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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 408
| Both my husband and I have volunteered to help at barrel races... My husband still does, I had enough, very ungrateful job and I don't have much thick skin to deal with some of us LOL. So my most sincere thanks to those that step up to the plate and work hard to have rodeos and barrel races.
Nonetheless, I hope that the quality of the ground starts being a priority! The horses and riders safety cannot be compromised, not matter how "this is the way it's always been, cowgirl up"
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Expert
Posts: 2678
  
Location: Mi | The hard thing with rodeo ground is yes there are some stock contratctors that plain dont want to put the effort in BUT also in alot of cases the committee paying the stock contrator to produce the rodeo just plain doen't have the equipment they need to work the ground properly and as a stock contractor they can't haul that type of equipment with them. Stock contractors have alot of money invested into their livestock and most want the ground conditions safe for them also and it's not good for the spectators to see a performance with horses, livestock etc falling down, getting hurt and so on. As far as dragging goes open rodeos can do whatever they want. Any sanctioned rodeo has rules to follow and most will run 10, 12 maybe even 15 in the performance and then they have slack. Therefore slack has to run whatever number they ran in the performance then drag. If it were 10 ran in the perf and there are 30 in the slack they have to drag 3x in the slack and MOST (key word) open stock contrators do the same. Just my .02 from a contestant and stock contractor point of view.
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| Ahmac - 2017-11-16 11:29 AM
The hard thing with rodeo ground is yes there are some stock contratctors that plain dont want to put the effort in BUT also in alot of cases the committee paying the stock contrator to produce the rodeo just plain doen't have the equipment they need to work the ground properly and as a stock contractor they can't haul that type of equipment with them. Stock contractors have alot of money invested into their livestock and most want the ground conditions safe for them also and it's not good for the spectators to see a performance with horses, livestock etc falling down, getting hurt and so on. As far as dragging goes open rodeos can do whatever they want. Any sanctioned rodeo has rules to follow and most will run 10, 12 maybe even 15 in the performance and then they have slack. Therefore slack has to run whatever number they ran in the performance then drag. If it were 10 ran in the perf and there are 30 in the slack they have to drag 3x in the slack and MOST (key word) open stock contrators do the same.  Just my .02 from a contestant and stock contractor point of view.
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Yes, that is why I included the rodeo committees in this. We would battle with them on watering the ground the week before the rodeo so we could work the ground because it was so hard the tractor and disc couldn't break the ground. Many of theses arenas either are left to grow grass when not in use or are used for other things that pack the ground. The girls are going to have to let the committe people know what they need. Many of them have no idea. |
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 The Worst Seller Ever
Posts: 4138
Location: Oklahoma | I have learned ot listen to the rodeo veterans on where to enter and whether to draw out or not. There are certain rodeos that are not good when it wet, there are certain arenas that are best when they are flooded. Some you don't enter on the first night because it needs runs to make the ground good.
Most of the really dangerous arenas, even with a lot more added money do not get the entries that smaller rodeos get. This year at Hillsboro MO I refused to enter becuase it was the one rodeo my horse fell at all year. This year on Friday a bunch fell, by Saturday night they had completely reworked the arena and the ground was the best it had ever been.
Sometimes the committees don't care, sometimes they don't know, sometimes they do all they can, but the arena ground just doesn't get better. Rodeos will always be a different beast, your horse has to be smart enough to take care of themselves too. You will notice a lot of rodeo horses will "safety up" if they don't liek the ground and no amount of pushign will make them go faster. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 368
Location: run2win land | Look at how bad the ground at NFR got and how many years of complaints that achieved nothing because "that's rodeo". That's b.s. in my book. Look at what Spanish Fork does for their ground! It wasn't until the bucking horses and bulls were slipping and falling down and someone sponsoring the expert to come in that it finally got fixed. Last year was the first year in a long time I wasn't holding my breath. I've produced races for many years and ground is our #1 priority. It takes knowledge and working it properly but the dirt in the Coliseum wasn't the barrel racing dirt. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 408
| I was at Hillsboro MO Saturday night (just watching) and the ground seemed to be good. I did hear some horror stories about the night before. I am so glad they took into consideration the safety of both horses and riders and they fixed the arena for the next day. That shows they care! |
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| I think a lot of folks have no idea of the difference between good and bad ground past running with huge clods. They have no idea what hard pan is, or when an arena is too deep. They have no clue how much water is too much or not enough.
At the huge open races there is no excuse.
At the professionally sanctioned rodoes there is no excuse.
Below that level we as competitors are going to have to step up and not only demand it, but more than likely find a means to fix it. How many of the tractor drivers at these smaller events are someone’s husband who volunteered? How many of the tractors and drags are donated and you get what you’re lucky to get? Proper arena equipment is expensive. Producers can’t be expected to haul in their own tractor and drag for a 1 day 100 runner race for a reasonable $40 entry fee and 80% payback we’ve also demanded so 100 runners show up at all.
I do pick my arenas based on ground, the set up and whose working it. There’s a nice big arena about an hour and a half away. If the right people run the race and work it, it’s great. If the wrong folks work the ground it’s too dry and shifty. It’s also really easy to get it too deep, way too deep, scary deep. It’s a shame because it’s one of the nicer outdoor arenas.
We got really lucky with our rodeo season that it was mostly dry and the ground was pretty decent. There’s some arenas that if it’s wetter next year I’ll probably skip in favor of bigger jackpots, I just don’t trust the ground and the “rodeo glory” isn’t worth it to me. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 408
| please forgive this stupid question ( do remember I a newbie when it comes to rodeos). Is the money worthwhile riding in rodeos? do they penalize you if you enter and once you get there the ground is bad and you draw out? |
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 Miss Laundry Misshap
Posts: 5271
| love2ridepre - 2017-11-16 12:53 PM please forgive this stupid question ( do remember I a newbie when it comes to rodeos). Is the money worthwhile riding in rodeos? do they penalize you if you enter and once you get there the ground is bad and you draw out?
Depends on the organization and how good your horse is, if it's worth it.
A friend of mine is a PRCA member and it cost her $50 to draw out of one rodeo due to the weather making the ground trash. I can't remember what the entry fee to that one was, but they take it and the penalty. Not to mention your $300 permit you have to get to compete. Then another chunk for your card after you've won $1000.
They pay out based on number of entries and there aren't any divisions. Maybe pay 10 -15 on a big rodeo.
I mean, look at the top girls. Some close to 100 rodeos, some over, and for all that travel and effort, they made $250,000 at best and $76,000 at 15th. The $76K probabably didn't cover much of the expense.
http://wpradev.com/index.php/standings-pro-rodeo-world-2
The prestige is what people are after.... Rodeo. It's an explanation all in itself.
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 408
| thank you so much for taking the time to explain how it works. WOW!
After reading that, I can understand why the big rodeo girls do risk riding in questionable ground but for the little time rodeos???... uhmmm, that sounds like very unnecessary risk (again, just IMO) |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 408
| thank you so much for taking the time to explain how it works. WOW!
After reading that, I can understand why the big rodeo girls do risk riding in questionable ground but for the little time rodeos???... uhmmm, that sounds like very unnecessary risk (again, just IMO) |
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| These two videos .. one on Tuesday and the finals on Wednesday will let
you see the caution riders used around the barrels ...
The ground was setup for reining horses with fluff on the surface and
a slick wet clay base for their sliding stops ...
HAPPY AND HUMBLE BRAG POST ON ONE OF MY CAN CHASIN COUGAR FILLYS ...
dba Barrel Horse USA (as the breeder )
CONGRATULATIONS ALISON McDONALD OWNER!!
Known as STREAKYSOX on BHW .
KISSYOURMONEYGOODBYE won AQHA Jr Barrels World Show Level II ..
(horses with less than 25 AQHA points)
"MIA" came back in the Jr Barrels Finals and ran 3rd with Pete Oen a pro
winning the JR BARRELS World Championship with Guys Dashing Jet LTE $125,000 ...
ENJOY BOTH OF HER RUNS BELOW ... the ground was so slick everyone
rode with caution .. Prayers for Sharin Hall her horse DREAMING OF FOOSE
had to be put down with a broken spine after slipping at the 2nd barrel ..
Take note of how Shelly rode two very consistant runs .. with a slip powering
out of the 3rd barrel ..
KISSYOURMONEYGOODBYE ridden by SHELLY MCCAULEY GISH - 2017 AQHA
World Show (Jr. Barrel Racing, Prelims) - https://youtu.be/e7eE6N8Sxx0
KISSYOURMONEYGOODBYE ridden by SHELLY MCCAULEY GISH - 2017 AQHA
World Show (Jr. Barrel Racing, FINALS) - https://youtu.be/XThNRsZUI2g
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 Saint Stacey
| spitzh - 2017-11-16 9:28 AM
I know at the Reno Rodeo, they drag during slack. Is it like that at other rodeos? I know a few girls who wont drag their personal arenas at home or try to make the ground trashy to get the horse use to it.
With the WPRA, if they have 12 in the perfs, then they have to drag every 12 in slack. You can’t change implements once the first drag has occurred. So if they start with a mulcher, that’s what they are stuck using. They can’t decide to switch to a Ground Hog if the mulcher isn’t good enough.
At the big ones like Cheyenne, Colorado Springs, etc. they will do big drags (usually at 50 or 75) and water the ground.
There are some awesome rodeo committees that try really hard and are willing to change things the next year if needed. Most committees go above and beyond for the contestants. Especially at the mid sized and bigger rodeos. The hospitality tents at some are downright AMAZING! Denver usually has Texas Roadhouse or Oluve Garden cater dinner every night. Ft Worth was HORRIBLE! Hot dogs and old nachos. Spanish Fork is AWESOME! Estes Park is probably my favorite! They serve 3 meals all catered by different restaurants in town. Before my daughter got married this past August, I happily drove her around just for the hospitality tents, lol!
All I can say is if you have a horse that likes shallow ground and will take care of itself so you start running WPRA, you will have a hard time doing D races instead of being on the rodeo trail. Just staying in your Circuit won’t break the bank and the payout is awesome if your horse is salty enough to draw checks. |
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 Am I really the Weirdo?
Posts: 11181
Location: Kansas | love2ridepre - 2017-11-16 12:53 PM please forgive this stupid question ( do remember I a newbie when it comes to rodeos). Is the money worthwhile riding in rodeos? do they penalize you if you enter and once you get there the ground is bad and you draw out?
I run in the United Rodeo Association and Interstates Rodeo Associations here in the Midwest, and there are no turn out fines. For the first time EVER, I turned out of a rodeo in September. It POURED as soon as I unloaded, and 20 girls had run the first night on beautiful dry ground, plus I had left my mudder at home because the forecast looked good when we left. I had my hard ground specialist who has torn front suspensories in the past, and I had my boyfriend's mare who has run at about 4 rodeos in her life. We had state NBHA the following weekend and couldn't justify risking an injury and losing our state fees.
2017 was a great year for me, and I might have broken even rodeoing. That is after you consider that my gray horse won about $3,100 at the URA Finals. I came in with $4,100 won for the year then Chance won 2 rounds and the average at Finals. I entered 47 rodeos, ran at 46, and if you figure average entry fees are $60-70, then add in my fuel, food on the road, and roughly $1,000 in vet bills and massages for the horses, there's no way in hell I made money. BUT, we had fun!
Rodeo is totally an addiction, and I'm lucky that my horses seem to have it as well. Chance in particular is just a nice mid-1D horse at the tough local races, typically runs in the 1D at Barrel Bashes, but he LOVES the rodeo scene and always runs harder with a crowd and music. Some folks go to the movies and concerts, but we rodeo. It's a hobby and sometimes we get lucky and it pays for itself. |
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| In my opinion - Rodeos and horse shows (barrel races) are 2 different things. Shows are put on for the competitor and rodeos are for the spectators. There is no excuse for bad ground at a barrel race/show... none.
As for the rodeos, and maybe I'm old school, but they used to say it takes a year to season a rodeo horse to different ground. I think what many do not realize is it takes time for horses to learn to run on different types of ground so I probably wouldn't base my future on that one run. Give you horse some time to learn.
One thing that I like to do, if the rodeo will allow, is to get my horse in the pen before hand and lope some small circles both ways. It gives your horse a good "feel" of the ground and you will find out pretty quickly if they will handle it or not. Then you should set your game plan for YOUR horse. If he he can't handle it going slow he wont be able to handle it going fast either, so don't go running in there like your a$$ is on fire. Just go in and be smooth.
I agree that rodeos should try their best to have good ground but I also think when you enter a rodeo you have to keep in mind that they are not putting on that rodeo for the barrel racers. They are putting on a show to the public to make a profit. Now nobody wants to see horses falling down for sure, but they also do not want to see a tractor driving around in circles every 5 horses so they are kind of limited to what they can reasonably do during the performance.
I know in our circuit our director is a very important person when it comes to ground and if you have a good director they should be in contact with the committee before the rodeo with some suggestions on how to make the ground good.
In the end though you should always trust yourself first as to what you think you and your horse will handle. If you don't feel comfortable at any rodeo or show, don't run. |
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Sock Snob
Posts: 3021
| I say vote with your feet a producer can't make money without contestants. There is no excuse I mean no excuse for bad ground, that is just as bad an excuse of abuse as not feeding a horse to knowing run an helpless and trusting animal on bad ground. An only the owner of said animal has control. I am so sorry. Once an animal is either cripple or dead there is an outrage and blame the producer what about the animal owner. I am sorry but the owner of said animal is just as responsible. Especially in the case of a professional horseman. We spend our hard earned money to better our horses and to run on ground that is harmful to them is like working our horses on concrete we would be horrified. It takes a special horse to run rodeo why put them in that position, we buy the best feed and hay and spend on all of the amenities to run on crappy ground just because it's called rodeo. If we don't go to those and those producers don't get the entries the producers will either find a way to work the ground or not have the rodeo. It is up to us to make the division to make people who don't spend the money to make the ground right, vote with our feet. Several year ago I went to a show it was an outside show and they put way too.much water on the ground it was knee deep. Every one said it would tighten up after a while it really never did I unloaded my horses and rode one in the arena and after discoveri g how deep and sloppy it was I did not enter. One reason due to safety and other if they cared they would not let the ring get that nasty if more people had done what I did they would a better job of prepping the ring. Plus I knew I would not have any vet bill because of the bad ground.
Edited by daisycake123 2017-11-20 8:42 PM
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