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, July 7, 2013

Starting all over!!!

Started a saddle series of barrel races for the summer. It is 10 barrel races which started 06/14/13 and will end 08/23/13, excluding 07/05/13. I thought this would give me a good opportunity to get back in the saddle with Skippy and get back on track since I have had many obstacles to overcome since the beginning of the year. Our first run on 06/14/13 was pretty smooth I thought, just not fast. My time was a 19.948 and I placed 4th in the 4D, this gave me points toward the saddle, but no $$. The second week was horrible with Skippy taking over the run and took no ques from me unless I was totally shutting him down. We hit the 2nd barrel. Needless to say, I added more riding time to my schedule to get back on track. Alex Hill video taped my run for me on 06/28/13, which is attached. This is so helpful so I can totally pick it apart and work on improving a few things for the next race. So here is what I see in this video- 1) Great idea making him circle first, shows I am in control. I should wait just a little longer and closer to timer before I let him go. 2) Use your legs more coming into the barrel to get him bent at the rig cage and hind end under himself. 3) Sit deeper!!! 4) I should be looking where I want him to go. 4 ft to the outside of the barrel and 4 ft on the backside, my eyes should continue around and not get stuck in one place. 5) Hold your horn longer coming out of the 1st and stay forward so you don't block him coming out.(Maybe I should try holding the horn until half way to the 2nd, switch hands and always keep one hand on the horn.) 6) Don't forget to kick! THEN SIT DEEPER!!! 7) Again look 4 ft to the outside of the 2nd/4 ft to the backside then look to your next barrel. KICK!!!! 8) Same as above-4 ft/4 ft then look home and KICK!!!! No race on 07/05/13 I have also subscribed to the following website for tips from the pros. Really good info on drills and how these 3 professional barrel racers train and workout problems or issues with their barrel horses.
Posted by at No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)