The bad new came later. We took Kinsey out for awhile and I think I got the first honest opinion of her. She was not horrible, but she is just as I have been saying. Sensitive, very forward, and not as calm as I would like a horse to be. D.H., R's assistant, said that she acts like she just has not had a lot of handling. Just had a saddle thrown on her and gone. When she is asked to do things she has a bit of a temper tantrum and is just unhappy camper. They are going to start riding her on Monday.
After R and I talked. What kind of horse do I want? And the fact of the matter, Kinsey is not a
good horse for me. I have worked really hard to get my confidence back. I have been riding a horse that is sensible, but not perfect. Drew spooks, but he just gives things the eye, not head for the hills. As the question was posed to me, do I really want to lose all that confidence with one big spook from Kinsey? No, I don't.I know that there is a lot of talk floating around how we shouldn't sell a horse. That once we buy it it is ours for life. I think I own it to Kinsey to find her a good home, the best home I can. I don't think I would do her any service of keeping her around, not willing to ride her because I am afraid what what she will do.
I think your right - Kinsey deserves a home that fits her, and you deserve a horse that fits you. Finding a new home for a horse isn't a failure, it's being thoughtful and considerate to the horse and yourself. This is supposed to be fun, remember?
ReplyDeleteI agree with Kate.
ReplyDeleteI went through this back and forth with Canyon - now he has a home where he can succeed. He could never have succeeded with me, I didn't have what he needed. And I couldn't get better, I actually deteriorated riding him because I lost so much confidence - to the point that almost no horse felt safe. (I wrote about this ad naseum - it's a hard choice)
It was a mess, and a bad situation for both of us.
If you find your horse a good home, then you've been responsible. And that's exactly what every horse needs.
I also agree with the comments above. I think people are against the horse trader mentality of people who are thoughtlessly buying and selling horses with no regard to the homes they go to.
ReplyDeleteYou are a thoughtful person and you are going to put a lot of thought into the re homing process. Your horse is a lucky one.
Add me to the list of people who believe you would be dong the right thing to re-home Kinsey.
ReplyDeleteIt may seem strange to say, but it can take more courage to admit that your horse is not the right horse for you than it can take to just "stick it out." I really believe that. It took me two years to decide to let go of my mare Scout, and it came down to being honest with myself. None of that matters now, because she was injured before I could place her in a new home, but no matter what I end up doing with her, I will always know that she's not the horse for me. Love has nothing to do with it. She'll always have that from me.
Im in too, I think every horse is not for every rider. Im sure you can find a home where someone more suitable will have here and you will both be more happy.
ReplyDeleteThank you everyone for the support. I really hope that I can find her an excellent home. I hate selling horses, I really do. But I am getting her out there now.
ReplyDeleteI have that mentality (once you buy/adopt one, you shouldn't get rid of it) when it comes to puppies because most puppies are what you make of them through training (and because people don't think the decision through then drop them off or take them to a shelter), but not about horses (unless you were randomly auctioning them off or selling him/her first come, first serve). Horses are too big and expensive to keep around just because you feel obligated. There is nothing wrong with selling a horse if you find the right home for it. I think Kinsey probably would be happier somewhere else, with someone patient and experienced enough to take her back to basics. I'm sorry she wasn't the horse for you, but don't give up. The right horse is waiting for you. Hugs!
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