|
|
  Twin Sister to Queen Boobie
Posts: 13315
   
Location: East Tennessee but who knows?! | Yesterday I sat down and wrote down all the possibly shows I could go to this coming year on my calendar. Definitely plan on making it to all the NBHA shows I can but what I'm struggling with is my other horses that I'm not running on that I want to show in ranch stuff and maybe sorting if it's close enough. One is a barrel prospect that I want to get a years worth of ranch type classes on before I start on barrels. The others have been shown but need finishing and they're definitely not barrel horses.
I usually go with the intention to school because it takes me forever to bring one along, and it's no pressure! I've had that mindset for years! I don't really plan my schedule - just wait and see if we can go. This year I'm wanting to step it up and go show for real. Hit a few AQHA shows again and maybe some ARHA stuff too. Getting a little more serious makes it tougher to actually plan! I need to step it up, we've been in training mode long enough and none of us are getting any younger!!
So how does everyone plan your show schedule when you're going to win, not just have fun?
How did you make the transition from a training/schooling mindset to a serious competition mindset? How did you handle the pressure and the disappointments when they came?
How did you factor the money into your schedule and what shows you were going to hit?
What were your goals? How shows per season, etc.?
|
|
| |
|
 Chasin my Dream
Posts: 13651
 
Location: Alberta | Great topic!
I have a prospect that I have been doing exhibitions on and I'm trying to keep riding over the winter. I know he'll have his ups and downs but I also think he's more ready then me.
To answer about training mode/schooling, this is my second prospect I have started and I've learned a lot since my first. I know I need to move forward with him BUT also be aware of when and if I need to back off when he tells me. I feel I'm more confident when I haul with a colt then I used to be, not necessarily " oh I'll win" but just knowing I've done my homework.....sure things are never perfect but I'm up for those moments as well. I have my mind set I will enter my colt in a Futurity in July & October....big goal but it makes me push myself!
I always have a goal of number of runs I want to make each year and between local small races and some bigger added $$$ I don't have to go far, so although it costs I'm not driving very far which helps the pocket book....so my seasoned mare and colt each have a number Id like to hit...
I have never ever really won anything in a year, I go with the mind set to learn and have fun....sure I'd like to win but if I focus too much on that I'm off track. |
|
| |
|
Twin Sister to Queen Boobie
Posts: 13315
Location: East Tennessee but who knows?! | It's hard to find a good balance when you're bringing one along. |
|
| |
|
Elite Veteran
Posts: 1115
| It depends on where the horses are in their training, but I usually print calendar pages for the entire year and then write the dates of all the events that I want to attend (playdays/schooling shows, breed shows, barrel races). I then visit each promoters website and note the fees involved and add those to the calendar with sticky notes.
Once I have the money and dates, I go through and look for overlaps (two events that share the same date) and decide which one I definitely want to attend, then mark the other off the calendar. Any events that are way too expensive get the same treatment.
After I have eliminated some events, I look at the money and try to decide what I can afford to attend. I narrow it down to the definitely going to compete events, and then some alternate or if the horse is ready events. Then i budget accordingly for the fees and fuel/travel expenses.
|
|
| |
|
 Ms. Elvis
Posts: 9606
Location: Running barrels or watching nascar | I used to write shows down but now I just play things by ear. When I made plans, nothing ever worked out. I was always plagued by bad roads, unsoundness, etc. I may note the ones that are pre-entry only or sell out of stalls quick, better pre enter than late enter, that kind of thing. Just have to watch where my horse is at competitively and where I'm at financially. Still contemplating getting my permit for this year but haven't been anywhere to judge where my horse is and I'm currently 'broke'. |
|
| |
|
Good Ole Boys just Fine with Me
Posts: 2869
Location: SE Missouri | Good topic!
I'm in a different place this year it seems. I always "planned" to go to a lot of events. I end up disappointed (a little) because my job has been so crazy.. It looks to be a lot quieter this year but I realy want to set realistic plans. I don't have the same go to a lot outlook this year.
I want to go to 6 rodeos, 2 big races, and 4 local races.. I have two open horses (plus 2 barrel/rope horses), 2-3year olds, and a 2 year old LSOF. I want the hubby to enter at least a couple US ropings also. That's actually a lot to juggle with the alfalfa also.. So I may even scale back on the rodeos, I need to sell a couple and frankly they need to be hauled recently before I will even advertise. .
2016 is when I want to haul pretty hard (I have a big breakaway roping goal) and it will be my LSOF futurity year!
Edited by abrooks 2015-01-04 4:04 PM
|
|
| |
|
 Am I really the Weirdo?
Posts: 11181
Location: Kansas | I add shows to my daily planner as I find them on schedules and I never cross anything off unless it's cancelled because you never know when a higher priority show may be cancelled due to weather, or I may need to give the finished horses a day off & haul a greener one instead. I note start times, fees if they are not an association show, and if it's a place I haven't been, I'll try to research the drive and the arena a bit.
My #1 priority will be rodeos with Chance and Clifford, then NBHA shows with Joker and Streak, big weekend races with Chance and Cliff, and random week night stuff with Streak and others who might need to make a run between rodeos. Honestly in 2015, Joker is probably not running anywhere except district NBHAs and $500 or more added races in little pens that he likes. Streak's schedule will depend on how he progresses, and I plan to split the rodeo duties with Chance (bigger pens, deeper ground) and Clifford (little pens, mud, slick or shallow ground).
In 2014, Chance made 48 barrel runs, Cliff 75, Joker & Streak 26 each, and I'd like to stay under 75 for everyone but Joker this year. His max is probably 25-30 and we may not even touch that. He could have to retire at any moment so I'm going to enjoy every run we get to make.
As far as planning with a serious competitive mindset, I look at arenas that each horse likes. Washington KS & Fremont NE are two arenas that Chance really likes, so they are musts on my rodeo schedule. Clifford won Windsor, MO, and Mount Ayr, IA, plus ran well at White Cloud KS and Grand River IA, so I'll make those 4 a priority again. None of my 3 finished ones work well at Troy KS so I'm skipping it this year, and there are some that I'll never ever go back to because of the ground conditions or setups. The more I rodeo, the more I learn where I should & shouldn't enter. There are a couple rodeos I want to add to my 4th of July run this year because I've seen videos and think I have a horse who will excel there. Maybe the toughest part of planning is balancing my desire to make runs on my good horses with their need to have time off and days to lounge around instead of running. It's always tough to leave Chance at home, but I'm going to try and give him a full month off from running here shortly because he has worked hard this fall and deserves it. I'll try to enter "Chance arenas" one weekend every couple months and "Clifford pens" another weekend so they can each have a mini-break during the summer. |
|
| |
|
Twin Sister to Queen Boobie
Posts: 13315
Location: East Tennessee but who knows?! | barrelracer1983 - 2015-01-03 10:46 AM I used to write shows down but now I just play things by ear. When I made plans, nothing ever worked out. I was always plagued by bad roads, unsoundness, etc. I may note the ones that are pre-entry only or sell out of stalls quick, better pre enter than late enter, that kind of thing. Just have to watch where my horse is at competitively and where I'm at financially. Still contemplating getting my permit for this year but haven't been anywhere to judge where my horse is and I'm currently 'broke'.
This is why I haven't gotten too serious as well. I hate disappointments!! I've had the same things happen.
Everyone has had great input!! 
I'm leaning towards hitting 1-2 AQHA and ARHA shows real late in the season to give me the best shot at getting some training in. Hit as many open shows as I can in preparation for it. And then let everyone tag along to all the barrel races we hit. Barrels is still the main priority.
|
|
| |
|
 Ima Cool Kid
Posts: 3496
Location: TN | i have a horse show calander just for shows. i list them all, never know if i want to be schooling at saddle clubs or going for $$$ shows i never seam to finnish out a full season on any one horse between injured/ weather or job. at least i can know where there is some where to show when i am off and weather permits
|
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 238
| I usually pick an association I want to run or qualify for some finals and put those down first. Then any big weekend events that I want to attend. Fill in everything else as "possibilities" and go on from there. I make it my goal to attend whatever I chose as my club for the season FIRST. Let the others fit in where they get in. |
|
| |
Folks on-line