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 Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2006 8:31 pm
Okay so I have a problem....or issue....or question to answer that make me want to rip my eyelids off. But let me back up and tell you a little story...((By the way, I apologize in advance for how long this is. But I really would like to hear what other horse people have to say so thanks to everyone who takes the time to read this!!! ))
Five years ago my mother (who is an instructor) and I were looked for a lesson horse. Something big enough for adults but quiet enough for beginners. We went out to this farm where the guy raised animals for petting zoos, so he had every manner of animal that you could think of and ten bazillion birds (ducks, chickens, osterichs, geese, peacocks, emu....etc etc) and they were running all over. Well, for those of you that dont know when poultry poop gets on longer horse hair it morphs into some kind of indestructable substance. Well these birds were running through the fields where this horse that we went to look at was and the bird poop and mud had mixed together and her entire underside was covered in this junk. The jerk didn't even own a brush for us to try to clean some of it at least away from the girth area to ride her. We did the best we could and I rode her around to see if she was insane or not. She turned out to be a really level headed horse but didn't know how to walk in a straight line from a life of all trails and no arena work and didn't know the canter aids. We ended up getting her and deciding to fix her up for lessons. Well all of the lesson students hated her because she had a HUMUNGOUS walk and they were afraid that she wanted to run off with them (yes...the horse that didn't canter....run off with them....grrr) Anyway, I became so upset with how they ragged on her that I traded my mother my show horse for her (we have 14 horses and the deal is that I can have 1 horse that is MINE and is not used for lessons and whatnot). Within 4 months I had her totally cleaned up, in shape, cantering off perfectly and both leads and jumping 2'3 (she was 12, so not a baby or anything). I LOVE this horse. But as she got more in shape I began to get a better idea about her past. She has been gamed before (barrel racing, pole bending, etc.) and she has a problem with wanting to blow up in the arena and buck because she is afraid of getting whipped. I can get her to rate on the flat but as soon as I start asking for really specific things (series of lead changes or jumping lines and courses) she wants to blow up. I think that it has just been so many years of mental abuse and now she is 17 and I am afraid that what was done to her as a young horse is almost not able to be overcome. It makes me so mad and if I ever find the people that hurt her........((she has a white line under her chin from where they used a curb chain so severely on her that they deadened the hair foliculs and the hair grew in white))
THIS IS MY PROBLEM:: We have 14 horses and I have 2 other horses that I am currently showing and another TB coming up along with 2 babies that are ready to start hitting the shows. Star( the horse in question) needs so much work, and even then I dont know if she would be able to be competitive. My mother offered me an option today. If I sell Star she will buy me two new young TBs one to train and sell, the other for myself to work into my show herd (my best show horse is 10 and we want to take her off the circuit and breed her soon). I DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO! I love Star but sometimes I wonder if she wouldnt be better off as someones only horse so that she has all of the time and attention that she needs. She is a fantastic trail horse and I think she would love fox hunting with an aggressive rider, but I hate thinking about how she would look at me when I handed over the lead rope to someone else. I know if I am going to be a professional then I should get used to selling horses and knowing that I was a good part of their training, but I am so attached to her.
OPINIONS?
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Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2006 9:48 pm
I think you should sell her. Now, I'm not trying to be heartless or anything, but it would probably be better for both of you. Like you said, she would probably do better with someone who can focus all of their attention on her. She'll probably be happier going out and riding on trails and doing the occasional low-key show. I'm not saying that she's not happy with you, but that would be a better suited place for her. You have to look at your goals and her goals and compare them, and if they're not the same, then it may be time to part ways. She could be the perfect horse that someone else is looking for. You can always remember that you made a positive difference in her life.
Selling horses is hard. I hate it. But if that's the world that you're thinking of getting into, then it's never too early to start learning how you're going to deal with it.
Good luck with whatever you choose.
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Posted: Fri Aug 18, 2006 10:01 pm
UPDATE::
Still conflicted. I am looking at a horse right now though that I might buy if I sell Star but I keep comparing him to her. He is a young QH that I think would make a bang up jumper for the lower levels, but then again, I would just be selling him once he is trained. I really want a horse that I feel like is mine. And not just because that is the horse that I ride exclusively, but a horse that perfers my company to everyone elses.
I was in the field de-burring Star's mane today and I just feel so awful thinking about selling her. I think I might try one more time with her. Take her back to low gymnastics and try to get her to relax and not rush. I just feel like selling her would be giving up on her. I think that she has a lot of potential and I really want to give her every opportunity. ARRRGHHHH!!!!
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Posted: Sat Aug 19, 2006 10:08 am
omg that's soooo hard gonk crying
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Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2006 8:37 am
That sounds really sad........I kinda went through that once....I had a pony that started acting like a stud around my mom's filly.....and he had a leg injury so I had to get rid of him.....from that I suggest you get rid of Star.....don't get this the wrong way but I think that's best crying
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Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2006 11:15 am
Well, I say keep her. But, that's my opinion. I know that she needs a lot of work and may never become a show horse, but she can still bring you the joy and hapiness of any other horse out there. My biggest worry about you selling her is that seeing as she has some problems or conflicts that the people you sell her to will mistreat her because of her behavior. Or that they'll sell her and the people they sell her to will mistreat her. You never know with people anymore, some just hurt animals to make themselves feel better or whatever. That's just my opinion though. I for one work with horses like her and I wouldn't really choose any horse over them. They bring me so much joy and hapiness it's not even funny. To see the before and after, is just amazing to me. But, it's your choice. That's my opinion on it. I know you're getting a nice offer and such, so. 3nodding
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Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 4:50 pm
It totally depends. Some horses just aren't happy showing(for one reason or another) and some absolutly love it, and stand tall and act gorgeous(like my horse. he thinks he's a warmblood stallion at dressage shows. it's cute). If what you really want to do is show and she doesn't then you show find a good home where someone will just do trail riding or something lo-key like that. It doesn't mean that you don't love her if you sell her it's that you two may not match. I'm sure she'll be ok when she decided her new owner is very nice. So it is still your decision but just consider this: is SHE happy doing what you want to do, or should you find her someone who likes doing the same things she does.
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Posted: Sun Dec 31, 2006 1:04 pm
Thats really hard! All I can say is, If she has a good life with you, than there is no reason to sell her. However...If you think you can find someone with the ability to undo the trama, than selling her is better. I'm a firm believer that you can always get better, but if your not the person to do that for Star, than you need to let her go...but ONLY if you KNOW someone can help her. (a tricky situation)
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Posted: Sat May 05, 2007 9:33 am
It sounds as though the guy who sold you Star was neglecting his animals... shouldn't you report him to authorities?
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Posted: Tue May 15, 2007 3:31 pm
I think you should give her back to your mother to be a lesson horse. People have to learn to deal with different kinds of horses. If it's true she'll never run off with them, then that's what they should trust. I hate whiny riders that can't deal with anything new or different or scary. She sounds like an angel and I think you should keep her.
I have the same worries as Sessgo, when it comes to selling her. At a show I was at on Sunday, this lady was lunging her horse, but the horse looked terrified. He was backing up, almost rearing, trying to get away from her. And she just kept whipping him, trying to move him forward. If Star gets scared and does something silly, what if the people you sell her to aren't careful to try and relax her, rather than to further agitate her?
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Posted: Sat Jun 09, 2007 8:07 pm
I think that you should sell Star. I mean, it sounds like you have too many horses to give her all the attention that she deserves. If you make sure that you're selling her to the right person, she should have every opportunity that she would've had if you had the time for her.
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Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2007 10:38 am
Okay, I'm going to be a helpful as squat here. But I'm not going to help you make your desicion. You should make it yourself.
Alot of corny Disney things say, "Do what your heart feels". I think this is the best thing you should do here. Balance how you feel about this horse with your smarts, and you should make the right desicion.
One thing I can say if you do decide to sell her, try to find owners that understand horses VERY well and won't, as Veela said, be cruel to her or beat her. You said you thought that Star would be a good fox hunter with agressive riding/training. If I were you, I'd try asking around to people who want a horse to train for fox hunting. A person who'd be kind enough to her, but to also understand the horse like you do... If you find someone that sounds promising, maybe call them up and ask them if you can watch him ride one of his horses, and check out what conditions Star would be living in. Maybe also ask if there was anyway you could watch Star when she's being trained if you sold her.
I know this sounds extremely hard and would be alot of work, but I can tell you love this horse alot, I feel the same about mine. It would mean alot to her if she was trained and had a good home, and I know it would mean alot to you if you saw she was making progress with her new owner and wasn't being abused or treated poorly. If you could still see her every once in a while and still have your two to train.
Another thing is maybe hire a professional trainer? It's never the same, and it can be expensive, but it might work. And if it does, maybe you could learn how to deal with it yourself from him/her, and it makes you a much more seasoned rider when you know how to deal with cases like this.
There's my two bits. . . or maybe a little more... but this is just my opinion. It may be not be help, but it may be tons. I'm hoping for the latter.
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Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2007 12:53 am
Make sure she finds a nice home, and sell her to good, nice people who are looking for an easy horse to go walk with, but don't go to shows.
She's 17 already... past her training days.
Face the facts... and see what you want for yourself in the future.
I know its hard, had to sell a mare 3 months ago and she was one of the sweetest horses I know. But I sold her to someone in the neighbourhood, I still see her alot, and I know she likes it there.
It's hard, but sometimes it really is the best thing to do.
Seems to me, if you want to move on, you should sell her.
Whatever you decide to do, good luck with it wink
Grtz,
Cianthah
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Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2007 10:26 am
I think some great adivce has been given.
She may be 17, but not past her training days. I don't think thats "too old" to be trained.
If she blows up with really specific things, maybe a quite home as a pleasure horse would be good for her, because of her past. Nothing specific would be asked of her, no jumping lines etc.
Fallow your heart, do what you think is right.
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Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2008 3:46 pm
I honestly think that you need to keep your horse. Because, she is already broke, and its really hard to train a baby (my neighbor went down that road, do not go there).
Short: Keep star
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