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Elite Veteran
Posts: 897
  
| rodeomom3 - 2018-06-12 6:56 AM
I am a 3D/4D rider and am quite happy at this level. I started riding at 49 (now 57) when my girls went off to college and I did not want to sell their rodeo horses. They slowed down for me and all I had to do was stay out of their way. This allowed me to focus on myself, how to sit, where to look. Been there, done that horses are worth their weight in gold. If I was horse shopping I would buy the consistent older horse who already knows the pattern. If you had tried the second horse first, do you think you would be more excited about him?
My 16 yo would have been great for me. He's completely automatic on the pattern. Mind you, I have only ran him on barrels in lessons and one clinic, as I can't keep him sound anymore. He did have a bunch of quirks, and my trainer doesn't like him. I do feel like some of his quirks were from lack of pain management before I bought him. That's another story.
I can't explain to you how lost I feel right now. Do I feel like the big gray horse would be good on barrels? I have NO idea! He's a steady eddy. The horse I tried yesterday was a steady eddy also. He's lightly started on the pattern, 1.5 years ago. We did somewhat lope through them yesterday. It was anything but pretty. I have not been able to take regular lessons, as my horse is retired, so I'm rusty and still VERY new to barrel racing, and the horse yesterday was rusty on barrels. Do I think by August I could enter him in jackpots? Probably..I just don't know. I'm overthinking all of this.
Or, should I save up to $15k and take a trip to TX or something and find a more finished horse in the winter/next year? Downfall to that is I don't have anything to ride in the meantime, and it's a big expense to take that kind of trip. Would I like a finished horse, yes..but we don't have them for sale around here! My trainer doesn't want me to get a finished horse, because she says they have issues we would need to fix..I don't know anymore. | |
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 Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| emricmacy - 2018-06-12 8:29 AM rodeomom3 - 2018-06-12 6:56 AM I am a 3D/4D rider and am quite happy at this level. I started riding at 49 (now 57) when my girls went off to college and I did not want to sell their rodeo horses. They slowed down for me and all I had to do was stay out of their way. This allowed me to focus on myself, how to sit, where to look. Been there, done that horses are worth their weight in gold. If I was horse shopping I would buy the consistent older horse who already knows the pattern. If you had tried the second horse first, do you think you would be more excited about him? My 16 yo would have been great for me. He's completely automatic on the pattern. Mind you, I have only ran him on barrels in lessons and one clinic, as I can't keep him sound anymore. He did have a bunch of quirks, and my trainer doesn't like him. I do feel like some of his quirks were from lack of pain management before I bought him. That's another story. I can't explain to you how lost I feel right now. Do I feel like the big gray horse would be good on barrels? I have NO idea! He's a steady eddy. The horse I tried yesterday was a steady eddy also. He's lightly started on the pattern, 1.5 years ago. We did somewhat lope through them yesterday. It was anything but pretty. I have not been able to take regular lessons, as my horse is retired, so I'm rusty and still VERY new to barrel racing, and the horse yesterday was rusty on barrels. Do I think by August I could enter him in jackpots? Probably..I just don't know. I'm overthinking all of this. Or, should I save up to $15k and take a trip to TX or something and find a more finished horse in the winter/next year? Downfall to that is I don't have anything to ride in the meantime, and it's a big expense to take that kind of trip. Would I like a finished horse, yes..but we don't have them for sale around here! My trainer doesn't want me to get a finished horse, because she says they have issues we would need to fix..I don't know anymore.
I hate to even post this because I do not want to add more to think about to your situation but I have to question a trainer who tells a novice to barrels that you do not want a finished horse because “they come with problems”. While some do, there are tons that do not. When my girls started riding we did not know anything about competing. Our trainer bought them young green horses, we did not know better. When we were looking for a step up horse we bought a 17 year old automatic mare and took us about 2 seconds to realize where we went wrong and why in the heck was our trainer putting green riders on green horse?
(they were safe but not patterned). We sold the green ones and found older finished horses. You don’t have to spend 15k to get you a horse that you will love and enjoy riding and competing on, it may take more time in your area because of he lack of horses to try
but it does not have to cost you 15k. | |
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Veteran
Posts: 277
| emricmacy - 2018-06-11 8:00 PM
I just feel all over the place. The big gelding we tried Monday, my trainer really liked him, and thought he would be a good horse for me. We scheduled a pre purchase for him Thursday. Today, she likes this horse better than the gray. Today she said the gray has a big neck, and a little bulkier, and has not been started on the pattern. When we first started our search, that was what we were looking for. The horse I tried today is lightly started, and she said she likes this one better, but it's my choice. I feel very torn. I like both.
I don't like this. She liked the horse, he was perfect for you. But now her other client came over with another horse and she all of a sudden doesn't like the first horse? He has a big neck and is not started. Didn't she say "she can put a pattern on anything". Now, "Not everything can make a barrel horse". Sounds kinda fishy......
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| I don’t mean this in a mean way but does she think she is the only trainer who can train a barrel horse? There are many people out there who can train a barrel horse without issues. For college I bought my first true rodeo horse trained by someone else. He was 15 and had been very well trained, no issues as long as you didn’t rope on him . We had a problem with our first barrel for awhile, but I was still placing. He was soooo cool, nothing bothered him as long as you stayed out of the roping box. He also turned out to be one heck of a South Texas brush popping son of a gun. You couldn’t rope off him, but once we figured out the first barrel we were in the money consistently. Also in the 5 years I ran him we hit a barrel only a handful of times, like maybe 5 times. He was honest and knew his job. There are a lot of good older horses out there with no problems, you just have to be flexible with how YOU ride. The older well trained horse knows his job, let him teach you yours. I would think your trainer could help you, but if she only wants to help you on horses she has finished, that makes me question her range of knowledge or ability to work with the different styles of horses. Anyway I hope you find the perfect horse for you. | |
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 Cute Little Imp
Posts: 2747
Location: N Texas | rodeomom3 - 2018-06-12 8:50 AM emricmacy - 2018-06-12 8:29 AM rodeomom3 - 2018-06-12 6:56 AM I am a 3D/4D rider and am quite happy at this level. I started riding at 49 (now 57) when my girls went off to college and I did not want to sell their rodeo horses. They slowed down for me and all I had to do was stay out of their way. This allowed me to focus on myself, how to sit, where to look. Been there, done that horses are worth their weight in gold. If I was horse shopping I would buy the consistent older horse who already knows the pattern. If you had tried the second horse first, do you think you would be more excited about him? My 16 yo would have been great for me. He's completely automatic on the pattern. Mind you, I have only ran him on barrels in lessons and one clinic, as I can't keep him sound anymore. He did have a bunch of quirks, and my trainer doesn't like him. I do feel like some of his quirks were from lack of pain management before I bought him. That's another story. I can't explain to you how lost I feel right now. Do I feel like the big gray horse would be good on barrels? I have NO idea! He's a steady eddy. The horse I tried yesterday was a steady eddy also. He's lightly started on the pattern, 1.5 years ago. We did somewhat lope through them yesterday. It was anything but pretty. I have not been able to take regular lessons, as my horse is retired, so I'm rusty and still VERY new to barrel racing, and the horse yesterday was rusty on barrels. Do I think by August I could enter him in jackpots? Probably..I just don't know. I'm overthinking all of this. Or, should I save up to $15k and take a trip to TX or something and find a more finished horse in the winter/next year? Downfall to that is I don't have anything to ride in the meantime, and it's a big expense to take that kind of trip. Would I like a finished horse, yes..but we don't have them for sale around here! My trainer doesn't want me to get a finished horse, because she says they have issues we would need to fix..I don't know anymore.
(they were safe but not patterned). We sold the green ones and found older finished horses. You don’t have to spend 15k to get you a horse that you will love and enjoy riding and competing on, it may take more time in your area because of he lack of horses to try
but it does not have to cost you 15k.
Because if she buys a finished horse, she won't need to pay the trainer to pattern it  | |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 897
| Meep.Meep - 2018-06-12 8:58 AM
emricmacy - 2018-06-11 8:00 PM
I just feel all over the place. The big gelding we tried Monday, my trainer really liked him, and thought he would be a good horse for me. We scheduled a pre purchase for him Thursday. Today, she likes this horse better than the gray. Today she said the gray has a big neck, and a little bulkier, and has not been started on the pattern. When we first started our search, that was what we were looking for. The horse I tried today is lightly started, and she said she likes this one better, but it's my choice. I feel very torn. I like both.
I don't like this. She liked the horse, he was perfect for you. But now her other client came over with another horse and she all of a sudden doesn't like the first horse? He has a big neck and is not started. Didn't she say "she can put a pattern on anything". Now, "Not everything can make a barrel horse". Sounds kinda fishy......
I'm just lost. My gelding is lame, I have nothing to ride. I'm not desperate to find a horse this second, but at the same time, sure there's tons of horses in TX and other states, but that's a huge trip to take, especially if it doesn't pass a vet check, etc.
I like both the gray horse and the horse yesterday, but I'm overthinking everything and can't make a decision. They both have great qualities in them. They are both level headed, and probably both have potential.
She said she doesn't have time anymore to look for me. She said my husband and I can go looking, but she can't travel with me to look. That's fine...a bummer, but I understand. | |
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Cute Little Imp
Posts: 2747
Location: N Texas | The more you reveal about your situation, the more irked I am with your trainer. She honestly should be pushing you towards a somewhat patterned or close to being finished horse. Since you yourself are so green on barrels, you really don't need an untrained horse. That's great that your trainer can "put a pattern on anything" but it could take several months for that to happen, just depends on the horse. You say your budget is $7500 and the first horse is $7300. Well how much extra will you have to put into it with your trainer to get it patterned?? You'll be WAY over budget then, but your trainer will be happy because that's more money in her pocket.
My advice is to forget both horses, ESPECIALLY the first one. The second one doesn't sound so bad, since it's at least somewhat patterned. But for you to be brand new to barrels, you would definitely benefit from a horse that knows exactly what it's doing from the start so you can concentrate on your riding and timing and training YOURSELF for barrels.
As hard as it is, I think you need to take your time looking, don't feel like you have to make a decision NOW. You don't have a deadline, you just WANT to ride. Trust me, I totally get it, but when the right horse comes along, you'll know it and you'll be glad you were patient :) | |
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 Veteran
Posts: 194
Location: Texas | In my opinion both horses are not what you are looking for if you are debating it then choose neither. I live in southeast Texas and can find the horse you are looking for around 5k give or take all day long.... Find something that makes you happy and allows you to enjoy the sport and grow. In MY opinion do not buy a prospect or green horse but I'm speaking by not knowing you. I just know I would never put one of my students on something they have to work with and wouldn't allow them to work on themselves.
Just because a finished horse is for sale does not mean it has issues to fix! | |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 897
| AshleyJ2911 - 2018-06-12 9:21 AM
In my opinion both horses are not what you are looking for if you are debating it then choose neither. I live in southeast Texas and can find the horse you are looking for around 5k give or take all day long.... Find something that makes you happy and allows you to enjoy the sport and grow. In MY opinion do not buy a prospect or green horse but I'm speaking by not knowing you. I just know I would never put one of my students on something they have to work with and wouldn't allow them to work on themselves.
Just because a finished horse is for sale does not mean it has issues to fix!
Thank you for this! I think I will cancel the vet check for Thursday, and tell my trainer I'm going to hold off. I hope she's not mad, as she has spent a lot of her own time to go places with me. She said it doesn't matter to her what I do, if I want to take more time, she just said she can't come with me anymore. She said she wants nice horses in her barn, as they reflect her. I understand. Both these horses are fancy broke, which I like, but I just can't decide. The downfall to saving up more money, is that I won't be riding for quite a while, so I can't practice, but I guess that's how it is.
Edited by emricmacy 2018-06-12 9:31 AM
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Veteran
Posts: 194
Location: Texas | I think you will be happier in the long run.... If she's a good trainer she will understand. when looking for something like you need in your situation I always rely on word of mouth from reputable people. Not sure how your connections are or your trainers but if she can sale a horse in the 6 figures and rodeo in a circuit, why doesn't she have connections out of state to find what you are looking for and have it jump a ride. Iv done it several times for people and if it didn't work out I trusted I could sale it for my student. Usually rodeo people know rodeo people who know good horses .... If that makes sense? | |
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Expert
Posts: 1409
Location: Oklahoma | Take a huge breath! Looking is hard! You will know without a question if the horse is for you or not. But you have to clear your mind and no worry. You can tell if you will bond with that horse rather he knows the pattern or not. If you can bond with a horse they will try harder for you! If you are questioning and back and forth then you are not ready or sure of what you want or you haven't found the right one. That horse is worth the wait! Just breathe! lol I know easier said then done! Just let it happen :)) | |
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| emricmacy - 2018-06-12 7:29 AM
AshleyJ2911 - 2018-06-12 9:21 AM
In my opinion both horses are not what you are looking for if you are debating it then choose neither. I live in southeast Texas and can find the horse you are looking for around 5k give or take all day long.... Find something that makes you happy and allows you to enjoy the sport and grow. In MY opinion do not buy a prospect or green horse but I'm speaking by not knowing you. I just know I would never put one of my students on something they have to work with and wouldn't allow them to work on themselves.
Just because a finished horse is for sale does not mean it has issues to fix!
Thank you for this! I think I will cancel the vet check for Thursday, and tell my trainer I'm going to hold off. I hope she's not mad, as she has spent a lot of her own time to go places with me. She said it doesn't matter to her what I do, if I want to take more time, she just said she can't come with me anymore. She said she wants nice horses in her barn, as they reflect her. I understand. Both these horses are fancy broke, which I like, but I just can't decide. The downfall to saving up more money, is that I won't be riding for quite a while, so I can't practice, but I guess that's how it is.
If your trainer wants horses in her barn that reflect her, and not the level of rider the owner is, then that's concerning to me. She should be training each horse individually to fit the owner's level of competency, whether it be 1D/pro level, or walk/trot around the arena riding. If she's mad that you're wanting to take time and wait for the right horse instead of just jumping in on a horse she likes, then by all means, let her spend the money to buy that horse- does that make sense? You shouldn't be spending your hard earned money on a horse that she feels will fit you if you're not confident in that decision.
Taking time off isn't always a bad thing, I would use the time to watch as many training videos and read as many books as you can, maybe audit a clinic or two. If I were in your situation, I would step back and make a list of your absolute needs and wants in a horse, knowing the perfect horse isn't out there, but don't give up hope or jump too quick just to have a horse. The perfect-for-you horse is out there, just be patient and relax 
ETA: I can understand your trainer wanting "nice" horses, because that is her name and image being out there, but isn't it her job as a trainer to make horses and riders better? Not every horse will be "nice" from the start, and if she wants one already fancy broke, but not yet started on the pattern- maybe that's not ideal for you as a rider and owner.
Edited by madredepeanut 2018-06-12 9:54 AM
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Cute Little Imp
Posts: 2747
Location: N Texas | emricmacy - 2018-06-12 9:29 AM AshleyJ2911 - 2018-06-12 9:21 AM In my opinion both horses are not what you are looking for if you are debating it then choose neither. I live in southeast Texas and can find the horse you are looking for around 5k give or take all day long.... Find something that makes you happy and allows you to enjoy the sport and grow. In MY opinion do not buy a prospect or green horse but I'm speaking by not knowing you. I just know I would never put one of my students on something they have to work with and wouldn't allow them to work on themselves. Just because a finished horse is for sale does not mean it has issues to fix! Thank you for this! I think I will cancel the vet check for Thursday, and tell my trainer I'm going to hold off. I hope she's not mad, as she has spent a lot of her own time to go places with me. She said it doesn't matter to her what I do, if I want to take more time, she just said she can't come with me anymore. She said she wants nice horses in her barn, as they reflect her. I understand. Both these horses are fancy broke, which I like, but I just can't decide. The downfall to saving up more money, is that I won't be riding for quite a while, so I can't practice, but I guess that's how it is.
Yep, the more you tell us about her, the less I think she has your best interests in mind. She's not looking for what's best for you, she's looking for what will fit into her barn and program. So either find someone else to help you, find somewhere else to keep your horses, or just wait until you find something you KNOW is right for you and ask her for a second opinion if you really feel you need it. What happens if you find a horse that is perfect for you in every way but your trainer picks it apart because it's not up to HER standards?? | |
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Cute Little Imp
Posts: 2747
Location: N Texas | Can you take lessons somewhere so you're improving your riding while waiting for the right horse to come along? Or have any friends you can come ride with? You don't have to have your own horse to get better :) | |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 897
| AshleyJ2911 - 2018-06-12 9:38 AM
I think you will be happier in the long run.... If she's a good trainer she will understand. when looking for something like you need in your situation I always rely on word of mouth from reputable people. Not sure how your connections are or your trainers but if she can sale a horse in the 6 figures and rodeo in a circuit, why doesn't she have connections out of state to find what you are looking for and have it jump a ride. Iv done it several times for people and if it didn't work out I trusted I could sale it for my student. Usually rodeo people know rodeo people who know good horses .... If that makes sense?
She said she had plenty of people from the rodeo circuit message her from OK, FL, etc, but for me, I have to try the horse first and a pre purchase is a must. I can't afford not to do one this time. It will take us awhile to up our budget. | |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 897
| Gunner11 - 2018-06-12 9:46 AM
Can you take lessons somewhere so you're improving your riding while waiting for the right horse to come along? Or have any friends you can come ride with? You don't have to have your own horse to get better :)
There's no other trainers around here that offer barrel racing lessons. My trainer does not have any lesson horses, and I don't have any friends that have extra horses. | |
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Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| I live in Texas in the thick of barrel racing country and it took me 8 months to find my last horse. He was not at all what I had in my mind I wanted, lol but the minute I sat in the saddle I knew I wanted him. | |
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 Dog Resuce Agent
Posts: 3459
Location: southeast Texas | When you do come down to Texas / Oklahoma, have a list of several horses to try. Map out your prospective locations and try each one like connect the dots. Have a vet preselected to do a pre purchase exam.
When you are not riding, developed an exercise routine to assist your riding muscles for when you do find that horse. Core exercises, leg and arm light stregenth training.
When you find that horse that you know is "the one" it will be the ticket you need to start breathing again.
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 The One
Posts: 7998
Location: South Georgia | I personally feel like you could find something in your price range that is already started on barrels and/or has been entered. | |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 897
| Thank you everyone! I talked to my husband this afternoon, and we have decided to not go with either horse I mentioned. Would either horse work for me? Yes, but they aren't exactly what I want. I would like a more finished horse on the pattern, and I feel guilty for wanting that. We are going to save up a little more money, to have a budget of $10-12k and plan a trip to TX this fall. That in itself worries me, as I don't want to get burned. Yes, I will not be riding at all until then, but will try to keep in shape. When we plan this trip, say I want to try 5 horses, all in different locations in TX. I don't schedule a vet for each of those horses? I'm trying to do all this the right way and not get burned.
This is what I am looking for:
SOUND and SANE
Fairly finished on the barrels
No blown up barrel horses, or horses that have a problem bolting, bucking, rearing. No holes.
Something that will help with my confidence. I can ride, just new to barrels.
Budget of 10-12k. Is this possible, or are my expectations too high? | |
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