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 Another Barbossa
Posts: 2187
  
Location: Central Iowa, surrounded by corn! | I'm 58 and still running strong. I just retired my crazy speed demon this year. He was very quirky and lots of work, but I would do it all over again. That said I have an 8 year old I am having a ball with! We aren't breaking any arena records but that's ok for now! We will worry about speed later! :-) |
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 Ima Non Controversial Girl
Posts: 4168
Location: where the wind blows | I'm almost 50 and find I'm just not too competitive in the barrels anymore. Weight, balance, etc but I have be come more competitive in reining and ranch pleasure. With that said I'd miss barrel racing if I didn't compete some. However in the district I run in we have some super tough ladies over 50. The young ones have to lay down a smokin run if they are going to beat them. Actually most of the super toughs are between 40 and 60.
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 320
Location: Dubuque,IA | I am 61 and haven't ridden a 1d horse in 10 years but afte the loss of my husband i started runnung his 1d caliber horse and in 3months I went from 5d to 1d and recently won a couple of big races. Never in my wildest dreams did i thinnk i would get back to that level but it feels great and I am in good shape from yoga and working hard. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 399
| At nearly 50, I am more competitive now than 10 years ago. I ride 4-7 head a day and feel like I am mentally stronger now than in my 30's. I am very selective of the horses I ride and have a great colt starter near by to interview all the horses for 30 days or more before I take them in. With that being said, I don't bounce quite like I used to when I was younger. I do spend some time when I ride working on balance and core strength which isn't as easy to come by at my age or as I get older. I so enjoy this sport and hope to continue on long into my 70's! |
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 Regular
Posts: 98
Location: Soon where I want to be:) | What???45 is no age. I started barrel racing after 45 and love it. I been running for about 2 years now and wish I started earlier. Got a great horse (not a barrel horses when we started) but so broke and willling we been running pretty consistent in 2D in central Texas. Just won my first buckle and Im so proud of it. Common ladies dont tell me its time to stop when I just started:) |
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 Reaching for the stars....
Posts: 12704
 
| I started riding seniors a couple years ago. Tho a long show will kick my tush, my brain is still competitive. Xena and I won the 2D last weekend against the NBHA Reserve World Champion, and I think we could go a little faster. This was the first time I KICKED her to the first barrel, and I also trapped the chicken-wing elbows. Huge improvement. So I know I can still ride better if I try.
Later in 2015 my DFP colt will start exhibitioning and then showing. I am passing the early part of his seasoning off to a younger person. The colt is somewhat reactionary and I'd rather wait until he's past the boogey stage to get on him. That's the part where I know my age is speaking - getting on the youngsters. But I also have hopes that Peon will be my 1Der. Finally.
I'm far from ready to slow down on the pattern. If I can run the funny car Xena at the top of the 2D, then a smooth runner in the 1D won't hurt the bod any worse! |
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 I hate cooking and cleaning
Posts: 3310
Location: Jersey Girl | I didn't start barrel racing until I was 43. I am 48 now. I have always been avidly involved on horse activities. When I was in my twenties my thing was gymkhanas and penning here and there. In my 30's I was an avid trail rider. I was a complete die hard and would go no matter what.
Now that I am older, I am a little heavier and my knees bother me a little too. I still try my best and work hard to move up the D's, but I have learned to accept my limitations (time, physical, financial). If I miss a barrel race, I don't beat myself up over it. There is always another race. Heck, sometimes if I get up the morning of the race and don't feel like doing all that driving (house to barn (I board 25 miles away)to barrel race & back) then I don't. That doesn't happen often because I am a barrel racing addict LOL
Edited by fulltiltfilly 2014-11-17 7:21 PM
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 Go For It!
Location: Texas |
It is interesting to read everyone's thoughts on getting older. Here is what I have found to be my biggest changes regarding my riding at age 50…
THE LOWS:
Confidence… There was a time when I could jump on any horse, I felt like I was glued to that saddle, lol. Those feelings left many years ago. Now I find myself much more cautious than I once was. I tend to take more time to get things done.
Worry… I find myself worrying about silly things (maybe not silly), like the ground, and do I have room to get stopped, is this sucker going to see some booger out there and dump me, lol.
But there are also some amazing things that 50 has done for me…
THE HIGHS:
I am a MUCH better rider than I ever was. I have learned the reward of having patience and making a horse all that he can be. I am more in tune with other riders and their struggles because I have felt the same things and I am no longer threatened by admitting it. I'm a better teacher, student, and trainer at 50 then I ever was when I was younger. I take better care of my horses, I understand the benefit of time off, I don't feel like I have to win it every time. I'm happy when my horses make a little bit of progress and I don't feel that need to get it all done tomorrow anymore. The biggest thing for me is that I have learned that good things take time and it is almost always worth the wait.
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 323
| I'm 54 and loving where I'm at. Have hit the 1D several times this year against some tough horses. Even hit near top of 1D at show that had over 200 head. That was definitely a high point for me. I had hauled by daughter for years, and only ran at the smaller jackpots and local saddle club stuff. Couple of years ago she started slowing down, and I thought, well heck, I don't have to stay home, so started going just for me. I have a horse that I trained, she wasn't started on barrels till she was 11. Just played around with her for years, and then this year, something just clicked for me and I started sitting up and riding her. At 18 she was outrunning some tough horses and the younger riders. I am so proud of her and will still haul her next year.
I guess the moral of the story is that you are never too old to get better, don't let age stop you if you want more. I ran in the 3 and 4 D for years, and I was happy as a clam. Still am if my run if pretty. Its all about enjoying what we do. No matter what our age is.
So, ladies, go for it if its what you want! If you enjoy training , then train, if you want to compete, then compete. Just do what makes you happy. There is no magic age to this thing! |
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 Purveyor of unconventional wisdom
Posts: 17112
Location: CA | I am 57, just retired my fun finished horse, just had to put one down. Now I am starting all over.... I love riding... I love going fast... I am heavier than I ever have been.... I don't care. I ride bigger horses to make my butt look littler... lol
The 4d makes it fun again... just go, have fun, keep a leg on either side. It's 3 turns how hard can it be? lol |
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 Peat and Repeat
Posts: 2773
Location: IN MY OWN LITTLE WORLD AT LEAST THEY KNOW ME HERE | Watch out for old ladies on fast horses :0))
Tis the bumper stick on me trailer
56 and gettin it :0)
Age is only numbers.
Yep I've got osteo arth in both knees, bad lower disc n my back,
Arth n both hands. But I know to stay fit n take my vitamins.
Ride the level where you are comfortable.
But the main thing is to get out there n ENJOY
I've been riding my whole life.
Now life took me away from hard competition when my kids were young BUT
I never stopped riding.
I'm back n hard competition n bought a fast ride
I'm very competitive n strive to be better n better
each n every time I put my mare n the alley or why go?
Hey Martha Josey was been known to run n our area
Soooo there ya go
Edited by Yakima 2014-11-17 8:54 PM
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 560
Location: Where the buffalo roam | I'm 56 and I still hold my own competitively and ride 3 horses. Like you, I don't expect as much out of my young horses as quickly as I did before, but I also think they have better brains because of it. I also used to rodeo a lot and the older I get the less I want to beat my horses legs off on rodeo ground. Give me that fluffy ground and several runs where I can stay parked and relax and socialize. I am more cautious which may be why I don't like rodeo ground any more. |
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 I Don't Brag
Posts: 6960
| 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 |
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Mrs. Troy
Location: western Nebraska | I am loving all the responses but it looks like I should have said over 50 or 55. Yes, I have to run against June Holeman at every jp I go to it seems. Last weekend on my 5 year olds 2nd weekend out June won the 1d and I was 2nd in the 3d. I was pretty happy with my colt. THis coming weekend I am going to ask her a little and see if we can be in the 2d. It is good to have goals!!
I guess my biggest problem is myself. I used to think I could win every barrel race I went to. Now I hope more like not to be totally stupid and let my horses work! |
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Veteran
Posts: 165
| I am 46. My baby just moved out and headed off to college. I have put barrel racing on the back burner, just getting to the odd jackpot or gymkhana for the past 20 years to raise my kids who really didn't have a keen interest in horses. I have 2 nice horses and I can't wait to get out there and see what we can do. I think a lot of women don't even really have the chance to get active in barrel racing until they are our age, just too many other responsibilities with kids, careers... |
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| Thank you to all the posts that give me hope that I can still do this when I'm slightly older and hopefully much wiser. I focus so much an raising my kids that I feel like I'm missing out sometimes, but I know my babies are only young for a while. Reading everyone's stories is very inspiring!! |
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Expert
Posts: 3147
| I'm way past 45 and started running barrels again (from my teens) about 12 years ago. I had been training and galloping race horses up until 1993-stopped when i went back to college. I ride as hard and fast as my mare can run and we are consistently in the 2/3 D at big shows and have been in the 1D occasionally. Yes, i am more sore after riding than when a kid and my reflexes have probably slowed some, but my competitive spirit burns just as bright as it did when I was in my twenties. The thought of getting hurt doesn't cross my mind at a race, but I no longer start the young horses and I now use the round pen to take the edge off one. I wear a helmet now-the same one I rode the race horses in and i wish everyone wore a helmet. I just bought a three year old so plan on running for several more years. I have several friends well over 45 and they are just as competitive as me and ride very competitive horses as well. Age is only a number. |
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I Don't Brag
Posts: 6960
| doglady - 2014-11-17 9:29 PM
I am loving all the responses but it looks like I should have said over 50 or 55.  Yes, I have to run against June Holeman at every jp I go to it seems.  Last weekend on my 5 year olds 2nd weekend out June won the 1d and I was 2nd in the 3d. I was pretty happy with my colt.  THis coming weekend I am going to ask her a little and see if we can be in the 2d. It is good to have goals!!
I guess my biggest problem is myself.  I used to think I could win every barrel race I went to. Now I hope more like not to be totally stupid and let my horses work!Â
You just need to remember what it was like to "be hungry" and GO for it.
YOU CAN DO IT!!!!!!
My husband is quite a bit older than I and when we were dating is then sister in law gave him a decoupage plaque (gosh, that dates me eh?) that said;
Age is mind over matter,
If you don't mind, it don't matter.
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Location: midwest mama | I'm 53 years old and I barrel raced on the Pro Rodeo circuit for many years, and then took 15 years off to raise my family, etc. Hardly rode at all, but still had horses.......and even raised a few of my own out of my old rodeo mare.
Got my kid raised, and decided I wanted to race again. I had one 8 year old gelding who I had started really nice, but he had no experience hauling. Since my balance and timing was off (imagine that!) I knew I wasn't ready to step onto a 1D (rodeo) rocket, so I decided that the smart thing to do was to buy a good, older solid "been there, done that" 2-3D horse so I could get my timing and confidence back. So I bought one. I owned him for about 4 months, hadn't yet been to a race, then he unloaded me when I was just riding him around one day and broke some of my ribs and tore my shoulder muscles in 10 places. UGH. Found out he had a history of being wonky.
Of course I sold him, but then had to decide whether or not to buy another "been there, done that" horse, or just go on with my inexperienced guy that I already owned. I decided to go with my "rookie" horse and I have not regretted it a bit. He is very kind, is a big pleaser, and would do anything in the world to stay underneath me and take care of me. Even though he doesn't have much experience, I totally trust him. We were able to start slow and are now building up speed and starting to become pretty competitive. I only took him to about 10 races last year and about the same this year, and we are pretty solid in the upper 2D at the big races, and have run a handful of 1D times at the smaller races. We got there gradually, and we got there together, so we both were able to "work" up to where we now are.
Am I sore - Yep! Am I tired - Yep! Am I more scared than I used to be - Yep! Do I recover like I used to - Nope! Do I want to go as much as I used to - Nope! Do I get disappointed sometimes that I don't ride like I used to - Yep! Do I want to still race some - Yep! And here's the biggest thing - I LOVE THIS HORSE! He makes me smile every day, and that's what it is all about.
Edited by OldSchoolCowgirl 2014-11-18 12:02 AM
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 MaMa Hen
Posts: 12223
Location: Louisiana | I was more competitive between ages 45 & 55 than at any other age (other than when I was a teenager). Then I had to stop running completely when I hurt my back (a non-horse related injury) at age 59. If not for my back, I would still be running now, at 61. I would love to be "only" 45 again! |
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