I need help. Please read and respond!

959 Views 6 Replies 6 Participants Last post by qtrhrsecrazy, Feb 17, 2010

RunLassieRun

Discussion Starter · Feb 15, 2010 (Edited)

So here's your average teenage girl begging her parents for a horse, right?

It may be to you, but it's so different to me.
Here's a little background information:
I've been riding for eight years now. There hasn't been a week where I've gone without horses. They are my passion, my love, and the core to my heart. I'm at the barn 4-5 days a week, for four hours on weekdays, and six hours on weekends. I go to the barn to help around with the horses, and work my trainer's horses. I get a small discount on my lessons, but now because of the economy I can only get a lesson once every two weeks. It is well time I start leasing or half leasing a horse, because I need to experience more than just lessons and training rides. I feel like it is in my own hand's to help myself achieve the goals I want to achieve.

I'm having serious troubles with my parents and explaining to them the importance of having a half or full lease on a horse BEFORE show season. They seem to think that I can just hop on a horse at the start of show season with a lease, and go out and win! I've explained a million times to them that there needs to be prep. before shows so that I can have a good showing experience with the horse I'm looking at.
My trainer completely understands this, and she had an amazing hunter horse up for lease in the winter, and my parents turned it down because they thought he'd still be up for lease when show season came. Because of this, he is now being leased by another girl at my barn, and all my parents can say is "sorry".
Now there is a new horse up for lease and he's a horse my instructor trained personally herself a few years back and has grown with lots of potential for being a hunter, with occasional dressage. I have a really good feeling about this horse, and I've talked to my mom about him but she just doesn't understand. She thinks I should wait to lease a horse in May, Because "I'll have enough time to bond with the horse." before show season.
We've been having money problems lately, but I see them spending money here and there on my brother's baseball things, which he's told me many times he doesn't like.
I just want to help them understand how important this is to me. Horses are everything for me. Without them, I'm not myself.
Please, if anyone has any advice on how to help them understand, that would be great.

Thanks for your time,
~RLR

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Lunachick

· #2 · Feb 15, 2010

Hey. It's hard to say.
t's understandable and all, but if there's money dificulties, then that's a problem.

Maybe you could get a part time/weekend job and offer to put that money toward leasing the horse?

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Vidaloco

· #3 · Feb 15, 2010

Maybe you could have your trainer talk to them. Make them understand a bit better about the importance of time with a horse before season starts. Maybe if it was coming from someone else they may "hear" it differently

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FlyinSoLow

· #4 · Feb 15, 2010

Is there anything you can do to earn a couple of bucks to help pay for the lease?

When I was 15 I did barn work and worked my way up from there... but I do realize this is not avalible to everyone. :-(

And, boy, can I relate to the sibling part. I have two sisters one is 2 years older, the other is 2 years younger; I got a job and paid for the horse myself, I also bouht my first car and I'm paying for my own college... all by saving and having horsey jobs; and saving money while I was working, becuase now I am not but I can still afford everything comfortably.

I can honestly say neither of my sisters ever had a job, my parents bought their cars, and my parents give them money constantly for clothing, gas, and to go to dinner... ect
Yes; it sucks... but that there is just a fact of life. :wink:

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justsambam08

· #5 · Feb 16, 2010

I know this doesn't help, LOL but I waited eleven years to finally get my horse because my parents didn't understand. All the while my parents have still been saying "you'll hate it after six months", but when I want something, I WANT it....I have been wanting to dye my hair red, get my nose pierced, and get a horse since I was eight years old, no kidding. I've had my boy for eight months in march, and I don't hate him yet. My parents are still extremely negative, they blame him for me not going to school, they blame him for me not moving out, they claim he is a financial black hole, when in fact he was the thing that got me back out of the house, kept me from falling into a depression and actually gave me something to work with and learn from. I've had a job since I was sixteen years old, and I am very driven; I work for the things I want and very rarely ask for help without paying it back four times over.

As much as it sucks, unless you can get a job, you're on their time table. At least May is better than never.

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RunLassieRun

Discussion Starter · #6 · Feb 17, 2010

Thank you so much for all of your help guys!
I talked to my trainer and she said she'd be glad to talk to my parents when they are ready.
And about the job, because I'm at the barn so much, I don't have time for a job. My trainer isn't able to pay me, but if I do end up on a half lease or lease, she's going to be able to make a discount for my work.
Thanks again to everyone!

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qtrhrsecrazy

· #7 · Feb 17, 2010

RunLassieRun said:
Thank you so much for all of your help guys!
I talked to my trainer and she said she'd be glad to talk to my parents when they are ready.
And about the job, because I'm at the barn so much, I don't have time for a job. My trainer isn't able to pay me, but if I do end up on a half lease or lease, she's going to be able to make a discount for my work.
Thanks again to everyone!

Make time for a job. Spend less time at the barn so you can work. I do know it's hard to not be at the barn, but personal responsibility needs to come first.

Nothing is cheap in the horsey world. You said your parents were having financial difficulties. The responsible thing to do would be to get yourself a job to help pay for your passion. Show some initiutive and I suspect your parents would move just a little quicker to help as well

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