Hello and welcome to my Barrel Racing experiences

I have been barrel racing for quite a while now, 10 yrs or more, but I got a late start on it in life. When I started playing around at a local gymkhana where I boarded my horses, I really found it to be very exilerating. The horse I started out with I really believe that they did these types of horse games on him, which is how I was able to get so confident.
Since moving to my home in New River, AZ, I have been fortunate to meet John and Kathryn Deegan, who have been so inspirational in teaching me horsemanship and being so encouraging, they truly are wonderful people. They initially encouraged me to go to a Connie Combs Clinic back in Nov. 2003. It was so great and I learned so much as a novice Barrel racer. At that time I was riding Missy or Skips Miss Moon. She would have been 8 yrs old at the time. Since that first clinic I have attended 2 additional clinics with Connie, but on my current horse, and in Sept of 2008 I was able to go to Charmayne James' Clinic in Colorado Springs, CO. WOW!!! I had picked up a barrel racing book in 2006 by Western Horsemen-Charmayne James on Barrel Racing-which was in debth on haw she trains and runs her horses. It taught me so much and I really started working Skippy according to her ways of training. After attending the clinic, my confidence level escalated to a new high. We got better and better through that season of Oct 2008 to Feb 2009 and our times went from being in the middle of the 4D to being in the mid 3D-Hey today I would be estatic about that. I accomplished most all of the goals I set for us and was improving all the time. Then a slight accident happened where Skippy got hurt in the trailer when the brakes locked up. He fell and as he tried to get back up, kept hitting his hip and back on the devider of the trailer. I thought it was minor and continued to ride him but later found out it was very bruised. I gave him time off for a few months, sought my Vets advise but we have not as of yet been able to get back into the groove we were in before.


Fast forward to today, Aug. 2011, I have Skippy. Born at my home Jan 2001, trained by John Deegan as a 2 yr old, he is 16.1h and about 1200lbs he has been a great horse, but I suck at being a trainer. It's not that I suck, I do not have the experience. This barrel racing thing is very tricky. I have found that my horse is much smarter than I and sometimes you have to trust your horse. There are many things that you can't put into a book or a DVD and unless you have the ability to ride many different horses and can ride everyday, you miss out on some teachings that are so important.
No excuse, but I have a fulltime job, and I ride as often as I can. Keep in mind that I have a family also, and they depend on me for responsibilites at home. Luckily my family is supportive of my passion, and they tolerate late meals of finding their own, as the kids are now grown so it gives me more freedom.
So here are my notes about the runs I make good or bad. If you have any suggestions, I am open to hear them and try something new.
There is a song that I love and I listen to it to give me motivation called The Climb-this is my way of moving that mountain and sometimes your gonna have to lose. It ain't about how fast I get there, but I will have learned along the way by going my speed!

Sunday, August 7, 2011

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.
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