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| putting the horses temporarily on hold? | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Nov 1 2012, 09:11 AM (711 Views) | |
| lhunterl | Nov 1 2012, 09:11 AM Post #1 |
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Is the meadow on fire?
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My new hobby just got offered an opportunity to become serious. Met yesterday with a triathlon coach... he's looking for a few people with the potential and desire to compete at big tri's, out of state, overseas, qualify for championships, etc. In return for that level of commitment and help organizing the local races he puts on, he's willing to waive his fees. The first big race on this schedule would be the half Ironman in Galveston in April.... to qualify for US Championships I'd have to be in the top 10% of my age group. My bike is right on par but I'd need to shave 4-5 minutes off my 1.2 mile swim and at least a minute to minute and half per mile off of my half marathon pace. It's a big commitment and scares me a little but at the same time I feel like it'd be a waste to pass up such a good opportunity. It would however mean that I will have to put off anything "serious" with horses for a year or two. I could keep riding but not quite as much and still showing now and then perhaps but more at the local level. Or maybe just try to half lease my horse out? Big decision. I don't want to lose touch with the horsey side of me. |
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| MayaTy02 | Nov 1 2012, 09:14 AM Post #2 |
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You're BANNED!
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you will NEVER lose touch. Certainly not after a year or two. I think it sounds awesome and you shoudl go for it! |
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| Indy | Nov 1 2012, 09:19 AM Post #3 |
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You're BANNED!
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That sounds like an amazing opportunity. I would try to half lease or lease out your horse if you can. That way, you won't loose touch with your horsey side and you'll have your horse to come back to when you're ready to, but you can also focus on what you want to focus on at the moment. I benefited greatly from a friend's addiction to triathlons overtaking her horse time. I bet you'd be able to find someone interested in doing the same for your horse. |
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| TortoiseT | Nov 1 2012, 09:28 AM Post #4 |
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Thomas H. Cruise!
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That's a big decision, but it sounds like a blast and a GREAT opportunity for you and it sounds like something you would probably regret if you refused! Talk to your trainer about leasing out your horse for a year. Would you be able to back out if you felt like the training was too much or too intense (or you missed the horses)? It's always nice to try something new. Horses will ALWAYS be there, hell- look at Rich Fellers, competing in the Olympics at the age of 53. Taking a year or 2 off is nothing in the land of equestrians We do that for injuries and babies!
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| WhySoSerious | Nov 1 2012, 09:36 AM Post #5 |
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Off visiting Candy Cave, be right back.
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I definitely say go for it. You can always start riding again. I agree with the other who said to half or full lease your horse out while you're doing that.
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| jn4jenny | Nov 1 2012, 10:24 AM Post #6 |
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Is the meadow on fire?
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This isn't quite the same thing, but I took two years off from horses to run in high school. It reached a point where I couldn't keep improving my run times and ride, and I made a choice. At the time, I had lots of concerns about my identity. My BO even accused me of "losing the passion" and said I'd probably never come back to horses. It was the best thing I ever did. I learned a lot about myself, I was in the best shape of my life, and I made some of the best friends of my life. I don't regret it for a second. I was also back on a horse, and riding all the time again, within about 4 months of graduating and deciding not to run competitively in college. I also believe it made me a better horseperson. I learned more about serious discipline, dedication, taking care of an athlete's body, the value of good gear (and the superfluity of not-useful or extra gear), etc. Although running is an individual sport, I learned how to be a great teammate--and runners/tri people tend to be very encouraging and inclusive folks. All of those things followed me back to my horse hobby. I say go for it. Horses will always be there waiting for you. Edited by jn4jenny, Nov 1 2012, 10:25 AM.
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| lhunterl | Nov 1 2012, 11:13 AM Post #7 |
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Is the meadow on fire?
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Thanks guys. Glad to hear that nobody thinks it'll be "the end" of the horsey life. That's really all I've ever known, so a lot of my identity is tied to it. Changing it is scary. But I just came across a quote from my pastor on my phone that I had put into my Notes... "To experience the life we desire we must be willing to lose the life we think we want, and that fear of losing life is what keeps most of us from ever finding it." A sign perhaps? Applies to me in more ways than one at the moment, too!
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| vxf111 | Nov 1 2012, 11:35 AM Post #8 |
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You're BANNED!
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I'll be a partially dissenting vote... What is the coach's motivation here? I mean, he's in the business of being paid to coach. You're not some undiscovered talent that is already *there* that he knows he can put no effort into and go out and win with tomorrow. So why is he offering to do for you, for free, for several years-- what he normally gets paid for? And you need to improve to be competitive, he has to know that, so it's going to take an investment of time and effort on his part. I don't understand why he's willing to do this for free? Unless there's some sort of hidden catch and he's going to turn around and ask you to pay or require you to do extra things that aren't free. Maybe I'm missing something... but I'd really want to feel out what you're going into before you get too invested. Is triathalons really what you want to do? Is it your passion? If so, setting other things aside might be worth it. But I think there's a lot to be said for balance. Finding time to do ALL the things you enjoy in life and not doing one at the expense of others. You're juggling riding, working, and running/biking/swimming now-- aren't you enjoying and getting something out of all of these things? I, for one, think I would burn out VERY QUICKLY if I had to give up all the other things I love to do just one all the time. It would turn what was a fun hobby very quickly into a "have to do it." You bred Sadie, you love her. You turned her into a jumper and are doing well. She's in her prime age now. Do you really want to hand over the reins completely now? Will you be okay if she doesn't come back just how you handed her off? She's still on the younger/greener side to just hand off for 2 years. I don't know what I'd get back if I handed over Frankie right now and didn't ride him for 2 years. I don't know. Maybe you and I just have very different personalities, but I try not to let me get so into any ONE thing that it crosses the line from pleasure to mania for me. Because I can do that pretty easily and get totally lost in one activity to the detriment of all others. And that doesn't really make me happy or make me a good person. I have a friend who did marathons, then ironman races-- it became a real mania/obsession and it was not healthy. She also started giving up everything she did just to train. At the end, she killed her knees, burned out, got divorced, and was really really unhappy. She, like you, was sort of on the cusp of being really competitive but she was never going to make a living at it. She loved it, but at the expense of everything else in life. Is this really what you want? To give up a whole lot of everything that's always given you joy for a shot at *maybe* being competitive at a sport that has a whole LOT of people doing it-- so there's always someone on your heels coming up behind you who could be better? I've been enjoying seeing your photos of the events you've been doing. I think it's awesome! I just think you need to really soul search about what's best for you long run. |
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| vxf111 | Nov 1 2012, 11:36 AM Post #9 |
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You're BANNED!
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I will agree with those who say you can always come back to riding. Maybe not to the exact situation/horse you have now-- but you're not shutting that path down forever. |
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| JumpTheMoon | Nov 1 2012, 11:53 AM Post #10 |
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Off visiting Candy Cave, be right back.
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You can DEFINITELY come back to it after a year or two off. Let's face it, it's in our blood and not going anywhere! I think I am a year or two younger than you? I leased Skye out for 2 years when I got married and bought a house. Mostly for financial reasons, but also because of time. It was SUPER hard (but you'll also be really busy) but it was for the best for both of us. Skye went to a kid who rode great, some of the best trainers in my Province and went way further in that first year than he ever would have with me (which significantly increased his value). I started school part time, spent time doing "normal people" things and near the end part-boarded a horse of my trainers just to get some saddle time in. I came back refreshed and SO excited to show and have my horse back. So yes, I definitely think you can. The hardest part now is how painful the bills are, after 2 years of not having any! LOL. |
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| Deleted User | Nov 1 2012, 11:56 AM Post #11 |
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Deleted User
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This sounds like a great opportunity for you. I saw your post on FB, and thought, cool! This post is timely for me as I,too, am wrestling with this exact question. I think it is a very individual decision but, in the end, riding is much like a bicycle.you never forget how. Make the decision that is best for you and Sadie. |
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| FlashGordon | Nov 1 2012, 12:48 PM Post #12 |
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You're BANNED!
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This! I have taken time off here and there since I was 18. I always come back to it, when the timing is right. And you really *don't* forget how to ride, and that part of you doesn't die. It's totally ok to take a break, and do other things, and explore other aspects of life. Horses will always be there when you are ready to return. I'd definitely jump on the opportunity... sounds pretty awesome! Congrats to you!! |
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| FlashGordon | Nov 1 2012, 12:50 PM Post #13 |
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You're BANNED!
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This would be my one question as well.... If we thought about it in horse terms, with a trainer, we would be wondering the same. Explore the option for sure, but yes I would suss this out first. |
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| lhunterl | Nov 1 2012, 01:05 PM Post #14 |
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Is the meadow on fire?
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He makes a good living coaching kids/college tri groups and regular everyday folks in swimming and local level triathlon, plus a couple of random people at the half and full Iron distances. What he's looking for is a small group of people that can "put him on the map" on a national/international level as a coach... people that are new to tri but show some talent and are willing to put in the effort. With a group of us the expenses and his required time would be reduced, but if he had several people competing at that level it would get him a lot more recognition both here and out of state. He said the biggest problem is finding people that have the drive to put in that kind of work. Most have familes, more demanding jobs, etc and aren't able to give more than 3-4 days a week. I don't have all that stuff and neither does another older guy that is really interested in this idea. I never said anything about quitting riding or handing over the reins. I would still ride, but probably only 2-3 times a week and not really horse show. Finding a half-leaser would be the ideal situation. Riding wouldn't be completely off the radar but it would definitely go to the back burner and no longer be a priority. The training is intense but it's not so much that it has to be totally all-consuming. Full Ironman - yes that's A LOT of training. But half-iron and Olympic distance are more speed work and less endurance. Edited by lhunterl, Nov 1 2012, 01:06 PM.
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| vxf111 | Nov 1 2012, 01:13 PM Post #15 |
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You're BANNED!
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I might be cynical... but I have a hard time beliving he'll truly do everything he's saying for free. Especially if you need some work before you'll be "putting him on the map." I've just.... very cynical. I'm worried that after you put everything aisde, he'll start asking for time or different committment or move on when he gets more paying gigs, etc. I sort of wonder, if he's that good-- why hasn't he been able to make his name with paying clients? But it sounds like your mind is always made up and certainly you can go back to riding later if things don't pan out. |
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We do that for injuries and babies!
Applies to me in more ways than one at the moment, too!
7:23 AM Jul 11