November has flown by and has not been a good month for me. But October was pretty good. Hopefully if this pictures uploads correctly, this was the North Valley Saddle Club run I did on 10/15/11. I would really like to thank the gentleman who goes out and take several great pictures of each of the riders then gives a CD ROM to those riders for free. These are great photos and you really get the detail of your run, because he takes so many shots of you. I do not know his name, but what a wonderful gift you you give to us. Thank you! At the end of October, I took Skippy and competed in the 2nd Annual Fall Spooktacular at Dunn's arena on 10/29 & 10/30/2011. Our first run was great! We ran a 19.537 and took 1st place in the 4D and brought home a nice check that paid for the weekend. Day 2 was not as good as we hit the 2nd barrel. The next few runs we did were terrible. I have to say that this is due to not enough slow work to correct our mistakes in between runs. There are a lot of reasons for this, but the biggest is time. I don't want to say oh whoa is me, but the truth is, my full time job is a priority and so is my family. Making so many runs without slowing it down to correct yourself and your horse may lead to what happened to me. On Nov. 2nd, I was able to go to Dunn's with my daughter for the Jackpots they hold on Wed. nights. My run on Skippy started out great to the 1st barrel, but leaving the 2nd we were out of position and ended up smashing into the 3rd with my left knee. OUCH!!! Any one who was there and reads this, first let me apologize for my language. And there were children present. And to the woman who gave me ice, thank you so much. And to my daughter, Korrina, thanks for all of your help and I know it didn't help that your run was quickly coming up. So I had some major swelling and bruising, but was on my horse in a couple of days trail riding on Sat 11/05/2011 for the Larkyn Memorial Arena annual poker ride as Trail Boss, and then went to PBRA @ BEC on Sunday 11/06/11. Skippy and I did pretty well that day, first running a time of 19.6 I think in our first run, then really improving by running an 18.6 in our 2nd. So we brought back some of our $$ that day. A last minute though came to me that next Monday, Connie Combs Clinic was going to start that Friday 11/11/11, which is a bank holiday. I called Leigh Cheatham and found out I could still get in. So on Friday I was in Buckeye again learning more about this barrel racing thing and where I can improve. It has been 2 yrs since I last went to her Clinic, and no surprise she changes it up and you learn something new every time. I have to leave now, but will come back with more info on the clinic and other news to share.

What an improvement!

Oct. 18, 2011, so if you are doing things different while practicing than you are when you compete, don't expect the same results. AND-when you compete, if you don't make any changes how can you expect your run to get any better. These are things that I have been learning during this whole process of trying to better my competition runs. Last night was THE best night I have had and THE best run I have made in quite a while. there was no competition, it was only time only's at Larkyn, but I changed one thing I was doing and it made a world of difference. Let me explain: Skippy, my trustee partner in this quest, is big! He stands 16.1hh and is longer in the back, kind of like a Thoroughbred. He can stride out very good, but not real good at rating. So for a few weeks we have been working to get him to rate better and he has been doing well during practice runs. It is when I add additional speed that I cannot get him to turn the 2nd barrel very good. I was still having the same problems of him over running the 2nd and the 3rd for that matter. Those turns were costing me alot of time. So on Monday of this week I added a little kick to the inside girth area to get Skippy to give me more bend going into the barrel. this worked really well during practice, but often times what works in practice does not help to stop the clock in a run. Last night it was my plan to run Skippy a couple of times until we could get it right. My first slot at the time only's I felt it was disasterous because Skippy just thinks he is supposed to run when all I want to do is trot up to the barrels and get him to rate. so it is almost a fight with him to settle down. the 2nd time I went in, I just went for it. I didn't push, but at the same time I didn't slow him up. going to the 1st, I used a little inside rein, a little inside leg and outside leg and he snapped around so good we cut around really close to the barrel. Heading to the 2nd I used more inside leg, bumping him a couple times, lifted the inside rein and and pulled out to the side also using outside leg.His turn was text book, just beautiful! I stood up in my stirrups holding onto the horn with my right hand and rode one handed to the 3rd. Halfway there I sat down, bumped the inside leg again a couple times, lifted with inside rein and used outside leg to finish. It was AWESOME. This is what I have been trying to get all summer. I wasn't even pushing and our time was 18.7??. Not even pushing! Keep in mind this is not a standard pattern, but I ran this same size pattern for the NVSC on Sat. 10/15/11 and got 19.7 and I was pushing. So you can see I improved by 1 second without pushing. It is not the in between that gets you better times, its the turn around the barrel. Now my plan is to stay consistant in how I run and see where Skippy and I can go. this weekend I plan to go to the AWPRA at Horse Lovers on Sunday. I was only going to run a exhibition run because if I am only running 20's there is no since donating my money. But now if I can actually be competitive, I will enter and compete. Wish me luck!!!!

And the winner is...

Time has just flown by these past couple of months. I set outto practice more rather than spend time on a computer that takes so long to bring up what I would like for it to bring up. It is so frustrating. I continued to struggle on the 2nd barrel but we did get better on the first. We ended the buckle series winning the buckle in the 5 D. I am very happy for my win and for the experience. I am not real excited about the times Skippy and I are getting. So I will continue to make improvements where I can. My goal now is to not only work on slow work, but I will also work him up to speed so I can get over that fear and give guidance where Skippy needs it. This has really helped me with my confidence and his too. I am looking forward to the season this year and I am setting goals that will move me into the upper divisions.

Aug. 19, 2011

After reviewing my video from the previous run and knowing what has helped in the past, I set out on Friday to #1) keep Skippy calm before a run, #2) don't tug or pull on the outside rein going into the 2nd barrel and #3) do the best I can with the horse I have. So in my previous runs I made this summer, I thought I would incorporate a couple of practice runs prior to my actual competition run in an effort to get myself right. Well with Skippy, this just makes him more agressive and I don't need that with him going to the 1st barrel. I need to keep things slow right now, almost like I am starting over with him. So this time we just warmed up and waited for our turn to go. Well it paid off because he stayed calm going into the arena and I did not have to fight with him so much getting closer to the timer. He also had a much nicer 2nd, (still not perfect) getting around it quicker. The 3rd still needs work, but I am happy with the improvements. I feel I am headed in the right direction. My time was 19.629 which is my best time so far this season.
My next plan of action will be to work on Skippy's circles, both large and small and I have some great excerices to help mix it up some. I'd like to continue to work on making our barrel turns smoother which, in turn, will make them faster. I am really trying to educate myself on proven methods that help in this area. Does anyone have any suggestions, if so please let me know.

The Classified Horse @ Dunn's Arena Sat. 08/13/2011

Although the weather said thunderstorms, I didn't not see any rain while at Dunn'd Saturday night. The plan was to do the same in competition as I had been doing at practice and Skippy had been doing well. Friday night I practiced and had great expectations for the run on Sat. but here is the breakdown-I had some help at this race, my daughter video taped the run and I was bale to see where my mistakes were. This is so helpful.
We did an exhibition run and everything went well. Skippy was listening to me and I did not have to rack on him. He rated well at the barrels and turned each one nice.
We were 4th out, which was fine with me and we entered the area and Skippy did his normal trot to where we start out. As we picked up to a lope and came around to be lined up with the 3rd, he started getting pushy with me so I had to hold him back. Then as we approached the timer, I let him go and gave a couple of kicks. (I usually don't kick to the 1st) We came in wide to the first, but he turned it and we were set up for the 2nd My hands are where I want them to be while going around the 1st, but I could sit deeper in the saddle.
Going to the 2nd, I held the outside rein too much, making him tip his nose too far to the outside. I can see why our turns at the 2nd are off. I am totally throwing Skippy off balance. He should have a slight tip to the inside before we get to the 2nd. This is why he is coming out so wide on the back of the 2nd. He lines up nice to the 3rd as we are leaving the 2nd and I held the horn all the way, then sat and turned. The turn was wider than I would like but that is an issue I will have to work on after I get barrels 1 & 2 better.
So I am trying to download the video-which is not pretty-so you can see what is happening. Please post any comments you may have.

08/09/2011***Practice, Practice, Practice****

After getting a couple of tips on Utube from Ty Mitchel, I set out this evening to do some time only's or practice runs at Larkyn Arens where the ground is very nice. While picking out my horses hooves, I found that one of his front shoes must have gotten caught on something because it was bent a little and there were 2 nails that had gotten bent over like it had almost been torn off. With the help and advise of Bill Lake, a reputable trainer in the area, he took out the bent nails and said as long as I don't run him hard, he should be good.
I had ridden him on Sunday evening and Skippy felt much more solid and riding him tonight, I feel that way even more so. With the combination of getting him  listening to me, making sure I am relaxed, using my outside leg on the approach to the barrel, sitting straight in the saddle and checking him at my transition area, he will really stand up as he is going around the barrel. Pretty good going slow, but when you add speed we'll have to see if I can stay up with him. The more I practice, the better I will be able to handle it. A little at a time.

Buckle Series-The Classified Horse

On Friday, 08/05/11, Skippy and I went to Dunn's for our 3rd run in the Summer Buckle series. Our times have been getting faster with every run, little by little. Starting out with a 20.089 on 07/09(not the buckle series), then on 07/22 we ran 19.753(1st place 5D) and on 07/29 we ran 19.639(times were slower this night so we ended 5th in 4D). All the while I am making sutble changes and keeping track of what is working, and what is not. I had a Vet out on Monday 08/01 to check for lameness issues, which he found that Skippy was sore in the Stifles, so we had him injected. I did not ride on Sat or Sun of last week, he had to be off from the injection for 2 days, my work schedule Wed was 7:30am to 7pm, shoer was out on Thur. so Skippy and I did not get any work out what so ever this past week. NOT GOOD! Our run on Friday was less than perfect, our time was a 20.009(6th place in 5D). One adjustment I made was to go into the 1st barrel more aggressive. I did this and he turned it so nice! I will continue to work on this. Riding into the 2nd, I lost timing by taking hold of outside rein but not holding up the inside rein. We came out of the back side very wide, almost crossing the timer. Lost alot of time there, the 3rd was okay but could be tighter. 
I have decided that I should focus more on using my outside leg both going into the barrel and on him to get around quicker. I should continue to push going into the barrel and not pulling on the outside rein. I also will be working him more during the week on excercises to help him get around the barrel faster.