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Location: Somewhere around here | Delta Cowgirl - 2016-06-01 6:35 AM
The first time I attended a 4D race to watch -- I was horrified to see so many folks flop and jerk and slip and slide all over their horses. Many runs I thought "she is going to die". As in any sport, the better physical shape you are in and the more well trained you are the higher your success level. There are certainly some great riders out there, but many folks need to take a step back to basic riding lessons.
I attended a clinic, hosted by Mile Hi, where there were a couple of people teaching it and one of the clinicians, I believe it was Kelly Conrado, told all of us to kick out our stirrups and walk and trot small circles. I don't really remember how I did but I recall seeing some more "experienced" riders flopping around like a sack of potatoes. Kelly mentioned that he made all of his kids practice riding without stirrups every week, and I believe you can really see that pay off in his girls running. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 823
Location: East Texas | Most of ya'll are hating on kids riding, but the older riders are just as bad or worse. |
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 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9992
 
Location: Kansas | CrossDRanch - 2016-06-01 8:08 AM Most of ya'll are hating on kids riding, but the older riders are just as bad or worse.
agreed |
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Regular
Posts: 85
| Some kids these days are only worried about winning, but it takes a competitive edge to want to get better. Maybe parents get a little ahead of themselves sometimes but they are excited for their kids and want them to be successful. Maybe we should be a little easier on them and just offer the help we can because they are the future of the industry. There are things I would have done differently if I knew then what I know now but every experience taught me something that contributed to the horseman I strive to be today.
I wasn't raised on 1D barrel horses, but I did have a seasoned mare when I was about 10 that taught me more than I would have learned "training my own" at that time. After that I had a young horse that I had to pattern myself, luckily he turned out to be a natural and carried me through high school and college. My niche now seems to be horses with a big motor that you have to "ride quiet and trust". I moved on to cutting horses when I was older and I think that was the best thing I could have done horsemanship-wise, but again I was blessed to be able to ride horses that knew their job. Where I'm going with this is sometimes you can benefit more from a horse that is dead broke, or runs the pattern the same every time because you learn the FEEL of what is right. A trainer cannot teach feel, it is up to the rider to take the time to learn it. Being back on barrel horses now feels completely different than it did the 18 years I competed before.
Edited by Lph88311 2016-06-01 9:08 AM
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 Elite Veteran
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Location: Missouri | I've gotten to the point when I go to barrel I avoid other riders like the plague. I try not to judge people on riding ability because it will just make you angry. I warm up away from the warm up arenas, avoid heavy traffic areas, and only go up to the arena for my run. It's painful to watch someone who can't ride. I've been saying for years, every other discipline I have ever ridden has had a trainer, it seems barrel racing is the only event where you don't go for lessons 2-3 times a week and have a trainer who teaches you basic horsemanship. Why is this? I actually had a barrel trainer. I went for lessons 2 times a week along with going to my cutting horse trainer and jumping trainer. It's upsetting to see so many people who can't ride. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 602
| I agree with you but its not just teenagers. Ive seen several adults ride the same way. I think getting basic lessons before racing is a great idea plus getting tune ups once a year isn't a bad idea either. Ive helped a few girls at races and had their parents thanking me afterwards. If someone ever approached me at a race and gave me a few pointers, I wouldn't be nasty. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 575
| RodeoCowgirl4u - 2016-05-31 4:30 PM
IowaCanChaser - 2016-05-31 2:24 PM
I am a teenaged rider, but I was taught correctly and ride my horses to the best of my ability, I don't whip, and my runs are controlled and I let my horses work. From my experience as I run with these type of girls every rodeo, they cut corners, and honestly don't care. As long as they're fast, they don't care if they're jerking their horses face, spurring them bloody, and it looks like a train wreck. It makes me feel bad for the horses that have no idea what is going on as they're running to each barrel being spurred and whipped and then they get their face jerked around.
and every year these same girls end up having to get a new horse at the end of the season because there is "something wrong with them." My daughter is like you...and while it drives her NUTS that I wouldn't let her run full bore until she knew her basics, she is the better rider for it and can now buy the "ruined" horses dirt cheap and run them. *That* makes me proud. Not money and buckles and trophies...but that my daughter (even with our limited finances ) is becoming a "handy rider" and can problem solve a horse.
I'm watching this happen now with a local girl. She had a NICE mare, who now looks "blown up", and the girl bought another NICE young prospect. The "blown up" mare is with a more quiet rider while she's for sale (and rapidly getting back to being the cool horse she was), and the young mare is getting jerked around in exhibitions as a 4 yr old. She went from cruising a nice pattern when purchased, to not being able to even get around her second barrel without being yanked on so hard she's starting to stop and rear up. At what point do you realize, "I've gone through x-amount of horses and they all have the same problems... maybe it's me?"  |
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 Ms. Elvis
Posts: 9606
Location: Running barrels or watching nascar | cecollins0811 - 2016-06-01 5:44 AM
Delta Cowgirl - 2016-06-01 6:35 AM
The first time I attended a 4D race to watch -- I was horrified to see so many folks flop and jerk and slip and slide all over their horses. Many runs I thought "she is going to die". As in any sport, the better physical shape you are in and the more well trained you are the higher your success level. There are certainly some great riders out there, but many folks need to take a step back to basic riding lessons.
I attended a clinic, hosted by Mile Hi, where there were a couple of people teaching it and one of the clinicians, I believe it was Kelly Conrado, told all of us to kick out our stirrups and walk and trot small circles. I don't really remember how I did but I recall seeing some more "experienced" riders flopping around like a sack of potatoes. Kelly mentioned that he made all of his kids practice riding without stirrups every week, and I believe you can really see that pay off in his girls running.
I ride bareback sometimes to practice the same thing. Sometimes I'll kick out of the stirrups too. |
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Ms. Elvis
Posts: 9606
Location: Running barrels or watching nascar | mlh0972 - 2016-06-01 7:51 AM
I've gotten to the point when I go to barrel I avoid other riders like the plague. I try not to judge people on riding ability because it will just make you angry. I warm up away from the warm up arenas, avoid heavy traffic areas, and only go up to the arena for my run. It's painful to watch someone who can't ride. I've been saying for years, every other discipline I have ever ridden has had a trainer, it seems barrel racing is the only event where you don't go for lessons 2-3 times a week and have a trainer who teaches you basic horsemanship. Why is this? I actually had a barrel trainer. I went for lessons 2 times a week along with going to my cutting horse trainer and jumping trainer. It's upsetting to see so many people who can't ride.
I try to do the same. I can't stand people lately |
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| I recently took my daughter to a Team Josey clinic and they did a short session on basic horsemanship and it was amazing how little people knew, both young and old.
As far as the youngsters go, I know parents want their kid to be out there WINNING but this is actually the time that they should be out there LEARNING. Once they learn those wins will come. I truly believe that if you teach a kid to train their own horses they will always ride a good one. Money may run out but the knowledge they acquire, they will always have.
Edited by LAC 2016-06-01 1:23 PM
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Regular
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| mlh0972 - 2016-06-01 7:51 AM
I've gotten to the point when I go to barrel I avoid other riders like the plague. I try not to judge people on riding ability because it will just make you angry. I warm up away from the warm up arenas, avoid heavy traffic areas, and only go up to the arena for my run. It's painful to watch someone who can't ride. I've been saying for years, every other discipline I have ever ridden has had a trainer, it seems barrel racing is the only event where you don't go for lessons 2-3 times a week and have a trainer who teaches you basic horsemanship. Why is this? I actually had a barrel trainer. I went for lessons 2 times a week along with going to my cutting horse trainer and jumping trainer. It's upsetting to see so many people who can't ride.
I completely agree with you! The warm up arena is more nerve racking sometimes then your actual run! People are so rude and it is scary when you are trying to avoid them because you are nervous that they are going to run into your horse or fall off in front of you! I try not to watch people around me till after my run and I try to pick a warm up area that has the least riders.
I grew up doing all around events so I had multiple lessons each week, there was a time where I was taking both western showing mixed with reining, dressage and speed event lessons and we would have drill team practices all winter on the weekends! Barrel racing and poles were just a fun getaway for me from showing when I was younger, now it is what I compete in. However I still train my barrel horses with a lot of reining and some dressage foundation. I definitely mix up their training between disciplines and I find going to clinics by all around horseman or reiners/dressage trainers really helps. I was lucky to have a great 4H leader who really encouraged me to be an all around rider when I was a kid. I really disliked the english lessons and showmanship practices but it really helped me in the long run.
I will say it is kinda hard to get out of the proper show mode when you are trying to get competitive at barrels though! I'm getting better now but I really had to teach myself to loosen up and lean forward in between barrels. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 634
| WetSaddleBlankets - 2016-05-31 8:40 PM
Do you want to know what I think is ridiculous is the 80,000 dollar trailers and 50,000 dollar trucks and then the people that own them don't spend the same money on riding lessons... oh their poor horses. I just don't understand...
Some people need to buy a $1,000 horse and have $19,000 of riding/ horsemanship lessons as opposed to buying a $20,000 horse they can't control or ride. This happens a lot in my area. Next you end up with a gate sour, ruined horse that hates running barrels because it has a flopping, whipping, kicking person on its back in the arena. I wouldn't want to go in either. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 509
| I took along one of my hunt seat friends one night to a local punkin roller show she right off the bat started bashing the locals finally after listening all evening my suggestion was turn your head you don't have to watch, me personally i focus on my horsemanship and being in This over a lifetime i don't pay much attention who knows what others story is maybe there learning maybe they aren't as gifted as others. I figure to each is there own I'm constantly learning it's just my personality to be better than i was the last ride. |
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Posts: 2128
| I can agree. There are things I did when I was junior high/high school that make me cringe when I look back. I honestly didnt know better and didnt have anyone to teach me better. Now I am surrounded by great horse people so its hard not to be a sponge and soak it all up. This site has helped me a lot with many issues. Trainingbarrelhorses.com has been good too. The internet has been a game changer lol. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1395
Location: Missouri | When I first started barrel racing (eh about 8 years ago?) I was a teenager, and watching the videos now absolutely make me cringe. I was very very much a beginner and man did it show. Thankfully, I was able to get some lessons from and ride with a knowledgeable, experienced person in my area (who's turned out to be a great friend over the years) and I had a very patient, forgiving horse. And I was willing to work at it.... A lot. I was willing to take constructive criticism and actually DO something with it.
I feel like the younger generation (not all, just a broad statement here) doesn't really want to work out the kinks with a horse, or better themselves, when things get better. Many, not all, just want to wash their hands of it and get a new one. Again, I acknowledge that not EVERY younger rider is this way, but I have seen it a lot over the years. A couple bad runs, and they hate the horse, want to get rid of it and find something else. Nevermind looking into health issues, rider issues, and the list goes on. |
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