3 To Go - 2014-01-22 10:51 AM Some of those mid west and eastern horses had a bit of a "learning curve" adjusting to the pattern in Buckeye the last 3 weekends. Some of them definitely needed their warm-up run in order to get things figured out. You could definitely tell some were not at all used to running that far across the arena or to the first barrel! The riders were able to jockey them past, but it definitely effected their times.

SKM - 2014-01-20 7:08 PM I honestly don't think it will make that big of a difference due to the toughness of the qualifiers.



Just take the NFR for an example. All those horses that run awesome in that small pen, still kicked butt in the standard patterns during the entire summer.





I think The American will be the same way. The caliber of horses should be able to handle small and standard with no problem.

skye - 2014-01-22 12:51 PM What horse is Charmayne going to run at the American? 

bingo - 2014-01-22 1:11 PM I have to respectfully disagree on the horses being equal on small or large pens. I think there are definitely horses that excel in certain size pens. There are horses that clock best in smaller pens, and some in larger. Some in shallow ground, some in deep, some w/walls to ping off of, and some can handle those big, open in the field feeling arenas. Why else would barrel racers be so whinny when they set the stakes at barrel races. It seems there is often a preference based on what we know our horse clocks best in. There are a handful of horses that can excel in all conditions, but even the best do have a pattern size that suits them best. If the American arena is going to be shrunken in size, and a standard pattern is not being set, it would make my guess on who can win it different than if it was a standard pattern. AND Is Andrea Cline going to complete against Charmayne at the Mesquite qualifier? If so, the winner of that is the one who goes on to Arlington, from what I understand. Is Andrea Cline the trainer Charmayne had been using in the recent past? I'm so out of it, sorry...

BamaCanChaser - 2014-01-23 11:09 AM I have to disagree. Summer Huff, for example, is a member of my NBHA district, I have rodeod with her, I see her run all the time. She is a tremendous jockey with access to superb horses, however, the horse she qualified on is most certainly a small pen horse. That is just where that horse excels. It will be interesting to see what horse changes are made for Mesquite.

bingo - 2014-01-23 10:11 AM I have to respectfully disagree on the horses being equal on small or large pens. I think there are definitely horses that excel in certain size pens. There are horses that clock best in smaller pens, and some in larger. Some in shallow ground, some in deep, some w/walls to ping off of, and some can handle those big, open in the field feeling arenas. Why else would barrel racers be so whinny when they set the stakes at barrel races. It seems there is often a preference based on what we know our horse clocks best in. There are a handful of horses that can excel in all conditions, but even the best do have a pattern size that suits them best. If the American arena is going to be shrunken in size, and a standard pattern is not being set, it would make my guess on who can win it different than if it was a standard pattern. AND Is Andrea Cline going to complete against Charmayne at the Mesquite qualifier? If so, the winner of that is the one who goes on to Arlington, from what I understand. Is Andrea Cline the trainer Charmayne had been using in the recent past? I'm so out of it, sorry...

bingo - 2014-01-23 9:47 AM From the American rules page: " Not including the possible Exemption contestants, 51 contestants will run one slack run, and then the top 20 finishers from that round will be split into two performances. One performance will be Saturday at 7 PM and the second will be Sunday at 2 PM. After those 20 individuals run in the performances, along with the possible Exemption Match or Exemption contestant, the top 10 times and the possible Exemption Match winner, or Exemption contestant, will solidify their spot in THE AMERICAN." You're right, no average, but you will be making 2 runs to qualify if you make the top 20 in slack. Then top 10 times from WHAT? Is that the top times from all the runs OR from the performance runs?? Inquiring minds want to know... With $1,000,000 on the line, this is a very important thing to clarify.

bingo - 2014-01-22 1:11 PM

I have to respectfully disagree on the horses being equal on small or large pens. I think there are definitely horses that excel in certain size pens. There are horses that clock best in smaller pens, and some in larger. Some in shallow ground, some in deep, some w/walls to ping off of, and some can handle those big, open in the field feeling arenas. Why else would barrel racers be so whinny when they set the stakes at barrel races. It seems there is often a preference based on what we know our horse clocks best in. There are a handful of horses that can excel in all conditions, but even the best do have a pattern size that suits them best. If the American arena is going to be shrunken in size, and a standard pattern is not being set, it would make my guess on who can win it different than if it was a standard pattern.

AND

Is Andrea Cline going to complete against Charmayne at the Mesquite qualifier? If so, the winner of that is the one who goes on to Arlington, from what I understand. Is Andrea Cline the trainer Charmayne had been using in the recent past? I'm so out of it, sorry...