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to SELL or NOT?! [you pick]?
Question : to SELL or NOT?! [you pick]?
The other day my instructor and I were talking about me getting a new horse and I’m really confused.
Right now I own a green broke 6yr thoroughbred mare. She wants me to get a nice hunter so I can show and progress in my riding. I have battle anorexia for the last three years and the horse was a last resort to save me from long term treatment in virgina. I honestly owe the horse my life. She is a spooky nervous animal but very kind. I don’t know what to do because everyone I talk to at my barn doesn’t give me a good reason to sell or not too? My instructor has train grand prix riders so she knows what she doing so know rude comments. I’ll list a few cons and pros to both options..
My horse now:
Pro-I bonded really nice, She has nice suspended trot. Makes me a sensitive quiet rider with soft hands and good leg ques
Con-very little training, spooky, flat canter, inconsistency at leads still, has reared once. young
New Horse:
Pro-Trained, can do shows, good jumper, reliable, can try new things like cross country
Con-higher price tag, have to start over, won’t learn how to handle green horses, possibly of getting board
I am intermediate rider meaning i worked with a fair amount of green horses [ one of my old lease horses has found a permant home as a lesson horse] I can ride most horses pretty well.
treatment options for anorexia
Best answer:
Answer by My pony Roxxx
I think that you should keep working with the horse that you have now… and eventually she might get to the level that the new horse is at right now. Don’t give up on your horse.
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#3 written by Ally 1 year ago
I recently sold the horse I owe my life to because he was too inexperienced. It was a TERRIBLE descision. I am SO depressed over losing him. I realized that, at least for me, riding is NOT about becoming more experienced. It’s about having that bond that I can’t have with another human being. It’s about enjoying every ride with my horse no matter what level I’m at.
You can still learn SO MUCH from a horse like yours. ESPECIALLY a Thoroughbred. I think if you just keep working her, she will still improve and you can still become a fantastic rider even if your horse isn’t perfect (you can’t learn anything from a perfect horse anyway, since they already know everything and respond to your every move perfectly!).
I say keep her.
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#4 written by Maria 1 year ago
Showing isn’t everything, happiness is much more important. Maybe take the money you would be investing in the higher price tag and put some training on the mare with a good, reputable trainer. You might have to push off showing for a year or two, but wouldn’t it be worth it too keep the horse you already have bonded with?
Don’t dump a good horse just because she isn’t at the level you or your trainer want her to be at. Give her the opportunity to get there with you in the saddle.
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#5 written by frootyflamingo62107 1 year ago
I have a similar situation, my horse is 22 and green! she was an off the track standardbred and she has a flat canter, and likes to do defient 180 degree turns. she will trot her heart out and she used to go about 30 miles per hour before she broke into a canter, but now after working with her for only a year, she will collect and do a wonderful canter. While your trainer is right that a more experienced horse will progress your riding, it depends on how YOU want to progress. If you get an already trained horse, your teaching yourself “basics” while if you continue with your green horse, your learning how to teach the horse and yourself. So in my perspective and experience, your learning more by keeping the green horse. I’m going to be going on an organized trail ride with my horse, which is totally new to both of us, and i know that she is going to spook and misbehave, but the more i do it, the better she will get, and the bond we have keeps me sane. Sometimes i want to get another horse that is better trained, but i tell myself that i am going to be a better rider if i continue to ride her. The pricetag with a more trained horse is going to be conciderably higher, and you may not feel the bond that you feel with this horse you have now. Getting to know another horse can be hard. I would keep the horse, and maybe invest in some natural horsemanship stuff, like Parelli or even clicker training, and see how it goes. Better to be out $ 100 bucks buying training videos with the horse you have than thousands with a “better” horse. You could also talk to another trainer about some more professional training for her. Another option may be like a local vet/or equine student who is looking for training oportunities, or a trainer looking for riding oportinities that is willing to work with your horse. Ive had people ask why i am putting “time” into an older horse, and say that they wouldnt put the training into her, and i see it as my time is not just for the horse, but if i can train an older horse to do things, then im gaining experience for myself and someday i will have a young green horse that i can work with because i have learned the skills. But i believe that it comes down to how you want to ride, how you want to learn, and what you want to do with horses in the future. I’m also glad to hear that a horse has helped you overcome your obstacle, so now it may be time for you to help the horse overcome it’s obstacles
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#6 written by Amy M welcomed twins 12-7-08 1 year ago
I would stay with your current horse. I experienced a similar situation when I was a teenager and suicidal. My off track thoroughbred was a difficult horse to deal with sometimes, but our bond was very tight and I believe that he saved my life. I couldn’t do all the things I wanted with him, especially trail-ride, but our relationship was the best thing I had in my life at the time. Your horse will get better with more training, she’s already been good for you, so stick with her. Your well being is the top priority, you can put off showing. Or you can go to schooling shows and teach her the ropes. You may find that you two grow with each other and that she matures into the show horse you want. When I sold my thoroughbred I spent the next 10 years regretting it. I’ve had many horses since and I have only experienced the closeness I had with him, with one other horse. I consider the bond to be one of the most important parts of owning a horse. I still use horses for therapy for myself and a deep connection with my horse makes all other aspects of riding better. I’m looking for another horse that I can have this connection with because I don’t have it now and I miss it. It hasn’t been easy to find and when he or she comes to me, I’ll never give that up again.
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#7 written by Like a Fox 1 year ago
It’s up to you, but i’d say….Not sell.
This horse obviously means a lot to you, work on her.
She’s young and has plenty of time.
Put the work in and you could have a nice horse on your hands, it will also mean more that you made the effort with her.If you don’t wish to sell her, then speak to your instructor about bringing on your horse.
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#9 written by Jessa 1 year ago
I wouldn’t sell that mare. You’ve already bonded with her and you know what makes her tick. A new horse is something to get used to. I don’t care what anyone says: Every horse rides different. It seems like you and your instructor know what you’re doing and with help you should be able to train her up as good as that other horse. If she hasn’t seriously hurt you by now, the flightiness shouldn’t be that big of a deal as long as you plan on fixing it.
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The horse I just got is green, and he is 8. I don’t know what your comfort level is but he makes me slightly uncomfortable, because I don’t have a deep seat (yet) and when I do downward transitions, I used to sink my heels down, and pull. But now I can’t do that… which is really hard. I’m suposed to sit back but i cant. And i fell. so how comfortable do you feel?