laughing asked:
Ok, well I made plans to buy a horse this summer. I’m a teenager and I’m going to be getting a job soon and everything just feel into place. I got really excited (i started squeeling lol) and I though “my dreams are coming true”. But now I’m thinking twice…
I really want to show now. I mean, I’ve ridden western for 7 years without hardly any instruction for anyone, and without showing. 7!!! People tell me I’m really good in the saddle, but I don’t trust myself to show and train myself just because I can’t watch myself ride, you know? But I’ve also only done trail and western pleasure stuff, so I could easily compete in western pleasure and I’d feel confident about it, but what I really want to do is reining. The problem is I’ve NEVER done reining before. I’ve always wanted to but never learned.
So here’s the problem: should I buy my horse and continue teaching myself, or use that money to put towards lessons and get lessons in reining?
I was thinking of maybe delaying buying a horse for just a few months, and put that money towards paying for lessons, so I can learn, then buy some training books and train my horse in reining personally, and then every month or so get a trainer to come and critique me? Maybe?
Please help!
Btw, I can’t do both cuz I won’t have enough money. Lessons will take up all my money, and so will owning my own horse. So it’s one or the other. =P If I bought my own horse, I could afford a trainer once per month, but that’s it…
horse owning
horse owning
Well there are pros and cons for both. The best thing to do would be to buy a horse and get the trainer once a month. Lessons are much more fun on your own horse, and both you and your horse will benefit.
If you were to get lessons on a different horse, then when you eventually bought a horse, you would need to adapt your riding style to your new horse. Remember, you can’t ride each horse the same way. They will have different preferences in each rider. If you try to ride the way you have been taught on another horse, you will never connect with your new horse.
horse owning
First of all, I would like to know what Jenny sees that I don’t. I can’t tell if you are a boy or a girl, lots of folks use that icon…anyway, I would attend a few shows on my own, keep my mouth shut and my eyes and ears open, ask some questions, learn and go buy your horse. You will also see enough to make a decision on who you are going to want for your trainer after you have attended a few shows and see how those trainers treat the kids that are learning from them, and also how the kids themselves do. Does it look like the kids are having a good time or does it look as if they are just trying to please their trainers. There is nothing wrong with trailering your horse to some shows and just getting you and him used to all that goes on in the shows. Go and join the other horses in the warm up arena, get your horse used to all of it. You will know if and when you are ready to compete and just remember, it doesn’t matter how long you have ridden or how long you have shown, you will still sit and watch others and learn…if you don’t, you are wasting your time being there. Oh, by the way, watch the winners, adults and kids and then watch the others and see why they are not winning. Not everyone is going to rob you when it comes to taking lessons, especially if you show potential…my advice, go for it, get your horse!
horse owning
n alternative idea is that you have lessons every other week and im sure if you board your horse somewhere which you will unless you have your own property you could have a good barn friend critique you for free if they are experience
horse owning
i say buy the horse
if you think about it, you have been riding for 7 years and if people say you are aright, then you must be. heres what i think…
there are hundreds of different ways to train horses as well as riders, and in my opinion of being in the horse industry for a while, EVERYONE is RIGHT… or so they think. what you need to do is find a horse that suits you and can work with you and practice your own way. even olympic athletes have different styles of training and they all make it to the olympics never the less.
if you were to get lessons, you would spend all your time paying for someones OPINION on how they would ride a certain style. THEN, when you do come to getting your horse, it may not even be suited to that particular style.
i have done similar to what you have, only i had lessons for 7 years, and it took me that long to realise that it didnt suit me, nor my horses.
i find the best way to lear is to get out there and have a go on your own! if you have made it 7 years riding alright, then im sure you will be fine with some practice!
just remember, people will give you their opinion on everything, but only do what works for you, and your horse of course! you dont need to be critique by someone else, you just need to find your own style
good luck!
horse owning
I have been riding for 4 years and taking lessons for all 4 but i just bought a horse. Having criticism, critiquing, and a very well trained and experienced eye watch your riding and give you constant personalized information is very very important. I would NOT buy a horse without someone else in the game – someone more experienced especially because it is a very very hard experience to go through to buy a horse and it is easy to fall in love with a horse thAt isn’t right for you (I have) the outside reference will be able to keep you on track.
Even after you buy a horse you will face many training problems which will only become progressively worse without a great trainer to help teach your what to do and correct your horses behavior.
So basically i think it would be a very VERY great investment to take lesssons for atleast a year before beginning to look for a horse and i am unsure of what it is like to buy a western horse but in my experience it can take 6 months to a year to find the perfect match. People often think that horsemanship is easy and buying a horse hopping on it and riding is a given. But in fact there are a lot more expenses and a lot more involved in it than even an intermediate rider may realize. Sometimes – ESPECIALLY if you have recieved little to no instruction it can take a little while before you can cover, understand, and know everything there is to know in order to have a horse and to excel with it.
It has taken me over a year to find my horse… I ride english but when i began looking to buy a horse i was jumping around 2′9 max and was timid at times but when i finally bought one i had already jumped nearly 3′6 and am now a very confident rider which is how i can get along with my horse… I would be very scared to get into a relationship with a horse and expect to do or teach him and yourself how to do something you have never done before – That’s pretty much impossible lol
Ok sorry to ramble on it’s just i have just gone through the gruesome task of buying a horse and i really wish someone had told me all of this!! So i hope i helped!!!
Good luck and i hope that in two years or so you do find the perfect horse and you two become reining stars lol.
horse owning
WOW I am impressed! and that’s a BIG, Huge Compliment! I I don’t see many male riders in shows and I would suggest you go for the trainer and lessons, if you trainer doesn’t have a horse to loan you to ride, try leasing a horse for your shows or try to become a catch handler at the shows, they make enough$ to afford their own horses sooner or later!
Good for you. keep it up ^5****
horse owning
here’s my opinion,
I think you should buy your horse,
You said you could do and win western pleasure,
soooo…..
try to win money doing that on your horse.
then….
Use the money that you win to put towards lessons.
There is also a book called “world class reining”,
thats how my friend learned,
and taught me….
iv’e been riding for almost ten years,
horse owning
I think it would be better if you just payed for lessons. some things you can teach your self, but other times its better when its coming from an expert. a while ago my friend bought a horse and then couldn’t afford lessons and she was just kinof stuck in a rut. she wasn’t learning anything new, ya know? she went on trail rides and stuff, but trust me, it got boring after a few years. now she learned to save money and got lessons, so her and her horse are progressing together which is great.
if you get a job, save a portion of your paycheck that goes toward owning that horse. open a savings account it helps. =]
horse owning
I know you really want a horse, but lessons are the better way to go! If young at lessons, and training, you will be able to get a more advanced horse, and you will be a much better owner for him/her. When you do re-save enough fro your own horse, you will be ready to start reining with them right away, and you future horse will thank you for waiting!
horse owning
I’ll tell you right now, that most of the successful horse people don’t own their own horses! Use the money for lessons and showing, then, if you get lucky, someone may notice you and take you in as an intern. This is how A LOT of successful horse people got their start!
Good Luck!
-Nov
horse owning
just use the money towards lessons and if you get a trainer they should have a horse for you to ride in shows for a while until you really need to buy a horse