|
|
Veteran
Posts: 294
 
| From reading your post it sounds like you already answered your question. Take a break.. Downsize your herd and keep your best runners because you WILL get that itch again. I know how you feel. I will burn out next year and will probably miss a few runs. I have kids and a non horsey husband that just doesn't get it. |
|
| |
|
Elite Veteran
Posts: 975
Location: The barn...where else? SW Missouri | angelica - 2013-12-11 9:35 AM
Just an opinion! Get down to one really great horse that is an all around that can trail ride and even enter the western pleasure at your local playdays. When horse riding stops being fun it is time for a change. At one point in my life I sold EVERYTHING, even the trailer! I gave myself several months to find a great horse that could do lots of thing and simply started over. When I reached a certain age I stopped enjoying a high strung silly horse and started enjoying a solid smart horse! Wanting a change comes with age I think. If you still want to ride get a good trail horse and find a friend to go to trail ride with and enjoy simply riding again,, it helped me! When my youngest grows up some I think I am going to get into team penning or something like that!
This is basically what I did last year. Tired of it costing so much and spending all day at a race waiting to run etc. I felt my gelding was too nice to stand around while I took a break and did other horsey things with my mom and fiancé. I sold him and bought a cheap laid back young gelding to trail ride and play around on. He has made riding fun again and I have really enjoyed myself. I love barrel racing but just needed a break. I go to one every once in a while to see my friends and hang out. No pressure and I have a great time. This has really worked out for me. |
|
| |
|
Industrial Srength Barrel Racer
Posts: 7264
 
| Frodo - 2013-12-11 8:21 AM When you no longer enjoy barrel racing, it's time to quit. I found that standing around waiting all day to run my horse while one person with ten horses ran ahead of me was enough. It's just not what it used to be.
This is the EXACT reason I no longer go to the bigger, local races. I simply don't have time to go 3 hours in advance to get a good draw and a parking spot, then wait around ALL DAY LONG to make a run. It just isn't fun anymore and I have too much other stuff to do. This is why I starting going to the Friday night smaller jackpots (until it got so flippin cold). |
|
| |
|
Industrial Srength Barrel Racer
Posts: 7264
| roxieannie - 2013-12-11 9:29 AM I don't get the mind set of waiting around because of exhibitions. The open starts at _ _ _ _. Any thing untill then is time I fill with doing what ever. You don't have to get there early, to wait thru the exhibition, unless you need it. And then its a part of training/seasoning your horse.
Around HERE, they set the "start time" as "the open will not start BEFORE XX:XX" - So you know it won't start until at least then but you don't know how much LATER it will start - which I think is BS. They do that so they don't have to cut off exhibitions - which I get but GEEZ, some of us have to get up and go to a J.O.B. the next day. Also, at the bigger local races here, if you don't get there 3.0 hours before the exhibitions, you can't get a parking spot at some of the arenas. |
|
| |
|
| Thank you all!!!
I think I do need to take a break but I'm just so afraid if I sell my barrel horses that my old mare (22y/o) will die and I will have nothing to run if I want to. My heart is breaking at the thought of quitting but there are times I don't wanna go exercise them and I don't really even have the time to get them as conditioned as they need to be.
I'm thinkin I might sell just one or two for now and come spring see where I am at emotionally and go from there... |
|
| |
|
 The best bad guy on the internet
Posts: 3519
Location: Arizona | Kgirl - 2013-12-11 8:02 AM I get super eager in the spring to get back into barrel racing but by mid summer i'm burnt out... My husband no longer enjoys going with me to barrel races because of the long waits like the other poster mentioned... That and all of the local clubs are closing down so they are getting futher away from us. I was thinking of getting more into activities that we can do together because right now with conditioning horses and races I feel like he gets put on the back burner all the time.
Maybe do more trail riding and camping, that way you all can go....try something different with your horses. Some days i feel like quitting too. It's a lot of work and money and the rewards, well sometimes they don't come often enough. I can't imagine my life without my horses, but barrel racing...perhaps! Good luck in your decision!! |
|
| |
|
 The Rose of Rodeo...
Posts: 2560
Location: Where we still run to look when the siren goes by. | Kgirl - 2013-12-11 12:53 PM Thank you all!!! I think I do need to take a break but I'm just so afraid if I sell my barrel horses that my old mare (22y/o) will die and I will have nothing to run if I want to. My heart is breaking at the thought of quitting but there are times I don't wanna go exercise them and I don't really even have the time to get them as conditioned as they need to be. I'm thinkin I might sell just one or two for now and come spring see where I am at emotionally and go from there...
I would be happy to babysit a certain mare for you  I could send you two naughty ponies and a stinky goat in return so you can get your horsie fix, and the goat is just a bonus 
|
|
| |
|
| I think everybody gets tired and discouraged at one point or another in their barrel racing careers. I know I did! The thought of hauling down the road and paying out that kind of money, that I didnt really have, just put added stress on me took the fun right out of it! So for me I tried to find ways to do it cheaper.
What I ended up doing was picking a few of the bigger shows to attend during the summer and doing less of the smaller ones. Instead of hitting 2 or 3 a week I now pick the larger ones every few weeks where we can spend the weekend and run two or three times at the same show. Me and my family will make a weekend out of it when we go and pack our trailer with food and activites to do while waiting and basically camp out and have fun! All of our friends go to and we park in a group and have a blast.
The one thing that I noticed this year was that by taking the pressure off of me and my horse we did so much better. Even it the runs werent perfect we had more fun and enjoyed it. I ended up having the most successful year of my life winning a saddle, along with going to the finals at the world show, and making it to the final go! |
|
| |
|
"Heck's Coming With Me"
Posts: 10794
Location: Kansas | Griz - 2013-12-11 11:18 AM Frodo - 2013-12-11 8:21 AM When you no longer enjoy barrel racing, it's time to quit. I found that standing around waiting all day to run my horse while one person with ten horses ran ahead of me was enough. It's just not what it used to be.
This is the EXACT reason I no longer go to the bigger, local races. I simply don't have time to go 3 hours in advance to get a good draw and a parking spot, then wait around ALL DAY LONG to make a run. It just isn't fun anymore and I have too much other stuff to do. This is why I starting going to the Friday night smaller jackpots (until it got so flippin cold).
Hey Griz, it's nice and warm at the casino.
 |
|
| |
|
| Rodeo Rose - 2013-12-11 2:26 PM Kgirl - 2013-12-11 12:53 PM Thank you all!!! I think I do need to take a break but I'm just so afraid if I sell my barrel horses that my old mare (22y/o) will die and I will have nothing to run if I want to. My heart is breaking at the thought of quitting but there are times I don't wanna go exercise them and I don't really even have the time to get them as conditioned as they need to be. I'm thinkin I might sell just one or two for now and come spring see where I am at emotionally and go from there... I would be happy to babysit a certain mare for you I could send you two naughty ponies and a stinky goat in return so you can get your horsie fix, and the goat is just a bonus
She will be the first to go! Come on Rodeo Rose! You can give me a better offer than that!! and NOOO Stinky Goats! My dog has recently learned that cats are tasty so i'm afraid he would eat the goat too! |
|
| |
|
  Color My World
Posts: 4940
Location: My perfect world bubble | I've posted this several times before but I sold out about 3 years ago now, we moved to town to get our kids in better schools and be closer to work. My daughter started taking English riding lessons and we found the most wonderful barn and trainer. In the last 6 months or so I've started taking lessons as well and am now eventing! I didn't think I'd ever find a sport I enjoyed as much as barrel racing but I am having an absolute blast and have me the nicest people. I thought running down the alley was an adrenalin rush until I started galloping across a field towards a 4' brush fence! I just bought an OTTB and I'm having more fun than I've had in years. I never lost my love of horses, just my desire to go sit at a race for hours and hours and spend thousands and thousands of dollars for a 16 second run. Take a break, regroup and then see where you are and what you want to do. |
|
| |
|
Porta Potty Pants
Posts: 2600
| I have the same situation as OP. I wish I had some answers …. |
|
| |
|
The Rose of Rodeo...
Posts: 2560
Location: Where we still run to look when the siren goes by. | Kgirl - 2013-12-11 2:00 PM Rodeo Rose - 2013-12-11 2:26 PM Kgirl - 2013-12-11 12:53 PM Thank you all!!! I think I do need to take a break but I'm just so afraid if I sell my barrel horses that my old mare (22y/o) will die and I will have nothing to run if I want to. My heart is breaking at the thought of quitting but there are times I don't wanna go exercise them and I don't really even have the time to get them as conditioned as they need to be. I'm thinkin I might sell just one or two for now and come spring see where I am at emotionally and go from there... I would be happy to babysit a certain mare for you I could send you two naughty ponies and a stinky goat in return so you can get your horsie fix, and the goat is just a bonus
Hmmmm.....I will look tonight and see what I can scrounge up.. I live on an old dairy farm so the possibilities of unusual finds are quite endless.. off the top of my head I can hook you up with 67491561875 kitties for your dog, a calf with a hairlip and a three legged deer . |
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 114
| I have been staying home for several years ,I had two barrel horses that were hi maintainence,the competition is tuff in my neck of the woods,I sold the ones I had and started young stuff,I just can't justify the e.fees ,vet bills,fuel, anymore.I might start showing one of my young ones in the spring,I also hate the all day wait. |
|
| |
|
Industrial Srength Barrel Racer
Posts: 7264
| Frodo - 2013-12-11 2:44 PM Griz - 2013-12-11 11:18 AM Frodo - 2013-12-11 8:21 AM When you no longer enjoy barrel racing, it's time to quit. I found that standing around waiting all day to run my horse while one person with ten horses ran ahead of me was enough. It's just not what it used to be.
This is the EXACT reason I no longer go to the bigger, local races. I simply don't have time to go 3 hours in advance to get a good draw and a parking spot, then wait around ALL DAY LONG to make a run. It just isn't fun anymore and I have too much other stuff to do. This is why I starting going to the Friday night smaller jackpots (until it got so flippin cold).
I've been there once - and bought a Bloody Mary - not a penny on the slots - I'd do just as well to throw my purse out of the truck window on the way there! |
|
| |
|
 Expert
Posts: 1612
Location: Cocoa, Florida | mruggles - 2013-12-11 8:49 AM
the thought of quitting has never crossed my mind andi have been doin this barrel racing for a very long time......and im just now getting some good horses......and i can hardly contain myself to get back rodeoing
m
I concur!!! I've never had that thought cross my mind, it's a true passion and I only want to excel and ride more horses!!!! I've only ever had thoughts of retiring a horse but I ended up finding something that worked for him with his issues so now I can continue to enjoy him!!
I've given up a lot for horses, ended relationships and sacrificed other hobbies becauSe to me I'm living a dream, I feel blessed that I can make enough hard working money to keep two horses and show them both, sometimes I work 6 days a week so I can be a weekend warrior!!!
I feel like if you're not thinking on that path then maybe your heart truely isn't in it anymore!!!
Edited by RnRJack 2013-12-12 6:07 AM
|
|
| |
|
| I was one that thought I would never lose the desire to ride/show horses. However, age, accidents, work, moving, health, etc. have all hit at about the same time and have taken a toll on my extra energy and desire. The desire is there, but not always strong enough to overcome all the other issues.
Don't feel bad if you want to do something else. Not being enthused about the barrel racing, or whatever equine activity, sure does make the chores and cost seem more of a burden. It is your life and live it as you want and can.
Good luck. |
|
| |
Folks on-line