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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 331
 
Location: Loma Linda, CA | Okay.... so I know there are tons of you who have started at the bottom... where I am... permanently stuck it seems lol!
I have a mare who I think has great potential, but either I suck or we are making huge mistakes or both.
I am sending her to the trainer in October to work out any kinks on her end and I am going to be taking lessons with that trainer too so that I can fix any issues I'm having. BTW it is with Lyndee Stairs.
I do have video if anyone wants to see them, but anyways I am stuck running 20's/21's on a standard.
Just thinking back on your own horses what kind of issues kept you running those times?
I mean it feels like we are going much faster? I don't know >.< |
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 I hate cooking and cleaning
Posts: 3314
 
Location: Jersey Girl | It might just be a matter of getting back to basics, and fix one thing at a time. I have been knocking every run for the last 2 months and finally this weekend (after lots of hard work) I picked up a check in the 3D. I had been clocking 4D times (just barely lol) before that.
So don't give up....the work will pay off. |
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Miracle in the Making
Posts: 4013
| i would go to a good clinic not all horses are cut out to be great barrel horses or riders
i was a good rider but i had issues with gauing and depth perception so i sucked |
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 Expert
Posts: 2128
| I had to learn to trust that my horse was going to turn/work and hustle! First I worked on hustling to the first. Once I felt I had that down I worked on hustling between 1 and 2...then 2 and 3.. Keep at it!!! |
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 Owner of a ratting catting machine
Posts: 2258
| Lyndee will straighten you out! Have faith in her. The best thing you can do for yourself is start hitting the gym. Begin a running program like Couch to 5K, and basic squats, lunges, jumping jacks, push ups, sit ups. Get in shape.
Also before the horse gets to the Stairs', get her to the vet for a full lameness evaluation, teeth, etc. Also have a qualified farrier, get Lyndees recommendation, go over the feet.
Next check that your tack actually fits and is comfortable for you and the horse. Sometimes cheap saddles etc can more inhibit horse and rider, might as well ride bareback.
Check your horses nutrition, make sure that she's in good body condition and feeling good. Also double check that she gets to a good equine dentist.
Good luck! |
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 IMA No Hair Style Gal
Posts: 2594
| Chin up....;-) Happens to all of us. Things to remember:
1.) Horsemanship is never easy-we learn the most when we have to really work at it.
2.) You choose to compete, you choose to accept the results.
3.) No matter if you have a good run or a bad run....keep striving to be better. People will praise you lavishly when you win, and people will over criticize your riding when you have a not so hot run. What people say doesn't matter....what matters are your personal goals and what you are doing to accomplish them.
4.) We all have bad runs....and there is always someone out there who is better then even the "best." Anyone that judges or talks trash really just is not worth your time. So when you feel as if you have a bad run don't get stuck on what you think other people "think." True friends and the people you want to be around will talk to you and won't treat you any different no matter what kind of runs you have.
5.) Remember why you barrel race to begin with...yes we all want to win....when we win everything is glorious and we feel like rockstars....BUT we all can't be rockstars all the time. At the end of the day we run barrels because we love it.
To share a bit of my story...I got into this sport about 4 years ago...got lucky with a super nice freak of a horse as a first barrel horse. He made me look good, sold him and got a super talented horse that I seriously felt like I was going to die on every time we ran out of the arena. My first barrel horse was push style and my second horse was a free runner. First year with him was just getting used to him.....second year he got EPM, Fibromyalgia something, and had a soft tissue injury...so all of last year he pretty much was a stall ornament on stall rest. Lost my father in law when my horse essentially was "better" so showing was last on the list. FINALLY-started running this early spring. We were a HOT MESS....I learned to lose gracefully. Finally, we are just now starting to get everything figured out, BUT still making a lot of mistakes. Last weekend we blew the first barrel (tends to be our thing...) and almost went all the way down at the second from loose footing, ran a little over a second off.
Just keep at it, it will fall into place as you educate yourself and your horse. Brick by brick....Rome wasn't built in a day. Until then...just know you aren't alone. 
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 679
Location: KS | Like someone posted before, some may SEEM to have good potential, but aren't cut out for it. I bought a gelding a few years back, thought he would make a nice barrel horse. Man was I wrong! He just wasn't cut out for barrel racing. He tried his little heart out, but never ran faster than 20 seconds. He was a heck of a pole bender though. Also, a really good trail horse. This is my own personal experience. I hope everything works out for you. I would also recommend going to a clinic. It's a fun way to learn new things.
Edited by ACowgirlsLastRun 2015-08-25 7:54 PM
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 Chasin my Dream
Posts: 13651
Location: Alberta | Phxbarrel - 2015-08-25 2:06 AM Just thinking back on your own horses what kind of issues kept you running those times? I mean it feels like we are going much faster? I don't know >.<
Because I was self taught (watching DVDs, reading books etc) and I had no person to tell me what to fix so I knew no different.......TILL I went to my first clinic. Don't beat yourself up the fact you want to get better and learn speaks volumes, keep working at it and keep you chin up! Work to be the best rider you can for your horse.
Even the best barrel racers learn each time and make mistakes, it's how we all improve and get better! |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 331
Location: Loma Linda, CA | Thanks for all the encouragement!
Kristin Weaver Brown is near me too! I'm going to hit her up for some lessons until I get to Lyndee's in October.
Kristin is probably 30 minutes from me and Lyndee is like 6 hours! :P
I plan on getting into futurities in 2 years (I am starting a 2 year old right now for it).
I've never been 1D (yet), but I have hit some really low 18's, so I know the potential is there. I haven't run them with this horse, the best I've run with her so far is a 19.8 on a standard.
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Veteran
Posts: 233
| Im jealous you have access to Kristin! She was one of the best horsemanship trainers I had ever had the chance to work within TX. I don't know Lyndee because I have not worked with her and she lives waaaay over in CA.  |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 331
Location: Loma Linda, CA | Oh really?
Yeah I just PMed Kristin. If she doesn't respond on FB Ill text her tomorrow. She seems super chill. Ive talked to her at a few barrel races.
It's the benefit of living in CA we have so many amazing barrel racers here.
There's Michelle Lang who knows Lyndee, Kristin, Linda Vick is out here and then of course we have our girls who dominate the jack pots all the time lol.
There's a Ed Wright clinic in October I really want to go to as well. |
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 Experienced Mouse Trapper
Posts: 3106
Location: North Dakota | If you can't get to someone for help, stick around after a race, move the barrels off the stakes and have someone ride with you-amazing how helpful the fellow rider can be and how quickly we forget the "simple" things when we think we are failing. |
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Stuck running bad times :(