Then maybe some help would be constructive instead of destructive.
Um, it WAS constructive.
She said she didn’t like being told to be realistic.
Since the OP has posted on other topics, and most recently posted a thread about catch-riding, she appears not to be a troll but rather just a pugnacious teenager dripping with an inflated sense of entitlement and resentful of her parents’ inability or unwillingness to finance her personal dreams. Poor thing.
Perhaps one of us queens will recognize her god-given right to a lovely horse and deliver it pronto, all expenses paid of course, so that she can live out her fantasy. Every day I search the internet looking for just such an opportunity. Not.
[QUOTE=poniesinthenight;5859581]
Then maybe some help would be constructive instead of destructive.[/QUOTE]
Many posters were giving her constructive advice, and she basically told them to go shove it - she wasn’t interested.
As I mentioned earlier, I had some sympathy for her and her situation until her rant this morning.
Perhaps if she sees that so many people found her last post rude and in bad taste, it will help her realize she needs an attitude adjustment. Beyond that, I’m not sure what real help a BB full of strangers can provide.
[QUOTE=poniesinthenight;5859581]
Then maybe some help would be constructive instead of destructive.[/QUOTE]
OP, make sure you post your address so poniesinthenight knows where to send the shipper with the horse she’s sending you to support your worthy goal. And who should she make the check out to?! 
The world is full of talented people who never get anywhere because nobody can stand them.
And, you know, actual talent must be demonstrated, not imagined. Long way from 2’6" lesson horses to 3’6" Maclay. Methinks OP and houseguest’s trainer would be taking advantage of her talent had she demonstrated it.
Thank you, you may leave now, curtsy on your way out and remember not to turn your back on us until you are out of the room. Remember when one is begging for something for free? Whoever has possesion of what they want? Should be approached as royalty, not insulted, dissed and blamed for ring politics.
[QUOTE=Properetiquette1;5859171]
I know it’s going to be really difficult but i’m willing to try. I really just need to find some sort of way to work everything out but i’m having trouble. I’m willing to fight for the chance toride the maclay but i need to work up to it. That is why i need an opportunity to show alot, but not to own.[/QUOTE]
There is a difference between being willing to try and being willing to have someone else hand you a nice horse and just say “Have at.”
If you want to try, forget about showing and the Maclay and spend your money learning how to ride. Showing doesn’t teach you nearly as much as making up a horse first and THEN taking it to a horse show.
Is it just me, or does the OP read like one of those xtranormal videos?
:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: Yeah, it sure does…remember the Horse show office one? Maybe Rex is available? He is very famous…
Unfortunately, this kid is real.
I haven’t read through the whole thread, just the first page and then skipped to the end. I have to say that the OP didn’t receive the best reception right from the beginning and I was impressed with her response. She sounded like a tenacious kid that wants a fighting chance. And you know what, sometimes that owner/horse is out there. For instance, I have a super fancy large pony that is well trained and for the right kid could be very inexpensively leased. I’m not offering her to the OP because we’re on opposite coasts (and she wants a horse) but I’m just sayin’ you never know and it shouldn’t hurt to ask…
Of course, OP, if you sound like a snotty brat on pages 2-4, I take it all back.:lol: So behave and don’t give up your dreams.
Wow … OP. I wish you luck in finding what you are looking for. It won’t be easy.
I think you have heard from some pretty experienced people who have been in your shoes. I don’t think anyone wants to squash your dreams unnecessarily, but it seems pretty evident that there are many factors that will severely limit your ability to reach your goals.
It doesn’t sound like you have talked with your trainer to see if your goals are realistic. You really should. I never did any of the Eqs, nor do I have much experience beyond 3’, but I would think that 2 years in the best of circumstances is a stretch to go from 2’6" to competitive in the 3’6" equitation, particularly if the Maclay is your goal.
And quite honestly, if I had a horse that met your description, I am not sure I would be willing to loan it out to you under the circumstances you described. You say you are pretty accurate at the 2’6" and haven’t jumped higher. 2’6" is quite different from 3’6". It would take a very special person to give you a horse so you can learn the ropes at 3’6", while not contributing to its upkeep. That is a lot of potential pounding on that horse and potentially expensive upkeep that you say you can’t afford.
Take this for what it is worth, from a formerly underfunded junior who spent her teens and twenties grooming, cleaning stalls, body clipping, braiding, etc. for the opportunity to ride and/or show a horse every once in a while. I was very thankful for those rides. I feel very fortunate to finally, now in my 30s, to have a young horse to develop and hopefully take me to the next level in my riding career.
A lot of people posting here are telling you that if you don’t meet this goal, there are a lot of opportunities to grow as a rider and reach your goals later. It is true. Does it stink when you are wiping the boots of your friends? Sure. But I personally think that my experiences as a junior have helped me develop into a better horse person and really appreciate the “wins”, no matter how small they are. Sounds like a stupid greeting card, I know. But it is true.
Im at 2’6 after 7 years in the saddle because I havent had many opportunities. I was stuck on the older lesson horses. Sure I got annoyed sometimes that everyone around me was jumping and showing but I also spent that time perfecting my flat work. I did some no stirrups when I could and just tried everything to give me a more independant seat. I tried exersizes on the stairs when I wasnt riding to improve flexibility in my heel everything.
Now I realized im running out of time in my dream of the big eq. I also understand that I might have to do slave labor to work at the opportunity. Im fine with that I dont care if right after school I have to muck 20 stalls, or anything. If it means getting what I want. I would even groom at shows if thats what it took.
My original post was only a mere suggestion to see what people are willing to do. Obviously that didnt blow over too well, sooo plan B slave labor.
If I could get money for cleaning saddles I would spend my whole day doing that if people wanted. I do have the posotive attitude to do so. If it comes down to it when I get to 3 feet ill see how that goes, if I handle it fine and have a good year on my partner than forward to 3’6. If we have a bad emotional year im not gonna put the horse or myself at danger by doing the bigger stuff im going to slow my roll and repeat again, sure i’ll want to go up. But whats worst doing terrible at the maclays or injuring a jorse. Thats just not acceptable at all.
If I have to do slave work for a BNT so be it “CHALLENGE ACCEPTED”. If I have to ride greenies “bring it on”. If I have to ride sale horses that might get sold out from underneath me, yeah ill cry when one gets sold but ill get over it and keep going.
Its not all selfish for me the horse always comes first. If one day I get on and the horse doesnt feel right (even at a show). Im not going to keep pushing it its not worth it. Id rather miss a show or a ride and find out its nothing than ride and have the horse come up lame.
I also am willing to take any orders a trainer or owner wants such as if they dont want spurs being used on the horse or a crop so be it. Ill work through that. Or if they dont want me to work on a certain thing im fine with that.
Just one last thing, kinda relevant. When it comes to jumps I dont like the kickers…ever…period.
All im trying to get across is that iv been stressed recently with school and such, hence attitude above. Im really not that kid thats the overlytired,overly stressed teen (you know how we can be) talking. And im honestly really truelly sorry to any people I offended,enraged ect. Im actually embarrassed about my behavior above.
I wish you luck sweetheart… (Saying this in a sincere caring tone)…I wish you were closer to me…I wish we had more people like you closer to me. I have a free lease on a Dressage horse that I can’t even find a rider for. No time for her and she just sits in a pasture when she could be showing for someone. I hope you find what you’re looking for, you sound like a hard working kid! Good luck.
[QUOTE=Properetiquette1;5859648]
Im at 2’6 after 7 years in the saddle because I havent had many opportunities. I was stuck on the older lesson horses. Sure I got annoyed sometimes that everyone around me was jumping and showing but I also spent that time perfecting my flat work. I did some no stirrups when I could and just tried everything to give me a more independant seat. I tried exersizes on the stairs when I wasnt riding to improve flexibility in my heel everything.
Now I realized im running out of time in my dream of the big eq. I also understand that I might have to do slave labor to work at the opportunity. Im fine with that I dont care if right after school I have to muck 20 stalls, or anything. If it means getting what I want. I would even groom at shows if thats what it took.
My original post was only a mere suggestion to see what people are willing to do. Obviously that didnt blow over too well, sooo plan B slave labor.
If I could get money for cleaning saddles I would spend my whole day doing that if people wanted. I do have the posotive attitude to do so. If it comes down to it when I get to 3 feet ill see how that goes, if I handle it fine and have a good year on my partner than forward to 3’6. If we have a bad emotional year im not gonna put the horse or myself at danger by doing the bigger stuff im going to slow my roll and repeat again, sure i’ll want to go up. But whats worst doing terrible at the maclays or injuring a jorse. Thats just not acceptable at all.
If I have to do slave work for a BNT so be it “CHALLENGE ACCEPTED”. If I have to ride greenies “bring it on”. If I have to ride sale horses that might get sold out from underneath me, yeah ill cry when one gets sold but ill get over it and keep going.
Its not all selfish for me the horse always comes first. If one day I get on and the horse doesnt feel right (even at a show). Im not going to keep pushing it its not worth it. Id rather miss a show or a ride and find out its nothing than ride and have the horse come up lame.
I also am willing to take any orders a trainer or owner wants such as if they dont want spurs being used on the horse or a crop so be it. Ill work through that. Or if they dont want me to work on a certain thing im fine with that.
Just one last thing, kinda relevant. When it comes to jumps I dont like the kickers…ever…period.
All im trying to get across is that iv been stressed recently with school and such, hence attitude above. Im really not that kid thats the overlytired,overly stressed teen (you know how we can be) talking. And im honestly really truelly sorry to any people I offended,enraged ect. Im actually embarrassed about my behavior above.[/QUOTE]
You’re still not getting it, are you?
There are a ton of people on this forum -adults and juniors alike- who would LOVE to compete at the 3’6" level, be it the AO hunters or the big eq or the Derbies or whatever. And for whatever reason they are not able to look at the nearest prizelist and load up and go. Maybe they don’t have the horse, maybe they don’t have the money for entries, or whatever.
Is there some reason why, out of alllllllll the people who would love to go march around the 3’6" ring, someone ought to give up the ride on THEIR 3’6" horse so you can live your dream on their animal?
Do what everyone else does:
buy something you can afford.
train it to the best of its and your ability.
sell it to recoup some costs.
repeat until you enter the 3’6" ring.
See you in 20 years.
It’s the same plan everyone else is on.
For Christ’s sake, I’d love to do the hunter derbies but you don’t see me going “someone give me a derby horse to ride, i’ll pay entries!! and clean your saddle!” No I show up at the barn 5 days a week and train my derby prospect (who is, for the record, my TENTH sale horse), spend FAR less on showing than I do on lessons, and hope it’ll work out.
Good post, properetiquette. We all post here sometimes, tired/ cranky/ after a bad day, and what we mean gets all wonky by the time we type it.
If you can tell a BNT what you just told us (but maybe with better grammar- I assume you meant horse, not jorse, and what’s a kicker? a horse that kicks, or one that requires you do?), and back it up with a great trial ride on whatever they give you, then maybe you’re onto Step 1.
Good Luck–
OP, you’re almost an adult; you need to starting growing up and being realistic. You can’t expect someone to just hand over their nice show horse for you to learn and move up on without paying its expenses. I know you said you’d do a half lease, but even that can be pricey on a nice horse. When I was 15, I thought, “Oh yeah, in a couple years I’ll be showing the 3’6 eq on a nice horse with my very limited funds.” Did I realize how unrealistic it was? Yes. Have I jumped 3’6 though? Yes, just not gone all over showing fancy horses and winning big medals!
Because my parents have never paid for anything to do with my riding, except for a few lessons as a Christmas present, it was up to me to budget my little money carefully, work really hard with a great attitude, and develop good relationships with my trainer and the barn owner. Being willing to work your butt off with a stellar attitude will get you a lot more rides than expecting people to come to you. It’s one thing if you are an excellent rider, already jumping 3’6, that can put in great rounds on horses that aren’t made, but it doesn’t quite sound like you’re there.
If you can afford it, I would talk with your trainer about finding a half lease on a decent 2’6-3ft horse. Even if the horse looks really plain and doesn’t move that well, it will get you experience. The fancier and nicer the horse gets, the steeper the price tag. You could also talk to your trainer about being a working student, if you really do want to gain a lot of knowledge and experience, (through hard work though). I let my trainer know that I’m always up for more rides and happy to exercise, hack, or school ANY horse in the barn. That alone, has gotten me a lot of rides. I started by schooling the lesson horses and eventually got to the point where I’m schooling or hacking horses amazingly nice horses that I could never afford.
Good luck!
ETA: OP, reposted as I was typing…If you really mean it, go for that working student job! AS far as cleaning saddles for money, all the time, don’t bet on that. Most grooms or people who own the saddles clean them. No one in any barn I’ve been at would pay extra to have their saddle cleaned…
Wow, OP, you really dug yourself in now. I was trying to put myself in your 15 YO mind. Gave you the benefit of the doubt but geez a lou, you sure don’t help yourself. And if you think the Internet gives you anonymity, you wouldn’t be hard to pick out in any barn. And furthermore I can actually deal with a bit of tude, but the I need a horse to “get me” to such and such and then need another one to “get me” to another level. This isn’t about horses at all for you, it’s just about you. For me it is always about the horses. Guess that’s why it wasn’t so hard to change dreams.
And most people on this board cherish their horses. Some even have horses they might have helped you with because actually a few people on COTH are like that. They earned a place in life through hard work and like to give others the same chance if they try hard and it’s about the horse too. So you really shot yourself in the foot there.
Little life lesson. With that attitude not only will you never make the Maclay finals, chances are you will miss lots of opportunities in life and be rather miserable. Because it will never be your fault.
I’d day the only thing that cheered me up in this thread is that I may be considered one of the queens. I knew getting old had some benefits. There will be a little swagger in my step tonight as I’m bringing in, rubbing over, and feeding.
Best of luck, you need it
Terri
[QUOTE=meupatdoes;5859665]
You’re still not getting it, are you?
There are a ton of people on this forum -adults and juniors alike- who would LOVE to compete at the 3’6" level, be it the AO hunters or the big eq or the Derbies or whatever. And for whatever reason they are not able to look at the nearest prizelist and load up and go. Maybe they don’t have the horse, maybe they don’t have the money for entries, or whatever.
Is there some reason why, out of alllllllll the people who would love to go march around the 3’6" ring, someone ought to give up the ride on THEIR 3’6" horse so you can live your dream on their animal?
Do what everyone else does:
buy something you can afford.
train it to the best of its and your ability.
sell it to recoup some costs.
repeat until you enter the 3’6" ring.
See you in 20 years.
It’s the same plan everyone else is on.
For Christ’s sake, I’d love to do the hunter derbies but you don’t see me going “someone give me a derby horse to ride, i’ll pay entries!! and clean your saddle!” No I show up at the barn 5 days a week and train my derby prospect (who is, for the record, my TENTH sale horse), spend FAR less on showing than I do on lessons, and hope it’ll work out.[/QUOTE]
Im not saying im going to do that for the owner for a horse I was saying to everyone that is what im willing to do to be able to free ride, show, ect. I wasn’t talking about someone handing me over a horse I was talking about what I would do to earn the priveledge of riding, getting as much saddle time as I can.
OP, you’re coming across a lot better in this follow-up post- glad to read this.
I’m still not 100% sure that your plan is quite realistic, but I wish you the best of luck. I strongly suggest you talk about your plan with your trainer, who may be able to provide you with suggestions or put you in touch with someone. As the person who knows your riding abilities and skills best, the trainer would be the best resource for you, I think.
I love a good Monday Morning Trainwreck
