We all like to think that there are no terrible horses in the world. But, in fact, there are, and if you are not careful, you can waste an abundance of time, money and energy on a horse that is never going to make it.
There is no greater low than giving up on a horse. Just as there is no higher high than to finally unlock the best in a horse that took a long time to get right, or was once given up on already.
Knowing when to keep going and when to quit can be one of the hardest decisions that horse trainers and owners have to make.
There are many stories out there about horses that were given up on that go on to do great things with someone else. That fear keeps some people from giving up on them.
So how do you know when it is time cut your losses? Here are six reasons when it’s probably best to move on.
#1 – When the horse is not matching your goals
To make the best decision, you have to know what you want to accomplish. If a client tells me they want to do the hunter under saddle, and they have a horse that is not suited to the class; it is a much easier decision to move on from the horse.
So, knowing what you want to do with the horse is the first step. The second part of that equation is knowing on what level do you want to be competitive. Wanting to be competitive in the hunter under saddle at an open show or in the novice division is much different than wanting to be competitive in the Open division at the Congress.
Knowing what you want to do and where you want to do it is the first piece of the puzzle.
But before you quit, make sure you can reach your goals. It can’t be all on the horse. You have to have the desire to work hard to achieve your goals and not rely just on the horse to get you there.
#2 – When the horse has no talent
There are just some horses out there that do not have the physical talent to be a show horse. The quality of horses out there showing these days is just outstanding. It takes a very talented horse to do the things we ask them to do.
If you are starting a young horse, it often takes some time to see the talent come out. When a horse is physically talented, everything comes easy. If they lack ability, then, they will most likely never get broke.
But before you quit – try a new event. If a horse does not have the talent to make a western pleasure horse, they may be able to do other events such as the horsemanship or trail.
#3 – When the horse is bad minded
I feel a terrible minded horse is the easiest one to give up on. When they do not want to do anything you ask them to do, and it becomes hard to make them do the job, you need to let them go. There are many people out there that love the challenge of working with really tough-minded horses, but it is not for everyone. It is indeed not for kids or inexperienced riders. Bad minded horses can still win a lot of prizes, but the time and or fight it takes is just not for everyone.
But before you quit – try to rule out any physical problems that could be making your horse feel unhappy or sore. I genuinely believe most horses that are bad minded, or become bad minded, are hurting somewhere we don’t know about.
#4 – When you are not having fun
When I see exhibitors upset after every class, it makes me feel like they are on the wrong horse. This is a sport that takes so much work and dedication, and if you have a horse that you are not genuinely enjoying, it’s time to get a new horse. I always tell my clients that a horse you hate costs the same to feed as a horse you would love. Another person might be out there that appreciates that horse more than you do. It’s not wrong; it’s just about finding the right horse for you.
However, before you quit, make sure the horse is the only reason you are not having fun. If showing is not fun for you, and it’s not the horse’s fault, you might need a new hobby.
#5 – When you have to school every time
In my experience, if a horse needs a significant amount of schooling, they will get a little better every time. Schooling is such a vital part of making a horse into a great show horse, and it cannot be avoided.
However, if you have been schooling for six months and seeing absolutely no progress, there is a good chance that growth is not coming at all. Horses are very smart, and if you cannot get them to take steps in the right direction through schooling, it’s likely they may be a lost cause.
But before you quit – show a few weekends right in a row or a long circuit of schooling. Sometimes, one weekend a month or every few months is not enough to get through to a horse.
#6 – When the horse has soundness issues
At some point in time, every horse starts to break down, whether from old age, bad genetics, bad conformation or injury. In some horses, that breakdown does not happen until very late in life, but there are some that it occurs much younger.
Just as professional athletes have their window of prime physical health and ability, the same goes for horses. When you can no longer keep them sound, it’s usually an easy decision to move them along to a more comfortable life than that of being a competitive show horse.
But before you quit – get a second opinion or take some time off if you can. Vets can be wrong. After all, they can’t ask the horses where they are in pain. Sometimes giving the horse some time off can be an easy and inexpensive way to get sound.
At the end of the day, trust your instincts more than anything. If you believe in a horse and are willing to spend the time and money to keep going, then you have to do it. There are many horses out there that have owners who will not give up on them. Sometimes, they come around, but sometimes it’s just time to move on.
Darla Lee was born in Apple Valley, California where she began riding horses at the age of nine. She later moved to Ohio where she attended College at the University of Findlay. She has worked for many top trainers in the industry and the past fifteen years operates Lee Quarter Horses located in Plain City, Ohio with her husband Brian where they specialize in western pleasure, hunter under saddle and all-around events on the AQHA and NSBA circuits.
