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!

Monday, August 15, 2011

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.
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