Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

My daughter is 17 and has stated she is ready to sell her horse because she is

not riding and has little interest in riding. Her horse is a beautiful 16H T-bred(Sadie)

which has done hunter/jumper (up to 4') stuff and has done a handful of 25's(fast

horse, usually 2:30 or less on 25's with daughter on board, FW). At Lexington

last year she was 2d BC behind me but I have nearly 100lbs on her! We cannot

keep a horse which isn't being "used" so here comes the decision. Wife says

I should sell my horse and train and ride Sadie for 25's and 50's. My horse is

a grade(Sawyer),15H, (no clue what kind of horse) which I have had 6 yrs and

been doing 25's & 50's on(only 350 miles of endurance). We finished 3rd HW

division at Nat'l Champ 2002 ride in a race to the wire with 2d place (guy bigger

than me on T-bred which could be Sadie's twin). I have an emotional tie to Sawyer

but do see the advantage of riding a larger, faster horse(would have had a shot at

2d had I been on Sadie at the end of the NC). Here is another factor.

I am not a "trained" rider. I got my horse, got on and rode. Sawyer and I have

learned together about what we want to do. I have noticed the few times I have

been on a well trained horse (Sadie is one of them) I tend to give them too much

leg and they want to go! I probably will ruin Sadie in regards to her good training

if I end up being the one on her back all the time(my daughter learned to ride correctly).

Now all of you experts can throw your 2 cents in and help me make a decision!

Thanks,                        Ed Roley