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 A very grounded girl
Posts: 5052
 
Location: Moving soon..... | I am 58 and still going. I haven't been able to go for a while because we moved. My best friend is 72 and can win with the best of them. I plan on going down the road for many more years. |
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 Hero of the Year
Posts: 10767
 
Location: Haslet, Texas | doglady - 2014-11-18 11:49 PM I have a funny for you. I haven't ridden in over a week-it has been too cold. So I am all fired up again and I am going to go ride. Have all the clothes on that are necessary to ride when it is 40 degrees and very windy plus heavy snowboots. I am riding my 5 year old ponying my open horse. I am about mile from home and turn to come back. The open horse goes straight up in the air and starts bucking and of course I have to let go because the 5 year old is all excited thinking she will do it too. Off he goes on a dead run for home. My colt is bucking and I am looking for the ground -she pauses and I get off. I walked the mile home and packing all the clothes and boots I guess I am starting to get in shape sooner and not in the way I really wanted.
Now go ahead and have a good laugh!
I have to admit this gave me a brilliant visual and a little giggle. |
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Location: midwest mama | T turning 3 - 2014-11-19 10:55 AM
Not to change the subject... but I wonder if " Chronic Fatigue" is the inablity to accept we aren't 25 anymore. every spring I go to my doctor just knowing something is terribly wrong. I am exhausted, and resting several times during the day. Every year I get a whole panel of blood tests and there is nothing wrong with me... Finally he said it..... You are not a spring chicken anymore. The only reason I don't get mad at him is 1. he is right and 2. he is the same age as me. lol
My chronic fatigue is the real deal - it was diagnosed by my doctor.
I used to rodeo full time and that was the main thing that made me decide to not "beat the trail" anymore. I was only 30 at the time. It has gotten more pronounced due to my being "older" (53), but mine certainly wasn't caused from my age. |
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 Purveyor of unconventional wisdom
Posts: 17112
Location: CA | OldSchoolCowgirl - 2014-11-19 4:28 PM T turning 3 - 2014-11-19 10:55 AM Not to change the subject... but I wonder if " Chronic Fatigue" is the inablity to accept we aren't 25 anymore. every spring I go to my doctor just knowing something is terribly wrong. I am exhausted, and resting several times during the day. Every year I get a whole panel of blood tests and there is nothing wrong with me... Finally he said it..... You are not a spring chicken anymore. The only reason I don't get mad at him is 1. he is right and 2. he is the same age as me. lol My chronic fatigue is the real deal - it was diagnosed by my doctor. I used to rodeo full time and that was the main thing that made me decide to not "beat the trail" anymore. I was only 30 at the time. It has gotten more pronounced due to my being "older" (53 ), but mine certainly wasn't caused from my age.
okay... I was just wondering. |
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 ...seeing spots
Posts: 1824
Location: BELLEVUE, IA | I'll be 45 in 2015. I just bought my PRCA permit for this coming year I've got a horse I think I can fill it on and I didn't start racing til I was 30. I never dreamed I'd be here especially at 45 but I am here and I'm not looking back. Do I hurt sometimes? Sure. Do I get behind my horse sometimes? Yep. But I'm just getting started, |
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 Porta Potty Pants
Posts: 2600
| Cindy Hamilton - 2014-11-19 11:41 AM
azsun - 2014-11-18 9:50 PM At 45 I ask myself every day if I should still be riding. I have ridden most all my life, taking breaks for school, marriage, baby, divorce and every so often. I don't do well emotionally if I don't have a horse, but I don't do well emotionally if I have a horse and I'm not competitive. (which is where I am now … have horse, not competitive enough for my liking). Then I do not so smart things like try to pull my saddle off without unattaching the back cinch and making my already quirky horse pull back and buck (thankfully I wasn't sitting on him) tossing my saddle, breaking my back cinch, and breast collar .. I just don't know if I have the internal drive or "want to". I bought this horse knowing he was quirky because I fancied myself and kinda a "rehabber". Now I don't know that I have the heart or energy to keep him. Part of me wants to sell and buy a ready made automatic horse and part of me wants to just call it quits. I always say, "if only" i had a living quarter trailer, I would be able to go to two day events and be comfortable, but truth be told, I'm not sure that I'd have the drive even if I had a LQ trailer and a 1d or pro caliber horse. I need to make a decision ….
Your post really stood out to me because I was like that....I was so brokenhearted when my mare got hurt and I also had "rehab" projects and quirky horses that I would stick with and I hated nearly every horse I had during the last 9 years so much that I dreaded even going to a barrel race....
I got so frustrated and I wasn't doing well emotionally because I was trying to find a (cheap) young horse or a project that I liked to be competitive on and it wasn't happening....I got to where I didn't care and just got out of barrel racing because of it....then I finally decided to bail out of the young ones and just go out and spend the money on something nice....way worth it....I can tell you that a nice, uncomplicated finished horse that fits you will make you want to ride and go and make it fun again....they are out there, don't settle for another project, you are beating yourself up with them like I did....
I'm leaning that way … I would have to sell the quirky one though and I'm not sure how to go about doing that … finding the right home who is able to deal with his quirks. My other "gripe" or "excuse" is my hubby and kid are not horsey people, so its my thing … I'm alone in this hobby, which means I'm taking "family time" to can chase. I'm alone all day, for the most part while hubby is at work and kid is at school (I work at home) and then alone in my hobby. They don't ever complain about the $$ I spend and are supportive of me having a hobby … but I still feel bad for not being there for family time. They will go with me every now and then, but I'm no fun when I don't do well I don't cry or whine, but I'm not exactly happy either and I can't expect them to sit at barrel races all day every weekend. So the excuses continue. |
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Mrs. Troy
Location: western Nebraska | Well this thread made it to FB and got blasted. Apparently there are lots more older barrel racers that are still feeling like 20 year olds! I didn't say you weren't supposed to be doing this after 45-I just meant since things change how are you handling the changes.
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 As Good As I Once Was
Posts: 1211
Location: frozen tundra of pa | doglady - 2014-11-20 1:53 AM Well this thread made it to FB and got blasted. Apparently there are lots more older barrel racers that are still feeling like 20 year olds! I didn't say you weren't supposed to be doing this after 45-I just meant since things change how are you handling the changes.
This is a good topic. I will be 53 in May. Been riding and showing my whole life. I changed jobs about 3/4 years ago and it leaves little time for riding. I am lucky that i have a great "weekend warrior" and a colt that is showing great talent. I dont like not being able to ride except on the weekends but barrel racing is still my favorite pasttime. Am I as good as i was nope,do i worry what people think?NOPE I go ride my horses and have fun and i still manage to fall into the 1D most of the time. My sister started showing again several years ago after a 20 year layoff she will be 46 this coming summer and has a smoking 1D horse. It is all mind over matter. your MIND will do what you want to and it doesnt MATTER what anybody else thinks. |
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 Saint Stacey
| In my 20's, I wasn't afraid to ride anything with hair. In my 30's I turned all the horses over to my daughter. Now that I'm in my mid 40's, I decided to get back into it (thinking I still has that 20 year old ability). Boy did I have a wake up call! My 3 year old might be the most talented horse on the place. I'm afraid to crawl on her because she is a hot mess that would probably jump out from underneath me. I watch Hope ride her and see how she snaps the back side of a barrel and I think it might break me in two. Guess the worst case scenerio is Hope will have another great horse for the WPRA. Meanwhile I will continue to be the eyes of the outfit and coach her in what she needs to do. I will start running again though because I do love it. Okay...maybe running is a stretch. Maybe more like a fast trot, lol! |
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 Got a Keeper
Posts: 13710
Location: RAINY FREEZING AnartiFlorida | I will be 50 next year. I think I'm in better shape than I have been my whole life. I have a very physical job and come home and work six horses just about every day. Only thing changed really is I am just not worried about which D I happen to run in that day. Figure money is money. 2012 I ran more in 1/2D. Last year I ran mostly 2d when I ran. This year few shows I've made I've ran 2/3D. I have two Colts I'm getting ready for next year so I will be really busy tuning soon. I think she is just a number |
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| I wish I never quit riding over 12 years ago. I am not close to the rider I was. I went to a big barrel race first before easing back into it. What a shock and embarrassment! I didn't even hit the 4D. My horse was green and didn't shy away from the bright photographers lights at every barrel. I should have focused on that but I didn't, I focused on the incredible slowness of my run. Have not been to a barrel race since. But I have decided to venture out again starting with Joy's clinic next month. I got my health issues under control, i am getting back in shape and putting my big girl panties on to tackle this stupid block I put up for myself. You ladies on this site have inspired me to try again! A big thank you to all of you. |
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 Jr. Detective
Location: Beggs, OK | doglady - 2014-11-19 11:53 PM Well this thread made it to FB and got blasted. Apparently there are lots more older barrel racers that are still feeling like 20 year olds! I didn't say you weren't supposed to be doing this after 45-I just meant since things change how are you handling the changes.
Just like 90% of the questions that are asked on this site and FB...whether it's about bits, a horses style, workout routine, etc. I want to ask specifically:
YES, I KNOW IT'S POSSIBLE: YES, I'M SURE YOU'RE GETTING BY DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING:
BUT, AT WHAT LEVEL ARE YOU ACTUALLY COMPETING?
I am not interested at this point in being added money or simply participating. |
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 Hugs to You
Posts: 7550
Location: In The Land of Cotton | I will be 57 on Monday. I sold two good horses they are doing great because I knew I couldn't ride them. So, I now have two young ones. I will send them off to someone I trust when they are ready. My goal is - I want when I pull up for the other participants to say - there is some nice competition here today. I might not win, but I want to be competitive with what I have.
Some days I hurt like heck to move. Others not so much. I have found that adjusting my food intake and not eating what bothers me has also spread to helping with how I feel physically. I plan on continuing until I can't swing a leg over. When I can't, they will become the grandchildren's. |
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 Ms Bling Bling Sleeze Kitty
Posts: 20904
Location: LouLouVille, OK | Griz - 2014-11-18 5:39 AM rodeoveteran - 2014-11-17 9:14 PM The biggest thing the adding years have affected is my desire to ride in any weather. It's too cold. It's too hot It's too windy. It's too humid. It's too buggy. I'm too tired...lol.....I'll ride tomorrow. To be fair, I got burnt out keeping not only 3-4 of my own legged up and schooled, but also hubby's 4 pickup horses. That'll wear a body's want too out eventually. And I spent 7 years trying to get "the horse of my dreams" sound and healthy enough to run (long story). Walking out to the barn wondering if your horse is sound enough to ride let alone will stay sound so you can run at the rodeo you entered on the weekend kinda robs the will right out of a body and soul. So this past summer I was given another girl's backup mare....19 years old, hadn't been run at all the past two years, and not all that much in her career. I was skeptical and that old girl made a believer out of me!! I had a blast, and even placed at some rodeos despite my steep learning curve. Made some bad mistakes and still placed! Never had a horse I could screw up and still place on. Got most of MY issues worked out by the end of the summer and really looking forward to next year! I tell her (as I used to tell my good, old mare), the age and experience gets to win out over youth and beauty ONCE in awhile! Now I have to keep my battered body sound enough to keep running! LOL I am 49 and THIS for sure - I just don't ENJOY going when it's RAINING or FREEZING OR 110 degrees! I no longer have a desire to go and sit for 4-7 hours to make one run. I just have other things to do! I still enjoy going and I am somewhat competitive, I just don't "live" it anymore. My dad is in a nursing home 120 miles from me and right now, I think it's more important to make time for him.
LOL... I love both of these posts right here...
I agree with all the weather things...lol and heres what I also caught... a 19 yr old mare... not many give the "older" horses alot of thought either, but the team of you 2 says, age is nothing but a number!
sure I have realized my timing isn't what it used to be, that I too don't want to sit all day at a race to run
(let alone watch all day)
My competitve edge has been replaced with the thoughts of...I could get hurt, simply because I have been hurt. The fractured pelvis, collar bone, the bruised spleen and shins, the knocked so out of whack I passed out I believe is to blame for that lack of edge.
PS... I AM TOTALLY LOVING THIS THREAD!
NICE TO KNOW IM NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT WONDERS SUCH STUFF ;)  |
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boon
Posts: 1
| Lol. I STARTED barrel racing at 40! I grew up riding English and eventing but when I came to the U.S. in our area nobody does it so I decided to barrel race. Bought a 5 month old filly for $200, trained her and now running 2d and 3d times in the NBHA with this being the 2nd year I'm running her. Just turned 50 in October and I am looking forward to beat my times next year. Also bought another filly for poles, trained her and she's running an average of 22 seconds :). Yes, stuff hurts more than ever and I don't bounce as well anymore but I'm still having a heck of a good time! I say go for it! Mary walker was 54 when she won her biggest runs ever! |
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Ms Bling Bling Sleeze Kitty
Posts: 20904
Location: LouLouVille, OK | hwh - 2014-11-19 2:03 PM doglady - 2014-11-18 11:49 PM I have a funny for you. I haven't ridden in over a week-it has been too cold. So I am all fired up again and I am going to go ride. Have all the clothes on that are necessary to ride when it is 40 degrees and very windy plus heavy snowboots. I am riding my 5 year old ponying my open horse. I am about mile from home and turn to come back. The open horse goes straight up in the air and starts bucking and of course I have to let go because the 5 year old is all excited thinking she will do it too. Off he goes on a dead run for home. My colt is bucking and I am looking for the ground -she pauses and I get off. I walked the mile home and packing all the clothes and boots I guess I am starting to get in shape sooner and not in the way I really wanted.
Now go ahead and have a good laugh! I have to admit this gave me a brilliant visual and a little giggle.
LOL... been there!
I have to admit this since the NFR is around the corner, I sit and I watch and get all kinds of motivated to ride and run... then the week after the finals I am tired, and it's cold... lol and then there is sit on my warm couch...lol so hey, at least you bundled up and got on girl! |
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 Go Your Own Way
Posts: 4947
Location: SE KS | I am 53 - Have always rode, but never really had a chance to go and compete until the last 4 years consistently due to being a mom like all of us. I feel that I have a really nice horse to go on now and starting another one. I feel energectic and I feel that I am probably riding the best that I have ever rode. I work at my horsemanship everythime I get on a horse. I feel better when I ride, lose weight when I ride, and my confidence level is high and just feel better when keeping the horses legged up. Love the adrelenie rush when going to the first barrel fast. :) Also started to team rope ( love it).
Now winter comes and it is harder but, I am going to find a way to keep riding and be ready for some of the winter "Run for the Bonus Races" that are coming up.
I am going to fight and not beleive that I am 53 and enjoy the journey and going for it. June Holeman has my greatest respect and if she can do it, so can I.
You all can too!!!
too Doglady - at least you got on and made the effort - know about bundling up to stay warm.
CindyT - you are right - the accidents aren't fun - and my body hurts from some of those accidents - and yes the little voice in your mind saying "careful" and I do listen to it...
Edited by Dinero10 2014-11-20 9:11 AM
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 Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | rachellyn80 - 2014-11-20 8:29 AM doglady - 2014-11-19 11:53 PM Well this thread made it to FB and got blasted. Apparently there are lots more older barrel racers that are still feeling like 20 year olds! I didn't say you weren't supposed to be doing this after 45-I just meant since things change how are you handling the changes. Just like 90% of the questions that are asked on this site and FB...whether it's about bits, a horses style, workout routine, etc. I want to ask specifically:
YES, I KNOW IT'S POSSIBLE: YES, I'M SURE YOU'RE GETTING BY DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING:
BUT, AT WHAT LEVEL ARE YOU ACTUALLY COMPETING?
I am not interested at this point in being added money or simply participating.
After being forced to stay home for several years, I'm going to enter up even tho I never know what D my horse will be running in or if we will even get a time. BUT, I'm not happy or satisfied with that, and I WILL have another winner. Eventually.  |
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Jr. Detective
Location: Beggs, OK | I don't even have one to run right now! lol I have a four year old that has been with Liana and is now going to the ranch until next summer to learn a little work ethic...and I bought another ranch horse recently that will be going to her when I pick the other one up. I'm a little excited about the new one. He's waspy enough that the kids won't be riding him...he'll be ALL mine! He's already bucked PJ off, so she's done. |
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Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | rachellyn80 - 2014-11-20 9:58 AM I don't even have one to run right now! lol I have a four year old that has been with Liana and is now going to the ranch until next summer to learn a little work ethic...and I bought another ranch horse recently that will be going to her when I pick the other one up. I'm a little excited about the new one. He's waspy enough that the kids won't be riding him...he'll be ALL mine! He's already bucked PJ off, so she's done.
Lilly won't even ride with me when I'm on Pippy--no worries there about losing my horse. LOL She does buck sometimes, but isn't trashy about it. It would probably scare me if I hadn't raised her, but I know I can get her to stop. |
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