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Expert
Posts: 2685
   
| I own 3 horses. 1 is navicular that is no longer sound on previcox, coffin injections, PHT bells and THE :( (she is now a pasture ornament). 1 is on stall rest for an "irritated suspensory" (splint bone and cannon were swollen squishing the suspensory now the suspensory is mad). 1 is 3yo and needs to be put on the barrels.
The pasture ornament ain't no thang really because I prepaid a LFG stud fee for next year and the vet told me she's breeding sound and she's bred out the wazoo so hey, here's my blessing in disguise. The mare on stall rest is my child and she is depressed and I want to get back on her so bad (been down going on 2 months). And quite honestly I'm not confident in myself as a rider or barrel racer anymore to try to start or finish the 3yo. She is full of talent and potential and is dog broke but I just know that my crappy hands with F her up in a matter of time. I feel like I screwed up the mare on stall rest by trying to do it myself and I don't want that to happen to this one.
I see people (2 different families) sending horses off and paying butt loads (that I could never afford) and having horses trained and doing good on them when they ride even worse than I do :( And quite honestly don't care very much about their horses happiness or safety. Its discouraging and I want to throw my toys in the dirt.
I know, I know suck it up or sell them.... I have seriously thought about selling everything and buying something finished but I have worked 5 years to get the heard I have now. I realize they aren't NFR horses but they are broke and I DID make that part. I have a deal worked out with a lady to go ride with her so she can yell at me to keep me from screwing up any further but I just don't have the umph. | |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
 
| If you have down time, watch videos, judy Millimacki, Marlene McRae, Sharon Camarillo, Charmayne James, Molly Powell, etc they all have videos and everyone can learn something from each video.
Go to some horsemanship clinics, barrel racing is mostly horsemanship, and each of the above will emphasize on horsemanship, this will help you be confident in your body, confident in your abilities, and confident on applying your horsemanship to the pattern.
Take some barrel clinics, I try and go to one a year, possibly two and I try and go to different people, (but have become an Ed wright groupie) as their philosophy may help me get to the next level, they may see something subtle I am doing to impede my horse.
If you are going to ride with someone, they should not be yelling at you, they should be teaching you the rationale on why they want you to change something in your riding, these people should also be helping build your confidence, not tear it down.
I will also say sometimes it is not easy to get on someone else's trained horse and ride the horse to their potential.
We all can have band days, months, and years, look back reflect and take the positive and leave the negative behind and move forward. | |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1034
| Sell and either buy a finished horse you can go have fun on or sell and use the funds to send your 3 yo to a trainer. I suggest the first.
I wouldn't feel very motivate if I had a barn full of horses I couldn't do anything with either!
Question: If you don't have the funds for a trainer and lack confidence to start and train one, why are you breeding your mare? What do you plan to do with the baby? | |
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Expert
Posts: 2685
| HorseMommyFiveO - 2014-09-27 4:22 PM
Sell and either buy a finished horse you can go have fun on or sell and use the funds to send your 3 yo to a trainer. I suggest the first.
I wouldn't feel very motivate if I had a barn full of horses I couldn't do anything with either!
Question: If you don't have the funds for a trainer and lack confidence to start and train one, why are you breeding your mare? What do you plan to do with the baby?
A little back story that is not stated above is I trained the mare on stall rest from scratch at 18 mos old. She is 5 this year. Runs 2D when she turns the 1st barrel 0.o
^that is my reasoning for lack of confidence. I feel like I screwed up somewhere and for the life of me cannot find where. I thought it was her stifle because I felt she was off somewhere and that was causing the sometimes turn the barrel correctly thing. Finally a vet (Oakridge) found a "spur" in her left stifle. I was told that could absolutely be her problem. Put her on ECJR by equidite. Had her rexrayed last week at the vet I work for (I like oakridge better but I can get X-rays free at work) and her stifle is clean as a whistle. I want to have BOTH vets look at BOTH sets of X-rays and tell me what they see. But I have not yet with her being in a stall anyways.
My reason for breeding my pasture ornament is a have a paid for breeding for next year only. I have to use it next year or it disappears (long story). As for what to do with the foal, I have more than a year to decide that. Maybe I'll find my big girl panties around here somewhere and "get back on the horse" or maybe I'll sell it to someone that will make something of it. It will be triple chick, moon lark, jets pay day, on the money red and firewater flit bred.
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 Expert
Posts: 3782
Location: Gainesville, TX | Go work with someone who is willing to help you or send the three year old off. I currently have two prospects, one who is two and trained to the hilt and another that's four and likes to buck. My older gelding is out with a suspensory injury that just does not want to heal. I'm excited about both of them because I found someone qualified to help me and them. My two year old is trained better than me right now and I'm trying to catch up. My trainer had been very straightforward with me about the areas I need to work on. To use my husbands metaphor, I look like a monkey riding a football (his phrasing is a bit more colorful). But I know I haven't ridden much in the last three months, that my gelding who I had a rhythm with was 5 inches taller than my filly, and that I simply do not know as much as my trainer. I know a bit but I have a ton to learn. I am sooo glad that I decided to get the help because I'm truly committed to our success even if that means my trainer could run her as a 1D horse and I'm in the 3D. I will learn and be there someday. Meanwhile I'm pretending I'm a sponge. I was always a good student anyways, made great grades in school. I just have to apply those skills to this arena.
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Rad Dork
Posts: 5218
Location: Oklahoma | If it were me I'd wait for the suspensory to heal (we're in that same boat together!) and be more careful about ground conditions when you bring her back. I think crappy practice ground is what inflamed my gelding's suspensory. My plan of action when he comes back is Iconclasts on the hind and luring more diligent about poulticing and cold hosing!
I'd sell the three year old and apply those funds to something that you can run from the get go. Would you be comfortable enough seasoning this horse once you got it patterned? I have zero desire to season a horse, but I also haven't gotten my fill of running a fun to run horse because of never ending injuries.
I'd keep the broodmare and then when the time passes and you regain your confidence you might find that you're ready to have a horse that has only your blood, sweat and tears. | |
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 Not Afraid to Work
Posts: 4717
| I am sorry you are feeling this way... it really sucks. My best friend is currently in this boat and the only thing I have to say to her is that everyone goes through these rough patches of bad luck. If it werent for all the bad times, it wouldnt make the good times so great.
I to have had a horse with first barrel issues and it messed up my confidence big time. Fortunately, i got a horse with a different style, attitude, temperment (whatever you wanna call it). I trained both and the one I have now has the best first barrel Ive ever had one a horse. So sometimes its something no one can define.
Wait for her to heal, take her to a clinic and see if you can work on consistency, shes only 5. In the mean time, start your colt nice and slow. Dont put pressure on it. Just go out and enjoy!
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1034
| RoaniePonie11 - 2014-09-27 4:58 PM
HorseMommyFiveO - 2014-09-27 4:22 PM
Sell and either buy a finished horse you can go have fun on or sell and use the funds to send your 3 yo to a trainer. I suggest the first.
I wouldn't feel very motivate if I had a barn full of horses I couldn't do anything with either!
Question: If you don't have the funds for a trainer and lack confidence to start and train one, why are you breeding your mare? What do you plan to do with the baby?
A little back story that is not stated above is I trained the mare on stall rest from scratch at 18 mos old. She is 5 this year. Runs 2D when she turns the 1st barrel 0.o
^that is my reasoning for lack of confidence. I feel like I screwed up somewhere and for the life of me cannot find where. I thought it was her stifle because I felt she was off somewhere and that was causing the sometimes turn the barrel correctly thing. Finally a vet (Oakridge ) found a "spur" in her left stifle. I was told that could absolutely be her problem. Put her on ECJR by equidite. Had her rexrayed last week at the vet I work for (I like oakridge better but I can get X-rays free at work ) and her stifle is clean as a whistle. I want to have BOTH vets look at BOTH sets of X-rays and tell me what they see. But I have not yet with her being in a stall anyways.
My reason for breeding my pasture ornament is a have a paid for breeding for next year only. I have to use it next year or it disappears (long story ). As for what to do with the foal, I have more than a year to decide that. Maybe I'll find my big girl panties around here somewhere and "get back on the horse" or maybe I'll sell it to someone that will make something of it. It will be triple chick, moon lark, jets pay day, on the money red and firewater flit bred.
Well our positions seem very similar. I have three:
A well bred, nicely started 3 year old. Now I have a newborn baby and can't seem to find the time to put into him. I keep telling myself it si happen.
A well bred, super broke mare. Snaffle Bit Futurity contestant. Torn hamstrings. With the mechanical lameness she's a 4D barrel horse, jam up sorting competitor, and reliable trail babysitter, blast to ride. She's
Due with a 2015 baby.
A well bred, bomb proof, State qualifying 21 year old who now is my kids' horse. I can't run him in good conscience. So he sits until the kids want to ride around on weekends.
None of these I can go hit a weekend jack pot or open rodeo on. It makes me sad and discouraged but it's TEMPORARY! I will get the time to ride that fabulous 3 yr old. I will be super happy when that baby hits the ground. I am happy to give my old guy the retirement he deserves. And next year who knows, maybe I'll be able to go to a Futurity or two. Right now I'm enjoying my kids. | |
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Expert
Posts: 2685
| Thanks everyone very much!!
I do love my 3yo. I have been the only person on her just like my 5yo. I think she has amazing potential. With my inconsistent riding (moving, divorcing, moving ect) she is much further along maturity wise than any 3yo I know. I mean I could get 5-6k out of her but would I be able to find a finished horse I like well enough to make it worth it is the question. I have trained my 3 so I'm very spoiled to know what when why & how they are going to do something (accept turn the 1st barrel lol). The navicular horse that is now retired inhales the first barrel (or did anyways).
Thanks for all the input peeps. I'm still going to mull it around. Crappy first occasionally or not I miss riding my kid. I miss RUNNING the barrels instead of dragging around them :/ | |
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