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 Purveyor of unconventional wisdom
Posts: 17112
  
Location: CA | I am looking at horses as my oldies are slowing down, but I wonder at 56 if there is any reason I can't still be competitive with the right horse? I mean I don't think I feel as old as I am, so I am wondering (if you will admit it) how many barrel racers are "over the hill" lol |
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 Texas Taco
Posts: 7499
Location: Bandera, TX | A close friend of mine announced her retirement from barrel racing a couple of months ago. She is 78 years old and still kicked our butts. She is an inspiration to all of us here. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 385
Location: Texas Big Country | I am older than you. I am riding 3 runners right now I raised from babies. I am going to train at least 3 more before I am done. I have a 4, 3 and a yearling out here waiting on me. These are all my "home grown" experiments. If they dont pan out I will decide then if I will start riding one I didnt raise again.
Age is mind over matter, if you dont mind, it dont matter. But then June Holeman is my hero, lol!
I say go til you just cant go any more. Then you will know you were really done. Just ride smart and be careful cause it takes a lot longer to recover from owies and that is prescious time wasted at this time in our lives. If it takes 40 extra steps to avoid a risk, take them.
Best wishes! |
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 Thread Killer
Posts: 7545
| I'm sure you know about our very own Diane Quinn. ;) She's made posts about her experiences here before. You could even send her a PM.  |
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  Shipwrecked and Flat Out Zapped
Posts: 16390
Location: DUMPING CATS AND PIGS IN TEXAS :) | Isn't Ms. June Holeman still riding? I thought I saw some results for her at a rodeo this year. That lady can get it! I could name a bunch I know from here.....Roxie......Diane.....but, they will probably hurt me for saying...... |
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 Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| Several years ago an elderly lady, probably in her 70's approached my husband in the parking lot to ask about the pen, what a good time was, etc. After she left he commented wonder who she is asking for, surely she doesn't compete at that level. She won the race by 2 tenths. My husband never judged again. |
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 Hate Windows 8
Posts: 2462
Location: Oregon | I'm feeling my 58!!! My daughter finally convinced me to run her barrel horse after 3 years and it's been fun but hard on my body keeping him conditioned.
We've won more than our entry fees and some average awards so that sure helps. And she won't take her horse back home. 
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Purveyor of unconventional wisdom
Posts: 17112
Location: CA | I guess I feel like I am running out of time. I can just barely ride 3 and keep them legged up, I used to be able to do it with ease. I crashed going around the third this summer and broke a rib. Never had a broken bone before... so it kind of freeked me out. THanks for the posts! I will keep looking. |
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| LRQHS - 2013-12-20 3:17 PM
Isn't Ms. June Holeman still riding? I thought I saw some results for her at a rodeo this year. That lady can get it! I could name a bunch I know from here.....Roxie......Diane.....but, they will probably hurt me for saying......
Riding? Winning! She's just started running a new 6 year old this year that is the most amazing horse. She just set an arena record in McCook, NE, after coming from OKC (placed 2nd in a round of the open I believe), after coming from Waco, where she ran I believe the second fastest time of the week. She dominated the amateur associations this year on him, and placed at some pro rodeos too. She is somewhere around 72 years young, I believe! |
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Shipwrecked and Flat Out Zapped
Posts: 16390
Location: DUMPING CATS AND PIGS IN TEXAS :) | jenagarwood - 2013-12-20 3:28 PM LRQHS - 2013-12-20 3:17 PM Isn't Ms. June Holeman still riding? I thought I saw some results for her at a rodeo this year. That lady can get it! I could name a bunch I know from here.....Roxie......Diane.....but, they will probably hurt me for saying...... Riding? Winning! She's just started running a new 6 year old this year that is the most amazing horse. She just set an arena record in McCook, NE, after coming from OKC (placed 2nd in a round of the open I believe ), after coming from Waco, where she ran I believe the second fastest time of the week. She dominated the amateur associations this year on him, and placed at some pro rodeos too. She is somewhere around 72 years young, I believe!
Dang! That is awesome. |
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 Reaching for the stars....
Posts: 12708
| As I advance into my 50's I am hoping to retire Xena from racing and replace her with one at least as fast, but smoother running. Any strong horse whiplashes a little on takeoff, but Xena is really, really hard on the back. Both of her trainers are very happy that I choose to compete on her and don't make them! LOL! I'm hoping my DFP colt is smoother, and maybe a real 1Der for my mid to later 50's!! |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 623
Location: /ARKANSAS | I will be turning 60 in a few weeks, I really am intimated by those numbers. Still riding, making the 4d having fun , and bond with girlfriends and guys, there is the occasional smartass that thinks she owns the best and fastest horses and the arena, but she will get older also. There is nothing I would rather do, and plan on doing until I cant walk anymore, maybe after that!!!  |
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Miracle in the Making
Posts: 4013
| CARL wise in ga will kick your rear |
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Purveyor of unconventional wisdom
Posts: 17112
Location: CA | lonely va barrelxr - 2013-12-20 3:30 PM As I advance into my 50's I am hoping to retire Xena from racing and replace her with one at least as fast, but smoother running. Any strong horse whiplashes a little on takeoff, but Xena is really, really hard on the back. Both of her trainers are very happy that I choose to compete on her and don't make them! LOL! I'm hoping my DFP colt is smoother, and maybe a real 1Der for my mid to later 50's!!
My current gelding is hard on my back too. I am looking at another gelding that is more cowbred, and Zippo Pine Bar is his grandsire. Hoping he is a little smoother.... I won't say I am nor ever have been a 1d rider, but I sure try hard. lol I swear my horses kind of take care of me. |
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 I Don't Brag
Posts: 6960
| I hate to admit it, but I am the same age as you. I have heard that as you get older, your horses get smaller and smoother running. The horse I have now is probably the most talented, hard running, biggest horse I have competed on ....when she is sound....
I have 2 coming 3 year olds to break and am finally getting around to finishing my now 10 yr old home grown mare who is built like a brick house and inherited her momma's athletic ablilities and hopefully speed, but she can be VERY hard on my body.
I have a long running, rather intimate relationship with my chiropractors. They know how badly my poor body gets abused. Unfortunately that's not a recent development but has been going since my early 30s. But they DO keep me going!
My biggest obstacle is drumming up the ambition to go out and ride when conditions are not perfect. Too easy to tell myself that I can ride tomorrow. Unless there are rodeos to get ready for. I cannot tell you how many groups of rodeo contestants I have seen come and gone, but I refuse to give up while I still love it and have a chance to place once in awhile. |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | LRQHS - 2013-12-20 3:17 PM Isn't Ms. June Holeman still riding? I thought I saw some results for her at a rodeo this year. That lady can get it! I could name a bunch I know from here.....Roxie......Diane.....but, they will probably hurt me for saying......
Dont worry I'm not going to hurt you my pretty, not in front of everybody that is  I'm going to be 56 in Jan. and still riding when I get a chance to, this spring I'm planning on getting back to going to the barrel races again now that my grandbaby has gotton older and I dont worry about her so much. I have a couple of nice horses and I just need to get my butt in gear and start going again, being over 50 should not stop you from riding, I dont feel any older so I just keep on trucking. I have a few friends in their late 60's and 70's that kick butt. Love you Jennifer  |
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 Expert
Posts: 2258
| I have a friend that is in her 50's she was a very competitive rider years ago but was diagnosed with MS several years ago and stopped riding. She is now trying to compete this year in barrels before her body gives out, she also has RA and a titanium knee . She bought a little mare from me that hadn't run in years we have run her 3 times and she keeps getting a little faster, not a 1D horse but will be 2D when fit up a little more. I don't think there is any reason you can't be competitive. |
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Regular
Posts: 81
| 51 yrs. young, some days feel 21 other days feel 51, still enjoy roping, and rounding up the cattle
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Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| 53, didn't start running barrels till I was 49. Quite a learning curve but because of my nice horses starting to win 2D checks.
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 Maybe Someday
Posts: 4551
| I am turning the big 5 0 in January and quite frankly
working 6 and 7 days a week I just haven't been able to ride
and I feel like I have lost alot of my ability that I use to be have
I am making the big leap and quitting my job and going to ride this year,
because I feel if I don't do it now I'll never be able to,,,
Me and my husband are blessed to be able to allow me to do so, of course
I won't have extra money to play around with, but think I'll find a part time
job so I can earn enough to play at the local shows and see if I can still do it
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