TURNNBURNCOWGIRL - 2017-02-15 7:20 AM

The reiner... I spoke to him on the phone for about 2 hours... he just didn't give me that warm and fuzzy feeling, you know? The cutter is a super nice guy, invited me to come ride and work with him for a weekend, since I have rode cutters and let me see his operation. He said he does have imterns that saddle and cool down horses, but, he rides all of the training horses. And, he likes the way my mare is bred. He said he would like to use her at his clinics along with two of his finished horses, to show finished and unfinished, I suppose. But, that brings me to a whole new debate... I bought this mare to rodeo on. She's already 5. Would you let him futurity on her, if she were yours, even though you have plans for her?
?The farrier, I really like this guy. He is kind and patience, but, puts up with no BS from them. My mare is a little bit of a brat and he never puts up with it.
?The reiner and the cutter are more than 4 hours, in one direction from me. The farrier is less than 30 minutes.... 

TURNNBURNCOWGIRL - 2017-02-15 8:04 AM I have a super nice grulla mare. I love this girl to death, in all honesty. However, she is not started under saddle. I have done all of the ground work - long lining, saddling her, stepping up on her, everything. She is SO SOFT in the face that she's almost to the point of being TOO soft and bendy. She moves all of her body parts, everything you could want. But, I have not stepped up on her. I have come to the realization that I don't need to be starting colts anymore. I have two titanium rods in my leg, a fake knee and a fake ankle, along with number screws, pins, plates. I cannot afford for one wrong move to send me to the hospital and the road of recovery again. I just cannot. I want to step up on the mare, I do.... SO BADLY. But, I am thinking with my logical brain here.

So, here are my options. I know a couple really nice trainers - one is a reiner and the other is a cutter. They both are willing to take her, get her broke and put a nice foundation on her. 

The other is my farrier who is... well, he does cowboy stuff. He said he would take her and ride her, move cows, the works. Just miles. Or, he said he will come and ride her at my house, every single day... for $45 a ride.

The first trainer, the reiner - he is kind of an egotistical jerk. But, he's good. But... some of the things have weirded me out some. He told me my horse has to be switched to HIS feed and will need to continue this feed when she comes home. I offered to bring feed, enough for the month, to him. He said he did not allow that. Also, he does not give any kind of updates and does not want me to come even check on her... does that send off red flags?

The second, the cutter - Nice guy. Nice, nice horses. But, he also asked if he could futurity my mare at a low level. I said I didn't think so. He wants to haul her to clinics with him and use her. Should I let him?

The third guy, my farrier - He does not follow any specific discipline... but, he is a hell of a hand. BUT, his wife. UGH. She wants to ride everything that goes to their house. I told him, NOBODY else gets on my horse. He said he knew the wife would want to ride. I don't want her on my horse. She is not that good of a hand... she thinks she's a barrel racer but her horses are awful. I've tried to help her, she knows it all.



So, this is my question - what do you expect of your trainers? Do you want them to follow YOUR wants and needs? Or, do you just let them do whatever you see fit? Do you let them tell you what to feed your horse? I mean.... this is my first time sending a horse off. I have always started my own and honestly, I want one started by someone that is as good, if not better than I am. I have just came to a reasonable, logical point that I just cannot physically do it, anymore.

Tell me the good, the bad and the ugly about anything you can think of that is relevant to what I am saying... because, I think I am just rambling. 

Red3 - 2017-02-15 9:41 AM

I personally would go with the cutting horse trainer. They can really put a nice handle on them and it shouldn't be a hard transition for you to the barrel pen from there. Also, the fact that he wants to take her places and use her is an even bigger plus! Hauling colts after they are broke can be pretty sketchy and dangerous some times. The fact that he will take her to new places and be in different environments will add loads to her training.

My hang up with the farrier is that 1st, $45 a day for 30 days is ALOT! If he came out every day and rode her for one month, it would cost you $1350 for 30 days of riding. To me, that is excessive. Even if he came out for 15 days, that's $675. Most good colt breakers charge anywhere from $600-800 a month and they ride them 5-6 days a week. And if he's coming to your house, she is missing out on being hauled to different places and getting that exposure.

Just my two cents! Good luck with her! Sounds like a great horse :)

sorrel horse ranch - 2017-02-15 1:14 PM

I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings but I would go with the farrier that would put wet saddle blankets on her and use her working for a living.  I just have a problem with cutters/reiners because they put so much tuck on a horse.  They over flex their horses and I like mine to keep their faces vertical without their chins tucked back to their chest. 

want2chase3 - 2017-02-15 2:02 PM The only problem with the farrier, the op stated his wife would most likely try and ride the horse and she doesn't care for the way she rides. I agree it would be good for the horse to be "used" but I wouldn't want someone who's riding style I didn't care for riding any of mine.

BamaCanChaser - 2017-02-15 7:32 AM

I would mark the reiner off the list completely. Anyone who won't let you see the horse the entire time they have possession of it is a BIG RED FLAG.

I don't personally like the "old cowboy" way of breaking colts, so the farrier would not appeal to me.

In my opinion, the cutter hauling her to clinics would just be a plus. I don't see the issue there. He would be riding her the same as if he was riding her at his place. She wouldn't be missing rides while he's gone. That's just hauling and exposure for her (which I have never viewed as a bad thing, especially for a 5yo). BUT, if you have an issue with it, he should respect your wishes. Plain and simple. You are paying for a service and should get what you ask for.

Btw, I'm not aware of any 5yo cutting futurities, and if there are you would have to leave your mare with him for a significant amount of time for him to have her ready to show (6-12 months is the norm). By the tone of your post it sounds like you just want the mare gone long enough to be broke? 60-90 days? Maybe I'm assuming too much there.

TURNNBURNCOWGIRL - 2017-02-16 7:29 AM So, I spoke with my farrier last night. I explained to him that I did not want his wife on my horse. He fully agreed. I explained my rhyme and reasoning behind this. He agreed, yet again. I also explained to him, price, etc. He agreed he could do it for $25 a ride, consisting of a one hour ride on her. And, if I wanted him to haul her and work cows on her, he would, as well.

?I am really leaning towards him for the simple fact I believe lots of wet saddle pads and a hard days work makes them incredibly broke, in the long run. I don't want to send her 6 hours, one way from home and have someone drill things into her. I have been around cutters and reiners... I owned a reject cutter who had been totally ruined from them cramming stuff into her, into a short time. I don't want that for this mare. She has an incredible mind. She is sensible and kind and honest. I am not saying all cutters are that way, but... some, can be. 

cowgalsissy - 2017-02-16 7:11 AM


If he only rides for an hour I don't see many "wet saddle pads" in her future. $25 a day would be $750 for one month. $25 a ride and only for one hour is not worth it to me.