What should i do sbout my riding situation??

Question

ive been riding english since i was 4.

2 years ago i switched to a barn that does only western, so i switched to western.

In my opinion English is a lot more fun for me, and i dont really enjoy western.

I've wanted to go back to english for a while. I'm 15, in 3 years i will be graduating & have to sell my horse. I want to go onto college to study equine studies & be on an english equestrian team in hopes of fulfilling my dream one day: to be a pro eventer or dressage rider & compete in the rolex. & then being a riding instructor.

My choices right now are:

1. Keep my horse for 3 more years, sell my western tack & buy english stuff, go to ride her about 2-3 times a week and not have lessons, just on my own.

2. Sell my horse (which i would have to do in 3 yrs anyway) & take lessons with a very good instructor 1nce a week & ride different horses 2 times a week.

Please do not criticize me about selling my horse, i want to do whats good for my future & i would have to sell her later

Answer 1

I think if you want to ride English, then ride English, plain and simple. But if you need tack, be responsible for yourself and buy it yourself. I dont know how your showing schedule is, but if you take a break from showing, like i do in winter, you would have enough time to sell your western tack, and buy some English tack. That will also teach you to be good with your money. Just use the profit you get from your western equipment, in order to get English equipment. when your on a budget, be picky on prices.

I am too, 15 years old. My future seem pretty similar to yours. But i never considered selling my horse. I really dont think you should do that. I got my horse September 4, 2006 and we are just now starting to bond, and i love my horse to death, i would never sell her. I wouldn't want to go through the bonding stage all over again. And seeing a horse go is the worst feeling you could ever go through, especially one you love. Trust me, you'll regret getting rid of her after putting in so much training and effort.

When i graduate high school, i plan to go to Equine Chiropractic Schooling, and I'm taking my horse Razz with me. You dont have to sell your horse, just get a job. Start to save now, i know what your going through, and what your thinking.

I wish the best of luck to you and your future. Good luck.

Answer 2

With English, it's more important to have an instructor there to help you with equitation and advice, so I would switch back to English when you can have a good instructor. It's good to ride different horses, since each makes you work on different things, such as building up leg muscle, keeping the right rein contact, etc. It's very easy to get into bad habits in English if you don't have someone experienced there to tell you you're doing something wrong.

Answer 3

Keep the horse and buy English stuff...You will regret letting you baby go now, you have three good years left to ride.

Answer 4

mmmm

well you said yourself you dont enjoy western, and really what is the point on continuing with it if you know your future doesnt lie there (how will it help you?)

you might as well jump boat now that way you can learn more english in between (which will help you in the future and most of all that you will enjoy!)

riding different horses helps you to become versatile & confident and each one with teach you something new!

having an instructor/mentor will help guide you and give a great base to jump off into the future.

you might as well use the time productively and help yourself get a head start!

maybe look at the stables in your area and find some good accomplished riders who have numerous horses- they are always looking for people to ride horses and if you will do it for free even better- you get a good ride and they get there horse worked without paying/doing it themselves!

good luck with your choice and in the future!!!!

Answer 5

Who is the best (I mean very best yard/instructor in you state/country), that's where you've got to get to in order to achieve your goals.

Dressage is so important in eventing today, you'll need a horse capable of teaching you to perform lateral movements, collection and extension.

There is no way I'd give up riding your horse if you can't get to the best instructor yet. I'd stop the Western lessons, read every book you can get hold of. Keep an eye out for any instructors traveling around your area with experience (I don't mean just anyone - for your dreams you can only afford to learn from the very best).

Check out your local tack shop and see if anyone help training/exercising eventers. The top riders often need a hand, even if it mucking out their yards for a start, or grooming at events you'd learn so much.

One of our countries up and coming sj riders was recently interviewed and said how many times she was told she couldn't do it, wouldn't do it.... ...so just don't give up. Keep an eye out for any sponsorship deals. Get your parents to talk through this with you. Your family will need to get their head around the expense of you competing at this level.

Very very best of luck - I'm sure you'll get there!

Answer 6

the second one but dont sell your horse

Answer 7

Well, the 1st one sounds good, because you'd be working with your horse and doing what you love. But the second one, you'd be getting a lot more experience which would benefit you since you want to go into that department for college. However, it's your choice. Choose wisely :D

Btw, everyone in my town sells their horse when they graduate, for college money. No need to feel bad!