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 Don't Wanna Make This Awkward
Posts: 3106
  
Location: Texas | I told myself in June that if I won $500 in true 1D money over the summer that I would enter the american qualifier this past weekend. My horse loves that pen and has consistently ran low 15's there. Well we didn't get to run that much this summer as some of you know we've had lameness issues. We had about 4 1D runs until things went bad. We should have everything figured out now and will run for the 1st time again in Marshall Thanksgiving weekend. Well when they announced the qualifier in Glenrose AGAIN at the end of January I thought maybe that was a sign. I'm gonna get my butt in shape and my horses too! I think I could handle putting up the entry fee and justify it if I have $500+ 1D money earned. Just wondering if anyone else has considered entering a qualifier and how you decide what will justify your entry? |
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  Shipwrecked and Flat Out Zapped
Posts: 16390
 
Location: DUMPING CATS AND PIGS IN TEXAS :) | Here's what I have to say. If you have the money, do it.....wanna know why? Because you only live once. Do it! |
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Shipwrecked and Flat Out Zapped
Posts: 16390
Location: DUMPING CATS AND PIGS IN TEXAS :) | Also, you aren't going to win the million dollars, if you don't try. |
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Hungarian Midget Woman
Location: Midwest | If your horses is clocking against those who are qualifying, go for it
I'm not anywhere near that caliber though LOL  |
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 Am I really the Weirdo?
Posts: 11181
Location: Kansas | outrundaizy - 2014-11-03 2:42 PM I told myself in June that if I won $500 in true 1D money over the summer that I would enter the american qualifier this past weekend. My horse loves that pen and has consistently ran low 15's there. Well we didn't get to run that much this summer as some of you know we've had lameness issues. We had about 4 1D runs until things went bad. We should have everything figured out now and will run for the 1st time again in Marshall Thanksgiving weekend. Well when they announced the qualifier in Glenrose AGAIN at the end of January I thought maybe that was a sign. I'm gonna get my butt in shape and my horses too! I think I could handle putting up the entry fee and justify it if I have $500+ 1D money earned. Just wondering if anyone else has considered entering a qualifier and how you decide what will justify your entry?
If that pen is staked the same every time, I would be looking at what qualified from last weekend and if my times from there were comparable to what qualified, I'd think about it. If my best in there was several tenths off what it took, I'd save the money and not enter.
My gray horse loves the big pen at Lincoln Nebraska, and was running really well in late September but I just couldn't justify spending $500 on one run. Probably because I don't make much more than that in a week at my job plus I'm a terrible gambler and hate to spend that much on one run. Entering an American qualifier is still on my list of things to do, and if I've got a horse kicking butt that time next year, maybe I'll have the money saved up to give it a shot then. I won't make my decision on how much 1D money I've won though - it will depend more on how consistent that horse has been running in the top 2 or 3 of the tougher races around here. If we're sneaking in for last hole 1D checks, no way am I spending $500 on one run, but if we're winning races by 2 or 3 tenths regularly, that's another story. I guess I figure the qualifiers are all going to be so very tough that you better be seriously at the top of your game to have a shot. |
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Don't Wanna Make This Awkward
Posts: 3106
Location: Texas | I'm just so amazed by my horse. Everytime I look at him I'm just beyond amazed at how cool he is. I never thought I would have a horse like this, especially one I didn't buy as a 1D horse. We won the 4D with 1/2 1/2 whole splits our first run together  |
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Rad Dork
Posts: 5218
Location: Oklahoma | It sounds to me like if you know how to make a rockin' run in that pen (awkward first barrel approach and all) then you need to do it!!!
I haven't even thought about what would "justify" me entering in something like that.... I go to races and pray that my time falls just perfectly off the fastest horse and I can draw a check in one of the Ds... because I'm certainly not going to be the one setting the pace!!  |
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 Go For It!
Location: Texas | If you can enter the race and afford to lose the money, then do it. But I certainly wouldn't skip my truck note to enter a barrel race, lol.
That said, you're going to have to have LOTS of confidence in your horse to get it done. Corky said he thought that the Glen Rose race was actually tougher than the American finals last year. But in actuality, it's just another barrel race... the pressure comes when you think about all that money in entry fees, so you definitely don't want to put yourself in a bind to enter it.
Good luck with whatever decision you make.
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Shipwrecked and Flat Out Zapped
Posts: 16390
Location: DUMPING CATS AND PIGS IN TEXAS :) | YOLO!!!!!! |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 591
| outrundaizy - 2014-11-03 12:42 PM I told myself in June that if I won $500 in true 1D money over the summer that I would enter the american qualifier this past weekend. My horse loves that pen and has consistently ran low 15's there. Well we didn't get to run that much this summer as some of you know we've had lameness issues. We had about 4 1D runs until things went bad. We should have everything figured out now and will run for the 1st time again in Marshall Thanksgiving weekend. Well when they announced the qualifier in Glenrose AGAIN at the end of January I thought maybe that was a sign. I'm gonna get my butt in shape and my horses too! I think I could handle putting up the entry fee and justify it if I have $500+ 1D money earned. Just wondering if anyone else has considered entering a qualifier and how you decide what will justify your entry?
Low 15's did not qualify and neither did a horse that is going to the NFR this year (Christine Laughlin). So unless you have run consistent 15.0's or .1's and know you can get at least .2 tenths off that time then I would spend the money. JMO. I also read on the web chat that the pattern was staked differently (possibly larger) than what is normally staked there. |
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 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9992
Location: Kansas | If you feel you can make it, do it. And if you have the extra cash to spend, then do it......you will be running against some of the top girls in the country...that would scare me. |
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Shipwrecked and Flat Out Zapped
Posts: 16390
Location: DUMPING CATS AND PIGS IN TEXAS :) | hoofs_in_motion - 2014-11-03 3:44 PM If you feel you can make it, do it. And if you have the extra cash to spend, then do it......you will be running against some of the top girls in the country...that would scare me.
orrrrrr....you could say, I ran against some of the top girls in the country and I didn't look too ridiculous! |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 393
Location: Oklahoma | I play it by how my horse is doing if he is constantly running in the top ten at bigger races then I would enter him
If not I would wait till next year! |
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Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9992
Location: Kansas | LRQHS - 2014-11-03 3:45 PM hoofs_in_motion - 2014-11-03 3:44 PM If you feel you can make it, do it. And if you have the extra cash to spend, then do it......you will be running against some of the top girls in the country...that would scare me. orrrrrr....you could say, I ran against some of the top girls in the country and I didn't look too ridiculous!
That too.....but I would look like an idiot compared to those girls LMAO |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 554
| I would if I could afford it just to say I did. It wouldn't be the first time I came in last!! |
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Shipwrecked and Flat Out Zapped
Posts: 16390
Location: DUMPING CATS AND PIGS IN TEXAS :) | rowdy256 - 2014-11-03 4:10 PM I would if I could afford it just to say I did. It wouldn't be the first time I came in last!!
I'd walk around town showing off my T-shirt too.....I tried for The American and all I got was this lousy t-shirt :) |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 554
| LRQHS - 2014-11-03 4:14 PM
rowdy256 - 2014-11-03 4:10 PM I would if I could afford it just to say I did. It wouldn't be the first time I came in last!!
So true, someone has to come in last so the winners know how fast they are!!! |
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Don't Wanna Make This Awkward
Posts: 3106
Location: Texas | Well I will post a couple video's. My horse has been once when his hocks weren't sore and we ran a 15.4. It was his first 1D run anywhere. Has only ran slower than 15.6 once and he had so many problems I can't name them and it was a 16.2. We have ran .1's & .2's with room for improvements and his hocks being slightly off. Also I scoped the pattern out and I know it's the same. The 16.2 we ran was on a short pattern, that's how sore he was. Now haven't hit the 14's but I feel if he is doing well we have a chance...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7hDSN--6QI&index=8&list=UUchtC15QY_aVNim2YA-0Jyw |
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Rad Dork
Posts: 5218
Location: Oklahoma | Even if you don't qualify you'll still be allowed into the patriot invitational race! That would be some motivation for me! |
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 Northern Exposure
Posts: 3919
Location: Wasagaming, Manitoba, Canada | I think if the entry fee isn't going to cause unreasonable stress on you, by all means why not enter? If you feel you have a shot then chase the that dream, that's why the whole deal was created.  |
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Don't Wanna Make This Awkward
Posts: 3106
Location: Texas | Thanks guys :)
My mind is with LRQHS on this one, yolo!!!
I will update if I actually send in the entry |
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The Resident Destroyer of Liberal Logic
Location: PNW | YOLO!!!! |
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10D Crack Champion
| If I knew I could be a barn burner, ride in there with the confidence of Cody Ohl, and know I could run with the toughest of the tough, then I would go for it! |
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 Proud to be Deplorable
Posts: 1929
| You can't win unless you play!!!! Good luck hope you win a big check!!! |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 742
| If you are sure, absolutely sure, you can run a high 14 in there then go for it but if not save your money. I was there and can't believe MOST of the runs in the American! Yowwwwie! I can run a confident mid 15 in there without pushing that much and I would not even consider running in it. If you have the money and just want to say I ran there then go for it.
I have several friends that entered and they have some NICE horses and even I questioned, in my own mind, why they even bothered? I see most of those entered this weekend most weekends when I run and I know what damage they can make in the many pens around North Texas and Oklahoma.  |
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 Expert
Posts: 1440
Location: Texas | Prior to surgery my horse was running 15.0 to 15.1 to 15.4 all day long. I have only ran him there once and he went down bad so we have not been back. It used to be his favorite pen and honestly I had not idea how tough that 15.0 was but after watching the American trials I really how awesome he was working. BUT he hasn't clocked as well other places. For me to enter I would have to consistantly be Winning and placing at BIG races with lots of pros. A few weeks ago we out ran Jordan Briggs and HBS Mayan gold but we don't do that consistantly. If your consistently do that and have the $$ the. Go for it. |
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 Big Gun
Posts: 2216
Location: Texas | I would have to be winning most big races or pro rodeos I went to in order to enter |
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Go For It!
Location: Texas | You know, after thinking about it, I say that anybody could have their day and make the top 10. It is amazing what having really tough competition can bring out of you. I have a couple of horses that can make some really good runs - as long as I stay out of their way and just do my job. I've hit the 2d a lot lately at the bigger stuff and have been really grateful for it. There was a time when I would say "I'd rather be in the bottom of the 1d than be 1/2 second out. I ran 2 15.0's in the qualifier and by the end I was praying that someone could go in there and run a 14.5… I can tell you this much… When I saw that 14.5 flash on that board I was one happy camper! The way I see it now is that money is money, I'd rather be at the top of the 2d then miss a check in the 1d.
That being said… I'm sure that there were a lot of people wondering why, and talking crap about so and so entering that race… "They might have a nice horse but they are wasting their money entering that thing, because it's going to be super tough." Well I am here to tell you that anything is possible and don't let the fear of not winning stop you from stepping out, because you never know what can happen. I may not have placed in the top 10 during the qualifier, but my little 2d sucker, stepped it up on Sunday and ran a 14.848 (which would have placed 4th in the qualifier on Saturday). Anybody can have their day, but you have to go for it. You can't sit back and let fear of the unknown strip you of the blessings that are waiting, if you just have a little faith. I may not have qualified on Saturday, but if I hadn't have taken the chance then I would have always wondered what could have been. There were several people who said "wow, you should have done that yesterday!" And although I appreciate the sentiment and what it was they were saying, my response is this… There is no possible way I am going to dwell on what could have been when I can enjoy today and the opportunity to rejoice in this particular moment. I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that if I was suppose to be in that top 10, I would have been. I trust that God has a plan and for whatever reason, now was not the time. But, let me tell you, it was an amazing feeling to know that he could do it, and that I didn't fall off!
Please don't take this post the wrong way… I'm certainly not trying to ring my own bell… I simply want everyone to know that there is nothing you can not do. Maybe the timing isn't just right (we can't see into the future) or maybe there are still lessons to learn. BUT, if God puts a dream in your heart and you keep things in perspective, trust His timing, and never give up… YOU WILL SEE THOSE DREAMS COME TRUE ONE DAY. The goals may change a little over the years as we grow and learn, but it is never too late to see things come full circle. So dream BIG, someone might be watching you. ;)
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Shipwrecked and Flat Out Zapped
Posts: 16390
Location: DUMPING CATS AND PIGS IN TEXAS :) | There is an old quote that says, "any horse can win any race on any given day." Could be your day and it would definitely be a great memory and a lot of fun. |
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 You get what you give
Posts: 13030
Location: Texas | Well, I ran two horses last weekend.. One is a PRCA rodeo winner with me, has ran 14s at Glen Rose with previous owner, filled my WPRA permit, etc... The other has won two barrel races this summer by 4 tenths, and won two others by 2 tenths this year...
After a ton of things going wrong this weekend and nothing really working out the way I planned, I left feeling like I shouldn't have entered. That I wasn't mentally prepared because I don't run under that kind of pressure on a regular basis. I was disappointed that my mares didn't even have GOOD runs in the qualifier. We ran over a second off and it stinks because at the Friday warm up I ran a 15.1 with mistakes.
After stewing over it for a couple days...I wish I had the money to try it again. I don't think I will, but maybe in 2016 we will see. I want to enter the main race at least and maybe work on my mental game and not let the things get to me that I let happen this weekend. And hopefully Bunny will be 100% healthy next time. And maybe Lucy won't ESCAPE AND GET LOOSE IN THE PARKING LOT 30 RUNNERS BEFORE BUNNYS RUN. |
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How would you decide to enter an American qualifier?