Personally the style drives me crazy. I guess I am not sure that I see it presenting a lot of soundness issues but they wouldnt be riding my horses. Mainly because I aint that flexible to avoid barrels if the horses get used to running that way lol 

I do love to watch a quiet, nice run. Lisa and Sherry are prime examples of this. Loud riding just bothers me in general.

I honestly don't really care. When it works, it works, when it doesn't, it doesn't.  Lots of riders riding quiet and square also hit barrels this weekend.  LOL. When it doesn't work, it's just one more spot in the money for potentially me to be in, so more power to it haha. 

I am coming at this from the horse's welfare. You can't tell me that all that jerking, snatching and flailing around in the saddle doesn't affect the horse - mentally, physically and emotionally. I realize that very few of us ( especially me)can ride like Lisa and Sherri, but most of us try really hard and most of us don't ride like the Brazilians do, although some do.  Horses don't ask for this competitive life, so the least we can do is ride and take care of them to the best of our ability. 

Amen! Horses can feel a tiny fly landing on them... imagine all that other stuff banging against them. I prefer quiet, calm and smooth and I feel my horses do as well. But then again I'm not out there competing for a lot of money either so what the heck do I know lol! I sure appreciate watching some of the mentioned quiet smooth riders, it's like a well oiled machine working at its finest. 

It turns me off completely.  All I can think is that dude is coming into the arena to showboat from the get. Ride like a maniac with intention to use his hand to hold up every barrel. Sure I've seen some sweet saves from girls but they certainly don't go into the arena with that as their objective.  Did he ultimately get the job done - sure.  Do I ride that caliber of horse - no.  But, it turns me off regardless. 

From what I've seen, I imagine it's a big money lifestyle for the rich and wanna be famous from Brazil. It's certainly not an equal opportunity for the average Brazilian. I agree that the style of riding/running isn't conducive to career longevity.

Obviously lots of different styles can win lots of money. In my personal opinion, I think I speaks to a lack of horsemanship. Kind of like watching those fearless little peewee division riders. It works for them now but it won't work for every horse down the road as they grow. I very much think less of riders who have a poor riding style despite how much they win or have won. I think that actually says more about the horses they run than the rider themselves. I personally think the best barrel racing to watch are the runs where you barely notice the rider. The runs that all you can see is a horse working and loving it.