How do you bring yourself to let go of a horse and decide to sell it when you get so attached to them? Long story short, I have had 3 horses in the past 19 years of riding. One I had to retire after colic surgery (he is 31 still in my pasture and I need to put him down but that is a whole other level of letting go that I am struggling with), 1 I sold after I had my twins because I just couldn't physically and financially take care of him, and then this one I have now. She was and is my first and only horse to have after taking 8 years off to raise my kids. She gave me a sense of living back and pulled me out of a slump that I didn't even realize I was in.

She is just one of those "one in a million" horses that you can trust 110%. I got her as a 2 year old with only a few rides on her and now I have turned her into a consistent, honest, fun horse to run. She is 6 now and has a lot left to give, but she is stuck in the 3d (sometimes 4d at the pretty big jackpots) and no matter how hard I try we just can't get past that. I want to rodeo and around here that doesn't even come close to competing so I would just be donating entry fees. When I was a teenager I was ok with that horse being "just a 3d horse" because I was doing it just for fun. Now I am older and I want to win. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy getting to run at all, but I have more fun winning lol.

I would love to keep her and have 2 to run at the jackpots (and she would be absolutely perfect for my 9 year old daughter when she gets a little older) but I don't have a single penny to put towards a horse without selling her (can't pull equity from house because we want to move in the future, loans on both the trucks already, loans on both the trailers already, not much savings and entry fees for all of us don't leave much room to save, there just is no way) but I just can't bring myself to let go. It kills me to think of selling her because I just love her that much, but unfortunately I think my team roper husband is right (for once) when he says if I want to win I need to treat this like a business and have that mind set with it. How do you make yourself let go of that emotional attachment so you can move on and upgrade? Seriously the thought of selling her makes me just want to cry and lower my goals to stay in the 3d and keep her, but I know deep down I will never be content with not pushing forward.

Find a a family that has a child who needs a beginner's quality horse and sell to them.

Or find an older rider looking for a safe trail horse. 

Either one would be a good home and you will not have as much anxiety about the sale. 

It's like a parent watching your daughters getting married and leaving the nest starting the next chapter in their lives. 

Sounds perfect for me. Wish I could buy now.

I'm not any good at selling. I get far too emotionally attached. 

If it were me and you saw this horse as the perfect mount for your daughter moving forward, I would never sell it. 

I so agree with this! Those kind of horses are few and far between and when you do find one, they sure aren't cheap. Really dig deep, think about what you really want. I thought I wanted to win, but decided to keep the horse for my daughter and I am so glad I did. I struggled for quite a while about not having a winning horse, but then I woke up one day and realized the relationship with special horses was what I really wanted. I wanted to go back to the horse crazy girl that I used to be. That is just what worked for me. But sit with this problem in quiet places where you won't be disturbed for a little bit and see what comes to you and don't let husband, friend or anyone else influence what you decide. Good luck, it's a tough dilemma for sure. 

Have you done all the steps with this horse to improve performance? Made a pocket so your not hanging up in the turn. Is the farrier doing his job , proper angles ,right shoes, is your horse giving it all to first? Second? Third? Home. Are you rating at same time same place on all barrels are you hustling your horse the whole time? Kicking to hard? Hardly kicking? Using spurs ? Not using spurs. Whipping? Not whipping. So if the gas pedal works, brakes work, turn signal work both directions and reverse. Tighten your seat belt and step on the gas. Other wise you have holes that need fixing so you can step this horse a notch. Then you have to ask yourself does this horse have the speed and conformation to step up if you fix the holes. 

I so needed to hear this!!  I've been struggling with the decision to sell my mare and get a prospect that will finish in the 1/2D - but 4/5D money pays the next entry fee too.  We do have a special connection and anybody can ride her in and out of the arena. She is safe safe safe for trail riding and camping and day drinking...

I am glad that you received the advice to keep the horse for your daughter.  As a barrel racer, we are competitive and want to be competitive, but as a parent we have to put our kids first.  I have a horse that could be very competitive.....but he is a great horse for my teenage son to rope on.  I have told my son that the horse is his first and I will only haul him when my son is not using him.  That means that I am back to riding very green project horses.  It is the right thing to do for us as a family right now.  And my husband has to rope on the project horses.

The memories that you and your daughter will make with that horse is really what it is all about.

Sounds like the perfect horse to me. I'd keep her.