outrundaizy - 2015-12-02 10:28 PM


 I think maybe you should take this advice aswell

If your "good" horse is getting good enough to atleast be a 5D horse, why not? You could run the other mare at playdays and the better one in some jackpots. The horse might not be trying as hard because she knows/you know it's not a big deal. 

I use to be the same as you and only did playdays. I was very invested in my playday series lol but it took a 20 second pole run to win poles so it was pretty tough. I ran my first 21 at a playday and cried I was so happy but I didn't even get a ribbon for that run. When you're young or just starting sometimes it doesn't make sense. Now that I've been to the biggest races you can go to, I know that some of those "playday" runs that somehow didn't even get me ribbons, were still legit runs. They may not have won the whole thing but that doesn't mean that would have held up in the 2D or 3D or at a high school rodeo. It costs me $30 to enter all the events at a playday, it also costs me $30 to go enter a 5D jackpot where I can possibly win my money back. 

I would find some 5D jackpots and try it out, you might like it, and you won't know if you're ready until you try! 

wishes4kissez - 2015-12-03 3:05 AM

I started out at the play day level and moved onto jackpot associations. I was intimidated to run my first race, it was a lot of money and I wasn't sure we were good enough. I won a check my first race (in the 4D but a check!). I improved a lot over the year then my mare was injured and never came back from it.

My other horse was a 14.2 H half Arabian that I bought because I just loved her and thought I would play around with gaming and maybe some reining but mostly I just loved her. When she as the only sound horse I had I got a lot more serious about getting her going so I could finish my seasons in the various associations. She turned out to be pretty quick and super fun to ride. I started with play days as well, although to be honest in my area we have pretty legit play days and gaming associations that some of the fastest horses in the state are regularly involved in. I decided I missed jackpots and entered after a few months. I was super intimidated the first race. I was surrounded by horses I knew that have the best bloodlines, had been with the best trainers, more experienced riders and totally dwarfed my horse! I felt like everyone was looking at me like are you really entering that tiny Arab? Lol but she went out there and won the 4D her first time out and the 3D that afternoon. I know we probably will never win the 1D but she can compete at the 4D level! We beat some of those horses that were so intimidating!

My point being you don't know how you will do till you enter and you might surprise yourself! I saved my holiday and birthday cash to enter and have been lucky enough to win enough so far to keep entering. I also still do run in some gaming associations that have good ground and great prizes and some serious competition. I just finished a series where had I had the runs we are capable of and have put down in the past we would have blown the competition out of the water but we didn't have perfect runs every time, we hit barrels and poles at times or rated to hard etc, someone else was more consistent and beat us so faster doesn't mean an automatic win by any means! And I have learned a ton from watching the other better riders and after getting to know them to coach me in my runs and give advice that's been super helpful.

Southtxponygirl - 2015-12-01 10:38 AM I know some of the playdays have a membership due you have to pay to qualify for the awards, do these runners pay their dues? If not then they are running as a guest and dont get the points at the shows. 

scwebster - 2015-12-03 12:34 PM Correct. This way guests or people that come just to make a run or season a horse (that may be higher caliber) do not take away year end prizes for the members of the club. :) Which I think is a good idea.