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 Go For It!
   
Location: Texas |
I posted this on my facebook page and wanted to post it here as well. I know that this issue isn't confined to Texas and it probably goes on all over, so I wanted to share this with everyone who gets frustrated when hauling...
I hadn't really planned on posting anything about this, BUT, I just don't think that it is appropriate to allow it to get swept quietly under the rug. I understand that this is probably going to get me "Blacklisted", but I have decided that it is worth it to me if we can get some changes in our industry as a result of it. I know that it probably won't make a difference anytime soon, but maybe one day, if more of us can make a stand, we can see some more changes.
I entered the Bastrop CPRA rodeo and ran in the Wednesday slack. The ground has always been phenomenal for that rodeo. Janet Bennight Staton has always been a big part of it and made sure that things were right. Well come to find out, there was a different group preparing things this year and the ground was NOT good. Many horses had trouble at the barrels and one horse fell completely down. It could have been much worse, but fortunately the Angels were at work and the rider's injury was minor.
That night, after the slack, I posted on the CPRA Barrel Racers page that the ground at Bastrop sucked. Perhaps I could have said that it was bad, but sucked seemed more appropriate. Many of you liked that comment and a discussion ensued. The jest of which was... who is responsible for the ground at the rodeos. I believe that ultimately it is the responsibility of the contractor, whose name is on the rodeo schedule to ensure that the ground is safe and fair, it then falls onto the judges to ENFORCE that so that the ladies that are running can be ensured that there is someone looking out for them and their horse.
Barrel racing can be a dangerous sport in great ground. When the ground is bad it just amplifies the chances of getting hurt, for us and for our horses. The reason I am posting this on my personal page is because the post, as well as the entire discussion, along with some great suggestions on how to make things better, were deleted from the CPRA Barrel Racers page and I was blocked from the page entirely. I understand that these things can be considered "controversial subjects" to some, but they are important matters that need discussion. The last thing that I posted on that page was that unless we join together and expect change, it will never happen. Have a blessed day everyone.
Edited by grinandbareit 2015-08-01 6:00 PM
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| I think it should be the rodeo committee's responsibility. The contractor usually lives too far away to travel to make sure the ground is worked and watered during the week. |
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Go For It!
Location: Texas | GLP - 2015-08-01 12:48 PM
I think it should be the rodeo committee's responsibility. The contractor usually lives too far away to travel to make sure the ground is worked and watered during the week.
And if the committee doesn't do their job? The barrel racers should just forfeit their fees and suck it up?
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| Ok this just an example- the rodeo is in George West, Tx. The stock contractor is in Alpine, Tx. He produces rodeos every weekend in the summer. He is supposed to drive to George West several times in the week prior to check that the ground is watered and worked during the week? |
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 GRD's Fan Club Advisior
Posts: 6750
Location: Lost in Texas | GLP - 2015-08-01 1:02 PM Ok this just an example- the rodeo is in George West, Tx. The stock contractor is in Alpine, Tx. He produces rodeos every weekend in the summer. He is supposed to drive to George West several times in the week prior to check that the ground is watered and worked during the week?
You can do a lot with ground the day before, even the day of when stock is being dropped off. Sure it's easier to fix with 48 hours to work with..but my dads fixed a lot of sucky ground in a few hours when that's all there is to work with. The problem is finding someone who knows what their doing, usually people care.. Just it's rare a stock contractor or anyone on a committee knows what they're doing.. Then a lot of times their shoe string budget wouldn't allow them to pay someone to come in and do it.. Then most wouldn't even if they could afford to..some feel they don't NEED barrel racers there. |
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| George West is black dirt and an outdoor pen, so yeah to do it right and not have huge clods, you would need to work it several times. That kind of ground is typical down here. Probably not the best example. Remember, though, a lot of these arenas are not worked regularly so working it even 2 days out isn't realistic for a stock contractor but would be for a local guy familiar with the ground. Besides, as a barrel racer I want someone who knows the ground and how to work it rather than the stock contractor who may not be familiar with the ground. The stock contractor could be based several hours away or more and have more than 1 rodeo to produce in a weekend. These are a few reasons why I think it is the committee's responsibility to provide safe ground.
Maybe that barrel racers should boycott if the ground is dangerous. From being a spectator these past years, I can tell you people love the barrels, they really yell for you girls. If you boycotted, I think the people would not like it and would let the committee know. You would have to find out a way to let the public know why you were boycotting, but I feel they would back you girls up. I also realize that it would be hard to get the girls to band together, but that maybe your only way to get your point across.
In the associations, does the barrel racing director have any power? Could they speak up and say the ground has to be good before the girls will run? I ask because I only open rodeoed. |
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 I Prefer to Live in Fantasy Land
Posts: 64864
Location: In the Hills of Texas | I saw a posting that they went in and worked and fixed the ground at Bastrop. Is that true or BS?
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 Strong Willed Woman
Posts: 6577
Location: Prosser, WA | Seems like it would be kind of hard to make many changes when the NFR ground crew doesn't care enough to make the ground good. I think it affected more than just the barrel racers too. It made the NFR pretty disappointing to watch. |
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Go For It!
Location: Texas | Nevertooold - 2015-08-01 2:37 PM
I saw a posting that they went in and worked and fixed the ground at Bastrop. Is that true or BS?
It is my understanding that they did fix it for the performances, but I didn't see it myself. Which is fine, but give the rest of us a chance to run on it as well, or return our fees so we can enter somewhere else.
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 Take a Picture
Posts: 12838
| I thought that was a part of rodeo. Around here if we go to a 4D and the ground is bad, we just don't go back. Caughtyawl's dad did the dirt work because his girls were running and he does an excellent job. Since he quit I am sure the ground is typical rodeo ground. Very few rodeos are going to take the time necessary to have good ground necessary for barrel racers. Again, I thought that was rodeo. |
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 I'm Cooler Offline
Posts: 6387
Location: Pacific Northwest | I don't think the stock contractor is a good person to put this responsibility on because they honestly probably don't care if the ground is good for the barrel racers or not. |
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| When my brother and dad were contractors they did care. But it was the committees responsibility. There were many times they had to tell them what to do with this ground. My dad was a farmer and a harvestor when he was young so he has a good understanding about different ground, plus me and my sister barrel raced. Plus the barrel racers gripe to the secretaries and contractor about the ground, so yeah they care at least somewhat. Our experience is the committee either didn't care or didn't understand.
The problem to me is no one knows who to talk to to get this problem fixed. And it does need to be fixed.
My advice talk to contractors and the committee people. Educate these people and maybe the ground will get better. 
Edited by GLP 2015-08-01 5:08 PM
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 BHW Jr. Cougar of the Year
Posts: 14957
Location: Heart of Texas | Did they refund your money, or did you have to pay a fine to draw out? Years ago at Pasadena, notorious for bad ground, they gave us our money back or an option to run on a different night. |
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Go For It!
Location: Texas | T-Zip - 2015-08-01 5:08 PM
Did they refund your money, or did you have to pay a fine to draw out? Years ago at Pasadena, notorious for bad ground, they gave us our money back or an option to run on a different night.
Oh it was mentioned, but I'm sure no one will have fees returned. At this point they are just peeved that anybody confronted them.
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 I Am Always Right
Posts: 4264
Location: stray dump capital of the world | Apparently what you said worked. I checked their FB page and there were comments on how much better the ground was after they reworked it. There were still complaints that showed up prior to the contractor reworking the ground. Sorry they gave you the boot as all you were doing was discussing bad ground conditions. Clearly you weren't the only one. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1092
Location: OK | This argument is never ending, but in my experience with committees, a lot of them have no idea about ground and the first they hear of it is a lot of ****ed girls after the fact. I do know that the biggest interest for them is a good turn out, so I think the way to go about it and everyone get what they want is to contact someone beforehand and just ask. Be the advocate and put yourself in a position where you can help, like if they want to do some extra work to the ground, you spread the word that it's gonna be good. Help them help you. A lot can be done by putting yourself on their side. Of course., some are just A-holes, but your approach can mean a lot. |
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Go For It!
Location: Texas |
These are all great ideas... but it still doesn't answer the question... if all those things have been done, good ground is promised, you show up, pay your fees and the ground ends up bad... who becomes responsible? Do the girls just have to donate their fees after driving all that way, spending money on fuel? Or maybe the producer or judges say "Hey, we aren't allowing our girls to run on this ground. Refund their fees or fix it and allow them to run later." This is a business and should be treated as such. Those contractors are business owners and should have the same responsibility. IMO
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I Prefer to Live in Fantasy Land
Posts: 64864
Location: In the Hills of Texas | kakbarrelracer - 2015-08-01 3:22 PM Seems like it would be kind of hard to make many changes when the NFR ground crew doesn't care enough to make the ground good. I think it affected more than just the barrel racers too. It made the NFR pretty disappointing to watch.
I couldn't agree more.
Back in the 1970's we were fighting this fight about rodeo ground and there hasn't been much progress. |
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Sock Snob
Posts: 3021
| This saga has been going on for years. I have been told to shut up its rodeo and been that way for years and it its not gonna change, thst here in virginia. Last rodeo my mare was entered upin ground was so bad when she went in she acted like she didnot know what barrel to go too. Next day a girls horse fell the lady broke her leg. I complained and they tell me i am sour grapes. I will spend my money elsewhere. If we all did that theynwould fix the ground. They always complain that is someone elses fault on bad ground. They know they are having the rodeo and need a crew to,fix ground. |
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| It is the rodeo GROUND committees responsibility to make sure the ground is safe. If they don't have a ground committee, it is the rodeo committee's responsibility. When you call in ask them who is responsible for the ground and then call that person to let them know how important good ground is for the contestants. The STOCK producer is responsible for the livestock. The people who should be upset with the stock producers are the timed event cowboys. I won't hardly go to a rodeo anymore because I am tired of the crappy roping/dogging stock. |
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