Hey everyone,

Many thanks for keeping good thoughts coming!  The doctors say everything is as it should be, but nothing heals fast enough for me.  Now, let's talk about barrel racing....

Kappy,I'm so glad to hear that you are doing better! Good Luck

Welcome aboard! 

An issue that's been here a lot lately-Confidence. 

How do you keep things fun for you and your horse?  Keep from getting frustrated or run down if you hit a bad streak?

Hi Kappy,

Glad to hear you are closer to riding again.  I have one question...what do you look for in a young horse?  Thanks for joining us here at BHW.

Welcome Kappy!

I hope all is well.  I'm sure your horses are ready for you to come back. 

Question for you:

What is your advice to someone starting out in WPRA?  I just recently purchased my permit and have gone to a few DT's, but I would like to haul a little harder to fill my permit this year and maybe shoot for the circuit finals next year.

It's good to see you up and around.  I've kept you in my prayers.  

I am very happy to hear that you are on the mend!

I am getting my horse conditioned to start hauling again.  My daughter was born last year and I also had soundness issues with my horse.  I am having trouble getting my confidence.  I am easily intimidated.  I'd like some advice on staying focused and tough mentally when I pull into my first barrel race this year.

Thanks!

Just curious what supplements you feel give you the best help and or protection for your hauling schedule? (I understand if you do not feel like it is proper to realease the info due to endorsement type of things.)

Also, keep your chin up, even little barrel racing boys like my 8 year old really look up to you.

A Canadian cowboy was quoted as saying, "When things are going right, it's all so easy.  When things are going wrong, everything is hard."

Everybody has their off days.  Charmayne, Janet, Sherry, Tammy, and all the other "big girls".  They stay in the game through thick and thin because they are mentally tough.  This means different things to different people, but - to me - it is primarily preparation and focus.  If you aren't prepared, you can't do your best, no matter what the conditions.  If you let yourself be distracted, you lose your focus.  For those of us who don't get to ride everyday and compete regularly, this is especially important.

Hi Kappy! Glad you are feeling better. I haven't talked with you in quite a while but Deb has been keeping everyone updated. Hope to hear you are back on the road with Chris soon. God Bless!

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Hi and I am so glad you are feeling better , can't wait to see you running again.

My question is , I seem to have lost a lot of confidience, I am not saying all because I am still able to get up  on a horse.  Anytime they do anything from a little head shake to looking at something with ears up and head up and get tense.  I just bought a new horse and she was great until she went into heat and then when I urged her forward she would kick out.  Now I am afraid to kick her.  My four year old reared with me and now all I can do is walk around on him.  I want so bad to run competitive. I am tired of being at the bottom of the barrel.  It is not just fear with horses it is pretty much everything right now.  Any words of incouragement would be great.  I have asked for help on the board and got some great advice and it really seems to help , maybe just knowing others go through this too.  Thank you so much for taking the time to help us out. 

What type of mental training program do you employ? Visualizing perfect runs doesn't do a whole lot for me, LOL. 

Thanks for being here!!

Ditto what Solid Foundation said!! It's also hard getting back confidence when coming off winter too I think. I haven't been to a barrel race since November.......

Kappy,

You and your are in my thoughts and prayers.  Speedy and full recovery!

Hi Kappy,

Glad you are doing better.  I pray for your continued recovery. 

Another issue that has been really big on here lately is feeding programs and supplements.  If you can help us out with our curiosity I would appreciate it.  If not, I understand. 

Thank you for your time.  

It goes without saying that you have to be mounted - it's hard to outrun the 'toughs' on a horse that is not competitive.

That having been said, you don't need a Hawk, a Bozo, or a LLave to win and to enjoy what you're doing.  You have to focus on yourself and your horse, and what the two of you are capable of achieving.  You can't worry that you're running against Kristi, Sherry, Charmayne, or the rest; they all started out just like you!  When you go down the alley, you can't be thinking about anything but your run.  You can't think about who is there, what you will say if things don't go right, who is watching from the stands, or what you have sacrificed in order to follow your dream.  If you do, then you don't do justice to your team or the people who are supporting you in your effort. 

You know after reading what Solid said, I am intimidated too. I see some of the good ones in our area make a run and get to thinking I am not good enough, I run the 4 d instead of thinking that I am here to enjoy myself and my horse. 

Alamo, you are not alone, I haven't been to a race since August.

Intimidated?  By what or by whom?  What's the worst thing that can happen?  Well, whatever it is, it's already happened to one of the top 15.  You know what you and your horse can do if you are properly prepared.  If you didn't have the confidence that you are competitive, then you wouldn't be doing what you're doing and thinking about the hard questions.

Your biggest challenge will be (or maybe I should say that my biggest challenge was) the distraction of feeling that you are selfishly pursuing your own goals at the expense of your family.  My guess is that your family supports you and respects what you are trying to accomplish.  When she's older, your daughter will admire (and benefit greatly from) your commitment to your goal and your willingness to test yourself against the best of the best.  After all, you will never know unless you try!

Kappy, it's great to see you on here! Glad to hear you're feeling better and that the good Lord answered our prayers!

You have a great attitude on running, by the way! Very encouraging!

I have some questions about lead changes. The first is where do you change your leads for your second barrel and how to you personally set up and cue for that?

Do you have all your horses change at the same place or do you let a horse's style determine where to change?

Also, if a horse can do changes really with breaking to a trot for 1-2 strides, how do you progress to the flying lead change? I've got a horse that is light off my leg and does great lateral work and changes beautifully if we break for a stride or two but we can't seem to get it together quick enough for a flying change.

Thanks for your input and I hope you continue to feel better!

Hi Kappy,

I have a question, I have a 10 year old barrel and pole mare, sometimes at a show we can just lay down a run and win or place in the 1d, then the next show she will run hard to the first barrel and to the second and then shut off the rest of the way, and we will run about half second off.  I don't know what the problem is but it is killing my confidence.  thanks

So glad to hear you are on the mend.  You are definately a role model to alot of barrel racers across the country (& world).  You are a huge inspiration to those of us over 35 that still have the competative flame burning hot deep inside our souls, even with kids, husbands & fulltime careers.

If you had to choose between a horse with more natural run & less natural turns or more natural turns and less run which one do you prefer & why??   Do you think that a horse can learn to be more effecient in their turns and even without AAA speed be a tough competitor in the rodeo world?

Don't mean to make it sound like a deposition -  I just really value your opinion and advice.   Thanks so much for taking time out of your day be even give us the opportunity to pick your brain.  Take Care & Gods Speed in your continued recovery.

That's how I feel, that I'm being selfish, but I try to tell myself that I need to make time for myself. Thank God, I have a great husband who said, "I'll help you realize your dreams.." It's hard though, to make time and have someone watch kids......

Great question.  There are so many products on the market.  My view is that good nutrition is one of the key building blocks for preparedness.  I also believe that figuring out what your horse really needs and benefits from is a very individualized process.  For example, the "mix" that works best for Chris is different from what works best for Jonesey.  It takes time, trial and error, and knowledgeable people to help you.  To further complicate things, just when you think you have it all figured out, your horse's needs will change for one reason or another.  As with many things, simpler is usually better.  Try things one at a time so that you can tell what works and what doesn't.  Keep after it until you see improvement.

You don't need me to tell you that focusing on what could go wrong instead of concentrating on doing things right is it's own little self fulfilling prophecy.  When you decide to go to the barrel race, you are basically making a deal with yourself to put everything else aside.  If you can't leave the distractions in the driveway, don't go!  It's really not a function of how often you run, although I used to think that, too.  You have to train yourself to go down the alley thinking only of what you and your horse are about to do and how you can do it to the best of your ability.  If it was easy, everyone could do it!  Some of us who are fortunate have people who cared enough to share the techniques, but it really amounts simply to a way of thinking.  When you pull out to go to the barrel race, commit to yourself that emotion, negative thinking, and worries about the million other things that you "should" be doing will stay behind. 

Hi Kappy!

Quick question:  What do you look for in a young horse/prospect?

Thanks

Thank you for addressing the issue of persuing my own goals.  What you said makes me feel a lot better since I feel like I am neglecting my daughter so I can go run my horse around three cans.

As far as the intimidation goes, I was thinking and I think what I am really scared of is the potential of my horse.  Long story short is I started him on barrels and he was progressing well and then we hit a brick wall and I just couldn't make any improvement.  I sent him to a trainer after I had my daughter since I thought our problems was my fault.  There we found out he was having pain.  We injected him and that lasted long enough for the trainer to tell me he was totally awesome now that he wasn't in pain and that he had pro potential.  I put him on stall rest with medications to try to get him healed up for good per the advice of her vet.  I've been riding him for almost a month now and he seems sound, not having the problems that we had before.  He's my stud and I am so scared that I am not good enough to help him meet his full potential.  I'm still intimidated by the "big dogs" at the barrel races but my worst fear is failing my horse I guess.

Sorry this is so long.  I'm not good at making long stories short!

Hi Kappy glad you are feeling better. We are starting to high school rodeo.. where the ground isnt always the best. We want to do everything we can for our horses. From trailering them the right way to etc. What are some things you do to pamper your horse to make him feel the best while you are traveling? For instance do you wrap there legs while on the road if so with what? Do you have hay in the trailer? Do you have hay for them at all times? ETC???

Thanks!!

Hi Kappy,

I have a question about a younger horse. I am starting to haul my young horse who has tons of potiential. I think he is going to be my first "good one" so to say. What steps should I take to get him there and to keep him mentaly and physically where I want him?

You would have to ask Add Waddell.......

He does the training and I just try to stay on and out of the way!  Every horse has strengths, and also areas that are more of a challenge.  Your job is to capitalize on the strengths and to be alert and prepared enough to keep the challenges from slowing you down.  Keep going for it and let the competitive flame burn bright and hot!! 

FYI - I haven't seen 35 in a pretty good while!!!!

Aubrey wants to be the next Add.

I told him that while our last names were pretty similar, we have quite a ways to go to be like him.

This is Deb talking...we were just pampering Jonesey before this....that's why we were a little late!!!

Kappy......

At the risk of offending some of you, I'll share that I've told PETA people on more than one occasion that they just WISH they were one of my horses!!  We ask so much of our horses everytime we go down the alley.  Our obligation is to do everything that we can to make their job easier.  I fuss over almost everything. To be clear, though, pampering is, to me, something entirely different from spoiling.  My experience is that the hauling is much more gruelling than the runs.  I always wrap legs.  I have a tight, air-ride equipped trailer, and I try never to go more than 5 hours without a walk and a drink.  My horses are fine having hay and grain in the trailer, but some horses are not.   Also, I try to get to the rodeo in plenty of time for the horses to rest and get the vibration out of their legs.  I use lasers and magnets and ultra-sound as needed.  More of this type of care, rather than trying to cover up soreness or fatigue with drugs, has worked best for me.

Get yourself there first.  The rest will fall into place.......

What does that mean?  How?

Hey all,

This is Deb...

I'm having to pull Kappy away from the computer.....she needs to get up and walk around for a bit.

Thanks to all of you for coming online and talking with her.  She is overwhelmed at the number of questions and the number of views that came up on this post!

......and since she has walked away......thanks to all of you for not telling on me about the tractor story!!!!!!!!

Have a great day, and get off work and go ride your horse!

Deb

Not to put words in her mouth but I belive she means

Belive in yourself and the rest will follow.

Just my opinion, Kappy,Thanks for your time theres not a lot of people out there willing to spend 1 1/2 helping other people for no reason at all!!

Good Luck

Originally written by cindyt on 2004-04-15 4:27 PM

Originally written by 3cansam on 2004-04-15 3:22 PM

Am I the only one who feels unfullfilled?

3 can, we must hve pooped her out,,,,,,,,,,,

Yeah, I'm sure she's tuckered.  BTW, we aren't paying her to do this.

Originally written by DoubleUFarms on 2004-04-15 1:30 PM

Originally written by cindyt on 2004-04-15 4:27 PM

Originally written by 3cansam on 2004-04-15 3:22 PM

Am I the only one who feels unfullfilled?

3 can, we must hve pooped her out,,,,,,,,,,,

Yeah, I'm sure she's tuckered.  BTW, we aren't paying her to do this.

I understand completely!  I just would have really liked to see the answer to that one.  I should have thought of the question, and posed it a lot earlier. 

Dang, dang, dangit!  I missed the action! Really nice to be able to read the responses though. What a nice lady to take time for us, and at no charge. Thanks, Kappy, and very glad to hear that you are on the mend. Prayers are  powerful!

Cinch-up and others....

Yep, she was getting a little tired and feeling like she wasn't getting her point across too well.  Remember, it's hard to communicate on this board when you're not used to the routine...

I THINK she was meaning that you have to really stay focused yourself, get yourself ready to run, leave all the junk in the driveway...etc. and your young horse will rise to the occasion for you.  Remember, a young horse will look to you for leadership and WELCOME your lead - to which they will follow.  If you lose focus, he will tend to also...does that make sense???

I'm spending the weekend with her, so I'll pick her brain some more by the pool.....she's more relaxed there.....and pass on any words of wisdom.

Thanks again for understanding.  It's hard to remember that this lady can't feel her feet  and has been in a neck brace for about 5 weeks+ now.....THAT'S mental toughness! 

Hey Dan,

Kappy started to tell you all what she uses for Chris and Jonesey....they are different for each horse....but she doesn't want people to go out and buy supplements just because Chris is on them....she really believes in a good nutritional base first and foremost....and she has a chosen 'few' that she trusts to consult about what each horse needs.  Then she listens to them and ONLY them about what to feed.  I'm sure that's all she will want me to say.  Hope you understand.

As for Beau, he will be at the Reunion, but he is retired and living the good life now.  There is an article about him in Natural Horse magazine about him fighting his cancer with natural supplements and Equine Touch....he's somewhat of a star these days!  Thanks for asking about him.  I'll be running my young horse at Josey's....if I ever get a chance to saddle him up again! See you there!

I was unable to make it to talk with Kappy because I had to work an awful evening shift.

I'm glad to see/hear you are doing well Kappy. May you be blessed with a speedy recovery. Can't wait to see you and Chris going again. 

Deb or Kappy- my main concern seems to be soundness. I try my absolute best to keep them sound and this last year was just a wreck. Aside from daily care, prevention, etc...are there any little tricks someone isn't telling me as to how to keep my horse sound. I am thinking a padded cell might be a good idea for one of them in particular.