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Location: on my horse | I recently sold my gelding because he just wasn't the kind of horse that could take arena related pressure and he had started to pick up some dangerous habits that scared me. He's perfectly happy as a trail horse in his new home but I'm still dealing with some of the aftermath as far as my confidence levels go.
It's been a long time since I've had a horse to just go and enjoy that wasn't a major project or had huge holes to fix, so that's kind of what I'm shopping for. I realize that every horse has some kind of issue or flaw and we have to find what we can live with.
I've got a friend who has a little 9 year old mare that is well bred, has been gone and done lots of different things from rodeo queening to ranch pleasure shows. I rode her last night at a roping and she is just so sweet and quiet and safe I fell in love and felt confident riding her.
Now that you've listened to the entire back story, here's the actual question! I have the opportunity to buy her but am wondering if once she's in shape (hasn't been ridden in almost 2 years) I could find some sort of a go button with her, my friend says she's always been a more lazy type horse but I always kind of figured that all horses have a little bit of a go button once they are patterned and in shape. Am I deranged? She's totally willing to move out for me and my goal is safety and enjoyment and if we can occasionally hit the 4D I would be happy lol.
After selling my gelding I just feel kind of lost, I've never had a horse take away my confidence quite like that.
Edited by redmansmyman11 2015-02-26 9:34 PM
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1094
Location: Idahome | I get so frustrated with my gelding sometimes because I have to constantly keep my legs in him or tap him with my over and under to keep moving out. He can be extremely lazy, but when it is time to run it is hard to hold him back. He is a consistant 2d horse and will hit the 1d occassionally for me. You will just never know until you try. |
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  Keeper of the King Snake
Posts: 7622
  
Location: Dubach, LA | If you can enjoy her just like she is, buy her. Don't expect to change her into something she isn't. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 425
Location: California | Can you lease her first? |
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Expert
Posts: 1482
Location: on my horse | i would enjoy her just as she is because I felt safe and she was fun to ride, absolutely no attitude either which was nice. I'm thinking about if she would be able to go beyond when I'm feeling more confident again, which I guess at this point I shouldn't weigh all that heavily.
I do have the option to keep her for a month and ride her then decide, which I'll probably take, I hate borrowing/leasing for liability reasons is all but we would do a contract.
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Posts: 212
| Is she already patterned on barrels? How hard is it to get and keep her in a lope? Most of the horses I have had are lazy duds to ride, but made 1d 2d horses-- not to say they all will, there are limits on heart and athletic ability, but I wouldn't necessarily assume that the laziness means she couldn't ever be fast. In my opinion almost any decently bred quarter/ paint/ maybe TB horse can hit the 4d with correct training... If not you could always enjoy her for what she is, then sell her to someone else looking for a horse like that when you feel ready to run barrels again. If she is not overpriced and you can afford her, I don't see what you have to lose |
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 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9992
Location: Kansas | redmansmyman11 - 2015-02-26 12:14 PM i would enjoy her just as she is because I felt safe and she was fun to ride, absolutely no attitude either which was nice. I'm thinking about if she would be able to go beyond when I'm feeling more confident again, which I guess at this point I shouldn't weigh all that heavily. I do have the option to keep her for a month and ride her then decide, which I'll probably take, I hate borrowing/leasing for liability reasons is all but we would do a contract.
if you like her...take the chance!!! |
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Expert
Posts: 1482
Location: on my horse | She's not patterned but is easy to get into a lope and stays there with just a couple heel bumps. It's hard to tell because she's so out of shape but I'm leaning toward taking a chance on her just because I felt safe on her and she's very well built and correct. Foundation bred and built like a little bulldog, she's got good angles and a good stride for her size, I didn't feel like I was riding a pony. She's also pretty lol |
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Location: Texas | CanCan - 2015-02-26 11:49 AM
If you can enjoy her just like she is, buy her. Don't expect to change her into something she isn't.
I agree with this! The chances of turning a lazy horse into a "go-getter" is slim; just like humans. If you like her, as she is and want that, then buy her. I honestly think you could find a 9 year old, seasoned, calm, confidence builder that would better fit what your wanting to do. JMO |
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Expert
Posts: 1482
Location: on my horse | EqualRanch - 2015-02-26 11:56 AM
CanCan - 2015-02-26 11:49 AM
If you can enjoy her just like she is, buy her. Don't expect to change her into something she isn't.
I agree with this! The chances of turning a lazy horse into a "go-getter" is slim; just like humans. If you like her, as she is and want that, then buy her. I honestly think you could find a 9 year old, seasoned, calm, confidence builder that would better fit what your wanting to do. JMO
Very true, but those types are out of my price range unfortunately. I do like this mare and would enjoy her as is and probably pattern her anyway even if she never hits a high lope lol. For all she's gone and done and the way she handled the crowd last night I'm pretty much sold on her, she's been down the road just not as a barrel horse. |
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 Veteran
Posts: 209
| redmansmyman11 - 2015-02-26 12:59 PM
EqualRanch - 2015-02-26 11:56 AM
CanCan - 2015-02-26 11:49 AM
If you can enjoy her just like she is, buy her. Don't expect to change her into something she isn't.
I agree with this! The chances of turning a lazy horse into a "go-getter" is slim; just like humans. If you like her, as she is and want that, then buy her. I honestly think you could find a 9 year old, seasoned, calm, confidence builder that would better fit what your wanting to do. JMO
Very true, but those types are out of my price range unfortunately. I do like this mare and would enjoy her as is and probably pattern her anyway even if she never hits a high lope lol. For all she's gone and done and the way she handled the crowd last night I'm pretty much sold on her, she's been down the road just not as a barrel horse.
If you like her and think you can enjoy her it sounds like you have already made up your mind. Something safe and sane to help your confidence will be great and more important than her being able to go fast :) |
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 Husband Spoiler
Posts: 4151
Location: North Dakota | Was the horse ever taught to run? Just because she is "lazy" does not mean she can't clock in the arena. I have two horses that I currently run that can be lazy. One was lazy when being broke out and during training. He is the type of horse that nothing bothers him and is just always very relaxed and carefree but when in the arena he clocks! He is calm going in the gate and calm coming out. He never gets too excited but when I tell him its go-time he lays down a run. The other one is lazy when doing slow work but once she heads for that gate during a competition she is ready to go to work. I have gotten on many horses that the owners thought were lazy or couldn't run and by the end of one ride they are like a new horse just because I know how to increase my energy enough to have the horse follow my lead. Some horses take more work, encouragement, etc. but I do think you can get a lazy horse to work. Not all of course but many. Will she be knocking on the doors of the big pros? Probably not, but is she capable of placing in the 4D for you I do not doubt that!! Good luck and most importantly have fun! |
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Location: Texas | redmansmyman11 - 2015-02-26 12:59 PM EqualRanch - 2015-02-26 11:56 AM CanCan - 2015-02-26 11:49 AM If you can enjoy her just like she is, buy her. Don't expect to change her into something she isn't. I agree with this! The chances of turning a lazy horse into a "go-getter" is slim; just like humans. If you like her, as she is and want that, then buy her. I honestly think you could find a 9 year old, seasoned, calm, confidence builder that would better fit what your wanting to do. JMO Very true, but those types are out of my price range unfortunately. I do like this mare and would enjoy her as is and probably pattern her anyway even if she never hits a high lope lol. For all she's gone and done and the way she handled the crowd last night I'm pretty much sold on her, she's been down the road just not as a barrel horse.
I say you should buy her! She is 9 and has seen a lot but still has a lot of life left in her.
At the end of the day, if you don't have confidence it won't matter what horse your ridiher. She sounds like what you need! |
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 Regular
Posts: 96
| redmansmyman11 - 2015-02-26 12:59 PM
EqualRanch - 2015-02-26 11:56 AM
CanCan - 2015-02-26 11:49 AM
If you can enjoy her just like she is, buy her. Don't expect to change her into something she isn't.
I agree with this! The chances of turning a lazy horse into a "go-getter" is slim; just like humans. If you like her, as she is and want that, then buy her. I honestly think you could find a 9 year old, seasoned, calm, confidence builder that would better fit what your wanting to do. JMO
Very true, but those types are out of my price range unfortunately. I do like this mare and would enjoy her as is and probably pattern her anyway even if she never hits a high lope lol. For all she's gone and done and the way she handled the crowd last night I'm pretty much sold on her, she's been down the road just not as a barrel horse.
I think I would take a chance on her. If you have ridden her enough times, in difference situations and still feel confident on her, go for it. It's not easy coming back from a situation you had with your gelding, and finding a horse that can boost your confidence, and when you do they are worth their weight in gold. Even if she is a tick on the lazy side that is better than the opposite right now. If she doesn't show unwillingness to lope, there is a possibility she was never 'taught' to open up (like the above comment). May I ask how she is bred? I have a 86% foundation mare, who when riding at home you can hardly get her into a lope, let alone ask for any speed unless there is a cow in front of her. At a race loping in the warm up pen requires spurs and a crop. But when it's time to run, take the spurs off, drop the crop and she will be top of the 1D every time at shows with 400+. It's all on how willing the horse is, and how they are built. If she is willing, built nice, and gives you the confidence you need, I see no reason why she wouldn't be perfect. |
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 Don't Wanna Make This Awkward
Posts: 3106
Location: Texas | If she can run clearly isn't a priority for you, it may be in the future but not right now. If you don't have to question her price for everything that she is today then buy her.
You can take your time getting her in shape, patterning / exhibitioning her and get your confidence at the same time. When you are ready you can take her to the track and breeze her a few times.
I have a theory that all sound, decently put together horses should atleast be able to make 3D/4D/5D horses depending on your competition. 1D-2D is gonna need some speed no matter how much heart/want the horse has. Sounds like she's the perfect horse for you right now and quite frankly I think even if you could afford the perfect, most honest, confidence builder barrel horse you might just get bored and sell it in a year anyways. |
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Red Bull Agressive
Posts: 5981
Location: North Dakota | CanCan - 2015-02-26 11:49 AM If you can enjoy her just like she is, buy her. Don't expect to change her into something she isn't.
Sounds like dating advise too. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 319
| Buy her, you know you want to. |
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Expert
Posts: 1482
Location: on my horse | You all are right, thanks for the advice. I BOUGHT HER!!! I'm attaching the only picture I have of her now and will clip her up and get a couple others tomorrow. I have some amazing friends and family who support me and who helped make this happen.
http://www.allbreedpedigree.com/two+smart+lady+mccue
Edited by redmansmyman11 2015-02-26 9:39 PM
 (beautiful horse .jpg)
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 beautiful horse .jpg (58KB - 180 downloads)
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 591
Location: here |  She is a cutie! Congradulations |
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Red Bull Agressive
Posts: 5981
Location: North Dakota | She's adorable. Congratulations! |
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