I am 13 and my parents bought me a trakehner for my birthday. I love the horse so much. She's got issues that we didn't know about when we bought her. She does not tie, she is very antsy, and she is spooky. My trainer says that she will need a lot of training and I would have to work with her a lot. I am willing to put all of my time and devotion into this horse because I love her so much. My mom does not like the horse at all, and she and my neighbor are pushing me very hard to get rid of her and get a new horse. But my dad thinks I should keep her because he knows that I love her so much and I would put all my time into her. There are places that we can bring her fo a month at a time that will help her with all of her problems and my parents are willing to do it. But my mom does not like this horse at all and gets mad everytime I mention the horse. It is almost riuning my parents' relationship. I wish I could help it, but I cant' control the way I feel about this horse. In mut gut I really want to keep her. Please help me!
-Katelyn
Sit both of your parents down and tell them exactly how you feel.
Your mom is trying to protect you. It is her job to make sure you're safe, and this horse doesn't sound safe right now.
See if you can talk to them about sending this horse away to the trainer's for a few months to see if that will help. But they might say no for whatever reason, and unfortunately you do have to go with what your parents decide.
If they decide that this horse is too dangerous for you, then I am terribly sorry, but they are just trying to look out for you.
Please do know that your parents aren't fighting over a horse. If something else is going on, they might just be hyperfocusing on the horse issue as a metaphor for something else that's going on. I would let them know that you're concerned about their relationship.
Whatever is going on between them is not your fault.
So sorry to hear this. I agree sitting down with your parents together and calmly discussing is a good idea. Involving your trainer is not a bad idea either. Be creative. Perhaps you can find a more advanced rider at your barn or locally who would like to free lease the horse and work with her. Also you could make a deal with your mom that you send the horse away for two months of intense training and if she is not much safer and easier to handle then you will put her for sale.
I know you love her but if after that much training she is still difficult for you to handle she is going to end up frustrating you and she might be better off with an older rider. It makes me mad people sell a horse w/o disclosing everything. I had several people inquire to buy my horse for a younger rider and I said no as she had too many quirks and issues.
As for not tying, that is not all that uncommon and of itself not a huge issue if you can work around it. But sounds like there is a lot more going on.
I hope it works out but remember you really should let the horse go if it turns out she was just the wrong horse for you, as long as you find her a good home and she is happy that is what counts.
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