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Posts: 1631
   
Location: Somewhere around here | Me and my husband had this emotional discussion yesterday. I'm trying to figure out if I should stop running barrels for a while (months or maybe years). I'm a competitive racer, I like winning and going fast. I feel like if I'm not winning or making money off of running barrels, then I should just not do it until I can have enough money to buy a well bred colt and start from scratch in a few-ish years. OR I could just use my husbands horse and just do little races and maybe win a 4D check. It's still barrel racing but it's not the level that I'd like to be at. Trying to figure out if a little slow barrel racing is better than no barrel racing.
Has anyone else decided to stop racing before, either all together or just for a few years? My head is clouded and I'm not too sure what to do. |
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 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9991
 
Location: Kansas | I took a break, still on that break LOL. Have been for over a year now. I might start back up this spring, I still have the bug just lacking the confidence to go back out and start again. |
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 Good Grief!
Posts: 6343
Location: Cap'n Joan Rotgut.....alberta | I will stop when im dead....m |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 883
Location: Southern Indiana | If you have the attitude of "if I'm not winning or making money I should not do it" you should just quit now. You can't make it in this sport with an attitude like that. There are going to be times when your going to have lows, but your love for the sport is what has to keep you trying. There are too many other people out there with better horses and the will to win and the love for the sport. They won't give up and they are gonna out run you because your a sore looser. Barrel racing isn't just about winning or making money (for sakes we all know we are in above necks deep in debt when it comes to horses) it's about doing your best and having fun. If you can't have fun and win 2nd or 3rd or even the 4D...you don't truly have passion for the sport. It doesn't matter what speed or division your running in that horse is going to teach you something. I think it's good to sometimes have those lows because it teaches you some valuable lessons and makes you stronger. It makes you a better rider. Not to mention its a lot harder to come back when you've quit so long.
I don't mean to sound harsh or say your actually a sore looser. That's just kind of the implication your post gave off. |
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 Not Afraid to Work
Posts: 4717
| TheDutchMan01 - 2016-02-08 11:45 AM
If you have the attitude of "if I'm not winning or making money I should not do it" you should just quit now. You can't make it in this sport with an attitude like that. There are going to be times when your going to have lows, but your love for the sport is what has to keep you trying. There are too many other people out there with better horses and the will to win and the love for the sport. They won't give up and they are gonna out run you because your a sore looser. Barrel racing isn't just about winning or making money (for sakes we all know we are in above necks deep in debt when it comes to horses) it's about doing your best and having fun. If you can't have fun and win 2nd or 3rd or even the 4D...you don't truly have passion for the sport. It doesn't matter what speed or division your running in that horse is going to teach you something. I think it's good to sometimes have those lows because it teaches you some valuable lessons and makes you stronger. It makes you a better rider. Not to mention its a lot harder to come back when you've quit so long.
I don't mean to sound harsh or say your actually a sore looser. That's just kind of the implication your post gave off.
I agre 110% with this. You run barrels because you love it. I used to run many 1D horses and did my fair share of winning. Now I have a 3D, myabe 2D on a good day gelding I love more than anything and each run, I come out so overwhelmed with good emotions because the feeling of running barrels is like a drug and to be doing it on a horse thats gives his heart, is icing on the cake. |
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 Cute Little Imp
Posts: 2747
Location: N Texas | TheDutchMan01 - 2016-02-08 11:45 AM
If you have the attitude of "if I'm not winning or making money I should not do it" you should just quit now. You can't make it in this sport with an attitude like that. There are going to be times when your going to have lows, but your love for the sport is what has to keep you trying. There are too many other people out there with better horses and the will to win and the love for the sport. They won't give up and they are gonna out run you because your a sore looser. Barrel racing isn't just about winning or making money (for sakes we all know we are in above necks deep in debt when it comes to horses) it's about doing your best and having fun. If you can't have fun and win 2nd or 3rd or even the 4D...you don't truly have passion for the sport. It doesn't matter what speed or division your running in that horse is going to teach you something. I think it's good to sometimes have those lows because it teaches you some valuable lessons and makes you stronger. It makes you a better rider. Not to mention its a lot harder to come back when you've quit so long.
I don't mean to sound harsh or say your actually a sore looser. That's just kind of the implication your post gave off.
 If I only went when I knew I'd win, I would never go :) I KNOW I'm going to get outrun, but I truly love riding my horse, and I have fun doing it. I know people who have the attitude of "I'm only having fun if I'm winning" and man, they are NOT fun to be around when they're not winning.
I understand if your livelihood depends on you winning, but that is only a small percentage of barrel racers. There are so many people who would kill to be able to go, even if they know they'll be at the bottom of the 5D, so I remind myself how lucky I am that I'm able to go at all. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1037
| I took an 8 year break from running barrels. Still had horses and roped every weekend at jackpots but no barrels. Had 2 amazing 1D horses when I quit, and now have a solid 4D horse and those checks mean just as much to me now as the others did years ago. Would have loved to have not had to quit at all but thats life... Be happy with every run you make, win or not. |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| TheDutchMan01 - 2016-02-08 11:45 AM
If you have the attitude of "if I'm not winning or making money I should not do it" you should just quit now. You can't make it in this sport with an attitude like that. There are going to be times when your going to have lows, but your love for the sport is what has to keep you trying. There are too many other people out there with better horses and the will to win and the love for the sport. They won't give up and they are gonna out run you because your a sore looser. Barrel racing isn't just about winning or making money (for sakes we all know we are in above necks deep in debt when it comes to horses) it's about doing your best and having fun. If you can't have fun and win 2nd or 3rd or even the 4D...you don't truly have passion for the sport. It doesn't matter what speed or division your running in that horse is going to teach you something. I think it's good to sometimes have those lows because it teaches you some valuable lessons and makes you stronger. It makes you a better rider. Not to mention its a lot harder to come back when you've quit so long.
I don't mean to sound harsh or say your actually a sore looser. That's just kind of the implication your post gave off.
I agree with this.
Even if you buy a well bred colt, you may get a lemon.
Even if the colt has all the ability in the world, they humble a trainer every day, as soon as you think your horse is patterned enough to be in contention, it all falls apart, bad ground breaks their confidence, or it could be the one banner they are afraid of.
I believe winning isn't everything.
This is my hobby, personally I love the experience with the colts, seeing them learn and grow with you to me is more fun then winning.
Having other people succeed on horses you train. Priceless.
If you want to win and are looking to buy a horse, I suggest buying a champ, start pinching your pennies, a guaranteed winner is like a unicorn, they don't exist. To get a constant winner, your looking at 200k plus |
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| You will learn from every horse you get on.
Are you are rodeo girl or a horse girl? |
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 Born not Made
Posts: 2931
Location: North Dakota | If I competed on my horses with the goal to WIN MONEY, I might as well stay home, haha.
Yes, it's nice to win a check. Don't get me wrong. But that's not the reason why I barrel race. I do it because it is fun and I love it. It is something that I can do in my free time (hobby) and I can always try to improve myself and my horses.
So I would question you to examine you own personal thoughts on WHY you want to barrel race?
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Location: Mississsippi | I understand where you are coming from.
After being lucky enough to have 2 super top horses, then quitting for 10 years, its hard to start at the bottom again.
I still think the funest time ever was back in the playday days...... before you ever win anything on a National Level. No pressure to live up to or repeate those big wins. |
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 Lady Di
Posts: 21556
Location: Oklahoma | I got bucked off when I was 58 and thought maybe God was telling me I needed to quit horses. I sold everything....LQ trailer, saddles, horses (all but one that was injured at the time and I COULDN'T sell) and over half my bit collection (was slowly selling the rest piecemeal). I lasted for 3 months. I was MISERABLE. I was bored, gained 30 lbs and did nothing but sit in front of a computer. I missed my friends that I ran barrels with, I missed my horses; I missed having to have something to take care of and tend to.....something to make me anticipate the future. So I went out and bought it all again (and, of course, paid more for it than I sold the previous stuff for) and I'm 63 and still trying to do it. Yes, I'm not nearly as competitive as I used to be, but I'm still trying and having fun (and selling a few good ones each year) and I've found lots of people like old lady safe horses. ROFL Sometimes you just have to realize that 4D checks spend just like 1D checks and sometimes it's a lot more fun w/o all that pressure. |
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 I Chore in Chucks
Posts: 2882
Location: MD | I'm still on a hiatus. Go to one or two races a year if I have the itch. I don't feel pressured to ride or participate or make myself go broke chasing a fantasy. I love my horses dearly and I strive each day to make sure they are happy and have full bellies. I enjoy that, I enjoy petting my horses in the morning and grooming them at night. I don't want to compete anymore and that is just fine. The pressure is NOT worth it for me right now. I am not willing to sell them and will keep them around (I may decide one day I want to go at it again..they are only 9 and 10)
Racing wasn't fun for me anymore. I think it was because I was so busy criticizing myself I couldn't get out of my own way to enjoy it. I put on a really good face though when I forced myself to load up my trailer and go to a race every week. I was just plain miserable. Now I feel like I can avoid riding in crap weather and when it's just too darn hot, my horses are hosed off and in front of a fan... not soaked in sweat just waiting for a few exhibitions. That is just fine for us, I don't think my horses mind being fat and happy either ;) |
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 Expert
Posts: 2097
Location: Deep South | I still ride horses every single day, train colts for myself and other people, but I haven't entered a barrel race in years.
For me, it wasn't this big decision I had to make. Hauling to barrel races and rodeos just wasn't fun anymore, so I stopped going. Slowed down at first, only going to local stuff, then stopped altogether.
I think that's the easy way to do it. Decide one race at a time. Do I want to go run barrels today? If so then GO, if not Don't! It doesn't have to be this huge emotional decision. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1079
| Maybe it's different when you've been on top, but for me heading out the door and meeting up with a few girlfriends to haul for a weekend of barrel racing and beverages is a BLAST!!!! I always hope to have respectable runs and I love the adrenaline of it all, but at the end of the day it's just plain fun for me.
The other thing that comes into play for the majority of us northern girls is that we are generally forced to take 5 months off every year. About this time of year I am practically salivating to go run barrels. But we won't go until early May. That right there keeps my desire very high - 1D or 4D don't care, I just want to run some barrels! |
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 Expert
Posts: 1395
Location: Missouri | I haven't barrel raced competitively since 2013. Had a really really nice mare and a TON of fun that season too. Like, literally the time of my life. She taught me a lot. My husband and I just bought our first house at the time and so I sold said mare at the end of that season so we could work on said house. Figured I'd just run my 3D/4D mare for a few years, and I was totally happy with that plan.
In 2014 I got pregnant and we had our first baby. 2015, I had plenty of time to ride, and still do ride, but I wanted to stay home with my daughter most of the time so I traded only having to work 2 days/week for having the money to go like I'd like to. I don't regret it. Planned on getting back into it this year but surprise....we found out on New Years that were expecting again. We haven't announced it yet but I don't think anyone on here knows me on Fb or in real life so I'm probably fine to say that here. ;) So, I'll be sitting out this year again. My husband is also dealing with really bad chronic back pain (for the last 4 yrs now) and we're shelling out money left and right to try to find answers and get him better. So I may be able to get back into it in 2017, but maybe not too. A lot will depend on my husband's health situation at the time. I do want to continue bettering myself as a horse person this year though, still ride, and really work on ground work, etc with my horse, but at this time in my life competing just isn't in the cards for me and I've come to terms with it. I told my hubby if I could get back into in at some point within 4 years, when our kids aren't babies and (surely!) he is not in pain anymore, that would be wonderful. |
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 To the Left
Posts: 1865
Location: Florida | The day you hear something you were planning to go to has been canceled, and you are relieved. |
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 I Don't Brag
Posts: 6960
| mruggles - 2016-02-08 11:12 AM
I will stop when im dead....m
^^^this^^^ |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1131
| I barrel raced for 6 years, but my confidence to run is shattered after I had a bad fall last August that ended my mare's career. I did manage to take her to one more small race four months after the accident and run her when she was feeling better, but both of us were not over it and it was obvious in our run that we were both afraid to run. I was not injured in the accident, but my horse was, and that was devastating. I would rather be so hurt I can't move than to ever see my horse hurt like that again. All I can think now is, what if it happens again, and she doesn't recover from it - and that thought of losing my best friend is enough that that mare will never see the competitive arena again. She's going to be bred next month and that's her new job (not that it's much safer, but....). I guess we will try again in three years when it's time to start her foal under saddle. Maybe I will have come to terms with my fears by then, maybe I won't. |
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 A very grounded girl
Posts: 5052
Location: Moving soon..... | I've been racing for over 50 years. I enjoy it and I have a horse that I love to run. I go to win money regardless what "D" I end up in. My opinion is that you continue to go as long as you enjoy it. |
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Expert
Posts: 1631
Location: Somewhere around here | TheDutchMan01 - 2016-02-08 10:45 AM
If you have the attitude of "if I'm not winning or making money I should not do it" you should just quit now. You can't make it in this sport with an attitude like that. There are going to be times when your going to have lows, but your love for the sport is what has to keep you trying. There are too many other people out there with better horses and the will to win and the love for the sport. They won't give up and they are gonna out run you because your a sore looser. Barrel racing isn't just about winning or making money (for sakes we all know we are in above necks deep in debt when it comes to horses) it's about doing your best and having fun. If you can't have fun and win 2nd or 3rd or even the 4D...you don't truly have passion for the sport. It doesn't matter what speed or division your running in that horse is going to teach you something. I think it's good to sometimes have those lows because it teaches you some valuable lessons and makes you stronger. It makes you a better rider. Not to mention its a lot harder to come back when you've quit so long.
I don't mean to sound harsh or say your actually a sore looser. That's just kind of the implication your post gave off.
Thank you, I really needed to hear this. When I was younger my dad would say that I can go to jackpot unless I won money so I kind of been molded to where I feel like I have to win money to keep on barrel racing. My husband told me the same thing a few years ago but that's when our money was tighter. I guess I just haven't really thought of doing barrels for fun for quite a while, it always was "I need to make money off of this otherwise I can't do it" but when I think about doing it for fun it feels like a big relief. Maybe I should just change my mindset and not let it bother me if I don't win money or if I'm just going to a playday!
Thank you again for being real with me, sometimes I really need someone to talk to me like that lol!
Oh and I've never really rodeoed but it's always been a dream of mine (to the girl who asked)
Edited by cecollins0811 2016-02-15 5:36 AM
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 The Bling Princess
Posts: 3411
Location: North Dakota | I didn't compete for almost three years. Between a lame horse, a psychotic horse, new job, and family members falling ill, I had ZERO desire to go. The very thing that was suppose to make me happy and stress free actually did the opposite. The thought of having to ride/train daily, haul on the weekends and compete was just too much with everything I had going on in my life. So I backed off for my own sanity. However, after that three year hiatus I missed spending weekends at the jackpots, spending time with my friends with horses, etc, so I started slow. Did fun non competitive things with my horse. Pushed cattle, chased steers for the guys roping, hauled the psychotic horse and exhibitioned him, just enjoyed being around my horses again. Now that desire is back in full force and I can't wait to haul my butt off this year.
I don't understand the "if your not winning your not going to do it" mentality. Anyone that has ever trained and competed KNOWS you are NOT going to win all the time and at any given point in time you can go from winning to sucking hind tit. If that truly is the reason then I suggest stepping away and figuring "things" out.
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Industrial Srength Barrel Racer
Posts: 7264
| Vickie - 2016-02-08 2:27 PM
The day you hear something you were planning to go to has been canceled, and you are relieved.
This was how I was and there are several reasons. I am just too busy to go and spend 8.0 hours at a local race to make one run - our races here drag on FOREVER because they don't set a start time, they are "the open will not start before xx:xx, and I get it, they make a LOT of money off the exhibitions so they want to get in as many as possible. Another reason is that my dad had to go to a nursing home 130 miles away and I go visit him every other weekend, so that only leaves me every other weekend to clean, get groceries, do any farm-type projects or whatever. I haven't hauled in over a year and I do plan to start again this spring but I really have mixed feelings about it.
I can't IMAGINE selling everything - I only have 1 horse, but my saddles, tack, truck - for one thing, it would cost a fortune to buy it all back. I do have my living quarters trailer for sale - no point in having that mega thing parked in the drive if I'm not hauling but I have plans to buy a smaller one.
Edited by Griz 2016-02-09 5:39 AM
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 669
Location: Central Texas | I really needed to read this thread! Thanks everyone, great perspectives and got me ready to run! |
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 Expert
Posts: 1857
| Depends on how you look at this.. Maybe selling out and focusing on yourself for a little while could be a great reset. Save the money you get from selling, save for a few more years, and then come back and buy a jam up 1D competitive horse that you know can take you far and restart. It takes lots of sacrifices to make it, in anything. It could be a small moment of sacrifice to get you where you ultimately want to be.....
I have been contemplating the same thing. I've got some nice horses; rope horses, ranch horses, prospect, but no finished barrel horse that can go out and win a big race(locally 1D all day). I've thought of selling out, taking that money and buying myself a really nice, proven winner but haven't been able to make myself do it. I'm afraid I'll sell out and then never regroup.... |
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 Three in a Bikini
Posts: 2035
| *Side note...
It can take a LONG time to come back after a break. I stopped riding when high school ended to focus on college. I waited 7 years before I got back into it and it has been an uphill struggle ever since. Trust me, if you don't use it you lose it. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1032
Location: IL | Sometimes taking a break, planned or not planned, recharges you.
2012 was the last year that I ran competively. Many of our shows in early 2013 got cancelled due to rain and then about summer of that year my horse was injured. Spent 2014 rehabbing her from suspensory injury/getting her feet right. I have my OTTB mare that I've training and patterning slowly too. I had hoped that 2015 would be my year to start hauling my mare again and seasoning my OTTB. But then come Spring, my mare starting urinating blood after being ridden. Turned out she had a bladder stone. Found a vet and had that removed but she fell on concrete and tore a hamstring muscle while there. So she was out for the whole season. We also had SO MUCH RAIN this spring that 3/4s of our shows were cancelled again and then when the rain finally stopped, come summer, we were too busy building our barn on weekends. And 2016 doesnt look promising either. I don't have my own rig to haul to shows and my usual ride to shows is not an option anymore, so I'm crossing my fingers I'll be able to get back to it in a year or two once I have my own rig.
It's frustrating because I thought I'd be hauling and have my OTTB seasoned by now but life has gotten in the way and plans have gone awry. So odds are I will be seasoning a 9-10 year old horse by the time I'm hauling again. lol Not at all what I planned but such is life. Having such a long hiatus from running has really made me want to go more tho. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 883
Location: Southern Indiana | cecollins0811 - 2016-02-08 4:31 PM
TheDutchMan01 - 2016-02-08 10:45 AM
If you have the attitude of "if I'm not winning or making money I should not do it" you should just quit now. You can't make it in this sport with an attitude like that. There are going to be times when your going to have lows, but your love for the sport is what has to keep you trying. There are too many other people out there with better horses and the will to win and the love for the sport. They won't give up and they are gonna out run you because your a sore looser. Barrel racing isn't just about winning or making money (for sakes we all know we are in above necks deep in debt when it comes to horses) it's about doing your best and having fun. If you can't have fun and win 2nd or 3rd or even the 4D...you don't truly have passion for the sport. It doesn't matter what speed or division your running in that horse is going to teach you something. I think it's good to sometimes have those lows because it teaches you some valuable lessons and makes you stronger. It makes you a better rider. Not to mention its a lot harder to come back when you've quit so long.
I don't mean to sound harsh or say your actually a sore looser. That's just kind of the implication your post gave off.
Thank you, I really needed to hear this. When I was younger my dad would say that I can go to jackpot unless I won money so I kind of been molded to where I feel like I have to win money to keep on barrel racing. They told me the same thing a few years ago but that's when our money was tighter. I guess I just haven't really thought of doing barrels for fun for quite a while, it always was "I need to make money off of this otherwise I can't do it" but when I think about doing it for fun it feels like a big relief. Maybe I should just change my mindset and not let it bother me if I don't win money or if I'm just going to a playday!
Thank you again for being real with me, sometimes I really need someone to talk to me like that lol!
Oh and I've never really rodeoed but it's always been a dream of mine (to the girl who asked )
Welcome! :) I'm always pretty honest, but I try to be nice about it lol I totally understand if money is tight, but if you can afford to go, go and have fun. Just do your best. Sometimes your best is winning and other times it just means you tried but didn't get there. There's always another. You can't win them all and sometimes your horse is just going to have an off day and another horse is going to have a really great one. Unless your riding for someone else or selling horses, it's really hard to make money at barrel racing, but either way you do it because you enjoy it. You shouldn't let a set back keep you from that. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 634
| I quit running barrels through college after my good horse got hurt to save some money and I was miserable. I missed my friends! Barrel racing is about the culture, camaraderie, and having fun. Even though I kept my other horses and still worked them at home, it was tough not going on the weekends to hang out with my friends like I had done for pretty much my whole life. For a while, I would take a young one or two and do trainers but it just wasn't the same. After a while, I quit going all together because I didn't want to go if I wasn't actually running. I fell out of touch with a bunch of the friends I had grown up with.
Now that I'm back running and seeing everyone every weekend, I do think that I appreciate being in the sport even more now than ever before even thought I am not on the same caliber of horse I once was. I think it's easy to get yourself spoiled when you have a nice horse you don't really have to worry about riding and are almost guaranteed (if there is such a thing, haha) a check every weekend, then you start back and go months on a new or young horse and go months without a run you're completely happy with. The key is to pick things you are happy about with your 4D run and maybe some things you can improve on. No matter what division you are in, it's still not EASY to run barrels and you aren't going to win every time.
If you are only worried about a paycheck, you are in the wrong sport. Very few people make money barrel racing as a hobby. You just have to decide if you are willing to sacrifice now to save some money for a nice horse later, or just keep running what you've got and maybe try to improve your runs to where you are placing a little higher. Good luck!  |
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| rodeoveteran - 2016-02-08 2:35 PM mruggles - 2016-02-08 11:12 AM I will stop when im dead....m ^^^this^^^
Yup...afraid i'm right there as well. good answer.
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 Twin Sister to Queen Boobie
Posts: 13315
Location: East Tennessee but who knows?! | I have a step daughter that's been in a poly trauma unit for 2 years, is on a feeding tube, with a severe anoxic brain injury. I'm sure she'd love to just be able to pet a horse, let alone ride or run barrels again.
That puts it into perspective for me real quick. I just want to ride any horse in anything, period. There are many who love it just as much as I do that will never get to do that through no fault of their own. Think about that.
Edited by Fairweather 2016-02-09 8:46 PM
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 Total Germophobe
Posts: 6437
Location: Montana | I'm currently on a break, and I miss it very, very much! The last time I raced was in 2014; 2015 just sucked...I was working with a colt, remodeling a house, more responsibility at work, and one of our series didn't have any races (and that series I could make, the other one I couldn't) so I didn't get to go at all. I so badly want to go out and barrel race, but my mare has been a good one and she is 15 this year so I'm semi-retiring her to a mama/trail horse and get some nice babies from her. I don't know if I'll pull her out of semi-retirement to run again (she is semi-retiring sound) or if I'll wait until her babies are big enough to barrel race. I was going to buy another horse to run this year, but had some circumstances change where it isn't the best idea anymore. So, I'm on an unintended break, but one just the same. If I could go out this very weekend and barrel race, I would in a heart beat, no questions asked, and I wouldn't care if I won a check or not, I would be so happy to be there. I've never won more than a 3D check, so I'm one that competes against myself to get better, and am, and I have fun. So if I go expecting to win, I'm going to be really disappointed, LOL. Some day I'll be in the 1D/2D and maybe hit some rodeos, but I barrel race because I love it! Even a slow horse feels fast when you are on the pattern. :) But I love horses, and just being around them (barrel racing or not) makes me happy. But I see a lot of people I know at barrel races and it gives me a little time off (especially on the week night barrel races)...to me it is me relaxation time, my me time.
Edited by mtcanchazer 2016-02-09 11:07 PM
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 499
Location: ARKANSAS | My last barrel race was in september of 2014, i picked up a hay bale and shattered a disk in my back and in 2015 consisted of one back back surgery after another..i ended up having 3 back surgeries altogether, the last one being december 14th of 2015..the dr released me in January 6 weeksafter surgery and said i could go back to riding..BUT after being off for SO LONG and not being able to do anything physical my muscles are in NO shape to ride at all right now.. My horses have not been ridden in over 6 months either...(my daughter rode them last). It is really hard for me to get in the mindset now of wanting to do anything...simply because i have been down for so long..i will be 59 this year, and i hope when the weather gets warmer i will have the desire to want to get out and start getting them out and getting them in shape again. I know i just cant throw a saddle on them and ride off, umm its been to long..so its gonna take a lot of work to get them where i had them before i got down, so i am putting it off...even dreading it in a way cause i know its gonna be a lot of work..maybe warmer weather will give me the incentive i need to push me out the door to get busy,,lol |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 490
| Im struggling with that right now. I have 3 mares at the moment. One is my retired mare, one finished and the last is finished but needs to be seasoned. I just took a leap of faith and a paycut and am starting a new job the 22nd. I am miserable at my current job. This one came up out of the blue so I am saying a prayer and trusting that everything will work out. Ive been spoiled the past 2 years with having the money to be able to haul 2-3 times a week. Thats about to come to an end and I am debating selling my finished mare. I dont see where its fair for her to sit and not be used. Nothings set in stone, but the new job is going to be time consuming. And so much fun. I am excited.
I think when you head to a show going I HAVE to win money, or its just not fun anymore, then its time to take a step back.
Good luck! |
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"Heck's Coming With Me"
Posts: 10794
Location: Kansas | When I spent long days at barrel races waiting to run one horse while barrel racers with trailerloads rolled in and got to carefully pick their positions "because" they had a trailerload, it was time to quit. They would usually have their horses bathed, cooled, and be headed home while I was still waiting. The rodeo days were fun. The 4D days not so much. |
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 Own It and Move On
Location: The edge of no where | Frodo - 2016-02-10 10:52 AM When I spent long days at barrel races waiting to run one horse while barrel racers with trailerloads rolled in and got to carefully pick their positions "because" they had a trailerload, it was time to quit. They would usually have their horses bathed, cooled, and be headed home while I was still waiting. The rodeo days were fun. The 4D days not so much.
You might find it far different now. Many of the little weekend jackpots allow the option to pre-enter online (including exhibitions). It's great for those of us that have no desire or time to spend all day at a barrel race. I've always shown up and run at the end...and exhibitioned after the class if I needed to work on something. I can't hang out for 3+ hours to exhibition and run 1-2 head. I LOVE being able to pre-enter online and plan my wknd accordingly. My goal is to spend as little time at the jackpot as possible. LOL |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 434
Location: Northwest Florida | I'll never quit. I'm not in it for the money. If I never stood a chance to win a dime I'd still be out there. |
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Red Bull Agressive
Posts: 5981
Location: North Dakota | When I realized I don't really care that much about going fast and mounted shooting is way more fun....
(Yes I know mounted shooting is also a speed event...but I am starting from the bottom and don't really care about being the fastest.) |
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Member
Posts: 43
Location: Central ND | I ended up basically drop dead quitting when my (ex) husband decided to start trying to keep me from going. It worked. I was young and very dumb. He was a cowboy but little by little became less of a horseman every time he rode....lazy and impatient will ruin a horse pretty fast.... When I pulled the first check I'd ever pulled in my life, I was so excited and called him....and he did nothing but yell at me and hang up. It was MY money and MY time that was being used, not his... After that he started telling me I couldn't take the trailer I paid for, or use my own pickup to go anywhere, not only barrel races. It seriously messed me up big time. Needless to say, this is one reason he's no longer in my life (there's many others, but try to take anything horse related away from me is a big no no!!) Since he's been gone, I've been to a few races, but it seems like it's taking a lot of time for me to get myself back into it. The first one I went to after everything was said and done, I honestly felt like I was going to be "in trouble" when I got home, even though he was gone (and I had a blast, even on a horse that hadn't been run on barrels in 3 years!) It took going to quite a few other horse events for that feeling to finally go away. I feel like it just takes time to get back into it like I used to be after being "out of the loop" for so long. |
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"Heck's Coming With Me"
Posts: 10794
Location: Kansas | cavyrunsbarrels - 2016-02-12 4:02 PM When I realized I don't really care that much about going fast and mounted shooting is way more fun....
(Yes I know mounted shooting is also a speed event...but I am starting from the bottom and don't really care about being the fastest. )
I found casinos to be much more fun in my older years and sadly no more costly than barrel racing if you don't go crazy.
Doesn't hurt that they built one four miles from my house.
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I Don't Brag
Posts: 6960
| FlyingJT - 2016-02-09 9:54 AM
Depends on how you look at this.. Maybe selling out and focusing on yourself for a little while could be a great reset. Save the money you get from selling, save for a few more years, and then come back and buy a jam up 1D competitive horse that you know can take you far and restart. It takes lots of sacrifices to make it, in anything. It could be a small moment of sacrifice to get you where you ultimately want to be.....
I have been contemplating the same thing. I've got some nice horses; rope horses, ranch horses, prospect, but no finished barrel horse that can go out and win a big race(locally 1D all day). I've thought of selling out, taking that money and buying myself a really nice, proven winner but haven't been able to make myself do it. I'm afraid I'll sell out and then never regroup....
Frankly, selling everything and putting it in one basket would terrify me. I spent a lot of money (for me anyways) on a coming 4 yr old that had potential to the moon and was already running better than ANY of the finished horses that I had tried in her price range and above.
10 years later and untold amounts of money put in to her trying to keep her sound and going I had to take 25 cents on the dollar for what I had paid for her , and only two half summers of competing on her , to show for it. What I got for her did not quite cover expenses for the year of trying to get her sold for something closer to what I paid and NOTHING to go out and get any kind of capable prospect (let alone finished horse) with.
I don't see me spending anything close to that amount of cash on a horse again. This mare had been vetted and had no issues displayed when I got her, or for the year after. Ovaries, possible PSSM and about every kind of injury/illness known to man plagued her when I had her. When she got to the second "broker" try to sell her, we finally got her sound and she stayed sound. I can only hope that she continues to STAY sound and the girl that got a VERY nice horse cheap kicks butt for years on her.
It's a variation of the "don't put all your eggs in one basket " thing for me.
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1131
| rodeoveteran - 2016-02-13 1:11 PM
FlyingJT - 2016-02-09 9:54 AM
Depends on how you look at this.. Maybe selling out and focusing on yourself for a little while could be a great reset. Save the money you get from selling, save for a few more years, and then come back and buy a jam up 1D competitive horse that you know can take you far and restart. It takes lots of sacrifices to make it, in anything. It could be a small moment of sacrifice to get you where you ultimately want to be.....
I have been contemplating the same thing. I've got some nice horses; rope horses, ranch horses, prospect, but no finished barrel horse that can go out and win a big race(locally 1D all day). I've thought of selling out, taking that money and buying myself a really nice, proven winner but haven't been able to make myself do it. I'm afraid I'll sell out and then never regroup....
Frankly, selling everything and putting it in one basket would terrify me. I spent a lot of money (for me anyways ) on a coming 4 yr old that had potential to the moon and was already running better than ANY of the finished horses that I had tried in her price range and above.
10 years later and untold amounts of money put in to her trying to keep her sound and going I had to take 25 cents on the dollar for what I had paid for her , and only two half summers of competing on her , to show for it. What I got for her did not quite cover expenses for the year of trying to get her sold for something closer to what I paid and NOTHING to go out and get any kind of capable prospect (let alone finished horse ) with.
I don't see me spending anything close to that amount of cash on a horse again. This mare had been vetted and had no issues displayed when I got her, or for the year after. Ovaries, possible PSSM and about every kind of injury/illness known to man plagued her when I had her. When she got to the second "broker" try to sell her, we finally got her sound and she stayed sound. I can only hope that she continues to STAY sound and the girl that got a VERY nice horse cheap kicks butt for years on her.
It's a variation of the "don't put all your eggs in one basket " thing for me.
I actually have another very good example of this. Not a barrel horse, but we bought a 3yo western pleasure prospect, who was JAM UP. He was bred to the max, gorgeous to look at, and could move. We had a lot of confidence in him.... then he turned 4, he still was immature and didn't do well at big indoor shows, so we waited for more maturity, his 5yo year came and went, and finally he turned 6 and was still just as stupid and immature as he was when he was 3 and we decided to cut our losses, and traded him for the mare in my profile picture just to get rid of him. A week before we were due to take him a few states away, he got caught in the fence and fileted his back leg. Luckily, the new owners still wanted him, so we did the trade. A year later, he died of colic.
Definitely "Don't put all your eggs in one basket". |
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 Go For It!
Location: Texas |
I can certainly understand your dilemma. I read several of the responses and there is something that you must consider when reading them... What we do can easily be an addiction and not necessarily a hobby. When you start making bad financial decisions and skipping things with family to go to a barrel race, then maybe it's time to reevaluate your position. No one knows that better than me, ;). I work my behind off to do this and honestly, I wouldn't be happy if I was running way out on my finished horses. So in order for me to be successful, I have to do the work. I'm getting tired... I've been working at this a long time and I have missed plenty of things I shouldn't have missed and spent plenty of money that could have been better spent. I'm getting close to retirement and I can feel it coming. It certainly won't be because I'm a quitter. I just feel that I have nothing else to prove... to myself or to anyone else.
Do what you need to do for yourself, your family, and YOUR situation and don't let other people influence your decision. This is about you, your family, and your finances. Do what is right for you.
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Location: Texas | I know exactly where you are coming from. I was blessed with several top horses and being able to rodeo and win. I quit in 2008 and sold everything. During this time I traveled and took vacations. Built my career and did things horses never allowed me to do. I use to think the rodeo wouldn't start until I got there. I use to think how boring others lives must be that didn't rodeo every weekend. Then I did it. I lived life and realized that there is a life beyond horses. But I have loved horses all my life and love competition and I missed the bright lights of the arena. I missed the crowd cheering and yelling for people they didn't even know. I missed my horse family.
In 2013 I decided I would start over. Bought trucks, trailer, horse and everything else you can imagine. I started back with a 3 year old who is now 6. It's been up and down and hard at times. I guess I thought I could go right back to winning and I could get lucky with the first colt I bought LOL. However I love this mare and I am giving her this year to season and see what we can do. Due to my career she hasn't had a fair chance but has showed me she has the ability. I have even made the comment that I would happy to be in the 2-D but in reality I want to rodeo again. I want to hear the announcer say I just took the lead. I want people to make a point to watch me again because I have a nice horse and can change it all. But at the end of the day isn't that what most want. I have learned to count my blessings and thank God for the opportunity to do what I love.
Follow your heart. I guess my point is if you feel you need a break turn the horses out. Take a year off and go see what else the world offers. If you get the itch or the fever start legging your horse back up. If you don't miss it then you have your answer. From someone who sold everything I say wait before you sell out and quit. If after a year you still feel the same way then maybe it's time to do something else.
Good Luck. I know how you feel. |
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10D Crack Champion
| mruggles - 2016-02-08 11:12 AM I will stop when im dead....m
Don't know why this made me laugh, but it did. LOL |
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10D Crack Champion
| Vickie - 2016-02-08 2:27 PM The day you hear something you were planning to go to has been canceled, and you are relieved.
Good point! |
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To the Left
Posts: 1865
Location: Florida | I waited 2 years to sell my trailer, then later my saddles and all my tack. It physically hurt. I have rodeoed since 1978 and didn't know what else to do. I kept my horse because he is too cranky to sell and I kept my truck because I have never driven anything else and BTW it is paid for and a diesel so I hope it will be the last vehicle I ever buy in my life.
I threw myself into my work and it has worked, I am doing OK. Just not sure what to do when I retire in a few years but I know I will survive that too. |
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 How freakish is that?
Posts: 3927
Location: Oregon | Same here Vickie, hurt more to get rid of my trailer and truck than the horses, I waited 2 years before I sold my trailer also. I kept my good horse who was 16 at the time and gave her to my friends for their 8 year old to use for a pee wee rodeo horse. Sold the rest. I still miss my friends but thanks to FB I get to live vicariously through them. My folks were old and I had to make the decision to stay home and take care of them. That was 8 years ago, my mom is the last of them and she is on hospice now and not expected to live much longer but she keeps surprising us! Amazing how my years of keeping horses alive in spite of themselves tranferred over to doing a pretty good job keeping my old people alive. Anyway now I'm facing dispersing of all the stuff I have left after 40 years of raising horses and barrel racing and selling my farm which seems like a formidable task. We bought a motor home, not sure what we will do now but I'm ready to hit the road again and see something of the world other than arenas and rodeo grounds.
Edited by crapshooter 2016-02-14 1:06 PM
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 Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
Location: Phoenix | I stopped when it wasn't fun anymore. Same with roping at the amateur rodeos. I was stressed out, needing to win and wasn't drawing well. One weekend I opted to just pay my fees and turnout of a rodeo to avoid the potential heartbreak of missing another calf. I then moved to San Diego, no horses. 3 years later I'm now in AZ and working to get back into the game. I'm fine trail riding for now but I did a time only the other day when I was able to make it to a barrel race last minute and I really really miss it! Especially since my horses so stinking talented! |
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 Thread Killer
Posts: 7543
| I stopped when the work and investment of time involved with owning horses became too stressful. It wasn't fun anymore; after a while I actually started to get really terrified. Terrified of them getting loose and killing someone, terrified of riding, terrified of anything having to do with them.
It's funny, really. When I was 10 years old, getting my first horse and learning as much as I could, I got a box of hand-me-down tack from an older girl in my 4-H club. She was getting out of horses. I couldn't believe it; how could someone want "out" of horses!? Her response was that they were "boring." What!? I couldn't fathom that. Of course, I could never imagine myself being done with horses. But, here I am, being so done and ready to move on.
My time with horses is something I'll not soon forget. I have so many great memories; some not so good ones too. I'll always keep up with what's happening in the industry because I really enjoy that aspect. However, I've moved on to other interests/passions and have found that there is, in fact, life after horses. |
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How freakish is that?
Posts: 3927
Location: Oregon | I have to say I never got to the point where I didn't care if I won or not. Too expensive to me to be a hobby, plus I like to win and I like the money. |
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Industrial Srength Barrel Racer
Posts: 7264
| MS2011 - 2016-02-10 10:56 AM
Frodo - 2016-02-10 10:52 AM When I spent long days at barrel races waiting to run one horse while barrel racers with trailerloads rolled in and got to carefully pick their positions "because" they had a trailerload, it was time to quit. They would usually have their horses bathed, cooled, and be headed home while I was still waiting. The rodeo days were fun. The 4D days not so much.
You might find it far different now. Many of the little weekend jackpots allow the option to pre-enter online (including exhibitions). It's great for those of us that have no desire or time to spend all day at a barrel race. I've always shown up and run at the end...and exhibitioned after the class if I needed to work on something. I can't hang out for 3+ hours to exhibition and run 1-2 head. I LOVE being able to pre-enter online and plan my wknd accordingly. My goal is to spend as little time at the jackpot as possible. LOL
I would LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this but no jackpots around here do that. |
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| I never really decided to quit. Life and time has just caught up with me. I had a bad spill, then a move out-of-state for a new job, and then working too much to have time or energy for riding. My horse is now old and arthritic, and I've gotten old and fat. I would like to get another horse and just play around, but my job now involves quite a bit of traveling.
There were times it wasn't as much fun, but you can make that change if you want to. I also never thought I would quite riding, but here I am, have not been on a horse for 2-3 years. LOL Life sure has a way of changing things up. |
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When did you decide to stop barrel racing?