Would you give it up? (People obsessed with showing)?

You are doing the right thing, I respect you for following your dream in such a way!

I'm planning on doing the same thing you did when I am old enough to work :)

If you're not having fun doing it, it's not worth it! It doesn't have to be an all or nothing decision, though. Maybe cut down on the showing, but still do it occasionally? I love showing, but during the prime showing season where we're hauling to a different show every other weekend (or more), and I'm working during the week and riding daily to prepare, I'm physically and mentally exhausted (not to mention broke!). I look forward to the "breaks" when I can take a weekend off from showing or a few days off from riding. That doesn't mean I want to stop completely.

I've thought about the money situation. If I didn't show (and certainly if I chose not to have a horse at all, or at least to do full board) I'd have a lot of money, since I work a full time job (granted, not the highest paying one, but I am earning a yearly salary--I'm a public school teacher, and no, not all teachers make $50-60k a year!). I'd be able to afford to go out more, to buy a new car (which I really want and am starting to need, as mine is getting a lot of miles on it), to buy new clothes fairly often, etc. Instead, I make do with a lot in order to do the horse stuff, but like you, I feel like I would lose part of myself if I quit! I wouldn't be happy without it, but I do occasionally need to remind myself that it's okay to skip a show or not ride every day. And usually, after a mini-break like that, I feel much better and am eager to go ride.

If you need a long-term break (or want to save more money), consider just riding for fun and/or doing a couple of small shows over the next few months, and don't worry so much about it--don't focus entirely on the horse stuff. If you miss it so much you can't stand it, go back to it--no one is stopping you! Do what feels right to you.

I understand the pressure; the better my horse and I have done, the more my mom and trainer want us to keep moving up or showing more. They're now hoping I can qualify for next year's AQHA World, which means I need to start chasing points seriously. I've had a lot of fun showing and earning points over the last year, but I wasn't seriously point chasing and if I couldn't go to a show, it wasn't a big deal. Now it's almost expected, and that's a lot of pressure on me--because when I'm preparing for a big show and riding daily and working my regular job, I have almost no free time. Fortunately I have a very understanding boyfriend who puts up with it and just follows me to the barn and entertains himself while I ride, so I'm not totally alone with it, but it can be a hard life. However, like you, I think I'd be lost without it (and I do love it!).

I think you need balance. Even though you love it, you can't burn out. You don't have to totally give it up, especially if it is your dream, I am just thinking you need to find a happy medium.

Is there a way for you to cut down the number of shows you go to? That may cut out some cost and allow you to take a day off of or lessen your hours for work. Could you work at shows, braiding or something so that you could make money at the shows you aren't riding in? That way you could still be in the environment, but make $ at the same time.

First take care of you, then your horse, then your showing career.

If you are not well, nothing else will be!

Would I give up showing a horse for it's well being and my own? Of course. Horses pick up on stress easily, I would not want my horse to feel what I feel when I am stressed. Hun, there is nothing wrong with not showing. Not everybody with horses shows them.

Why would it make you cry? Why would it ruin your life?

Most of all, why do you feel unproductive "riding without a reason"?

To me, owning a horse is a gift. If Fiyaero ever became crippled, I would love and keep her forever. I would not get another riding horse because she was deemed "useless". To me, being around horses is like being in the presence of a God. Enjoy it!

I have never been on a nice vacation, I don't own my own car, and I hardly ever go on shopping sprees. So, I know how you feel money wise. I don't want to sound harsh- but if showing horses is your whole life, you need to straighten out your priorities with your horse. There is nothing wrong without having a pet horse- and the only things you miss out on at shows are snobby girls, some pieces of cloth with numbers on them, and an empty wallet.

Why not practice on your own? I have no intentions of showing my filly in dressage until I feel we can test well in higher levels. I'm not going to waste my time and money at shows until I know my horse is "there" (and myself too) and when I know that we both know what we need to know to move up and out very quickly.

Take a break, you sound stressed. Enjoy your horse for what he is. A horse.

Practice. Borrow books, teach yourself, ask questions, WATCH lessons, film yourself riding and evaluate yourself.

You don't have to be rich to succeed. You just need the willpower, the time, the heart, and the patience it takes to get there.

See you at the Olympics girly ;-)

-Jassa

Since I did that when I was younger, I would have to say no, follow your dreams.

myself