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 Go For It!
   
Location: Texas |
I posted this on my facebook page and wanted to post it here as well. I know that this issue isn't confined to Texas and it probably goes on all over, so I wanted to share this with everyone who gets frustrated when hauling...
I hadn't really planned on posting anything about this, BUT, I just don't think that it is appropriate to allow it to get swept quietly under the rug. I understand that this is probably going to get me "Blacklisted", but I have decided that it is worth it to me if we can get some changes in our industry as a result of it. I know that it probably won't make a difference anytime soon, but maybe one day, if more of us can make a stand, we can see some more changes.
I entered the Bastrop CPRA rodeo and ran in the Wednesday slack. The ground has always been phenomenal for that rodeo. Janet Bennight Staton has always been a big part of it and made sure that things were right. Well come to find out, there was a different group preparing things this year and the ground was NOT good. Many horses had trouble at the barrels and one horse fell completely down. It could have been much worse, but fortunately the Angels were at work and the rider's injury was minor.
That night, after the slack, I posted on the CPRA Barrel Racers page that the ground at Bastrop sucked. Perhaps I could have said that it was bad, but sucked seemed more appropriate. Many of you liked that comment and a discussion ensued. The jest of which was... who is responsible for the ground at the rodeos. I believe that ultimately it is the responsibility of the contractor, whose name is on the rodeo schedule to ensure that the ground is safe and fair, it then falls onto the judges to ENFORCE that so that the ladies that are running can be ensured that there is someone looking out for them and their horse.
Barrel racing can be a dangerous sport in great ground. When the ground is bad it just amplifies the chances of getting hurt, for us and for our horses. The reason I am posting this on my personal page is because the post, as well as the entire discussion, along with some great suggestions on how to make things better, were deleted from the CPRA Barrel Racers page and I was blocked from the page entirely. I understand that these things can be considered "controversial subjects" to some, but they are important matters that need discussion. The last thing that I posted on that page was that unless we join together and expect change, it will never happen. Have a blessed day everyone.
Edited by grinandbareit 2015-08-01 6:00 PM
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| I think it should be the rodeo committee's responsibility. The contractor usually lives too far away to travel to make sure the ground is worked and watered during the week. |
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Go For It!
Location: Texas | GLP - 2015-08-01 12:48 PM
I think it should be the rodeo committee's responsibility. The contractor usually lives too far away to travel to make sure the ground is worked and watered during the week.
And if the committee doesn't do their job? The barrel racers should just forfeit their fees and suck it up?
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| Ok this just an example- the rodeo is in George West, Tx. The stock contractor is in Alpine, Tx. He produces rodeos every weekend in the summer. He is supposed to drive to George West several times in the week prior to check that the ground is watered and worked during the week? |
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 GRD's Fan Club Advisior
Posts: 6750
Location: Lost in Texas | GLP - 2015-08-01 1:02 PM Ok this just an example- the rodeo is in George West, Tx. The stock contractor is in Alpine, Tx. He produces rodeos every weekend in the summer. He is supposed to drive to George West several times in the week prior to check that the ground is watered and worked during the week?
You can do a lot with ground the day before, even the day of when stock is being dropped off. Sure it's easier to fix with 48 hours to work with..but my dads fixed a lot of sucky ground in a few hours when that's all there is to work with. The problem is finding someone who knows what their doing, usually people care.. Just it's rare a stock contractor or anyone on a committee knows what they're doing.. Then a lot of times their shoe string budget wouldn't allow them to pay someone to come in and do it.. Then most wouldn't even if they could afford to..some feel they don't NEED barrel racers there. |
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| George West is black dirt and an outdoor pen, so yeah to do it right and not have huge clods, you would need to work it several times. That kind of ground is typical down here. Probably not the best example. Remember, though, a lot of these arenas are not worked regularly so working it even 2 days out isn't realistic for a stock contractor but would be for a local guy familiar with the ground. Besides, as a barrel racer I want someone who knows the ground and how to work it rather than the stock contractor who may not be familiar with the ground. The stock contractor could be based several hours away or more and have more than 1 rodeo to produce in a weekend. These are a few reasons why I think it is the committee's responsibility to provide safe ground.
Maybe that barrel racers should boycott if the ground is dangerous. From being a spectator these past years, I can tell you people love the barrels, they really yell for you girls. If you boycotted, I think the people would not like it and would let the committee know. You would have to find out a way to let the public know why you were boycotting, but I feel they would back you girls up. I also realize that it would be hard to get the girls to band together, but that maybe your only way to get your point across.
In the associations, does the barrel racing director have any power? Could they speak up and say the ground has to be good before the girls will run? I ask because I only open rodeoed. |
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 I Prefer to Live in Fantasy Land
Posts: 64864
Location: In the Hills of Texas | I saw a posting that they went in and worked and fixed the ground at Bastrop. Is that true or BS?
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 Strong Willed Woman
Posts: 6577
Location: Prosser, WA | Seems like it would be kind of hard to make many changes when the NFR ground crew doesn't care enough to make the ground good. I think it affected more than just the barrel racers too. It made the NFR pretty disappointing to watch. |
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Go For It!
Location: Texas | Nevertooold - 2015-08-01 2:37 PM
I saw a posting that they went in and worked and fixed the ground at Bastrop. Is that true or BS?
It is my understanding that they did fix it for the performances, but I didn't see it myself. Which is fine, but give the rest of us a chance to run on it as well, or return our fees so we can enter somewhere else.
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 Take a Picture
Posts: 12838
| I thought that was a part of rodeo. Around here if we go to a 4D and the ground is bad, we just don't go back. Caughtyawl's dad did the dirt work because his girls were running and he does an excellent job. Since he quit I am sure the ground is typical rodeo ground. Very few rodeos are going to take the time necessary to have good ground necessary for barrel racers. Again, I thought that was rodeo. |
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 I'm Cooler Offline
Posts: 6387
Location: Pacific Northwest | I don't think the stock contractor is a good person to put this responsibility on because they honestly probably don't care if the ground is good for the barrel racers or not. |
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| When my brother and dad were contractors they did care. But it was the committees responsibility. There were many times they had to tell them what to do with this ground. My dad was a farmer and a harvestor when he was young so he has a good understanding about different ground, plus me and my sister barrel raced. Plus the barrel racers gripe to the secretaries and contractor about the ground, so yeah they care at least somewhat. Our experience is the committee either didn't care or didn't understand.
The problem to me is no one knows who to talk to to get this problem fixed. And it does need to be fixed.
My advice talk to contractors and the committee people. Educate these people and maybe the ground will get better. 
Edited by GLP 2015-08-01 5:08 PM
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 BHW Jr. Cougar of the Year
Posts: 14957
Location: Heart of Texas | Did they refund your money, or did you have to pay a fine to draw out? Years ago at Pasadena, notorious for bad ground, they gave us our money back or an option to run on a different night. |
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Go For It!
Location: Texas | T-Zip - 2015-08-01 5:08 PM
Did they refund your money, or did you have to pay a fine to draw out? Years ago at Pasadena, notorious for bad ground, they gave us our money back or an option to run on a different night.
Oh it was mentioned, but I'm sure no one will have fees returned. At this point they are just peeved that anybody confronted them.
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 I Am Always Right
Posts: 4264
Location: stray dump capital of the world | Apparently what you said worked. I checked their FB page and there were comments on how much better the ground was after they reworked it. There were still complaints that showed up prior to the contractor reworking the ground. Sorry they gave you the boot as all you were doing was discussing bad ground conditions. Clearly you weren't the only one. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1092
Location: OK | This argument is never ending, but in my experience with committees, a lot of them have no idea about ground and the first they hear of it is a lot of ****ed girls after the fact. I do know that the biggest interest for them is a good turn out, so I think the way to go about it and everyone get what they want is to contact someone beforehand and just ask. Be the advocate and put yourself in a position where you can help, like if they want to do some extra work to the ground, you spread the word that it's gonna be good. Help them help you. A lot can be done by putting yourself on their side. Of course., some are just A-holes, but your approach can mean a lot. |
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Go For It!
Location: Texas |
These are all great ideas... but it still doesn't answer the question... if all those things have been done, good ground is promised, you show up, pay your fees and the ground ends up bad... who becomes responsible? Do the girls just have to donate their fees after driving all that way, spending money on fuel? Or maybe the producer or judges say "Hey, we aren't allowing our girls to run on this ground. Refund their fees or fix it and allow them to run later." This is a business and should be treated as such. Those contractors are business owners and should have the same responsibility. IMO
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I Prefer to Live in Fantasy Land
Posts: 64864
Location: In the Hills of Texas | kakbarrelracer - 2015-08-01 3:22 PM Seems like it would be kind of hard to make many changes when the NFR ground crew doesn't care enough to make the ground good. I think it affected more than just the barrel racers too. It made the NFR pretty disappointing to watch.
I couldn't agree more.
Back in the 1970's we were fighting this fight about rodeo ground and there hasn't been much progress. |
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Sock Snob
Posts: 3021
| This saga has been going on for years. I have been told to shut up its rodeo and been that way for years and it its not gonna change, thst here in virginia. Last rodeo my mare was entered upin ground was so bad when she went in she acted like she didnot know what barrel to go too. Next day a girls horse fell the lady broke her leg. I complained and they tell me i am sour grapes. I will spend my money elsewhere. If we all did that theynwould fix the ground. They always complain that is someone elses fault on bad ground. They know they are having the rodeo and need a crew to,fix ground. |
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| It is the rodeo GROUND committees responsibility to make sure the ground is safe. If they don't have a ground committee, it is the rodeo committee's responsibility. When you call in ask them who is responsible for the ground and then call that person to let them know how important good ground is for the contestants. The STOCK producer is responsible for the livestock. The people who should be upset with the stock producers are the timed event cowboys. I won't hardly go to a rodeo anymore because I am tired of the crappy roping/dogging stock. |
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 I'm not opinionated
Posts: 4597
Location: Online | I live in a completely different part of the country as you. But I have found in my years of barrel racing is the committees don't give a rat's ass about the barrel racing ground. They go in with a water truck and an "arena groomer" the day before after letting it sit like concrete for months and think since it's "pretty" then it's good. They have no idea. The only way to get anyone's attention is to have someone who actually runs barrels and understands what it takes to have good ground to get on the committee. Then just maybe they will put some effort into it. This is part of the reason I have given up rodeos. It's not worth crippling my horse for a few hundred bucks.
If it's not the ground prep, it's the entertainment acts during the rodeo. Just ask those who ran at Joseph, Oregon....... |
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| You are right rodeomom, the ground committee usually doesn't care, but if the girls would start making noise before the rodeo it might open their eyes. Maybe even get the media involved. No one wants bad publicity, especially rodeo right now. But until the girls get together and figure out how they want to address this issue, it's not getting resolved. Rodeo ground doesn't need to be perfect but it durn sure should be safe. |
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I AM being nice
Posts: 4396
Location: MD | Way back when I first started hauling to rodeos with friends, I used to comment about the ground a lot. Later, when I was approached about maybe hauling some horses for girls to run when needed, a good friend and someone who had been rodeoing for years said to me "I know you're used to good ground and if you think that you might pull up somewhere, not like the ground and not want your horses to run on it, don't tell the girls that you will haul them. This is a whole different deal and you're not always going to like it, but if you sign on for it, stick to it.". That being said, there are times that I watch my horses head up the alley and pray the entire run. There have also been times when the girls might come back to the trailer and say "Can you come look at the ground? It's looking pretty sketchy and a few girls have already turned out".
At the end of the day, the committee should be responsible. In some cases, they don't know how to work the ground. In other cases, they may have other concerns that are higher on their priority list. Either way, it is our responsibility as owners, riders and contestants to do what we feel is best. If that means paying fees and a fine because we chose not to run a horse on certain ground, those are the rules of the game that we signed on to play. |
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Miracle in the Making
Posts: 4013
| i could not agree more i and many others truly believe that the ground not be dragged caused the ground to break underneath doc so i now sit in a wheelchair
rather than a saddle i am a quad not a low para like amberley |
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  Fact Checker
Posts: 16572
Location: Displaced Iowegian | I agree that it is the rodeo committee's responsibility to see that the ground is safe....that being said....EVERY association has a Barrel Racing Director. It is HER responsibility to contact and keep in touch with the committees to provide safe ground....THAT is what she is elected to do.......If the committee fails, she (or her designated person) should contact the judges to see if the situation can be resolved before the rodeo begins....JMO! |
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| NJJ - 2015-08-02 11:35 AM
I agree that it is the rodeo committee's responsibility to see that the ground is safe....that being said....EVERY association has a Barrel Racing Director. It is HER responsibility to contact and keep in touch with the committees to provide safe ground....THAT is what she is elected to do.......If the committee fails, she (or her designated person) should contact the judges to see if the situation can be resolved before the rodeo begins....JMO!
Good point!!! |
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Take a Picture
Posts: 12838
| GLP - 2015-08-02 12:21 PM
NJJ - 2015-08-02 11:35 AM
I agree that it is the rodeo committee's responsibility to see that the ground is safe....that being said....EVERY association has a Barrel Racing Director. It is HER responsibility to contact and keep in touch with the committees to provide safe ground....THAT is what she is elected to do.......If the committee fails, she (or her designated person) should contact the judges to see if the situation can be resolved before the rodeo begins....JMO!
Good point!!!
I don't think the any director at our rodeo has ever been on a horse. I seriously doubt that the association that caughtyawl's ran in had a barrel Racing director and if the did, I can tell you they knew nothing about the ground.
Edited by streakysox 2015-08-02 12:39 PM
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| streakysox - 2015-08-02 12:33 PM
GLP - 2015-08-02 12:21 PM
NJJ - 2015-08-02 11:35 AM
I agree that it is the rodeo committee's responsibility to see that the ground is safe....that being said....EVERY association has a Barrel Racing Director. It is HER responsibility to contact and keep in touch with the committees to provide safe ground....THAT is what she is elected to do.......If the committee fails, she (or her designated person) should contact the judges to see if the situation can be resolved before the rodeo begins....JMO!
Good point!!!
I don't think the barrel Racing director at our rodeo has ever been on a horse.
Educate her. People not familiar with barrel racing have to be educated by some one who is. I thought I had a working knowledge about feed until Rachelnelly(?) and Herbie shared their knowledge. Of course not every one will want to learn. Then it is up to the local barrel racers to get some one who will care or bug the person who appoints the director until they do appoint some one acceptable. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 590
Location: Austin, Texas, where it can get really weird!! | Nevertooold - 2015-08-01 7:14 PM
kakbarrelracer - 2015-08-01 3:22 PM Seems like it would be kind of hard to make many changes when the NFR ground crew doesn't care enough to make the ground good. I think it affected more than just the barrel racers too. It made the NFR pretty disappointing to watch.
I couldn't agree more.
Back in the 1970's we were fighting this fight about rodeo ground and there hasn't been much progress.
This is the saddest thing I've heard all day. Surely we can band together in some way. We have to change this, perhaps if we promote barrel racing and make it more of a draw, or demand more from the committees, we could change this
It just frustrates me to hear this. I am an amateur and i wamt the pro girls to know i have their back. I want to do my part.
Edited by kewlcowgurl 2015-08-02 6:50 PM
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Sock Snob
Posts: 3021
| I will not spend my dollars, but rodeo goes on cause there are people who dont care about there horses amd allow them to run on that ****ty ground. Yall can get mad i just wont even look that way. Old enough i dont miss it either. One rodeo ther did not stake barrels and move the third which some taped and brought to me moved three feet in, of course times where faster i loaded my hors next day andhad to get a pass to get out cause they where having a horse sale told them they where cery unproessional, i had a big time rodeo girl there trying to get them to do 3 reruns. Cause of that barrel. Other little rodeo tricks are the timer was wrong had to use backup when some there says they where doing that kn good runners. Bull hockey, petty stuff. At least at the big d shows they are fair and try to have good ground. I done with rodeos. If everyone would boycott they would change,
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Posts: 3006
Location: OREGON | The sad thing is how many don't care and run their horses anyway. So many good horses get career ending injuries from crappy ground. NO rodeo is worth ruining my horse! Wish more people thought the same. |
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Member
Posts: 6
Location: Oregon | I live in a completely different part of the country as you. But I have found in my years of barrel racing is the committees don't give a rat's ass about the barrel racing ground. They go in with a water truck and an "arena groomer" the day before after letting it sit like concrete for months and think since it's "pretty" then it's good. They have no idea. The only way to get anyone's attention is to have someone who actually runs barrels and understands what it takes to have good ground to get on the committee. Then just maybe they will put some effort into it. This is part of the reason I have given up rodeos. It's not worth crippling my horse for a few hundred bucks.
If it's not the ground prep, it's the entertainment acts during the rodeo. Just ask those who ran at Joseph, Oregon.......
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As I sit here with 3 fractured ribs from my horse falling on the second barrel at Joseph, I agree with you 200%
Edited by webejameen 2015-08-03 12:18 AM
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 Saint Stacey
| It's the committees job to work the ground. Most are volunteers that have never swung a leg over a horse, let alone a barrel horse, and they simply have no idea. Case and point...Akron CO. last year it was really hard and slick. Head horses couldn't even keep their feet under them. The judges stopped slack and made them dig the ground then they let everyone run again if they wanted. There were a LOT of complaints. This was their 3rd year to have a PRCA rodeo. Because of last year, the entries were way down. But that committee started asking around and got input from the girls. This year the ground was MUCH better. It actually got a little deep. My theory is that if I'm not volunteering my time or trying to make a difference...then I shouldn't complain. If I do complain, I'd better be kind about it and not a racing biatch. People respond much better to someone who tries to be kind over an ass chewer any day. Barrel racers gave a bad reputation for just being total wenches that yell and scream. |
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 The Worst Seller Ever
Posts: 4138
Location: Oklahoma | There are certain producers that are notorious for not giving a crap about groud. There are others who are amazing and pretty super about getting feed back. They don't want their bucking stock on crap ground either.
I rodeo now more than I ever have. I have been to barrel races that had worse ground than rodeos. It all depends on who is working it and how much knowledge they have. I care very deeply for my horses, but they also know how to turn correctly and take care of themselves. They won't run if they don't feel safe. I had issues with gorund a 2 of the 4 rodeos I was at this weekend. 1 was slick as snot underneath, one had way too much water on it and was sticky, my 3rd and 4th runs the arenas had been sitting for almost a year and had grass in them the night before, but were the safest, most even of the weekend. My horse still ran in safe mode at the last 2 but managed to place.
How to fix the bad ones? Some places just shouldn't have rodeos because no amount of working will make the ground even and safe for 3 nights of rodeo and 60+ barrel racers. Others just need a little push and fire lit. IN our Ammy association the barrel directors are pretty good about getting after people, but they can't be at 6-8 different rodeos in a weekend when they are competeing too.
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Veteran
Posts: 276
| I agree with get yourself a good Barrel Director. There is just no way to make the stock contractors or the committee care about the ground for the barrel race. If you can find a knowledgeable lady to be the director and take it upon herself to call the committees beforehand in order to ensure that everything is the best it can be, you'll have a lot more luck than just waiting to see how it was after the fact. A lot of times too, it helps to have local barrel racers check into this for everyone. They may know someone who has some good equipment and can get them on the ball about getting the pen ideal. Those places that are notorious for bad ground year after year? Quit going. And send the committee a letter (not snarky, but get your point across) and tell them why you aren't going. That is all I know to do. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 823
Location: East Texas | Here is Cheyenne. It has more gravel in it than my drive way.
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Go For It!
Location: Texas | CrossDRanch - 2015-08-03 6:11 PM
Here is Cheyenne. It has more gravel in it than my drive way.
I loved the ground up there!
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 Off the Wall Wacky
Posts: 2981
Location: Louisiana | streakysox - 2015-08-02 12:33 PM
GLP - 2015-08-02 12:21 PM
NJJ - 2015-08-02 11:35 AM
I agree that it is the rodeo committee's responsibility to see that the ground is safe....that being said....EVERY association has a Barrel Racing Director. It is HER responsibility to contact and keep in touch with the committees to provide safe ground....THAT is what she is elected to do.......If the committee fails, she (or her designated person) should contact the judges to see if the situation can be resolved before the rodeo begins....JMO!
Good point!!!
I don't think the any director at our rodeo has ever been on a horse. I seriously doubt that the association that caughtyawl's ran in had a barrel Racing director and if the did, I can tell you they knew nothing about the ground.
In the associations I run, all event directors are nominated and voted on by contestants. The barrel racing director is a contestant. It is her job to be out there and make sure the barrels are staked correctly, timers in the right place, etc, etc. just like the breakaway director has to make sure cattle is being sorted correctly and pushed.
I agree the ground should be worked by the committee, but if there is any concern beforehand (the arena has a bad rap), the barrel racing director should contact that particular commitee and express her concern. Most rodeos around her are run at arenas that see barrel races often, so they stay worked pretty decent. A lot of times they'll be harder for a rodeo, but not dangerous. I guess we're lucky. |
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 Expert
Posts: 4121
Location: SE Louisiana | CrossDRanch - 2015-08-03 6:11 PM
Here is Cheyenne. It has more gravel in it than my drive way.
Wow... Your driveway must suck....   |
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