I need help big time!

[azaeriah]

I've read through the FAQ and help guides and stuff, but I think I'm going about things all wrong.
I've been training my horses and what not, but when I enter them in trails, they come out with negative scores.

http://www.virtualhorseranch.com/viewho ... se=2182076
http://www.virtualhorseranch.com/viewho ... se=2181253

these are my two horses. Am I training them wrong? Is there something I can do better that'll actually have them earning me money?

[Dukes]

Your horses aren't actually trained... hence why they're coming out negative in any trial event.

For starters:
They're level 1 & 2 - highest level is 25
You CAN'T raise actuals to 200 as a novice
Seeing as you can't raise actuals to 200 - you can't event train, which will stop them from having negative trials.

This is a "fully trained" horse. All stats are to 200 & level is 25. It's called "statmaxing" or "roll prepping." From here he can be rolled (Arabian birth cap is Eg/Eg/F/In - these are the highest stats a foal of that breed can be born with) to make him a better BREEDING prospect. These stallions won't do well in trial events either because they need to be event trained.

This is an event trained horse. Notice how she's level 25 and some of her stats are WELL above 200? She has been trained specifically for the event she is being evented in, which in this case is Dressage. As a novice you can buy a horse who's stats are all at 200 and tweak them to be semi-eventable in a certain event (I say semi because sometimes stat maxed horses who are then tweaked for eventing don't always turn out well).

[azaeriah]

so you're saying that since I can't actually train them because I'm only a novice account, these horses won't make me any money no matter how much I work with them? If I can't train and can't make money, how am I supposed to play the game?

[indie]

You can get them to level 25 and then enter them into Gymkhana events - they can earn you money that way!

You will need to just save up some money so that you can pay a sponsor to train your horses for you - then they will win in other events

[Em N Em]

Can untrained foals do Gymkhana events and win money?

[Jellybeanjoe]

Totally untrained horses won't win you anything. In order to have a horse capable of winning in Gymkhana, that horse needs to be level 25 in anything

[Zimmy]

Totally untrained horses won't win you anything. In order to have a horse capable of winning in Gymkhana, that horse needs to be level 25 in anything

yup, but level 25 is something that you can do... or something that many players will charge next to nothing (or nothing) to do for you if you don't do it yourself... the rest of the training doesn't matter, ONLY that it is level 25 in SOMETHING, gym is totally random so you enter as many events as there are (even if it takes you into the negative) and then you sit back and wait and the horses will make back the money and then some extra... if you keep doing that for a little while you will have several million saved up to where you can have future horses event trained... once someone event trains for you you can event and make money just like a sponsor (if you do it right and pick the right bonuses for your ranch). Running your horses in Gym events is also a great way to 'level' your ranch so that you can pick your bonuses for the ranch.

[Em N Em]

ok, and what type of training do i use to level up a horse?

[kwiedman]

ok, and what type of training do i use to level up a horse?

To just level, you can train in just about anything. To stat max, as well as other things, you can find a lot of good guides here: viewforum.php?f=17