I apprentice at a ranch every day of the week, in return I get free lessons, etc. I board two horses there, and only one of them do I pay for ... and it's 250 each month. The free lessons I get are cutting, and barrel racing. I just recently gave up roping due to school work. Now my parents are doing very hard on money, and we can barely even pay them anymore. My parents want to move our horses home but that means that my cutting mare would get away from cattle to back in the woods where she loses her show quality, and my barrel racer would go out of barrel training. I would not be able to rodeo anymore, and my trainer would lose me as a client. I can still ride the horses at home, and stay on my routine of riding them, but I would lose all the training. I know I do not have much of a choice, but should I leave? I'm 18, have a job there, and a tiny job down where I live but my parents are still insisting that I get another paying job. The ranch job does not pay, and takes up much of my life. Should I move on and look for different opportunities? Please answer and give a girl some advice. Thank you.

Well, they will cost you something if you move them home. Could you give up the "lessons" and get free board on both? Another option ... with money so tight, won't you have trouble getting to cutting or barrel events? It might not hurt the horses to have a winter vacation, both cutting and racing are hard on their legs.

Could you get another paying job to do the upkeep of the horses payments yourself? Have you considered maybe selling one of the horses so you can keep one there for free? I know it must be a tough decision. At home, could you get a trainer to come out? You might not have the facilities like the boarding barn but probably could get some barrels up at home and things like that.

well lets see .... you dont have cattle at home .... maybe buy a couple cows;) i know its easier said than done and maybe have your trainer come out to your house and give you lessons like once or twice a week and have him being a couple cows:) just a though .... but i know the feeling. hope i helped

Doesn't sound like you have much choice.

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Either you make some real money or you stay and continue to be broke.

BUT that said ....

What do you want to be when you grow up? Be a trainer? Be a pro competitor?

I think first you need to make up your mind as to how commited you are to horses and if you truly want a future with them AND you have natural talent that you can sharpen and take to the next level, then look for a way to do that. Work harder at it to go places .

If it's pretty much just a hobby, then you pretty much are stuck and should get a real job for now, put the horses on the part time and see what happens later.

It all comes down to what you want to do with your life.