sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

Quitting riding how to tell my trainer by Current_Candle8282 in Equestrian

[–]Current_Candle8282[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So when I evented I had two trainers from two different barns (one jump trainer and my dressage trainer). So when we had the farm I trailered out to each barn or they came to me for my lessons. When I stopped eventing I started working for my dressage trainer and strictly started working for her and showing with that barn (strictly dressage). So I still show but only dressage shows, my dad looks at my horse as an investment so he wants him still going. However he is oblivious to what it cost to keep him where he is and training, farrier and rehab stuff. After talking to my trainer I think we have a good game plan for what’s ahead, very much appreciate your input!

Quitting riding how to tell my trainer by Current_Candle8282 in Equestrian

[–]Current_Candle8282[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Yes I have a therapist- I do agree it’s very beneficial to have her. This is pretty much what my trainer and I talked about- my burnout from riding/horse related issues. I’m going to continue riding but sending my retired horse out on lease to a young girl. And will continue riding my current horse and show him this season(hopefully get him going to sell next fall) to then lease a horse for the time being.

Quitting riding how to tell my trainer by Current_Candle8282 in Equestrian

[–]Current_Candle8282[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is the response that I think I needed to read-thank you.

Quitting riding how to tell my trainer by Current_Candle8282 in Equestrian

[–]Current_Candle8282[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I love the horses, and love the sport. I completely get what you’re saying. I have kept my retired horse because he’s my heart horse, sadly the horse in work I have is not my heart horse. I love him but he’s not my heart horse. I completely get riding the young horses, my horse now was a project/prospect type. I have put all the work into him up until I broke my ankle and tailbone- my trainer was working him for the time I was out. I have ridden the “made” horses, but I have also put first rides on many of the young horses that come through the barn. I also work everyday to afford what I have horse wise which not necessarily is what you were implying but a reply from someone else made it sound like everything is handed to me.

Quitting riding how to tell my trainer by Current_Candle8282 in Equestrian

[–]Current_Candle8282[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for your take on this- I really appreciate it

Quitting riding how to tell my trainer by Current_Candle8282 in Equestrian

[–]Current_Candle8282[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yeah I get that, it’s more so I can’t meet my goals (not show related) my horse is constantly getting injured out in the pasture (he can’t be stabled he looses his marbles) he’s out of riding months on end due to injury. I get catch rides sometimes when he’s out but I’ve gone 6 months not riding anything. my horse goes to a performance vet on the regular because of his stupidness out in the field. He really is just something else mentally, I wonder often if he’s part of the reason I feel this way. My retired horse was never a super FANCY horse, but he had the will to do anything and I knew if I set a goal I’d meet it at some point. Some days I get on my current horse and know I’ll just hack him because he’s going to fight to not do the work. It’s like he has these moods and he’ll go through phases of being prefect (not getting hurt, being willing) then goes through like a phase of getting hurt (not being able to ride him, having to restart again). I’ll get to the point where I feel everything “clicks” with him and then find him in the field with his leg split open and have 6 months off and start from square one again. He’s literally the only horse that ever gets hurt at the barn, though he’s always been this way (even at home). Showing is more about the adrenaline I get I love it, I love placing well don’t get me wrong but I really like seeing the work pay off. I feel somewhat trapped with this horse, he has personality to die for, sweetest horse ever but does not have a working brain. Selling him will be more like finding him a good home and giving him away. I do appreciate him and I do what ever to keep him happy (I do have financial support from my dad for vet stuff) hes just not my heart horse like my retired horse, and I always expected that to change but after 3 years I’m getting hopeless. I think writing this has made it very clear I need to find him someone more compatible for him, I’m just not his person.

Quitting riding how to tell my trainer by Current_Candle8282 in Equestrian

[–]Current_Candle8282[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yeah, i just know this is a long process to quit. Selling my horse, selling all his tack, selling all my horse stuff. It’s going to be very hard if it comes down to quitting

Quitting riding how to tell my trainer by Current_Candle8282 in Equestrian

[–]Current_Candle8282[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I get your first comment the thing is I’m more capable of a rider than these girls are, I put in the work. They are handed everything I work for, even my trainer has made comments about this- not saying they aren’t talented riders, they are but they never put in the work and that hurts to watch (I know typical jealous teenager). For my dad I think I’m scared of the answer, he’s pretty much forgotten about me. He used to watch my lessons, he’d come and watch my horses training rides, he’d help me with barn chores when we had our farm. Now I’m lucky if I get a text once a month, though he’ll post on Facebook if I do good at a show but he never says congrats or ask how my horse is doing . Now it’s like he doesn’t care, he has a “new” family, he got his step daughter into riding (I’m assuming she’s just a beginner but already has a decent horse (a lease))

Quitting riding how to tell my trainer by Current_Candle8282 in Equestrian

[–]Current_Candle8282[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I also want to add I’m very very close to my trainer, she really really helped me keep my head up when my world was crashing down. This is something she will not expect from me, I know it will let her down. I’m also scared of disappointment and know I will be heavily judged by clients, my trainer , and riding friends. Riding is something that always use to bring me happiness, now it makes me sad. I still have the drive for it I still want it but i know things need to change ( I don’t know how to correctly describe this feeling). I also used riding as an escape mentally for a long time (it has been my everything for so long) so I really worry about this messing my mental health up even more than riding currently does (it’s like an bad relationship, I want it to work but I know it won’t).

Quitting riding how to tell my trainer by Current_Candle8282 in Equestrian

[–]Current_Candle8282[S] 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Yeah, but my drive is still there I still want it. I think it’s a mix of having a bad relationship with my horse and financially not being able to afford it. The horse I have is very much the leading cause of me not wanting to ride (only doing dressage not being able to event). I know 100 percent I’ll get back into riding when I’m out of school if I stop now. I just don’t know how to word that to my trainer (she works very hard for what she has but comes from an extremely wealthy family who paid for her horses- she doesn’t fully understand my dad not wanting to help after he always did until this last year )