Many moons ago..
when my daughter was very young..
we began a journey that would consist of fits and starts.
I’ve had a horse since way before I could afford one,
but showing was never a goal for me.
Trail riding is my bag, with some ring work for fitness sake.
We started with lessons at a quarter horse barn with the idea of
a safe learning experience for my young child.
and here is where the idea of showing was introduced.
We bought a quarter horse. And then another.
Still my favorite breed, they tend to be solid and dependable.
Below on the right is K with our mare at the time, Sadie.
We tried this route for about two years..
my infant son on my hip or in a stroller,
hauling our horse to lessons and shows because we
really couldn’t afford to keep her at a training barn,
which brings you much more success in the show arena, truth be told.
Then I noticed we weren’t having fun anymore.
K was tired of the serious lesson atmosphere
and the buying and selling of horses that turned out to be
“not the right fit” for her.
We got attached, you see.. and the selling was heartbreaking and frustrating.
Plus, we didn’t have the big bucks that buy you the quality horse
you need to do well against the competition.
Sadie, up above? She ” wasn’t fancy enough”.. and I wish I never
listened to the trainer and sold her. She was a good girl,
I should have atleast kept her for myself.
She did go to an awesome home, I find solice in that.
At this time I had bought a young horse for myself, sent her for training,
as is the proper way to break a horse when you’re not experienced
in green horses and their schooling…
and she died in a training accident. I still cry over that loss.
That was the straw that broke it.
We left the world of QH show,
and came home to recover what was truly in our hearts.
Years passed, I continued to ride my Quarter Horse,
K rode hers. Life happened, but not in the show ring.
Two years ago, after a long recovery from an un-horse-related accident…
my daughter decided she wanted to ride again.
She started with lessons at a local QH barn with a family oriented QH group
we knew from Back In The Day.
You’ve all read about Beemer and K’s success this year..
we were so fortunate that his owner made him available to K for
the Open show season (Not QH circuit).
It’s been a great year.
For those who are unfamiliar with the higher end horse show circuits,
know this. It’s ridiculously expensive, and there are politics.
There’s much travel if you’re a serious contendor,
and you really can’t do it from your backyard.
You need an agent.
(i.e. qualified trainer)
Enter Max… we weren’t really looking to get into the QH circuit again…
but with the acquisition of our senior gelding, Max…who even at 17 years of age
is still capable of the beginning levels of QH show,
we’re traveling down that road again.
This time it’s all K’s decision. She wants to try it, so I’m trying to
make it affordable. Because of his age,
we bought Max for a bargain basement price, and boy
were we lucky. He’s not caviar, but he’s certainly lobster fresh from Maine,
and that’s just our style anyway.
The average show Quarter horse cost anywhere from $20,000
to $200,000., depending on how crazy you want to get and how big your wallet is.
You can pay $8,000.00 for a show saddle if you want the very best.
This one is for sale for that very amount. and It’s used.
Our Trainer found another used version for a fraction of the price.
Max wearing his new “bling” …..
It’s not just the horses “clothes” that are expensive.
There’s the matter of the riders attire as well.
Last year I bought a few $60. blouses out of catalogs for the open show circuit
and they were suitable. Heck, one blouse I bought on a sale rack for $19.
This year… we have to kick it up a notch. OK, a freak’n staircase.
You can spend anywhere from $1,000. to $5,000.
on a custom showmanship or western pleasure jacket
if you’re crazy enough and your wallet is big enough.
(not that there is anything wrong with that!)
This one below is for sale for approximately $3,500.
but we’re not going there.
We’re looking at a few used jackets for much less.
Thankfully there are opportunities to buy used show clothing.
So.. here we go again,
only this time I’m not driving the train,
I’m just a cheerleader on the sidelines.
I realize how lucky we are to be able to do this..
We’re doing it on a budget and with reasonable equipment,
reasonable expectations. And our expectations are..
to have fun, to enjoy the experience,
to take good care of the horse doing the work,
and walk away with a sense of accomplishment and pride,
regardless of the color or quantity of the ribbons.
Max will live at the big barn for now, safety of the indoor and instructors
being the main reason..
and he’ll retire here at This Old House.
For us.. that’s what it’s all about.
I love this and SO glad she decided on her own to go back to what she loves! We just moved to another barn and we are all SO HAPPY! Our old barn was a "show" barn but very rigid and not a lot of fun for us anymore. And ridiculously expensive. And what we "got" for it, wasn't matching what I was paying. I bought my kids a pony to share (I have 3 kids) and they are all having a BLAST with her at our new "relaxed" environment barn. While our barn still shows, they are about fun first, which is really what it's all about! Oh and I can SO sympathize with you on the cost of things, LORDY! I bought one of my sons a saddle on ebay and SO HAPPY because it was a fraction of the cost of new.
And I just posted about my 17 yr old Thoroughbred on my blog. He's such a good boy (I think I told you about him). No one wanted him and last year he was champion at Saratoga horse show, an AA show in the hunter/jumper world. Just goes to show with a little love, they can do anything! 🙂
Happy for your daughter and you all!
K is lucky to have you and vice a versa. So glad she is doing what she loves. xox
Love the saddle, AND the black and purple shirt too!
I hope you all enjoy the experience this time around. There are always quality used show clothes available for sale. And fortunately you only need one show saddle! Wishing K a lot of fun with this new adventure.
How great for K and for you also.
My husband's niece has a horse farm in NJ where she boards and used to breed horses. I know a little bit about how expensive it can get.. astronomically so.
She loves to just get on her horse and ride … nothing fancy, just her and her horse. Sounds like what you enjoy also.
Good luck to K and to you and thank you for this uplifting story.
Loved this story…so very interesting and wonderful 🙂 Can't wait to hear to more.
Great story k !!! I really enjoyed the story . Wow the cost of everything is mind blowing I didn't realize that . Max looks great with his new bling !!! Have a wonderful day
Love this, and your attitude about it all, Karen. K is a lucky young lady to have you guys support her. And, how great that she's back in the saddle so to speak!
Max looks awesome!
Hunt is still going to horse camp; in fact three days last week on Christmas vacation, and loves her ZIPPER! They're still at the point of getting the two of them used to each other though. At the camp, she's been riding a different horse. I need to get a new pic of Zip though so you can see just how much he's improved both health wise and in his looks. 🙂
Great post! I enjoy reading about the 'Western Pleasure' side of riding. My daughter and I always are drawn to the show clothing at horse expos. We both ride dressage – not much bling and everything is basically black and white 🙂
Best of luck to your daughter in the 2013 show season! May you both enjoy the journey.
I love your down to earth approach to everything, Karen, and it's a refreshing glimpse into the show world. It is SO different to anything I've been exposed to with horses and I definitely hold so many preconceived notions…which is terrible, I know.
Rooting for your daughter in her endeavors! Best of luck! I should hook you up with my girlfriend's little sister-she is selling a lot of her clothes that she used from the previous few years that she circuited as rodeo queen for one of the nearby cities. I was blown away at the cost that she bought things new and what she is even selling them used for. Hokey smokers! 🙂
Max looks adorable but I cannot believe those insane prices! For me, that would take all the F.U.N. out of horses, riding, etc.
On the other hand, horses, clothes and riding are cheaper than drugs, alcohol, rehab and couch therapy -grin-.
And, this, dear Karen is why Dave and I had pasture ornaments. He HATED selling a horse and the last one we sold, he made me promise not to sell anymore.
sigh.
Wow-That is quite a story, Karen. Good luck- I know it is terribly expensive. I hope that you/she does well and that it is more than you hope it will be- Blessings- xo Diana
I totally get it. I had a quarter horse growing up and ran barrels. I never showed, but just did some rodeo which can be expensive enough! But what a wonderful world there is with horses as you well know! K just looks so natural and beautiful on her horse and Max is the perfect fit! I wish you guys much luck in your new adventure!
OH.MY.WORD! And I thought dance was expensive. (and skating, back in the day) Heck, just a horse and the upkeep for pleasure would be too much for me. It's great to see them really interested in something that you can be excited about, too!
I just love the first pic of your two cuties! Wow, and I thought hockey was expensive! Kristen and Max seem to be a perfect match, good luck to her.
Btw, I really think your new banner photo is simply gorgeous 🙂
Max is gorgeous. I hope she enjoys the show season. I burned out on shows as a teenager, so I enjoy the horses now just for the sake of riding. I can't imagine life without a horse in it.
By the way, you can substitute oat bran for the wheat bran in my muffin recipe. I've done that several times and it turns out just fine!