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In reply to the discussion: Professor: ‘Follow your dreams’ is cruel advice [View all]magical thyme
(14,881 posts)and I thought of all the "what ifs" that could have happened had I not been sabotaged. I could have ended up even more miserable, lol...
I remembered that I gave up after a stint as a barn manager for Kathy Connelly. I saw that every single person who was "making it" had somebody paving the way somehow, including her. Her students had parents paying their horse's board and training; in at least one case, a student married money and went from living off his parents to living off his wife.
I also think about the occasional jerks at work and imagine one of them on my farm and shudder at the thought.
I've been fantasizing the last few weeks -- and am trying to save for it right now right after I take care of major home maintenance -- about picking up just 1 good, low-cost prospect, bringing them along and if they don't like dressage, sell and try again. I have my eye on a low-key, unraced tb mare (wouldn't train, not interested in running) with very good conformation, size and substance at a nearby track. She will probably be gone by the time I have some money free, but maybe another one just as nice or better will happen along. Unless I die of old age first...
I wish you were closer. I'm looking right now for a local trainer to help me get my mare through her "testing" phase. Once she accepts stuff, she is golden. She was very well behaved for her first 10 weeks under saddle last summer and fall. Then she entered the "testing" phase, as in, "No, you can't make me." Every other ride she has tried something different. So far I've been bucked off and hit in the face. Still in one piece, but she is so athletic and powerful that I concluded to try to push through this phase alone would be suicide. Your husband's experience with Trakehners would be invaluable right about now!