Letting Go with Grace: When It’s Time to Say Goodbye to a Horse
- afenner
- Jul 9
- 2 min read
In the world of horses, we talk a lot about training, competing, breeding, and winning — but not enough about letting go. Whether it’s rehoming a horse that doesn’t fit, retiring an old campaigner, or selling a colt you raised from day one, parting ways is part of the journey.
And at Rad Rodeo, we believe how you handle that moment says just as much about you as how you handle a winning run.
Not Every Horse is a Forever Horse
It’s easy to dream big on every colt. But the truth is, not every horse ends up where you hoped:
Some don’t grow into the job.
Some have soundness issues.
Some just don’t click with the rider they were meant for.
That doesn’t mean they’re failures. It means they need something different — and we can honor that.
Be Honest About the Fit
We’ve learned to ask tough but necessary questions:
Is this horse happy in the work?
Are they progressing or just surviving?
Is someone else better suited to bring out their best?
Holding on for sentimental reasons — or pride — only delays the inevitable. And sometimes, saying goodbye is the best way to do right by the horse.
Retirement Isn’t a Tragedy
When a horse has given you their best, they deserve a soft landing. We’ve retired broodmares, barrel horses, and old babysitters — not because they had nothing left to give, but because they’d already given so much.
And those horses? They’re still teaching the next generation:
Watching over weanlings in the pasture.
Teaching yearlings manners through herd behavior.
Living out their days in peace, not pain.
Selling Doesn’t Mean You Failed
It’s okay to sell a horse you raised, to go on to perform elsewhere. It’s okay to admit it isn’t working. It’s okay to want something that fits better — for your kid or the program.
Letting go with honesty and kindness isn’t giving up. It’s growing up.
We find them great homes. We stay in touch when we can. And we trust that good horses will find their people.
Final Thoughts
At Rad Rodeo, we love our horses. But we don’t confuse love with ownership. We believe in honoring their journey, even when it takes them away from ours.
Because sometimes the bravest thing you can do is let go — with grace, with gratitude, and with the door always open for what comes next.
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Ann-Marie Fenner
Ranch Manager, Breeder, Rodeo Mom
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