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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1079
 
| Can I Just discuss a little bit? I have been in such a funk lately about what to do. What I KNOW: I want to be more competitive. What I also know: My current horse isn't getting the job done.
I got a green horse six years ago. I took mental and physical knocks getting this horse to a respectable 2-3D barrel horse. I am not a trainer but I think I did a good job. Took forever and the process took it's toll on my confidence. Horse now happily does the job but isn't setting the world on fire. Do I have fun, sure. But do I always click 100% with this horse, no. He can still rattle my confidence like no other and I often times think I am working way to hard with him (mentally and physically) for the result to be 3D runs.
Now: Part of me wants to sell him and get something with more potential. But the thought of doing it all again is EXHAUSTING. I'd like to think I could bring one along a little more efficiently this time around but who knows.
It's easy for me to just stay comfortable and keep on the same path hoping my guy will run to his full ability (I do think he can do better but maybe lacks the heart or I lack the agressive riding style to get it out of him) but lately I've been struggling with the desire to do better and knowing I'm going to have to change something to do that.
Doesn't help that I grow so attached to them that selling is extremely hard for me. I do love a lot of things about my horse. any words of wisdom?
How to know if you should trade "OK" for "could be great or could be worse than you had" if that makes sense. haha.
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 425
Location: California | I think sometimes you just have to bite the bullet & give it a go. I know what you mean though; I had just one horse and now 3 (one with a foal on the way). I couldn't imagine selling them, so I hoard them lol.
People just don't always click with every horse! Can you afford to get one that is more proven rather than totally starting over again? |
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 Owner of a ratting catting machine
Posts: 2258
| Sure. If I get stuck but I think there's more in the tank, I go to a good clinic or go to lessons with someone better than me.
I also get a full vet check done to make sure my horse isn't hanging back because of a medical issue. I also get my saddle fitted and check everything I can think of.
Then I ride everyday, workout, and eat right.
If it's still not coming together after doing my homework, I sell the horse. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 617
Location: London Ontario | I would agree - after a few clinics or lessons, if there still isnt that fire...cut your losses and sell. I'd suggest getting a pro's opinion. I also find that watching someone else ride/run that horse can make a difference. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1079
| classicpotatochip - 2017-02-09 11:49 AM Sure. If I get stuck but I think there's more in the tank, I go to a good clinic or go to lessons with someone better than me. I also get a full vet check done to make sure my horse isn't hanging back because of a medical issue. I also get my saddle fitted and check everything I can think of. Then I ride everyday, workout, and eat right. If it's still not coming together after doing my homework, I sell the horse.
Thanks for all the feedback so far! More is welcomed!
I actually do workout, journal my food and eat pretty clean. Unfortunatley I live in the crappy part of the country where unless you have a pretty darn nice indoor you are sidlined for 5 months of the year for winter. So while my horse gets 4 to 5 days of rides a week come about April, he's currently off.
I just hate the thought of parting with him because I Have invested so much blood, sweat and tears to get to this point. They are like family to me so I'm more like the first poster who says she hoards. I can afford a 2nd and to keep him but it would absolutely need to be a prospect and not a finished horse to do that.
IDK thank you all for the ear - It's just hard to know what to do. Lately though I'm keenly aware of how fast time goes and how I am not really actively pursuing my goals! I am coasting and I want to do better! |
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| Training and seasoning barrel horses is tough and can be very discouraging. You will probably find this to be true on your next one also. It's hard to know when to sell and move on. I'm not good with that part either but I've found that time helps more than anything. As a horse matures and gets older, they get better. I would suggest finding a professional who you trust to give you an honest opinion on you and your horse before you sell. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1079
| turnthree - 2017-02-09 3:00 PM Training and seasoning barrel horses is tough and can be very discouraging. You will probably find this to be true on your next one also. It's hard to know when to sell and move on. I'm not good with that part either but I've found that time helps more than anything. As a horse matures and gets older, they get better. I would suggest finding a professional who you trust to give you an honest opinion on you and your horse before you sell.
You are so right. In my gut I know I will likely keep my horse and buy another but that puts me back into "prospect" territory and I think the thought of doing it all again is what's keeping me from diving in. I am SURE not every horse is as challenging as mine has been but I'm not very lucky and I worry I'd end up with another as quirky as him. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 312
Location: KS | Are you able to just add to your inventory? I cant imagine selling anything I put that much time in to, but it has never phased me to bring another one home with no intentions of selling either one?!? |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 599
| I was in your shoes. I felt I was ready to move up, and my horse was ready to move up, but we just couldn't do it together. But I LOVE this horse SO SO much (and I'm not one who just loves them all). I have another horse for sale and last weekend a 14 year old came to try it. While she was at my place, she fell in love with "that" horse (NOTE the one she came to see, and he wasn't for sale). I just knew she would be better for him. So, I sold him. He hasn't left my house yet, and it's so hard to see him everyday, but I feel in my heart that this is best for all of us. Best of luck to you. |
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 Not Afraid to Work
Posts: 4717
| I have a similar story that might help... I will try and keep it brief.
I bought a gelding who had previously been started by my old trainer. She said he was tough and gritty and right up my alley. I go and get him and come to find out he was extremely malnourished and had been sitting for 3 years. I got him healthy and started working him, he was just anxious. Super worried most of the time. He seasoned fairly well but just never got the consistency that I had hoped. I won a ton od 3D awards on him and a lot of money. He would nearly break an arena record and barely hit the 4D the next day. My confidence was getting lower and he was just not the best style for me but I loved him, he came from a bad place and he wasn't a "bad" horse. It wasn't necessarily the 3D factor but more than he was inconsistent.
I listed him for sale and got into a trade deal. Paint that was more push style which fits me better and I was on my way to meet her a few states away. We ended up in a trailer accident and never made it. Horse was thankfully fine but I took that as a sign to keep him. Another year or two of running him and he continued to pull me a check and multiple awards but I just wasn't really happy competing. My love for the game was diminishing. I had been in it about 5 years at this point.
Eventually I found this late 6 year old who hadn't been started and I was in a way desperate to try something else and he was dirt cheap. Bought him and realized I needed to sell the other as I boarded and couldn't afford two. I sold him to a gal and was super honest about his inconsistencies.
In the mean time, I trained this 6 year old and never looked back. He restored my love for the game again. He is a 2D/3D horse depending on the ground and arena. He was as easy as any training project can be. I love him and hes now 14 and wouldn't sell him for all the money in the world. In a way, I regret not selling the other sooner because I missed out on a few good years competing when I wasn't really having "fun." And although the gal I sold him to, resold him, the gal that owns him now, LOVES him!!!! He is in his forever home and she appreciates everything he is and everything he is not. He was a good boy and deserved that.
So I guess, moral of the story is it hurts to sell them. I balled like a baby when he left and I am like you, I get attached. But I almost regret not doing it sooner, although I think the gelding I got was meant to find me. So I think when the time comes, you will know. but I also believe there may be a better fit for both of you. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1079
| stayceem - 2017-02-09 3:16 PM I have a similar story that might help... I will try and keep it brief. I bought a gelding who had previously been started by my old trainer. She said he was tough and gritty and right up my alley. I go and get him and come to find out he was extremely malnourished and had been sitting for 3 years. I got him healthy and started working him, he was just anxious. Super worried most of the time. He seasoned fairly well but just never got the consistency that I had hoped. I won a ton od 3D awards on him and a lot of money. He would nearly break an arena record and barely hit the 4D the next day. My confidence was getting lower and he was just not the best style for me but I loved him, he came from a bad place and he wasn't a "bad" horse. It wasn't necessarily the 3D factor but more than he was inconsistent. I listed him for sale and got into a trade deal. Paint that was more push style which fits me better and I was on my way to meet her a few states away. We ended up in a trailer accident and never made it. Horse was thankfully fine but I took that as a sign to keep him. Another year or two of running him and he continued to pull me a check and multiple awards but I just wasn't really happy competing. My love for the game was diminishing. I had been in it about 5 years at this point. Eventually I found this late 6 year old who hadn't been started and I was in a way desperate to try something else and he was dirt cheap. Bought him and realized I needed to sell the other as I boarded and couldn't afford two. I sold him to a gal and was super honest about his inconsistencies. In the mean time, I trained this 6 year old and never looked back. He restored my love for the game again. He is a 2D/3D horse depending on the ground and arena. He was as easy as any training project can be. I love him and hes now 14 and wouldn't sell him for all the money in the world. In a way, I regret not selling the other sooner because I missed out on a few good years competing when I wasn't really having "fun." And although the gal I sold him to, resold him, the gal that owns him now, LOVES him!!!! He is in his forever home and she appreciates everything he is and everything he is not. He was a good boy and deserved that. So I guess, moral of the story is it hurts to sell them. I balled like a baby when he left and I am like you, I get attached. But I almost regret not doing it sooner, although I think the gelding I got was meant to find me. So I think when the time comes, you will know. but I also believe there may be a better fit for both of you.
Oh MY! Thank you so much for sharing. Honestly your story nearly brought tears to my eyes.
Thank you!
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Not Afraid to Work
Posts: 4717
| star1218 - 2017-02-09 3:26 PM
stayceem - 2017-02-09 3:16 PM I have a similar story that might help... I will try and keep it brief. I bought a gelding who had previously been started by my old trainer. She said he was tough and gritty and right up my alley. I go and get him and come to find out he was extremely malnourished and had been sitting for 3 years. I got him healthy and started working him, he was just anxious. Super worried most of the time. He seasoned fairly well but just never got the consistency that I had hoped. I won a ton od 3D awards on him and a lot of money. He would nearly break an arena record and barely hit the 4D the next day. My confidence was getting lower and he was just not the best style for me but I loved him, he came from a bad place and he wasn't a "bad" horse. It wasn't necessarily the 3D factor but more than he was inconsistent. I listed him for sale and got into a trade deal. Paint that was more push style which fits me better and I was on my way to meet her a few states away. We ended up in a trailer accident and never made it. Horse was thankfully fine but I took that as a sign to keep him. Another year or two of running him and he continued to pull me a check and multiple awards but I just wasn't really happy competing. My love for the game was diminishing. I had been in it about 5 years at this point. Eventually I found this late 6 year old who hadn't been started and I was in a way desperate to try something else and he was dirt cheap. Bought him and realized I needed to sell the other as I boarded and couldn't afford two. I sold him to a gal and was super honest about his inconsistencies. In the mean time, I trained this 6 year old and never looked back. He restored my love for the game again. He is a 2D/3D horse depending on the ground and arena. He was as easy as any training project can be. I love him and hes now 14 and wouldn't sell him for all the money in the world. In a way, I regret not selling the other sooner because I missed out on a few good years competing when I wasn't really having "fun." And although the gal I sold him to, resold him, the gal that owns him now, LOVES him!!!! He is in his forever home and she appreciates everything he is and everything he is not. He was a good boy and deserved that. So I guess, moral of the story is it hurts to sell them. I balled like a baby when he left and I am like you, I get attached. But I almost regret not doing it sooner, although I think the gelding I got was meant to find me. So I think when the time comes, you will know. but I also believe there may be a better fit for both of you.
Oh MY! Thank you so much for sharing. Honestly your story nearly brought tears to my eyes.
Thank you!
Â
Glad I could help. It never is easy but the right answer will come. Ignore your head and heart and listen to your gut. If you choose to sell him, be selective and be brutally honest. This way you ensure there isn't surprises and you are hopefully giving him the best chance to be successful. I had the gal who bought mine, sign a first right of refusal which I know aren't followed and hard to enforce but I felt better about it. She did offer him back to me before she sold him but I wasn't in the position. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 678
Location: Canada | As a previous poster said get yourself a good coach and get this horse to it's full potential. Then you'll know if it's going to be what you want or if it's going to live in the 3D forever. I second the vet check as well just to make sure that there isn't something physically limiting the horse from being faster.
Now you mentioned you live where the horse is sidelined for the winter months. If you really want to be competitive you'll have to start getting creative on ways to ride that horse during those months. There's lots of ways to keep your horse going when you don't have an indoor arena you just have to put your mind to it and be creative. Then you're not so far behind in getting them in shape.
Best of luck.
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1079
| RunNitroRun - 2017-02-09 3:40 PM As a previous poster said get yourself a good coach and get this horse to it's full potential. Then you'll know if it's going to be what you want or if it's going to live in the 3D forever. I second the vet check as well just to make sure that there isn't something physically limiting the horse from being faster. Now you mentioned you live where the horse is sidelined for the winter months. If you really want to be competitive you'll have to start getting creative on ways to ride that horse during those months. There's lots of ways to keep your horse going when you don't have an indoor arena you just have to put your mind to it and be creative. Then you're not so far behind in getting them in shape. Best of luck.
Thanks Nitro - I see you are in Canada so I will take your advice to heart. If you were in Florida I might not be able to. haha. you most definitely understand the northern climate can bring.
I am So very appreciative of all this advice. It's given me a lot to reflect on. Can I Do more with what I have, Can someone else do more with my horse, do I want to start again, buy finished, stay where I am, etc. etc..
As a side note I have already fallen in love with a nice prospect but that horse is NOT dirt cheap and it would be a gamble in a way as to how it would all turn out. So that's where all these internal questions and struggles have started from. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 599
| Gamble is right. That's what I'm doing with the money from my gelding. Gambling on a prospect..... |
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| star1218 - 2017-02-09 2:50 PM
classicpotatochip - 2017-02-09 11:49 AM Sure. If I get stuck but I think there's more in the tank, I go to a good clinic or go to lessons with someone better than me. I also get a full vet check done to make sure my horse isn't hanging back because of a medical issue. I also get my saddle fitted and check everything I can think of. Then I ride everyday, workout, and eat right. If it's still not coming together after doing my homework, I sell the horse.
Thanks for all the feedback so far! More is welcomed!
I actually do workout, journal my food and eat pretty clean. Unfortunatley I live in the crappy part of the country where unless you have a pretty darn nice indoor you are sidlined for 5 months of the year for winter.  So while my horse gets 4 to 5 days of rides a week come about April, he's currently off.Â
I just hate the thought of parting with him because I Have invested so much blood, sweat and tears to get to this point.  They are like family to me so I'm more like the first poster who says she hoards. I can afford a 2nd and to keep him but it would absolutely need to be a prospect and not a finished horse to do that.Â
IDK thank you all for the ear - It's just hard to know what to do. Lately though I'm keenly aware of how fast time goes and how I am not really actively pursuing my goals! I am coasting and I want to do better! Â
The first quote is totally dead on, recheck the basics, go to a good clinic, and see what happens.
Second, I was just there. Got a horse for free a number of years ago, poured a lot into him and couldn't seem to get past the 3D, even though to watch us run it seemed like there were always places to shave time or he looked like he was loping - it felt like we clicked, but it didn't look like it, and I trained the freakin horse. Decided I wanted more, I wanted to travel with my boyfriend at the time, fiancé now, and rodeo and this horse wasn't going to get me there.
I listed him and had one of our better youth rider jump ride him for an exhibition at a barrel race. They would have placed pretty high in the open 3D that day, first time she stepped foot on him. That kind of settled it for me - under a different rider this horse could be really cool. I sold him, I had a blast watching him hit the 2d this summer and even slip into the bottom of the 1D some.
In the meantime I had acquired a really cool little gelding who took to the pattern like a fish to water. He pushes ME to get better and improve because he does require a precision ride, but MAN when we are on point he is FUN.
I'd also add food for thought - he was a cutter reject and BROKE, and cheap in well bred horse terms. He was really easy to start on the pattern because he had such a good handle. The right prospect doesn't have to take years of blood sweat and tears to get to the point where you can go down the road and start working your way back up. There are a lot of athletically bred horses out there with a really good handle for not a ton of money. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1079
| I know how that feels too. My guys LOOKS the part. Looks like he should just eat up the ground. Hes a big boy. But for whatever reason it just doesn't come together like I think it should. Always looks much slower than it feels.
He clocks 3D against some NICE horses, so it isn't like hes a total dud. I just want him / me / us to be more competitive.  |
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