Dilemma

Alright, so I wanted to get some opinions on this as I'm not 100% what to do. 

Currently I own a pretty large variety of breeds that specialize in multiple disciplines(I believe I have all 6). However, I get overwhelmed quite easily and keeping track of horses and disciplines and breedings has actually become quite painful for me. I have some herds that are into 2nd generation and I have become quite attached as I worked really hard on them from foundation lines. The problem is...I'm constantly moving horses around or locking horses or selling entire herds because I am so overwhelmed. I have thought a lot of this and I have decide I either want to focus on one breed(in several disciplines) or just one discipline with several breeds. I'm thinking the multiple breeds and one discipline might be a little less overwhelming. I don't really want to sell all of the horses I have right now, especially ones I have become so attached to. Would it be better to maybe have them on a spare account and just work with them intermittently and just leave them locked when it seems like too much work for me or should I just move them somewhere..lock them up and just leave them? Do you think multiple breeds in one discipline would be easier than one breed in multiple disciplines or vice versa? 

It's not fun when a game that is supposed to be my "outlet" for my stress, anxiety, and depression becomes overwhelming and feels like my brain is going to explode so I need to do something. 

Any advice is appreciated or maybe some ideas on how ya'll do stuff to keep you from getting too overwhelmed? 

I have usually done the same as you when I tried to concentrate on too many breeds or got too much horses immediately at the same time. 
But I noticed that if I focus on my "most favourite" breed or breeds (in my case it's TB) then I'm happier to do things with these pixel ponies and don't get frustrated with them and their handling and training over time.

The other thing which affects my "overwhelming experience" is the size of my herd: if I start with fewer horses (let's say 15-20) then slowly building up my herd (let's say to 200+ horses over weeks or months of time) I can manage them somehow easier and don't feel it's too much. As the herd builds up slowly, I can grow attached to almost all of the individual horses so it's much more harder to get rid of them when I feel overwhelmed.

When it's too much, I usually just lock some of the divisions and care for just one part of the horses if I want at all. Using autocar and autoshow also make everyday care easier. 

I honestly don't know which is easier: to have multiple breeds in one discipline or one breed in mutiple disciplines. :/ 

But my advice would be this: choose only a few "favourite" breeds (or one breed) and start with smaller herds and slowly build up the number of horses. If you already have too many horses which you don't want to get rid of, then choose a few (or just one) herd you want to work with, then slowly add other herds or horses for your everyday routine if it seems managable and not too overwhelming. Anytime you feel it's too much, just lock the others and work with the "favourite" herd.

I hope it helps. :)

I haven't been overwhelmed by my herd yet, but if I had as many as it sounds like you do I definitely think I would be!

I picked my favorite breed on here which is the Dutch Warmblood and decided to breed them in to different disciplines (the most popular ones jumping and dressage) plus I try and keep my herd fairly small, I only have about 132 right now which I find is manageable for me.

I understand how it would be hard to get rid of any of them, if you can afford the extra divisions maybe lock them on your main account, personally I find I rarely visit my spare accounts. That way you unlock them certain days you want to work with them and leave them locked the rest of the time :)

I have had the same problem in the past, and I am working VERY hard to not do it again this time around. It usually ends up being the reason I stop playing for a while. I have found that if I stick with a primary breed I love it usually works out better for me.

I am also a big believer in having specific breeding goals, and giving myself limits. For example, right now I am working on training/schooling/showing my Dutchies before I breed them. I am planning a line of dressage horses that are all gray, and I will be limiting my breedings. I usually only breed one foal for myself from a pair, and offer maybe 1 or 2 public breedings. I don't flood the population, and I don't overwhelm myself that way. 

I am also pretty open to selling horses when I need to, and that is honestly what I do with a lot of the horses I pull from the rescue center. I train/show them, and then put them up for sale. I may dabble in other breeds for a while, and sell them off when I get bored or overwhelmed. 

I also keep my numbers under 100, typically 50 or less. If I have more than that I feel like I am just clicking buttons rather than actually enjoying the pixels.  :)

Last edited on 2019-03-01 at 19:17:02 by Pagan

Ditto what Sheila said about the favorite breed thing and just unlocking whichever ones you feel like dealing with. That's what I've been doing for quite some time now and it's really easy to keep track of and enjoy, though I only have 6 horses max per division so I suppose it's a given that it's rather stress-free lol.

Last edited on 2019-03-02 at 06:13:17 by Raptor

Thanks all, what I have decide to do is work primarily with my favorite breed (gypsy vanners) on my main account(3 disciplines but only breeding horses in two of those). My other horses will go to one of my spares, probably the bigger one, and I will hopefully get on there a few times a week to care, train, and show but if not I can always lock them up for however long they need to be locked. 

Hoping that this will make my game playing less overwhelming and less stressful! 

Thanks again!