Kathy,
Hi I'm Kirstin's mom. I know that you are looking for direction here, but unfortunately, you are the one who ultimately needs to make that decision. I feel your frustration and I know that yours is probably deeper set than some due largely to the time that Reno blew up on you. Kirstin's has dealt with similar issues, but more on her level as a trainer of yearlings. She thinks that everything is going great and then the wild comes back-rears it's ugly head so to speak. It can be, to say the least, very scary. When Mia bolted on her the other day, the look on Kirstin's face was heartbreaking. I know that she felt so confident heading down the lane to go to the tank, but when Mia reared & bolted from her, I think it really scared Kirstin because it was a side that she never really saw before. Kirstin felt that she really messed up, this was the first time that she had lost control of any of her yearlings. But then she trains the next day and it's like nothing happened. I know exactly what you are thinking-she's just has to train to halter and you are given a much harder task-training to ride. But just the same, what all of you trainers are doing, I say doing, because none of you are completely where you would like to be, is still awesome. 100 days to train a wild horse to ride. It is still amazing even if you only compete in the halter competition. I can guarantee that no one there will judge you or any one else that has accepted this challenge. You are right that this is not about you and I hope that you don't look at it as a reflection of you either. This is about the horse, each one of these horses are different and they have to advance at their pace, not ours. So your's needs a little more time, I am sure that there will be plenty more there needing more time.
I wish that there was a clear cut answer here. But there isn't. So much to factor in; distance, time, stress. Like I said only you can make that decision. But, I promise you this: no one there will judge you based on what you have or have not done. Why? Because regardless; what you have done is amazing. Remember you have taken this horse from where he was when you picked him, to where he is today and I guarantee that he is far better off today than he was back then.