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| Bear - 2016-06-07 8:02 AM
FLITASTIC - 2016-06-07 9:48 AM
Bear - 2016-06-07 7:26 AM
I have to admit that I'm a little self-conscious when I am one of very few men who enter jackpots in Texas, mainly because of the stereotypes of men who barrel race. Sometimes I'm the only man entered. I don't dwell on it, but it's there. If I mutter something about it to my wife, she just says, "Oh stop....the only one who thinks about it is you!" We have friends who are good horsemen and I'm pretty sure they could do well in the sport, and I try to push them into trying it. They think about it for a bit, but they dismiss the notion eventually. One guy is pretty accomplished in cutting, and another is an equine dentist and a good hand in his own right. I've seen him take horses around the barrels, and he would need some coaching, but he has all the tools. He's raised a number of top caliber horses.
In Caldwell, we sometimes go to jackpots put on by "Ride Like a Girl" productions. Now THAT bugs me, but I enter anyway. I usually grumble about that name, and the announcer shows her sense of humor when she announces "Runs like a dude", if I happen to pick up a check.
Bear, thats why I have never hauled to TX to run cans, I am conscious about what others think as well. lol Shouldnt bother me but at some level it does. Out here in CA its no big deal what so ever. I would say 90% of the guys who run out here are in fact gay but its not a big deal. TX might be a little scary. I remember long time ago I ran at a race in Wyoming on my way some place else and Oh man, a guy running barrels was not the best idea.
Yeah, and I like pretty tack and pink shirts to boot! How do you think I feel? LOL.
That's OK.....I get to watch hot chicks like my wife run barrels and warm up next to them and flirt. Nothing sexier or prettier than a woman on a horse. They all look pretty, for some reason. Guys don't know what they're missing.
you and your wife need to be co trainers like Martha/RE Josey or other husband wife training teams. |
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 I Want a "MAN"
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Location: MD | I live in Maryland and a lot of guys run barrels. It's very normal here. The best barrel racers are men around here, in my opinion. :) |
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 Off the Wall Wacky
Posts: 2981
Location: Louisiana | There have always been men in this area barrel racing. As far as I can remember, I'm only 26 but been running for almost 20 years now.
There are men at every barrel race I go to. Of every caliber. There are a few that would take our money if they could enter the rodeos.
I guess it's probably a regional thing. The more barrel racers total, the more guys.
My husband doesn't race, but not bc he's a man. He just ropes. I kinda wish someone would put on a husband barrel race around here, I'd let him run one of my ponies haha. I'd never hear the end of it if he beat me though  |
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Location: Somewhere around here | Southtxponygirl - 2016-06-07 8:09 AM
You must be really new to barrel racing 
Lol sure, we can say that  I'm not saying I've never seen a guy who barrel races, way too many to name, but locally (in my town) no guy would be caught dead running barrels. Now up in Denver or the Springs is a different story. |
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Miracle in the Making
Posts: 4013
| FLITASTIC - 2016-06-07 9:54 AM cavyrunsbarrels - 2016-06-07 6:52 AM I have seen a slight increase overall, not that I follow local barrel racing that closesly. I have noticed though that just about every guy rides like a wild man. Like they are fearless and on a freaking mission lol. Now that you mention it, very true!!! I do not ride like a mad man, I'm very quiet and I can name a few others here same way but yea, a lot of them get after it!!
there are a lot more women than men that ride like ,,,,, hang on head jumping up and down |
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 Am I really the Weirdo?
Posts: 11181
Location: Kansas | My boyfriend runs barrels and is often one of about 2 straight guys at our races. He's entered a couple of those "man races" and almost won a case of beer in one last winter, but I didn't give him quite a fast enough horse and he got outrun by a team roper. He has 3 barrel horses of his own, and has made runs on 2 of mine. I've also borrowed his for small pen rodeo finals a couple years.
Here's Matt and my top rodeo horse at a jackpot last summer - https://youtu.be/ojQlhUUbLBI. |
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 Own It and Move On
Location: The edge of no where | Bear - 2016-06-07 9:26 AM I have to admit that I'm a little self-conscious when I am one of very few men who enter jackpots in Texas, mainly because of the stereotypes of men who barrel race. Sometimes I'm the only man entered. I don't dwell on it, but it's there. If I mutter something about it to my wife, she just says, "Oh stop....the only one who thinks about it is you!" We have friends who are good horsemen and I'm pretty sure they could do well in the sport, and I try to push them into trying it. They think about it for a bit, but they dismiss the notion eventually. One guy is pretty accomplished in cutting, and another is an equine dentist and a good hand in his own right. I've seen him take horses around the barrels, and he would need some coaching, but he has all the tools. He's raised a number of top caliber horses. In Caldwell, we sometimes go to jackpots put on by "Ride Like a Girl" productions. Now THAT bugs me, but I enter anyway. I usually grumble about that name, and the announcer shows her sense of humor when she announces "Runs like a dude", if I happen to pick up a check.
I agree with your wife....the only one noticing it is you. I live in north central Texas and we have quite a few guys that run (a lot of them are freakin TOUGH!) I don't think twice about what gender someone is when they enter, all I pay attention to are the people I think I can learn something from that are fun to watch ride one.
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Expert
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Location: Somewhere around here | rodeowithjoker - 2016-06-08 6:31 AM My boyfriend runs barrels and is often one of about 2 straight guys at our races. He's entered a couple of those "man races" and almost won a case of beer in one last winter, but I didn't give him quite a fast enough horse and he got outrun by a team roper. He has 3 barrel horses of his own, and has made runs on 2 of mine. I've also borrowed his for small pen rodeo finals a couple years.
Here's Matt and my top rodeo horse at a jackpot last summer - https://youtu.be/ojQlhUUbLBI.
Now THAT would get some more of the guys to join in my arena lol! |
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 Expert
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| I am seeing more and more of them out here. My husband got hooked 2 years ago when I asked him to run my horse while I recovered from brain surgery so my mare didn't sit all summer. He was hesitant but was a good sport about it. Most of his buddies are roughies and working cowboys so he caught a lot of flack about it. It bothered him at first but when he started bringing home the checks he didn't care much about what they had to say. He said he fought bulls, rode bareback horse and through steers and doesn't need to prove his masculinity to anyone anymore. After the first couple races he went to that summer he was hooked. He doesn't go to a whole lot but he will run occasionally. |
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  Ms. Marine
Posts: 4627
Location: Texas | It's pretty normal around here. |
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 Expert
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| Bear - 2016-06-07 10:02 AM FLITASTIC - 2016-06-07 9:48 AM Bear - 2016-06-07 7:26 AM I have to admit that I'm a little self-conscious when I am one of very few men who enter jackpots in Texas, mainly because of the stereotypes of men who barrel race. Sometimes I'm the only man entered. I don't dwell on it, but it's there. If I mutter something about it to my wife, she just says, "Oh stop....the only one who thinks about it is you!" We have friends who are good horsemen and I'm pretty sure they could do well in the sport, and I try to push them into trying it. They think about it for a bit, but they dismiss the notion eventually. One guy is pretty accomplished in cutting, and another is an equine dentist and a good hand in his own right. I've seen him take horses around the barrels, and he would need some coaching, but he has all the tools. He's raised a number of top caliber horses. In Caldwell, we sometimes go to jackpots put on by "Ride Like a Girl" productions. Now THAT bugs me, but I enter anyway. I usually grumble about that name, and the announcer shows her sense of humor when she announces "Runs like a dude", if I happen to pick up a check. Bear, thats why I have never hauled to TX to run cans, I am conscious about what others think as well. lol Shouldnt bother me but at some level it does. Out here in CA its no big deal what so ever. I would say 90% of the guys who run out here are in fact gay but its not a big deal. TX might be a little scary. I remember long time ago I ran at a race in Wyoming on my way some place else and Oh man, a guy running barrels was not the best idea. Yeah, and I like pretty tack and pink shirts to boot! How do you think I feel? LOL. That's OK.....I get to watch hot chicks like my wife run barrels and warm up next to them and flirt. Nothing sexier or prettier than a woman on a horse. They all look pretty, for some reason. Guys don't know what they're missing.
I live in West Louisiana close to the Tx line and haul all around this area and I will tell you from my experience no one seems to mind the men barrel racing. There are many that are gay and many that are not. I dont notice a difference in the way people treat them. If anything when I see a guy show up I am betting he is really good and riding something nice. lol. |
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 Guys Just Wanna Have Fun
Posts: 5530
Location: OH | Whiteboy - 2016-06-07 10:49 AM I've entered one barrel race since I was a kid in 4H. It was a fundraiser and the pot was for men only. I don't think I would ever enter a real race...for several reasons.
Which Are ??????? |
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Guys Just Wanna Have Fun
Posts: 5530
Location: OH | Back here in the OH-PA area men have always barrel raced--I would not say that it is 50-50 but there are a bunch of us guys. |
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Own It and Move On
Location: The edge of no where | Mighty Broke - 2016-06-08 2:28 PM Whiteboy - 2016-06-07 10:49 AM I've entered one barrel race since I was a kid in 4H. It was a fundraiser and the pot was for men only. I don't think I would ever enter a real race...for several reasons. Which Are ???????
I want to hear the reasons.......come on now.
If it's because you're worried about losing the man card, I can't think of a dumber reason. |
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