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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 306
| I seen a girl post online the other day that her biggest pet peeve was when parents bought their kids expensive horses just so that they can win. That she thought you should have to work for it and that it shouldn't just be handed to you.
I have heard this I don't know how many times, and when I was younger I was guilty of this way of thinking. Mostly because I was sour they beat me. Though I do believe that part of this statement has some truth, that you should have to work for your success. Also, there are the issues of parents buying "too much" horse for a young child, to the point its dangerous. <----But that's not what I'm getting at here....
I guess I don't think it's fair to say someone isn't working for their success because they bought themselves a nice horse. ALL horses take work and you have to be a good rider to keep up with them. I don't mind the people who have money to buy nice horses and win, because I know that there will be a market for horses I train someday. My best horse was a $500 grade trail horse. When I sold her I felt more pride and happiness watching the others who paid $7,000 for her winning and enjoying themselves then I would have continuing to run her and winning myself.
I am competitive and would love to win. But I am happy that I have the ability to ride well and train, because there are those that cannot. I was at clinic with a past NFR competitor who told me that she thought I could be a well known trainer someday and those words too this day means more to me then winning a state championship would. Because it still gives me hope that there is more to what I am doing then just winning.
I started thinking this after reading this article:
http://ontherodeoroad.com/wpra-barrel-racer-nicole-aichele-gives-th...
"Another thing I have come to learn is how important it is not to focus on other people. What I mean by that is not to let envy and negative things overtake you. It’s easy to look at others from a completely exterior perspective and compile a list of everything “wrong” about them. Things like, “they didn’t train their own horse, must be nice to have daddy paying for everything, ect.” Everyone single person has struggles and battles they are fighting and reasons for what they do."
Just a thought I wanted to share! Because I know I use to be guilty of thinking that way! |
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I AM being nice
Posts: 4396
 
Location: MD | I was a blessed child, who had a father who could buy me very nice horses and did. One thing about it though, I was never allowed to buy nice, finished horses. If they were finished, the usually had a huge hole in them somewhere, either that or I bought really nice prospects. The one that stands out in my mind the most was a mare that a few trainers in the area had all had in their barns at one point, or another. All of them said that she would never be better than a second off. I bought her and made a jam up 1D horse out of her. It was always funny to hear people comment on how it must be nice to have a Daddy who could spend 50k on a horse for me to win on when I won the barrel race on that mare!
Look, all of the money in the world can't buy you a win. You can buy the best horse going down the road, leave it with the best trainer imaginable to keep it tuned, give it the best of everything and still not win. That point has been proven over and over. Those big, strong, winning 1D horses are not easy to ride! Even if all you have to focus on is staying in the middle of one, you're still having to work! |
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 Always Off Topic
Posts: 6382
 
Location: ND | agreed...both of you... |
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Nut Case Expert
Posts: 9305
Location: Tulsa, Ok | Girls(and some guys) of a certain age seem to corner the market on nastiness and back biting. A good portion eventually grow up and get a grip on reality. Some, however, never get over themselves and retain that junior high mentality into old age.
Basically you have to ignore or feel sorry for them, whatever the age, because they are totally missing the boat. Basically their potential is stunted by their own mentality. |
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 Miss Laundry Misshap
Posts: 5271
| The thing I hate is people who buy the high dollar horses and then ruin them. That just makes me sad. Sad because I can't afford those high dollar horses, but also sad because something good is going down the drain. |
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 I Chore in Chucks
Posts: 2882
Location: MD | I was also guilty of feeling that way. Then I realized i was just plain ole jealous. I realized my negativity ruined the experience and believe it or not, when i stopped caring and started putting a little more heart amd elbow grease into my prospects i could pull checks. Who woulda thunk it!? Now im glad to say i can be much bigger and happier for the "more fortunate" because im blessed with two great horses that i dont know if i could ever replace. |
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 Living within my means
Posts: 5128
Location: Randolph, Utah | You also have to realize you can buy a 100K horse but if you can't rider the horse it doesn't matter what it cost.
I've been around a few people that yes they, or their parents, have spend money and bought nice horses, but these people ride the hair off their horses! They work hard to ride and keep the horses winning. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 816
| If I had the money I would do it! Instead I'm a poor white girl that has to make something not buy it pre-made.  |
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Always Off Topic
Posts: 6382
Location: ND | if i had unlimited funds, i would buy my kids or spouse the best horse they could handle and be comfortable on......whether that was $500 or $150k |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 540
Location: My own little world :) | I totally agree with you all. I do have to confess that for a long time I was one of those people that looked at someone winning and said oh well their parents bought them that fancy horse...thats why she wins. But as I look back at it, it was because I wasn't doing so well and I was jealous. I am very competitive and I hate losing.
With that being said it wasn't until a few years ago that I got to ride a competitive finished horse and felt like a novice rider.....I've been riding all of my life. This horse was so fast and responsive I just couldn't keep up. I thought I was going to fall of most of the time and we weren't even up to top speed yet. I think a horse is only as good as its rider and in many situations the rider has to learn to be as good as the horse. It takes work to maintain a good horse also.
Also, some people just aren't trainers and they have no desire to be one. And thats fine. What about a busy mom that works full time and also raises a family but just wants barrel racing and a good horse to be her release? Is that wrong? |
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  Northern Chocolate Queen
Posts: 16576
Location: ND | I've never had a finished expensive horse & honestly I'm glad. I've had to work for every win I've ever gotten be it running barrels, roping, showing english & western classes & now mounted shooting......Having had to work for it has made me appreciate the success like you can't imagine. Even if I don't win, if my horse gave me an honest run & did the best he's capable of doing for his training level I'm trilled! It's also made me into the trainer I am now.
But people are all wired different. For some having that solid finished horse that they can be confident on & enjoy is where the fun is. They may not have the time to dedicate or the desire to make their own horse. There is nothing wrong with that. For me the fun is in helping each young horse in my barn develop into a solid competative horse in whichever discipline suits him best. |
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 Reaching for the stars....
Posts: 12704
| I sometimes wish that I could have what others have - better horse(s), land, breeding program, riding ability. I am honestly envious of Amy's (RockinAS) breeding program!!! And I get my tush whooped on all the time by children on high dollar horses. Which sometimes sits wrong, but mostly I cheer them on. It's human nature to wish for more. Without that wish, we'd have no drive to be better ourselves. Envy can be a great prod.
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 Veteran
Posts: 206
| Zanadoo88 - 2013-11-21 11:40 AM
I totally agree with you all. I do have to confess that for a long time I was one of those people that looked at someone winning and said oh well their parents bought them that fancy horse...thats why she wins. But as I look back at it, it was because I wasn't doing so well and I was jealous. I am very competitive and I hate losing.
With that being said it wasn't until a few years ago that I got to ride a competitive finished horse and felt like a novice rider.....I've been riding all of my life. This horse was so fast and responsive I just couldn't keep up. I thought I was going to fall of most of the time and we weren't even up to top speed yet. I think a horse is only as good as its rider and in many situations the rider has to learn to be as good as the horse. It takes work to maintain a good horse also.
Also, some people just aren't trainers and they have no desire to be one. And thats fine. What about a busy mom that works full time and also raises a family but just wants barrel racing and a good horse to be her release? Is that wrong?
I agree so much. I am that busy mom that hardly has the time to keep a horse legged up. I just want to go to a race and have fun, but still be competitive. I found my dream horse five years ago, but he has had more health issue then I can count. Been looking for another great one, but they are so hard to find. I work very hard for my money. If I want to spend that money on a great horse, why should that be an issue. I don't want to spend the little amount of time that I get to have fun with on a young horse. |
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 Scorpions R Us
Posts: 9586
Location: So. Cali. | I’ve always trained my own. Started with a Grade Appaloosa mare doing Gymkhana, to a young paint gelding who dumped my butt the second day I had him, to a straight off the track mare, and am currently putting time on one that was our first born and raised.
However, last April I was offered the opportunity to purchase a proven 1D/2D mare in a price range my family could afford. For the first time my parents bought me a finished barrel horse. I never even test rode her! She was a little burnt up, but I could see if was fixable with time. She wasn’t my style, I always had free runners and she was the type the more you asked for, the harder she ran for you.
I had an awesome 2012 season between my off the track mare I trained and that little push style mare I had just jumped on and went with. However, I can honestly say, atleast for me, the feeling of doing well on something you trained VS something someone else trained, is far more rewarding.
I put in time on the finished mare, fixed a few issues, changed some things that benefited the both of us during our runs. It wasn’t as easy at all as so many may think. She boosted my confidence immensely to know I could get on and run something of her caliber. She made me feel like a great rider and I feel I carried that onto my other mare because she & I kicked it up to a whole new level and ran some personal bests, even out ran the finished mare a time or two. TO me, that was huge, because I started from almost the ground up with the off the track mare.
Reality kicks in however, and I realized I could only afford so many horses, someone had to go. I chose to sell the finished mare. She was my most marketable and I wanted her to go to someone she could help boost up the confidence of like she did me. I chose to keep the mare I had trained, but that still is far from being 'finished'.
I always say if I had the money ‘so many others may have’ I would prefer to buy a few nice prospects and train them VS buying a finished proven horse. However, I can’t promise there is much truth behind that as I have never been given the opportunity to have a large chunk of money to spend on A horse or a few horses. I am grateful I can say I have trained my own proven horses as well as been given the chance to run a finished proven horse, I am humbled at the experience, and feel even the finished mare that all I had to do was ‘sit on’ made me a better rider, trainer, and competitor.
Edited by Three*C*Champs 2013-11-21 12:01 PM
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SHOOT IT
Posts: 1170
Location: TEXAS | I feel so totally blessed that I get to ride and mess with my horses everyday. Life is too short to worry about who bought what and how much they paid for it. If buying expensive horses for the kids or for themselves is what makes them happy; that is their right. Having my home grown horses is what makes me happy and I don't care what anyone thinks or says. |
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Hungarian Midget Woman
Location: Midwest | this
I'm just happy I can afford a horse at all. It's not a cheap hobby. |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| If you are tired of hearing it then stop the people talking about it.
Plain and simple, if someone starts talking smack, walk away.
If someone starts disrespecting someone, defend the person, we have no idea what other competitors are living through, you don't even need to know the person, just think of one nice or positive thing to say about the person being disrespected.
It all starts and ends with us. |
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Scorpions R Us
Posts: 9586
Location: So. Cali. | cheryl makofka - 2013-11-21 10:09 AM If you are tired of hearing it then stop the people talking about it. Plain and simple, if someone starts talking smack, walk away. If someone starts disrespecting someone, defend the person, we have no idea what other competitors are living through, you don't even need to know the person, just think of one nice or positive thing to say about the person being disrespected. It all starts and ends with us.
Agreed. Surround yourself with positive. I know its hard when you at the race and you see 'that girl' go out there and kick butt on her 'bought horse', but be proud of how far you have come with your own.
I think so many people allow themselves to be their own worse enemies.
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 Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| Some people (my family) do not have the ability to train a horse and I admire those who do. My kids are not from a rodeo family and started riding in middle school. As they got better we bought better horses and could afford to mount them 1D when they were ready but it certainly did not guarantee a win.
This was posted on fb the other day:
Lance Graves posted some of the most well written and said words.... tip of the hat!
Here they are....
Cheyenne and I are having a blast riding together and our talks get pretty deep. We have been discussing "winning." Winning is something that everyone wants to do but very few can actually accomplish. I'm not talking about placing or even being 2nd. We are talking about winning. Recently the industry has seen relative newcomers WIN on high powered, extremely expensive, well established champions. I have heard many jealous rants by others over this. Many by parents that cannot afford these type animals for their own children. I hear and somewhat understand. However, understand this....no matter what you are riding, you still have to perform as a jockey under pressure when they call your name. It's NOT easy. I can point out riders that have ridden for years with the best teachers/mentors in the world that have ridden hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of horses that can NOT WIN when the pressure is on. It can be extremely challenging to be the favorite, have the best horse and be expected to WIN with thousands of eyes watching. One of barrel racings icons, Brett Monroe, told me one time..."a winner always finds a way to win while the others find excuses." I came from very humble beginnings and with the help of my father clawed my way upward. I know what it's like to win on a loser and lose on a winner. It's part of it. But do not discount anyone's "win" just because they are riding an expensive former champion because I promise someone else is losing on a former champion at the same time. Respect anyone that can perform under pressure and "close the deal!" Stay positive and focus on becoming a better horse person. Don't hate,appreciate!!!Remember....a winner FINDS a way to win. — |
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Always Off Topic
Posts: 6382
Location: ND | rodeomom3 - 2013-11-21 1:04 PM
Some people (my family) do not have the ability to train a horse and I admire those who do. My kids are not from a rodeo family and started riding in middle school. As they got better we bought better horses and could afford to mount them 1D when they were ready but it certainly did not guarantee a win.
This was posted on fb the other day:
Lance Graves posted some of the most well written and said words.... tip of the hat!
Here they are....
Cheyenne and I are having a blast riding together and our talks get pretty deep. We have been discussing "winning." Winning is something that everyone wants to do but very few can actually accomplish. I'm not talking about placing or even being 2nd. We are talking about winning. Recently the industry has seen relative newcomers WIN on high powered, extremely expensive, well established champions. I have heard many jealous rants by others over this. Many by parents that cannot afford these type animals for their own children. I hear and somewhat understand. However, understand this....no matter what you are riding, you still have to perform as a jockey under pressure when they call your name. It's NOT easy. I can point out riders that have ridden for years with the best teachers/mentors in the world that have ridden hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of horses that can NOT WIN when the pressure is on. It can be extremely challenging to be the favorite, have the best horse and be expected to WIN with thousands of eyes watching. One of barrel racings icons, Brett Monroe, told me one time..."a winner always finds a way to win while the others find excuses." I came from very humble beginnings and with the help of my father clawed my way upward. I know what it's like to win on a loser and lose on a winner. It's part of it. But do not discount anyone's "win" just because they are riding an expensive former champion because I promise someone else is losing on a former champion at the same time. Respect anyone that can perform under pressure and "close the deal!" Stay positive and focus on becoming a better horse person. Don't hate,appreciate!!!Remember....a winner FINDS a way to win. —
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