irritated me reading some of the comments. I'm going to be the different person here and say that it drives me CRAZY to hear people say 'well you are lucky to do anything'. I had a mother who encouraged my barrel racing, because I was the only one in our family to not be a college dropout or drug addict. If you are paying for all of that with your own money from a real job, then your parents should quit being SELFISH. That's all I'm seeing here. Just my opinion.
I don't think it is a matter of selfish. Do we know how many siblings she has? Or what events/sports they do if she has other family? Nor do we know what other sports etc she does. I have 2 small boys and we hauled to a total of 4 gymkhanas this summer. We live over an hour away from there. I only hauled myself to 2 horse shows. As parents, we do what we can. I have priorities at the ranch, so that comes first over kid events or my own. These cows pay for the kids and my play time
My dad was a single father of 2, paid hellacious child support for how little we made but he made sure I had my horses, rabbits, dogs and cats. He really should win father of the decade now looking back. However, it just wasn't feasible for him to haul me to every weekend play day. I was very appreciative of what I did have, when I could go.
I do agree that how she came on here was very mature. And since she is paying for it herself (also a big kuddos to her), I think finding a friend to haul with would be the best answer. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1131
  
| wyoming barrel racer - 2015-08-24 11:13 PM
FlyingHigh1454 - 2015-08-24 8:36 PM I wasn't going to post because this really has irritated me reading some of the comments. I'm going to be the different person here and say that it drives me CRAZY to hear people say 'well you are lucky to do anything'. I had a mother who encouraged my barrel racing, because I was the only one in our family to not be a college dropout or drug addict. If you are paying for all of that with your own money from a real job, then your parents should quit being SELFISH. That's all I'm seeing here. Just my opinion.
I don't think it is a matter of selfish. Do we know how many siblings she has? Or what events/sports they do if she has other family? Nor do we know what other sports etc she does. I have 2 small boys and we hauled to a total of 4 gymkhanas this summer. We live over an hour away from there. I only hauled myself to 2 horse shows. As parents, we do what we can. I have priorities at the ranch, so that comes first over kid events or my own. These cows pay for the kids and my play time
My dad was a single father of 2, paid hellacious child support for how little we made but he made sure I had my horses, rabbits, dogs and cats. He really should win father of the decade now looking back. However, it just wasn't feasible for him to haul me to every weekend play day. I was very appreciative of what I did have, when I could go.
I do agree that how she came on here was very mature. And since she is paying for it herself (also a big kuddos to her), I think finding a friend to haul with would be the best answer.
Yes, we don't know the whole story, but based off of what I read and interpreted from the post, that isn't the case here. (If I'm wrong OP, please tell me.)
However, I can't understand how parents would allow her to put most (I'm assuming from the sounds) of her paycheck in her barrel horse, then not let her run it anywhere. That just seems so crappy to me. |
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