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 Regular
Posts: 97
Location: Tennessee | Hello, I'm wondering what y'all think is the best state to barrel race. I currently live in Tennessee & while I love it here I'm not sure how far I can progress in my barrel career. I just turned 18 & while I didn't highschool rodeo I'm a diehard barrel racer at heart. I've done pretty extensive research & while I've found there are plenty of NBHA & IBRA races here (which I'm gonna start on those) there's not a lot, if any, WPRA sanctioned races here or surrounding states either. I've seen there's a lot in Texas, Arizona & Florida but I'd like to know if there are any other states with a good number of WPRA races. Arizona draws at me for some reason but I don't know if I could take the heat. My question here is are the races there worth living through the summer? Here's some states I'm not going to consider from personally experience's, Louisiana, Mississippi & Oklahoma. I'm pretty open about any other state (though might take some convincing for Florida). I'm trying to make barrel racing my career so I'm looking ahead. Any info would be well appreciated. Please tell me about your state what makes it special & sets it apart from the rest. Thank you. |
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 Don't Wanna Make This Awkward
Posts: 3106
  
Location: Texas | Texas. Shouldn't need any explaining if you look at events on here and ebarrelracing. Wpra october-april/may alot in Texas... Alot of the big time barrel races are here. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 639
Location: God's country...aka TEXAS | TEXAS!!!!! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1028
| I was going to say OK, but read the rest of your post. Texas, out of the ones you listed. |
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  Fact Checker
Posts: 16572
Location: Displaced Iowegian | DELETED......because, heaven forbid, anyone should DARE to share a little "insight" ....Thank you Cindy T for your comment.........Dont you just love when people gotta analyze you instead of just answering your question....lol
My retort....is "Don't you just love when people have to make "snarky" jabs instead of just answering the question" !
Good Luck!
Edited by NJJ 2015-01-08 1:05 PM
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Regular
Posts: 97
Location: Tennessee | It wouldn't be just me, it would be my family also. We were from OK originally & we have all just never thrived there. We have "family" there who gave up on us during a VERY hard time & now won't even talk to us unless they need something, so it hurts too much to be there. We were the "perfect" family & when things got rough, they got going. |
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 BHW Resident Surgeon
Posts: 25351
Location: Bastrop, Texas | To the OP, in your own words, what do you mean by "barrel career"? |
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Regular
Posts: 97
Location: Tennessee | Well I know it probably sounds like a silly dream but, I want to make barrel racing my "job", I can't picture my life any other way. I just feel God's pointing me in this direction, he's blessed me with giving me a horse that should've been sold for at least $3,000 by trading a app pony, she wouldn't "click" with anyone but with me does she does anything I ask of her. I know some people consider me foolish but I know I can make it, it really helps that I have a family who will help me with fees, transportation etc. I believe in myself, no matter what. |
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Red Bull Agressive
Posts: 5981
Location: North Dakota | Well definitely not North Dakota lol. I'd say your best bet is Texas. I will say though that before you and your family commit to moving to a new state, realistically take into account all the aspects of trying to make a career out of barrel racing. It is very very hard. You have to be very experienced and your horse has to be a really talented powerhouse. You said your horse is worth $3,000? What will you do if something happens to that horse? A finished competitive pro horse can easily cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars. You said you didn't rodeo in HS. How much experience do you have with barrel racing? Do you plan to rodeo in college? Personally, I would go to college and rodeo there. That way you have a legit education in the event your dreams of barrel racing professionally don't work out. I don't want to sound like a dream crusher but moving states and attempting to go pro is a huge and expensive step. |
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Regular
Posts: 97
Location: Tennessee | Yes I'm planning on going to Lamar communtity college in Colorado, they have an excellent colt starting & barrel horse training program that I'm going to enroll in, look it up its very well respected & they have a rodeo team that I'm planning on trying out for. I'm also going to do IBRA for a couple years first. Trust me we've done moves too soon before & they've been disasters, this won't happen for a few years now. Also the reason I said my horse is worth only $3000 is because she's grade, if she was registered she'd easily go for around $8,000, she's like a stingray but gray, not kidding & I'm also planning on getting a prospect soon so I can have a backup. Now here comes the "you need a FINISHED horse", yes if I was going pro first but I know the risks & as I said I'm looking AHEAD & I like to plan very thoroughly, I've been in situations where I didn't know what was going to happen in my life next & its terrifying, I'm not gonna put myself there willingly. I just asked where is the best place for pro rodeos, that why I can start planning now. |
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10D Crack Champion
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 Ima Fickle Fan
Posts: 3547
Location: Texas | I'll go ahead and be the wet blanket. Succeeding in a barrel career is a long row to hoe. It doesn't happen overnight. Good for you for having plans to go to college. I'm not going to look up the program at Lamar for the simple reason that it will teach you a lot of basics, but coursework has never been able to replace real-life experiences. Also, most people on rodeo teams (who are named to the team) have rodeoed since they could peewee rodeo. With that in mind, you'll be playing catch up. Not saying you can't make it, but just know going into it that you are probably behind the others.
It's great that you have family support, but getting into the horse business can be super expensive. Very few people make a living solely on horses. Most have a sideline occupation that helps or solely supports the horse habit.
You're young and have a lot to learn in life. We all do. Honestly, I would recommend going to college to get a job you will enjoy or it's something you can fall back on. No one can take away your education. After college, if you are still wanting to make a career out of barrel racing, I would recommend being an apprentice/intern with a great trainer or breeding operation specializing in barrel horses. That way, you can learn a ton from those who have been there, done that and you won't have to go broke doing it.
Good luck. Not trying to talk you out of your dream. Just understand that you will have to do more than move states to accomplish your goal. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1162
Location: White Mountains of AZ | Kiowa14 - 2015-01-04 9:02 PM
Hello, I'm wondering what y'all think is the best state to barrel race. I currently live in Tennessee & while I love it here I'm not sure how far I can progress in my barrel career. I just turned 18 & while I didn't highschool rodeo I'm a diehard barrel racer at heart. I've done pretty extensive research & while I've found there are plenty of NBHA & IBRA races here (which I'm gonna start on those) there's not a lot, if any, WPRA sanctioned races here or surrounding states either. I've seen there's a lot in Texas, Arizona & Florida but I'd like to know if there are any other states with a good number of WPRA races. Arizona draws at me for some reason but I don't know if I could take the heat. My question here is are the races there worth living through the summer? Here's some states I'm not going to consider from personally experience's, Louisiana, Mississippi & Oklahoma. I'm pretty open about any other state (though might take some convincing for Florida). I'm trying to make barrel racing my career so I'm looking ahead. Any info would be well appreciated. Please tell me about your state what makes it special & sets it apart from the rest. Thank you.
The white mountains of AZ ( where I live ) isn't that warm. Yes we can get into the 100's but we can also get down in the -20's with snow. And the valley is only 3 hours away for the bigger races. Butttt as said before, I'd start off at home where you and your horse(s) have a place to stay, support, love, and know the majority of your hometown and surrounding areas. Make sure you can keep you and your horse(s) safe and sound..mentally, physically and financially!! |
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 Ima Cool Kid
Posts: 3496
Location: TN | Tenn has a lot to offer between saddle clubs/NBHA/IBRA. Dimond L productions puts on some big shows that are BBB and WPRA sanctioned
Selmer TN is where the girl won a go and placed in the top 5 of all goes and average of the NBHA world show.
Good Luck, got to have a dream to follow :)
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 Ms. Marine
Posts: 4626
Location: Texas | Texas! |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 507
Location: Lost in the corn of Iowa. | Every successful rancher has a wife that works in town. Old saying, but true. Make horses your passion and your rodeo career a passion to aspire towards but not the only thing you ever know how to do. Look at a few of the NFR girls this year. Nancy Hunter is a registered nurse, and there's another one who is also a teacher and just rodeo's in the summer months. I'm not saying you have a pipe dream of making it big, but a lot of people that didn't inherit the family ranch had or still have day jobs too. |
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 A very grounded girl
Posts: 5052
Location: Moving soon..... | I have lived in Austin, Elgin, Brady and now Bryan. Brady was terrible as far as anywhere to go. Elgin was good and Bryan is even better. I can go any weekend within a 50 mile or less radius. |
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 Expert
Posts: 2013
Location: Piedmont, OK | I want to move to Stephenville TX. To me it seems like there are always races in that area! |
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 If it Ain't a Paint it Ain't!
Posts: 8519
Location: Mansfield, Tx | TX,
the surrounding states are close enough to drive to if the races are BIG enough...
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 725
| Definitely not Iowa unless you like -25 and 105 temps and mud all year oh and insane wind! Not Iowa  |
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 Ms Bling Bling Sleeze Kitty
Posts: 20904
Location: LouLouVille, OK | Dont you just love when people gotta analyze you instead of just answering your question....lol
As far as the choices, Texas or Florida would be my choice.
Follow your dreams :)
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 Saint Stacey
| Kiowa14 - 2015-01-05 7:50 PM
Yes I'm planning on going to Lamar communtity college in Colorado, they have an excellent colt starting & barrel horse training program that I'm going to enroll in, look it up its very well respected & they have a rodeo team that I'm planning on trying out for. I'm also going to do IBRA for a couple years first. Trust me we've done moves too soon before & they've been disasters, this won't happen for a few years now. Also the reason I said my horse is worth only $3000 is because she's grade, if she was registered she'd easily go for around $8,000, she's like a stingray but gray, not kidding & I'm also planning on getting a prospect soon so I can have a backup. Now here comes the "you need a FINISHED horse", yes if I was going pro first but I know the risks & as I said I'm looking AHEAD & I like to plan very thoroughly, I've been in situations where I didn't know what was going to happen in my life next & its terrifying, I'm not gonna put myself there willingly. I just asked where is the best place for pro rodeos, that why I can start planning now.
You might want to look at NJC in Sterling, CO. They have one of the best woman's coaches around in Taya. Their equine program is good and there's a lot of close by barrel races year round between Burns Ranch Arena in Akron, all the Mile Hi jackpots and divisional races at Loveland, all the races at Spicers Arena, plus you are close to WY and NE for all the amateur rodeo associations if you aren't ready to go WPRA. |
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 Veteran
Posts: 164
| Texas for sure. Look into Texas Tech. That's where I went. Lubbock isn't all that fabulous, but the animal science dept is amazing, great rodeo team, and lots of barrel races around. |
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Regular
Posts: 97
Location: Tennessee | YES thank you! Lol a lot of people who are critical probably gave up their own dreams, I saw this on sherry cervis Facebook the other day "don't let someone who gave up on their dreams talk you out of chasing yours". That's what I've always believed. |
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 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9991
Location: Kansas | I'm assuming texas |
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Rad Dork
Posts: 5218
Location: Oklahoma | soonergirl98 - 2015-01-06 3:23 PM I want to move to Stephenville TX. To me it seems like there are always races in that area!
I wouldn't know what to do with myself if I lived in an area like that..... so many vets and stores like Teskey's..... I'd be broke in about a week. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1410
Location: Peach State | If you don't want to move too far there's always georgia, I think ABAC has a rodeo team and that's not far from a lot of rodeos in Florida and big barrel races in GA too, some wpra sanctioned. There are a lot of great trainers in georgia you could learn from just by going to local jackpots before branching out west.
Obviously in the rodeo world it's easier to live out in TX to rodeo verses the east coast, unless you have a BIG wallet to spend on gas ;) |
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Too busy outside!
Posts: 5417
| sodapop - 2015-01-05 8:17 PM Vermont Great minds think alike- 
eta: but my second choice would be Maryland, just so you know-
Edited by trickster j 2015-01-07 9:58 PM
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Too busy outside!
Posts: 5417
| Longneck - 2015-01-07 3:08 PM soonergirl98 - 2015-01-06 3:23 PM I want to move to Stephenville TX. To me it seems like there are always races in that area! I wouldn't know what to do with myself if I lived in an area like that..... so many vets and stores like Teskey's..... I'd be broke in about a week.
Lol- I gotcha! I spent last summer there- the vets are cheap and Teskey's is just so dang close!! |
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Ms Bling Bling Sleeze Kitty
Posts: 20904
Location: LouLouVille, OK | Kiowa14 - 2015-01-07 4:00 PM YES thank you! Lol a lot of people who are critical probably gave up their own dreams, I saw this on sherry cervis Facebook the other day "don't let someone who gave up on their dreams talk you out of chasing yours". That's what I've always believed.
And I would take her advice anyday, lol
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 617
| Texas for sure. I'd move there but I got too many people I love here. When I was your age I wanted to be a horse trainer. Make sure you add everything up! Its expensive to rodeo and its like gambling. What I suggest is finding a good trainer to take u under their wing and show you the ropes. You maybe working for free and if your lucky get housing, but then you can get a real idea of what it takes! I decided I would never be able to afford making training my living. I didn't give up though I just decided to become a nurse instead. With that I can afford my horses and running them. I train my own on the side. |
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 Lady Di
Posts: 21556
Location: Oklahoma | I don't think it matters what state you live in.....WNFR qualifiers come from all over, but I can tell you this.....go to any WPRA approved barrel race, or one in your area that offers an American qualifier and you will find out whether your horse is another Stingray or a local legend. The tough horses will be there and you can see how you stack up. IMO, where you live is not nearly as important as how you're mounted, and even though most people think NFR potential horses are a dime a dozen, I can tell you after 40 years of training some pretty salty barrel horses that I've had only 2 and now possibly 1 more that I think could have cut it at a WPRA rodeo (2 of them have already proven that they could cut it....the one I have now still has it to prove....but I think he has what it takes). So IMO, being MOUNTED on the right horse is way more important than where you live. With that said, if you think you can't take the heat in AZ, you sure won't be able to stand the heat in a TX summer, but that's where I'd go if you wanted to hit the most WPRA approved events in a fairly close area....which in TX, "close" might be a 4 or 5 hour drive. lol
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 Own It and Move On
Location: The edge of no where | North central Texas if you're wanting to be somewhere with a LOT of jackpots and rodeos. There is somewhere to go within an hour of where I live almost every night of the week. We're spoiled, there's not only lots of barrel races, but they're top quality in terms of ground and production. We're 30 min south of Fort Worth, and absolutely love it. I moved here specifically because of the horse industry. I grew up where you had to drive hours to go to a jackpot with 20-30 girls, it's just so hard to get more competitive like that when you work 8-5. |
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10D Crack Champion
| trickster j - 2015-01-07 9:54 PM sodapop - 2015-01-05 8:17 PM Vermont Great minds think alike-
eta: but my second choice would be Maryland, just so you know-
Maybe Alaska as well..... |
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 Member
Posts: 49
| University of Tennessee at Martin has a rodeo team. Rodeoing is super expensive so even with a scholarship you will be dishing out a ton of money so be prepared. |
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Rad Dork
Posts: 5218
Location: Oklahoma | trickster j - 2015-01-07 9:56 PM
Longneck - 2015-01-07 3:08 PM soonergirl98 - 2015-01-06 3:23 PM I want to move to Stephenville TX. To me it seems like there are always races in that area! I wouldn't know what to do with myself if I lived in an area like that..... so many vets and stores like Teskey's..... I'd be broke in about a week.
Are the vets really cheaper? I don't think I'd really know of the prices are different from vet to vet.... Seems like each time to go to a new one I find a new problem!!  |
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 I Prefer to Live in Fantasy Land
Posts: 64864
Location: In the Hills of Texas | Longneck - 2015-01-08 9:59 PM trickster j - 2015-01-07 9:56 PM Longneck - 2015-01-07 3:08 PM soonergirl98 - 2015-01-06 3:23 PM I want to move to Stephenville TX. To me it seems like there are always races in that area! I wouldn't know what to do with myself if I lived in an area like that..... so many vets and stores like Teskey's..... I'd be broke in about a week. Are the vets really cheaper? I don't think I'd really know of the prices are different from vet to vet.... Seems like each time to go to a new one I find a new problem!!
Our daughter lives in a suburb of Phoenix and I can't believe what the vets charge out there. I really thought she was kidding...she wasn't. |
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Too busy outside!
Posts: 5417
| Nevertooold - 2015-01-08 9:36 PM Longneck - 2015-01-08 9:59 PM trickster j - 2015-01-07 9:56 PM Longneck - 2015-01-07 3:08 PM soonergirl98 - 2015-01-06 3:23 PM I want to move to Stephenville TX. To me it seems like there are always races in that area! I wouldn't know what to do with myself if I lived in an area like that..... so many vets and stores like Teskey's..... I'd be broke in about a week. Are the vets really cheaper? I don't think I'd really know of the prices are different from vet to vet.... Seems like each time to go to a new one I find a new problem!!
Exactly! It's very expensive around Phoenix- or at least the good ones that you want to use are anyway! Hock injections in TX were about $140 for both hocks, in AZ they'd be almost $400, same in WY and CO. |
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Posts: 3006
Location: OREGON | Not sure why you don't like Oklahoma. I lived North of Tulsa for awhile and LOVED it there. Barrel races 7 days a week spring to fall within 50 miles. And 4 days a week in the winter. Would move back there in a heart beat if I could just talk my husband into it! Always wanted to live in Texas though too. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 828
Location: Back in California | Believe it or not. . there is a TON of barrel racing in central California.
WCBRA - west coast barrel racing association = Richest Race in the West - westcoastbarrelracing.com
ACBRA - acbra.net is another association
and a lot of them are WPRA co-sanctioned |
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Best state to live in for barrel racing