What inspires us to keep trying when it all goes bad?

[Lakota's Pet]

I am always interested to hear what drives other people to not give up when everything seems to have gone bad with their horses. Over the years I know I have had my share of times I wanted to give up, but I never did. I just wanted to share my story of what keeps me going, and I would like to hear some of yours. Back in 1987, when I was just 5, my dad got a call from someone he knew that lived not too far from us. The guy old him, " I have this horse here and if you don't come get him the dog food truck will be here by 5 pm to take him." We had no idea that they even had horses. We went over and what we saw was this ratty looking buckskin gelding that didn't want anything to do with humans. He had a halter on, but it had obviously been there a long time since it was sunken into his face. We managed to get near him with a bucket of grain, and while he was eating it, dad very quitely slipped a neck rope on him. When he picked his head up and realized that he couldn't get away, he reared, struck, and generally tried to hurt someone. After a few minutes he realized it wasn't going to get him any where so he quit. We ended up leading him the 5 mils home as he wouldn't get anywhere near a trailer. After we got him home, he tried to run away, but was afraid of cows, so he never made it past the neighbors pasture. It took about 4 years to get him to the point that you could move your hands or arms while in the saddle and he wouldn't explode. We later found out form our farrier at the time that he had belonged to a couple girls that would jump on him bareback and double and run him till he wouldn't go anymore and just leave him. He hated women, and had tried to kill 3 people. It amazes me that he was still alive when we got him. We unfortuantely lost him this past June due to old age, as he was 30 years old. At that point we had owned him for 21 years, he had been dad's trail horse and police horse for most of that time. He finally figured out that women weren't going to kill him, and he would follow me around like a puppy dog. He would shake hands like a dog, take treats out of your mouth, and was one of the best police horses we have ever had. The only fault he had was that the only one that could ride him was dad, but on the ground he was perfect to anyone. Whenever things look like they will never get better, or if it can't be fixed, I think about Mooch and remember that anything is possible with patience and love.

http://www.baywindfarm.com/forum/album.php?albumid=285&pictureid=2615

[lovesfortune]

That's a great story. He was lucky to have found you after all the bad things in his life. :)

Just getting back into horses, I don't have a good story yet. I have been about to give up MANY times though and always come to the forum and WB to get advice if I was in over my head, etc. With encouragement and help I am now SO HAPPY that I kept on and that I have two horses in my pasture.

[TLC97]

When do I want to give up----Right now. Jake looks at me begging for me to work with him more than just a quick brush and the occasional trail ride, did I do the right thing taking him back? Cane has a $10,000 ankle that at this point I don't think the surgery worked and he acts like a turd. He is gonna be a top bred pasture ornament, that is my dream gone all wrong. I spent more time in tears Sunday than I had for months............... Why do I do I keep going because Tuesday Jonathan went into the barn opened Cane's feed window and put a treat on top of his head and Cane gently took it off. When my son looked at me with a huge grin and said, "Look momma he is so good with me and really likes me." with his face beaming I melted. Why?--Because at 5:00 in the morning when it is below zero outside the ONLY thing that could get me out of the house is knowing that my boys need to be fed and watered and will welcome me with a nicker that says "Hey lady, we are glad to see you."

[cyb]

I don't have a good story either but I'm glad you were able to save Mooch and give him a good life.

[lovesfortune]

Ooh Tanya. ((hugs)) I hope you keep going. And I'm sure Jake is happy to be back with you no matter what the circumstance. I'm sure he understands that Cane needs your help and time more right now. I hope everything works out for you with Cane.

[Lakota's Pet]

Tanya, I sincerely hope it all works out. I've been following Cane's story, what happened that you don't think the surgery worked? I thought things were looking up. I really feel for you. I spent about $5000 on my QH last year trying to fix his breathing. Just keep doing what your doing. {{{{{HUGS}}}}}}

[vicklynn]

What keeps me from giving up. There is a purpose for City and me, but it has not been reviled yet.

[Lakota's Pet]

What keeps me from giving up. There is a purpose for City and me, but it has not been reviled yet.

I'm sure your purpose will be revieled be for too long. Especially if you truely believe it.

[vicklynn]

I'm sure your purpose will be revieled be for too long. Especially if you truely believe it.
I believe it!! Thanks. Patients is so hard sometimes. And I know I have to do right by City for it to be revield.

[Lakota's Pet]

I've really discovered that patience is hard the last few years. Especially with 2 kids, one being 6 and developed some behavorial issues lately, the other a 2 year old that thinks he rules the house, and a new horse with some serious issues that I have to overcome. I just think positive, and hope that the causes will show themselves.

[vicklynn]

Re-reading your post again and again. Mooch sounds like an awesome horse. I bet he enjoyed the life you and your family gave him. He was blessed that your dad and he found each other.

[Lakota's Pet]

Mooch was a very special horse. Once dad got past the years of hate and mistrust, Mooch was loyal to the point that he would have died for dad if he needed to. He was a big comedian, and just seemd to be very happy. Not a day goes by that we don't miss him still.

[farmers_wife]

That is a great story. Thanks for sharing. Made me tear up. I am glad you stuck with him. Not many people would have. I dont think I would of had it in me to keep him. Sounds like he lived out his life happy.
(((HUGS)))

[Tatesgram]

Great story, sounds like everyone benefited from his joining your family.

An old man (probably may age now) once told me that he would always have horses if all he could do is watch them in the pasture. They are the most majestic of animals and have given me some of my best, and scariest, memories.

Some day I hope to ride again like I did in my youth and experience that oneness you only seem to achieve on a horse.

[Annie&Dixie]

Great story, Lakota. Tanya, I'll have to catch up on the story, I hope everything works out.

So let's see here, why do I put this much financial pressure on myself? Why do I welcome the bad-training days with open arms? Why do I not back down or give up? Many reasons.

It's true I won't have as much money as I could if I wasn't paying for Dixie's board every month and all of her other needs but it's what I want. I have always wanted to have a horse by my side that when I get on her, my legs magically conform to their normal position rather than getting on a horse and trying to figure out the best place for my legs and what makes them tick. I know her quirks, I know what an inch difference makes with my hands or legs.

It's also true that I've had many bad days with her. Heck, I hated riding her at first. Sometimes she's acting like a butt for no apparent reason to me, other days we're just both off and not getting it. Every day something goes wrong or I get discouraged, Dixie and I both learn how to get ourselves back up, find a solution, and bond over our bad moments so we can enjoy the good ones that much more.

Speaking from a true training only perspective; I don't give up on Dixie because I can see the potential and it's obvious that she wants to learn. I also want to be the one to go through that with her, I want to be the one that she looks upto when something goes wrong, I want to be the one that she can rely on.

Even then with all those good reasons to go on, the only real reason I keep going is for those special moments. Like the time that Dixie was lame for two weeks and we had to keep her inside. I went to go see her every day and every single day when she saw me coming up the aisle way, she would nicker. I know this doesn't seem like much but it was the world to me. I have never had a horse connect specifically to me and to have her nicker at me without me having treats or food was great...even if she still walks away somedays outside ;) Another good small moment is when I leave her in the arena to go get something out of the tack room and she will wait, ears forward, until I come around that corner again. Or if she's tied up around the side of the wall just inside the arena and I go off to go get something, she watches me the entire time waiting for me to come back. I love the feeling.

[Miracle Whip]

My mare was a snot when I got her. I had to back her into a corner of the round pen just to get on. Picking up her feet meant war. I could see the good in her though when we did ride, and I guess I was just more stubborn than she was. Now she is a sweetheart and reads my mind. I just rode her in the arena tonight, trailered her 25 minutes one way. She has an extended trot that feels almost like a pace, it is SO FUN to ride her. Always has a positive attitude. Ears forward at all times. Other people cannot even get on her let alone ride. She follows me like a dog, so trusting...yet suspicious of anyone else. For better or for worse she is mine until the end.

[TLC97]

Annie said it best with I don't give up on Dixie because I can see the potential and it's obvious that she wants to learn. That is why I don't give up, I am too stubborn and know what I have and once we get over hurdles what a great thing I will have. But there are some days (like summer of 2007) when I have gotten hurt and think, I am a mom, a wife and too old for this.......... Then there are the times when you do something amazing on a horse and other horse people look at you and you know you nailed it and that satisfaction is priceless.

As for an update on Cane I will post in the health section.

[Annie&Dixie]

That is why I don't give up, I am too stubborn

I know this all too well, I am also extremely stubborn and I hate, absolutely hate, giving up on things, people, and horses. That's what kept me in my horrible relationship two years ago!

Then there are the times when you do something amazing on a horse and other horse people look at you and you know you nailed it and that satisfaction is priceless.

That is a wonderful, wonderful feeling. :)

[pandorasmom]

This thread couldn't have came at a better time.
I started off having a wonderful ride with Panda today, and it quickly turned alot worse. I don't know what set her off, but it wasn't fun. She's now going to be back to arena work only till I get her completely ready. Everytime she acts ready to go the "freedom" pasture, she is good for a few days and then proves me wrong.
So we're going to be double sure this time. *sigh* I know we'll get there, I just keep telling myself I've got 15 yrs of training from someone else already on her and I've got to "re-train" her. We'll get there, we've got to.

Thank you so much for sharing your story! It couldn't have came at a more perfect time.

[pandorasmom]

Annie said it best with I don't give up on Dixie because I can see the potential and it's obvious that she wants to learn. That is why I don't give up, I am too stubborn and know what I have and once we get over hurdles what a great thing I will have. Then there are the times when you do something amazing on a horse and other horse people look at you and you know you nailed it and that satisfaction is priceless.




And I ditto this, completely.

[42many]

I don't give up because of days like today - I went out to pull the horses back from pasture to arena and decided to hop on my 5yo, Patch, to ride him back in. It's not a very long distance at all, but it's been ages since I've ridden much and I left a bucket out there to stand on last week, so...

Anyhow, bareback with a halter/lead we started playing, going around some poles set in the ground, stopping, turning, etc, and he was GREAT! How can he be so great? Poor guy hasn't had hardly ANY riding in the last year, between the move, the new business, and the weather. We only spent about 5 mins out there, but I smiled for the next hour :)

He's such a sweet boy, too - always there to meet me at the gate and get cuddles/rubs every time I go out to feed, follows me around like a puppy if I'm doing stuff in the arena or paddock... A few weeks ago I was sitting out in the arena poking into a gopher hole (durn things are EVERYWHERE!) and he came over and wanted petting. I started rubbing him on the cheek and before I knew it his head was in my lap and he was practically asleep!! If he was a cat he'd have been purring and kneading! :)

Sigh. I guess that's why...

[JackieB]

Beautiful story about mooch, Lakota's.

I never got a horse until age 40. Buster's the first, and may be the only horse ever for me. By the time I got around to making that commitment, I knew I would never give up. However, there have been times when I thought that I might scare myself out of riding and just have Buster as a pasture ornament. But something brought me back from each of those situations, and fortunately we get along great nearly 100% of the time now.

[Vegashorselady]

I love Mooch's story, what a lucky horse to end up with your family.

You know, I'm not a quiter. I'm the type that knows what I want and goes after that until I get it. When I saw my gelding, Blue I knew I wanted him. I bought that horse made up my mind that things were going to be great. However, a 1100 pound bucking, rearing, bolting and striking horse can be a bit demoralizing. For a while I swore he was trying to kill me. (If it wasn't for those beautiful blue eyes of his I might not have stuck with it, lol!) But, everytime I though about giving up I thought about what would end up happening to him and felt I was responsible for his future and just couldn't do it. Now I look at how far we've come and what a great horse he's become and I'm so glad I stuck with it. When I'm done riding I always get down and rub Blue on the neck, sometimes he tucks his head against my chest and closes his eyes while I rub him, I feel like he's thanking me for not giving up on him.

[Lakota's Pet]

I love hearing everyone else's stories. Pandora, I'm glad that this thread helped you. If there is something I have experienced, or done, or learned that could help someone else, it really makes it all worth it, the good and the bad. I believe that Mooch was one of a kind, and that he came to us for the single reason to teach us that no matter how bad you may think things are, they are always fixable if you have the patience. Truth be told that old buckskin was miserable, very opinionated, and I don't that he was ever truly trained. I think he did as my dad asked out of love. I know a lot of people say that horses don't think like humans, but he made a believer out of me that some do. And it takes a special person to get thru to them, and use them to their true potential.

[pandorasmom]

When I see something like this it helps alot. :)
After yesterday I know I've got to regroup and go back at it 100%. I'm not a quitter and will NOT give up no matter what. I could have a broke arm, and a broke leg and will still go at it as much as I can. I owe it to her after the 10 homes(Well atleast 6 that I know of, maybe more) she's been in, to give her a chance and to work through this. No one else has ever given her a chance. Within 6 months she was in 3 different homes. She deserves more then that. We will get there, I know we will. I'll have had her a year January 06, so we've still got time. She's accomplished alot just in the 10 1/2 months I've had her. She's smart and willing, but disrespectful. I'm using Clinton Anderson's methods and they are working slowly but surely. She's just got to realize that I'm not like her old homes that let her get away with doing what she wanted. I'll spoil and pamper her no matter what, I do want some respect from her. :)
Thanks again so much!

[Miracle Whip]

Wow Pandora, no wonder you've been grouchy lately. A broken arm AND leg? You should start a thread telling us how that happened.

[pandorasmom]

I was saying that as if it was to happen. Like "I could have a broke arm and leg, but I would still go at it." I wasn't saying I have that wrong with me. I don't. Trust me.
Also, I'm not grouchy. In the NAIS thread yes, I'm anti NAIS, but It's not being grouchy.
In every other thread I've posted in, I've never once acted grouchy. Please don't judge.

[starkitten]

Now I don't always agree with Pandora, but I have found her to be one not to bring issues from other ones here.

I am glad you have hope Pandora - my horse can be a real bugger at times - I won't give up :)