|
|
 A Gopher's Worst Nightmare
Posts: 5094
 
Location: Southern Oregon | Ugh...... I am having a hard time here. I have been working ALOT of hours, plus I have two young kids I care for full time. I have a SUPER nice mare, has an a great start on the barrels. I have never pushed, just patterned her and hualed her. I have had a ton of things "life" happen in the last couple of years and she isn't as far along as I wish she was. I am having major withdrawls from not owning a running horse, this is the first time in my life that I have not had a running horse. I keep promising my self I will make time to finish her in time for our next BIG barrel racing series coming up in September. Unfortunately I have a tail bone issue that has caused yet another set back in the time in needed to finish her and my work picked up like mad here lately.
This is the deal. A somewhat local GREAT up and coming trainer offered to take my mare and finish her, plus haul her for half of her normal monthly rate. I really like this trainers style and all of her horses, I think my mare would fit into her training program well.
I just got my VACATION bonus.....which I consider "extra" cash. I was considering putting it in my savings account for a rainy day fund or Christmas, but I am really contemplating just sending my mare off! I feel super guilty about it for some reason. I have never owned a horse that I didn't train and finish my self, so I am not sure if that is what some of the hesitation is. This is something I have been thinking about since December.
I have been working a ton of terrible hours. 3 am to 3pm...... and then 3pm to 3am and raising my two kiddos. I have time to let my daughter ride her horse in the evenings while I water and feed critters and then its dinner and bed lately. :( I kind of feel like I deserve this and owe it to my mare and myself. I am just so torn!!!! Am I being selfish here?
Edited by cowgirl_3207 2015-06-26 10:49 PM
|
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 1561
 
|
DO IT!!!
|
|
| |
|
Member
Posts: 49
Location: In the saddle enjoying the East Texas sky | Do it. Everyone deserves to do something nice for themselves if they can afford. Especially working mommas! |
|
| |
|
 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | Itsme - 2015-06-26 10:33 PM DO IT!!!
I agree just do IT  |
|
| |
|
 Expert
Posts: 1395
Location: Missouri | Go for it!!! It sounds like you've been working your tush off, you've got the money, you deserve to do something nice for yourself!  |
|
| |
|
 Expert
Posts: 1440
Location: Texas | Just do it! |
|
| |
|
 Expert
Posts: 1718
Location: Southeast Louisiana | It's not just for you, it's for your horse, too. Giving them skills will help keep them off a truck to Mexico if you ever have to sell and the horse market is tough for any unfinished prospect. Even well bred ones. Don't feel bad about not doing it yourself. In the end, you're doing right by your equine friend. When you get back on her and she is months ahead of where your schedule would have allowed you to get her, you'll know you did the right thing.
|
|
| |
|
 Popped
Posts: 20421
Location: LuluLand~along I64 Indiana | you say you have never rode one you didnt finish youself.... well you have also never had so much on your plate. go get your horse finished. then you will have all the pieces in place. be thankful for all that you have sounds like you have been blessed. |
|
| |
|
 Namesless in BHW
Posts: 10368
Location: At the race track with Ah Dee Ohs | I have to agree with everyone...DO IT! |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 4766
Location: Bandera, TX | Very well deserved, your still gaining time with the family by sending her off. Please don't hesitate go ahead and do it. Look at the calendar and start making riding dates when you get her back. Keep those dates. Get a pattern going that you, your horse and the family become familiar with.
I'm in the same boat as you. Very limited time due to over time-manditory in my division at work. I wanted a chance to run at the American but I've not competed on the horse since October. He goes to the swim farm next week for 6-8 weeks. I'm going to look at my schedule today and block out weekends that I can go compete and hopefully get back in synch so I can contend with the "real competitors."
I hope your in the truck hauling her this afternoon! You deserve this and your family will be happy to see your happy getting your horsey time. |
|
| |
|
 Veteran
Posts: 148
| Do it. |
|
| |
|
 I Chore in Chucks
Posts: 2882
Location: MD | DO IT |
|
| |
|
 Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| CouchJockey - 2015-06-26 10:38 PM Do it. Everyone deserves to do something nice for themselves if they can afford. Especially working mommas! This 100 times over!! I was a stay at home mom of 4 and I so admire all you working moms out there- tough, tough, tough job to do both. I had just posted this on another thread but the BEST parenting advice I got was to do something for yourself, take care of yourself too, not just everyone else. Send your mare off and enjoy the rewards of all your hard work.
Edited by rodeomom3 2015-06-27 11:26 AM
|
|
| |
|
A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | Just checking back with you, are you doing it? |
|
| |
|
A Gopher's Worst Nightmare
Posts: 5094
Location: Southern Oregon | I went to bed and thought on it. It still makes me nervous to send her off. I have a call into the trainer, who has a barrel race and rodeo this weekend. I am hoping to hear back from her by this monday so I can finalize a decision.
I mentioned what I was wanting to do to my older sister, ugh...... she is more or less a dream smasher. She was the main reason for this post. I love her to death, but we choose to spend our time and money differently. She choose NOT to work since her husband makes really good money. I choose to work even though my SO makes really good money. We like to go on lots of trips and vacations with our kiddos and FULLY fund all of their WILD dreams of motocross(soon to be my son) and barrel racing. Not only do we all have horses and kids that run, but we also both have stock piles of atv's,utv's and dirtbikes that was take to the oregon dunes pretty regularly. Our guys are motor heads. She thinks I am wasting money doing something I am capable of doing myself. I hate second guessing my self. I have only sent of one horse and it was to get her started. I had a horrible experience and ended up getting back a lame bucker and losing about $5k on here. |
|
| |
|
 Roan On The Range
Posts: 7889
Location: Stephenville, TX | cowgirl_3207 - 2015-06-27 11:00 AM I went to bed and thought on it. It still makes me nervous to send her off. I have a call into the trainer, who has a barrel race and rodeo this weekend. I am hoping to hear back from her by this monday so I can finalize a decision. I mentioned what I was wanting to do to my older sister, ugh...... she is more or less a dream smasher. She was the main reason for this post. I love her to death, but we choose to spend our time and money differently. She choose NOT to work since her husband makes really good money. I choose to work even though my SO makes really good money. We like to go on lots of trips and vacations with our kiddos and FULLY fund all of their WILD dreams of motocross(soon to be my son) and barrel racing. Not only do we all have horses and kids that run, but we also both have stock piles of atv's,utv's and dirtbikes that was take to the oregon dunes pretty regularly. Our guys are motor heads. She thinks I am wasting money doing something I am capable of doing myself. I hate second guessing my self. I have only sent of one horse and it was to get her started. I had a horrible experience and ended up getting back a lame bucker and losing about $5k on here.
If you like the way the trainer handles their stuff, you think you'll be able to ride behind them and you think you'll have time to go on with her when you get the mare back from the trainer then I say send her off. If you're not sure about those things and that's why you're hesitant, then it may not be the right time. I don't think its selfish to want to do this at all, you just need to make sure the trainer/situation/timing is going to work for you. |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 1543
Location: MI | I agree with Running Roan. It's not selfish of you at all - but for me, my horse is 'my thing to do for myself every day'. If I didn't have him at home to ride and motivate me, I wouldn't do much of anything for myself during the week. I don't generally, at this point (with 4 young kids and work, school, etc.) work out, which means I'd probably not be able to stay with my gelding when he came back.
I don't think either is selfish - carving out time to ride her (once you're healed), or carving out money to send her off. But I think it's worth looking realistically (sans guilt) at the situation for you and ask yourself what you are able to do this summer (and what you want to do this fall), and go for it either way :). |
|
| |
Folks on-line