Calling AQHA People - Tear This Mare Apart

[helmstead]

This is MY mare - the red roan is the one I'm considering. (BTW the roan mare is 6).

My DH feels the same way as Dilly does - that I'm trading a Jag for a Ford...anyway the trade might fall through because the owner is suddenly trying to get a partial trade, and I'm sorry - but even green my mare is worth more than his...

 

[Dilly]

Your husband is a smart man. Seriously I would not do it.

 

[s6bee]

Trust your gut. For a horse you want to just go out and enjoy, you don't need a pretty or even wonderfully put together horse. One you can trust is more important. Of course you don't want it's confirmation so bad that it will break down too early if you do decide to do more. However, I don't get the feeling you'll make a bad decision. Have you considered just getting someone in and riding your mare to get miles on her?

The only thing I would say is the horse market is awful and you can buy just about anything right now cheap. Take your time in deciding what you want, get a vet check and trust your gut.
The QH you were looking at isn't too bad, but like everyone else, her pasterns/toe would be my only gripe.

 

[Equest94]

I like the roan mare...I think she'd be good for what you want to do (trail riding, etc), but I agree that you would lose on that deal.

I understand that the horse market is still in a slump but you should still be able to get quite a bit for your mare. Working cow horses are still really big in the market... if you can't find a good trade on her, I suggest selling her as a reining, cutting, cow horse prospect - you should be able to make a nice sum and buy something more suitable for what you have time for.

(BTW, your mare is gorgeous!)

 

[Cara]

Stick with what you've got. Stick with what you've got. Stick with what you've got

I think Jag to a Ford is kind...i'd say Jag to a Kia, sorry. I'm surprised the owners didn't take the trade and run with it. Asking for a partial trade is insane, IMHO. Perhaps they already see it's a good deal and want to see how far they can push it.

Your mare appears to have a far better stocky build, and looks a lot like the type of QHs we have here as ranch horses... because they're tough! The roan mare looks too lightly built. What strikes me most from the two pictures is that the roan doesn't seem to have that 'something special'. Your mare does. The roan looks 'broken' in the worst sense of the word to me.

If you want something else, hold out for a better trade. I think you might come to regret this one. But it is JMHO. BTW I think you should stick with what you've got.

 

[helmstead]

Well - the roan's owner must have thought I am dumb and don't know what I have...because as soon as I let them know I was not interested in a partial trade they told me my mare isn't worth $2k...NO DEAL.

Thank you all for your compliments on my Sabre girl. She IS great - athletic, smart, full of promise.

I'm just in that frustrated trainer role right now. I WANT to have that horse I can just tack up and ride. I bought Sabre knowing she'd be a project...then stupidly sold my finished mare in January leaving me stuck in the greenies.

I have considered bringing in a trainer friend to help me through this rough patch I've hit. I know the rough patch is somewhat self imposed - I'm frustrated and it's mirroring onto the horse. I've had plenty of project horses like Sabre, just never ONLY had a project horse and not had something finished to relax on. Argh! Not to mention, I am mad at myself because of this new thing...this FEAR I've developed now that I have kids and responsibilities (and insurance deductables) that makes me bail when the going gets tough. What in the world IS that? I used to ride horses so much scarier and actually dangerous...oy vey...

Again, thanks for your time to critique the roan and making DH gleam with "I'm right, I'm right..." !

 

[Their Other Mother]

I can totally relate! I grew up on horses, did the Rodeo thing, did the weekend warrior trail rides, Team Roped with some Legends & always had horses that were bred out the wazoo. I had an accident a year and a half ago, not a riding one I must add, and dislocated both shoulders, one got Frozen Shoulder Syndrom (which was worse than the dislocation!) I'm now feeding 3 horses that have just become like large dogs! I have ridden once in a year and I have this fear of I don't know what? My two geldings are good, have never bucked or hurt me but I'm in my late 40's and have totally lost my confidence! I watch those guys on the RFD channel and wish I could afford one of their clinics but they are usually too far away from my town anyway. I think today I am going to just go out there and work their little butt's off in the round pen, till they are really tired, then go for a short ride. This is NOT going to get the best of me!!!

 

[Cara]

I think it's giving yourself time off riding that does that. I had a fall that could have been terrible before I moved here. The horse I was riding slipped on asphalt and fell over sideways onto me while a car was overtaking! She got right back up and started grazing, and I was waiting for some horrific pain to hit, but it never did. I just got a big bruise. My husband says I need to concentrate on the fact that it wasn't bad, but I don't want to push my luck. It was a convenient time to give up riding, and since then i'm a nervous wreck

All I can think about is how much longer it will be before I can get off, and how much longer I have to avoid getting hurt! It didn't help that the colt my husband gave me is a jerk, and picks on me. We sent him away to a trainer, but he's still horrible. That and trying to ride western when I grew up riding English! The last thing I want to do is let my reins loose when I was always taught to never have them that way

The ranch horses aren't exactly like your typical lesson horse either!

One of the ranch fillies my husband was halter breaking turned out to be a sweetie, and he made the mistake of introducing us! Young horses usually scare me the worst because they can be so spooky, but she is like a puppy and it is helping me to be around her because she is a lot less intimidating than a full grown horse. Hopefully we can grow together. Just not physically being around horses makes a difference, they seem much larger after a couple of years off!

 

[TheOLDNewChick]

I hate how all the stupid people are breeding the muscle out of the the QH's. I don't see anything right off, besides what everyone else has already said. It's hard without pictures from every angle or seeing the mare in person (any of you up for a trip?).

 

[augiedranch]

if she is sound. and if she is riding like you want. it doesnt matter if she looked like a donkey.... well, in my opinion.. id rather have a horse i can trust,,, that kids can ride, and will do what i ask of it,,, if its sound and heathy.. i dont care about looks..

shes beautiful though.. how tall is she?