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Selling your horse to buy another(?)

1K views 5 replies 6 participants last post by  Morgan.taylor 
#1 ·
Sorry for my flawed english, I couldn't necessarily explain some things how I really wanted but yeah)

Hey! So I've actually been thinking about this topic for a while now, because it's something that is very probably going to happen on my future.

Would you sell your horse for a more upper-level horse? It's pretty hard imo, you have this horse you love so much and then the idea of selling it? for another horse?

As someone young (I'm 15), how do you talk with your parents about it? I have horse that was nothing I ever expected, gaited, not the biggest, incredibly moody, green. Talked with parents about selling her, they didn't want to, had to keep her. As a beginner I had to learn to deal with all that, but I still love her to bits. My parents at this point just say she'll be her whole life here, but I feel like I could maybe have something that gives me confidence, that I can ride often and learn.

I feel like if everything would've been taken more slowly and thought and well talked, what would happen is I would just take lessons first, and when ready, start to look for options.
But it's too late. I now take lessons, but also have my green, moody mare wich I cant even ride.

I rode an amazing mare at my lessons, she's young and full of personalityand she's the best horse I've ridden, never felt so confident. wich I really, really fell in love with as soon as I rode her, and it really got me thinking, what would I do if she were going to be sold sometime?

Advice is greatly appreciated! Good day/night:)
 
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#2 ·
Many people have a horse at home and ride a different horse for lessons.
A lesson horse is one who is able to teach you and you are able to learn from riding..
You then take that information back home and work with your horse their to increase your ride time, your ability to teach your horse home new tasks making it in the process a better mount and ride partner for you.
At 15 you have many years of horses to learn from before you are at a pinnacle of riding ability and finesse...you've just scratched the surface of learning in honesty.
If you are afraid of your horse at home then that is something your parents need to know because being afraid to ride and being forced to ride are very different than not wanting to put time on a horse who is already owned and available.
Learning to get along, be compatible with all kinds of mounts and personalities actually is a great learning experience for you...challenging you to grow as a rider not sit on a complacent dead-head does not make you better but stagnate...challenging you safely though is what is needed...
:runninghorse2:...
 
#3 ·
You seem to be in the unfortunate situation of being stuck with a riding horse (that you love) but isn’t ever going to be much use for you as anything more than something to use for trail riding.
Gained horses aren’t really the ‘go too’ choice for anyone that wants to show or jump or do dressage.
On top of that it sounds as if she’s too small for you or soon will be.

Your parents bought her, they presumably pay for her needs and they seem to regard her as more theirs than yours.
If that’s what they want then you won’t change that, you don’t have to ride her, let her be their pasture pet if that’s what they want.

At least you can get some enjoyable riding in the riding school you’re going too, maybe your parents would consider buying or leasing another horse for you.

If not you’ll have to make the best of the situation you’re in and look forward to the day when you can afford to buy and maintain the horse that you want.
 
#4 ·
Lesson horses typically are easier to ride -- that's why they are lesson horses. You say your horse is green -- instead of taking lessons on lesson horses could you have an instructor come out and help you ride her? That is sort of what I did with my green Pony when I got him.

Selling one horse to get another is something that is done all the time. People who are really interested in progressing quickly, or are very driven, or want to do showing at a different level, etc., do this. Me, personally, I couldn't do it. My daughter is the same way. Her horse is a middle-aged mare with a ranching background, but they do dressage now. My daughter wanted to jump, but this mare isn't sound for jumping, so they don't jump. She is really attached to her horse, and basically if she can't do something with that horse she just won't do it. I'm the same way. Once I get a horse, they are mine for life. It helps that neither one of us are ambitious -- we just want to ride a little and enjoy our horses.
 
#5 ·
There is absolutely nothing wrong with selling a horse that isn't a good fit for you. If you and the horse don't click, if the horse is too much for you to handle, if the horse cannot take you where you wish to go in your riding life - nothing wrong with any of these things. I sold a fabulous Shire this year, a horse whom I loved to pieces and who was really easygoing and happy to try at whatever I asked of him - but he was not the horse for me. He was easy, yes, but I was bored to death because he was TOO easy. He would try his great big hairy heart out at whatever I asked of him, yes, but he would not be able to take me where I wanted to go in my horsey career. It was hard to sell him, because I loved him, but he went to someone who can benefit from his easygoing nature and willingness to mosey, and the two of them are getting on famously. Looking back now, I DO miss him, but I know that he will take his new owner further than he would ever be able to take me.

Your heart doesn't always know what's best. It's hard to listen to your head, but the best decisions are made this way. : )

-- Kai
 
#6 ·
This is something I’ve done quite a bit. I’ve never had money to buy “nice” horses. I’ve worked my way up by buying or being given projects, working with them and then selling. Most recently I had my gelding for 3years. Truthfully I never thought I’d sell him. However the more we butted heads, the more I considered it. He is a fantastic horse but we did not mesh, and while we were progressing I knew that he would excel with someone who matched his style. I listed him expecting him not to sell quickly(grade 7yr old TB gelding). He did and I purchased a mare last week to fill his shoes and then some.

There is nothing wrong with selling one you don’t enjoy or click with. I loved that gelding to pieces, enough to know I wasn’t going to be the rider he truly met his potential with.
 
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