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 Peecans
    
| I have not ran in gosh .... 5 years
I have to get back out there. I feel like I forgot everything about barrel racing and controling my nerves.
I have a nice started (loping) patterned not hauled horse and and a nice well patterned hauled as a rope horse horse to go with. Its just so hard! My anxitiy about going is keeping me at home. Zero confidence in my self and riding ability.
Does anybody have any advice or stories of getting back running after babies and selling your good solid finished horse? I never should have sold him. | |
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Expert
Posts: 1226
| Just go and have fun. It should be about you and your goals with your horses. Take your time and build your confidence. It's hard after kids for sure but great thing about barrel racing is there is no age limit. Just have fun | |
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Veteran
Posts: 194
Location: OKLAHOMA | I think you will find you will do better than you think. I have been out of it for a few years, still rode a little just not go and run. Last fall I started going and exhibitioning ( yes on my seasoned horse) we done OK I'm not happy with me but my horse is great. So i have started entering some this year.
Just an FYI, if you havent been in awhile, you may feel a little out of place but no worries it will call come back to you. So just go and have fun at whatever speed is comfortable for now. Remember to breathe and enjoy..... | |
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Expert
Posts: 1314
Location: North Central Iowa Land of white frozen grass | Just have fun. Remember that you are not the first one that has taken time off and has had to start again. Make it about the run, your horse and yourself. Don't worry about what everyone else is doing. | |
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Veteran
Posts: 233
| If it makes you feel any better, I'm old, fat, have a fabulous pony to pack my ass around, and have never even so much as looked at a barrel. I don't even know how to register. And yet hopefully this time next year pony and I will be tearing around not embarrassing ourselves. | |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 460
| Go to one of your favorite arenas and just do some time onlys =] After a few races of time onlys, start doing some novice classes then open! Just ease in to it, and in no time...you'll be rearing to go more and more! I sold my really nice finished horse about 5 years ago...and I regretted it too =/But she went to a great home! And she is a pro rodeo horse now in barrels with a great family. But, I moved all the way across the country to follow my dream to be a jockey. I exercise rode and jockeyed for a few years. I didn't have a barrel horse for a few years, but I've been getting back in to it more and more! I now find myself planning one every weekend haha =] It'll be fun again in no time =]
Edited by Katielovestbs 2017-03-21 1:55 PM
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Mrs. Txdad
Posts: 14084
Location: the fantasy txdad married | Like everyone else said, just go. I sold my good horses 4 years ago. I got one back but, she's retired to broodmare now.
I ran the one finished horse I have in August and she did very well. Then didn't run again until last month and it was not good. But, she's pretty much a cripple so, just being able to ride her is a blessing.
I have a new prospect that I'm very excited about but, he is no more than track broke. He will be sent off for some basics (I'm too old to get bucked off).
I'm hoping to keep riding my crippled gal until my colt is able to go.
You just have to load up and go. And don't go once every 6 months like I did, lol 
Edited by 1left2right 2017-03-21 2:22 PM
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| Ill tell you this in person as well, but it is good for everyone who is in the same spot as you.
The one nice thing about starting with a Colt is there are no expectations, if you have a good run, that is awesome, if you don't you can blame it on the horse. We all have had young horses, and we all know they are very humbling, we all know it is the journey that makes it fun.
You are not alone, every person has insecurities, just remember one foot in front of the other.
In our area I do believe we have more barrel racers lifting each other up then bringing them down.
One thing I have learned over the years, unless you have one of the best horses, for the most part no one really notices, even if you get bucked off in a timed only (this happened to me 2 weekends ago, the horse has never bucked a day in her life and she turfed me, the next person in line didn't even realize I was bucked off).
I was told by a very well respected barrel racers years ago, you aren't really a barrel racer till you fall off. We have all been there, all had weird things happen, we get up dust ourselves off and get back on.
If you are still anxious, ride with friends, go to barrel practices, haul to timed onlies, go to gymkhanas surround yourself with positive people. I started going to the local gymkhana this winter and it has been a blast, no stress, no criticism, very easy going, I have been taking my colts that aren't patterned and just trotting.
Who cares what others think, and for the most part they are probably thinking/wondering a positive thing about you, where did she get those boots, or I really like the looks of her horse, or boy does she have a beautiful smile.
All you can do is try, go to an event, have fun, visit.
If you are anxious or worried I know some barrel racers have taken rescue remedy themselves and say it works.
Some say drinking a beer beforehand works. I suggest stopping after 1 unless you have a driver lol.
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