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boon
Posts: 2
| My daughter took horseback riding lessons back when she was 10 for a year but decided to take up another sport. She competed in various mini shows at her barn, particularly barrels and did pretty well but it was a small competition. Anyways now she is 16 and decided she wants to start riding again and eventually compete in barrel racing, she also wants to further her riding career by studying equine sciences and agriculture business in college, wanting to open her own ranch. I think that is a little drastic but she has her mind set on it! How should she go about getting competitive in barrel racing and is there anything I should get her into now to help her achieve her goal of owning her own farm. We don't live on a ranch but kinda embrace some of the culture with our city living! Thank you |
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 Chasin my Dream
Posts: 13651
    
Location: Alberta | If you give an idea of the state and area you live in then some BB's may have suggestions on trainers or stables she can start on towards her goals! |
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 Dancing in my Mind
Posts: 3062
Location: Eastern OH but my heart is in WV | I would start with a good trainer that can help your daughter get back into riding and help you find the right horse. If you can not find/ afford a trainer right now, I would start going to some of the larger area shows, watch and observe, talk to people. Try to start getting a feel who can help point you in the right direction. With her getting back into riding, I also would not worry about getting the most high powered horse you can right now. Start with one that matches her riding abilities and move up with experience. As for her education, as you get to know people better, maybe she can get in a barn to work and gain experience. Some of our local vets will also allow young people who are interested in such fields, to do ride a longs.
Best of luck to her and you  |
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Veteran
Posts: 220
| Find someone that can help you find the right horse for her. Then I would find someone in it that knows what they are doing. Like someone that knows where playdays or amature barrel racers can run and build confidence. |
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 Expert
Posts: 2097
Location: Deep South | At 16 she's at the perfect age to go to work for a trainer. She may have to start with just cleaning stalls, because she's inexperienced, but if she gets in with someone willing to teach her it can be a great relationship. I worked for a cutting trainer for about a year and learned a lot! Even though it is a different discipline, the horsemanship skills I learned from that trainer are applicable to barrel racing, and made me a better rider. She'll also learn valuable information about horse care, there's so much involved with caring for performance horses.
If you can get in her in lessons, or if she can work for a barrel trainer, cutting trainer, reining trainer, or really reputable colt starter that would be great experience. |
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Young wannabe barrel racer