barrel racing

Timber Lake’s High School Rodeo

16 May posted by ~The South Dakota Cowgirl~

South Dakota’s High School Rodeo season is set up quite differently than what I experienced growing up as a kid in Texas. Our season lasted the entire school year. Here, it wouldn’t work quite that good, since there’s snow on the ground by Oct/Nov and it’s not usually nice enough to want to be outside full-time until April. So that’s when their season starts. April. And they have rodeos nearly every weekend until the third weekend in June. Which works out well for us, since that is the weekend we brand around here.

Friday afternoon we ventured up to Timber Lake, South Dakota which is where The Cowboy’s daughter lives. Her home-town high school rodeo was at 5pm that day.

There was lots of pink…

A cute little brother…

Bling. Don’t forget that bling is an integral part of a barrel racer’s wardrobe!

Pink, Green and Bling make for a lot of color! And of course, Wranglers are important!

It had rained all week, and so the arena was less than dry! In fact, it was a bit icky.

The first barrel really sat in a mud hole!

Despite the muddy ground, it was an absolutely gorgeous day outside! Timber Lake turns 100 years old this year. They have an annual celebration, complete with an Amateur Rodeo sanctioned by the South Dakota Rodeo Association every year. This year, it’s their Centennial, so it’s going to be a really big deal.

Like at most rodeos, there was a grand entry. Albeit, this one was small.

There’s always at least one cute little dog at a rodeo. At barrel races, they’re practically a pre-requisite accessory for every barrel racer!

Now it’s time to get down to business. Barrel Racing is the first event at this rodeo. I like it like that!

I think Kelsy’s horse, Pommel thought that mud around the first barrel was not cool.

I love the look of concentration, on both their faces! Run, Pommel, Run!

Time to run home!

I took a lot of other photos from the rodeo too- some before it started, when they ran the roping calves and steers through the chute, to the other end of the arena; and plenty more of the barrel racers. Next week, I imagine there’ll be even more photos- and maybe some of the other events!

Here’s the rest from the Friday. Enjoy!

[flickrset id="72157624071679874" thumbnail="square" overlay="true" size="large"]

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Filed Under: barrel racing, family, life, photography

Stephenville Photos

6 Apr posted by ~The South Dakota Cowgirl~

I know, I don’t post enough photos on this site, right?

Well here’s more from our runs in Stephenville, TX back in the middle of March.

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Filed Under: barrel racing, horses

Money, Money, Money!

23 Mar posted by ~The South Dakota Cowgirl~

Thursday's Checks

I had a barrel race this past weekend- I ran two horses on Thursday night; my pretty gray mare, Streakin Iron (aka Sonora Nora) and the Gumpers, of course. They won 4th and 5th in the 4D for me (which means they ran 2 seconds off). The good news is, I really trusted Gump to the first barrel and that run (and all the others we made this weekend) felt a lot better than the previous week’s runs. I have video coming of our runs from Friday and Sunday, but it’s not here yet, of course. Nora, while bred to be a racehorse extraordinaire, could really care less about going fast, but she’s so fun to ride and makes the prettiest turns, that I think I want to start entering her again. I don’t really care if she wins me money or not, because after all, isn’t this game we play all about having fun? I mean it’s nice to win a check, but if winning were everything everyone who didn’t win would quit, right? Maybe I’m looking at it all wrong. What I won on Thursday night, paid all my fees for the entire weekend and gave me money towards fuel, so you can’t beat that. Green spends the same whether it’s 1D, 2D or 5D money. Money, is money.

Happy Tuesday!

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Filed Under: barrel racing

The Weekend’s Barrel Race

15 Mar posted by ~The South Dakota Cowgirl~

I had a lot of fun in Stephenville, Texas, or The Cowboy Capital of The World, as it is known in these parts. They don’t call it that for nothing. There are countless NFR (National Finals Rodeo) Qualifiers and Rodeo World Title holders in Stephenville, as well as a famous singer, Jewel! If we took a count of the number of people that live in Stephenville that have been to the NFR, it would be pretty high! To name a few off the top of my head: There’s ropers, Randon Adams, Martin Lucero, John Paul Lucero, and Turtle Powell; in Barrel Racing there’s Molly Powell (Turtle’s wife), Kassie Mowrey, Cheyenne Wimberly; There’s Bill Pace in Steer Wrestling; Calf roping’s World Champion, Cody Ohl, and 7 Time All Around Champion/2 Time World Champion Bull Rider Ty Murray (married to Jewel), as well as 3 Time World Champion Bull Rider, Tuff Hedeman. I am just certain I missed some folks- but it’s early in the morning, so go easy on me!

I was able to stay with my college room-mate from Freshman year when I was in school in New Mexico. They moved from Colorado to Stephenville 2 years ago. I hadn’t seen her since 2003 (on a family vacation to Colorado) when she’d just had her first baby. Since then she’s had another, so it was fun to catch up and hang out with her family and her husband- a damn good roper in his own right- in fact if he could get someone to finance him he’d have just as good a chance as anyone at making it to Vegas. Kyle has out-roped most of the guys that go to the finals every year.

My Friday night run wasn’t so pretty; he took the bit in the alley and pretty much ran to the first barrel with his jaw locked and I had trouble getting him back. As per my horse’s current running times, we were 2 and a half seconds off. I have to say that he’s getting softer in his face at a higher rate of speed, but we are really missing out on some rate, so that is what we’ll keep working on. Some people might say I’m insane to keep riding him in the same bit, and doing the same things over and over (with perpetually the same results), but really, if he can’t get it in a snaffle bit, what’s the point in putting him in something else? Consistent riding is the key, and if I keep changing head-gear that’s not being consistent. I’m getting to undo 12 years of running, running, running with him. And if he learned to run off in a big bit, why am I to think he wouldn’t still do just that? I constantly struggle with being a barrel racer, who does the right thing for her horse. So many of the girls change bits on a regular basis, and don’t really give a fly flit about how their horse feels. It’s all about winning. My philosophy, as crazy as this seems to some of them, is to have my horse want to do this for me- for him to like it, and not be so wound up or crazy that I can’t do anything else on him.

Saturday’s run was nearly 3 tenths faster than Friday’s run and Sunday’s run was 3 tenths faster than Saturday’s run. I’ll take it! I am entered in a big barrel race next weekend at Alvarado; then I’m thinking that if we don’t have our rate down by then, I’m done entering until I breath the thought slow down and he melts into the ground. Hopefully the Buck Brannaman clinic will help with these things.

Anyway, it’s spring break this week and as such I have a full schedule of lessons, new horses coming in to train, ground to work, a barn to clean and stuff to do, so I’ll be busy, but it will be fun.

Saturday’s Run:

Sunday’s Run:

Happy Monday, y’all!

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Filed Under: barrel racing, horse training, horses

Running, Running, Running

11 Mar posted by ~The South Dakota Cowgirl~

The past two days have been a whirlwind of blowing and going! Add to that some life altering changes (more on those later) and you have one tired cowgirl. After all the rain we’ve had it has just been ridiculously muddy. And frankly I am tired of not getting rides in on my horses. So I decided that come hell or high water, I would find an indoor /covered arena to ride in and was successful both yesterday and today. But that means loading up horses and driving someplace. So I have managed to get a lot less done than I would have liked. I had to go ride because I am entered in a barrel race this weekend. And next weekend. I’m also running short on my days in Texas, so I need to get as many rides in on my client horses as possible- which means riding before we go get exhibitions at the barrel races. I also made the brave decision that I would enter my new horse for his first run next weekend. If that goes well, I’ll late enter him and make two more runs the same time I run Gumpers. I honestly tried to be on top it this weekend and have posts ready to go, but frankly between the recurring cold and all the running around, I just didn’t get it done. Please forgive me. If I have time, and internet access this weekend I’ll update everyone on the barrel race!

Speaking of barrel races- I’m extra excited about this weekend because I’m going to get to see my college room-mate from my Freshman year. I haven’t seen her since 2003, I think, and I can’t wait to catch up. She’d just had their baby girl about 2 weeks prior to me seeing her and I don’t even recall how old her little boy is. Should be a good weekend full of catching up and riding!

Have fun and be safe, everyone!

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Filed Under: barrel racing, horses

The Weekend’s Videos

3 Mar posted by ~The South Dakota Cowgirl~

Here you go…

Go easy on the comments. Honestly I’ve been on my horse about 10 times since I’ve been here. Ridiculous.

If y’all could arrange about 10 days of rain-free weather, I’d sure appreciate it!

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Filed Under: barrel racing, horses

A Fun-Filled Weekend

2 Mar posted by ~The South Dakota Cowgirl~

Well I’m back! I’m not sure yet if I’m going to share the videos from the barrel race or not- but I am going to share all about what Zach and I did, and try not to bore you with my drivel about how much I love him and blah, blah, blah. I would have for sure shared my pretty, 3/4 speed run with you, but my videographer missed the first barrel. The runner in front of me was a scratch, and so I came in early and Zach wasn’t ready!

I’d like to take this moment to thank all the great girls that kept y’all entertained while I was gone. Let’s give them all a virtual round of applause, shall we? I should also shout-out to Brenda, a totally awesome client who made Friday’s great day possible by getting to the barrel race Thursday to stand in line and get us exhibition runs for Friday on her horse and for Gump! I couldn’t go because I thought Zach was getting in at 5pm that day, and the books opened at 4 that afternoon. And I clearly can’t be two places at once!

Thursday Zach surprised me by getting in several hours early! I must have missed it when he told me his flight was getting in at 1pm because last I’d heard it was a 5pm arrival. When he calls me from Rapid City on Thursday morning he was like, I should be to Texas by 1pm! Needless to say I was ecstatic! I graced the family with my famous shrimp pasta on Thursday night, and then Friday we were up and at ‘em to get to the barrel race.

Friday night’s run was really slow, but my horse did everything right, so I can’t and shouldn’t be upset about that.

Saturday we ran over a second faster, but even that was still way off the pace. But that was fine, because we learned that my horse is so long-strided, as one of my commenters mentioned, that it’s very hard to judge and get your timing right for setting him up to turn and be successful. I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again- Gump is unlike any horse I’ve ever ridden before- he’s not exceptionally ratey (which means he’s not jonesing to turn a barrel) but he is very fast, and he’s what we’d consider to be a free-runner. He’s broke, but not as broke as he could be, so as we get more and more broke, we’ll get better and better at running.

Sunday’s run was probably one of the best first barrels we’ve ever had, but our second barrel, was a slight disaster. The third barrel was good and I was less in his way- than I was on run #2. All in all I’d say the weekend was very successful and I had a great time. I got to see a lot of friends, and by Sunday night was not only sad because Zach was leaving the next day , but I was absolutely worn out.

That’s the recap of the weekend’s events. It rained again on Monday, and as such is a muddy mess today. The good news is that it’s sunny and beautiful outside! So hopefully the sun combined with this north wind will help us dry out and I might be able to get on a riding schedule before the end of the week. That would make me extra happy!

Have a great day!

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Filed Under: barrel racing, horse training, horses

Push (A Lesson in Friendship)

1 Mar posted by ~The South Dakota Cowgirl~

Here’s another great post from another fun girl, a fellow barrel racer named Sarah:

Do you ever listen to the crowd or the announcer while competing? I have to admit, I do. Even while running my horse I’m still listening for support. I love hearing my friends yell “PUSH”. It makes me try harder. Yeah, that might make me a little co-dependent…although I prefer to think of it as multi-tasking. Whichever it is, supportive friends are great to have.

I am in the process of training my mare on barrels. I recently moved into a bunkhouse on my friend’s property. There’s room for my horse, there’s an arena, and BLM land nearby for riding. After years of having to drive to where my horse was boarded and then hook up the truck and trailer to haul somewhere to ride, I am in heaven. What makes it even more nice is having my friend 50 feet away to motivate me to ride on the days I’m not planning to. How does this relate to training my mare on barrels?

Here goes my conversation with my friend this morning:

Friend: Did you ride this morning?

Me: Nope. I rode the last few days, I’m giving her a couple days off.

Friend: What is she seven this year? (She’s actually eight) Are you on the ten year training plan?

Me: Um, yeah. Maybe I should ride tomorrow.

Friends are great. They care about us and can see our blind spots. Because they see things that we can’t (or don’t want) to see, they can push us forward into better versions of ourselves.

Without friends pushing us how would we get past fears? How many people would have tried cigarettes and alcohol? (Not necessarily the best push.) How would we know when we are being wimpy, or borderline lazy? Friends are there to push us into situations, and laugh because when they pushed we fell on our butt!

I’m writing this because I appreciate when my friends push me. I hope my friends don’t mind when I push them. While competing on horses, we push them to give their best performance (and horses make the best kind of friends). Pushing is a great way to show someone you care. So go on. Go push someone today.

I found this post to be quite relevant to my current situation and wish very much that I had more friends that were like Sarah’s! I am so glad that she shared! If you’d like to read more from Sarah, you can find her at over at Rock-n-Rodeo Girl.

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Filed Under: barrel racing, friends, horse training, horses, life

It Wasn’t Pretty

23 Feb posted by ~The South Dakota Cowgirl~

But it got the job done.

Last Thursday we went to a barrel race, Gump and I. We won a check. It wasn’t a very big one, and we were way off the pace, partly because I was behind him the entire time, but partly because I was halfway scared of letting him really run in that arena. I know. I gotta get over it. But the check was big enough to pay for my fees and my diesel and buy supper at the Whataburger (if that’s what I’d have wanted to do with the money). By the way, Whataburger is a Texas tradition and if you’ve never eaten at one, you’re missing out. They now dot the South. I digress.

Last night we went to another barrel race. At a new facility. Well the facility isn’t new, but it’s under new ownership and it’s new to me. So there. One of the best parts of being where I am, is that there are barrel races to go to almost every night, somewhere nearby. Last night’s drive? Twenty Two miles. There isn’t even a gas station within 22 miles where I live!

The ground was good, I saw some good friends, made some new ones, and generally had fun.

And we won another check. Albeit it was an ugly run; again. It got the job done, paid for my fees and my fuel. I really don’t like going to barrel races and running at the bottom. Though I’m sure there are some people in my world that believe that’s the only place I’ll ever run. Whatevs. I’m inclined to believe in bigger and better things for myself so I will keep plugging away. Though it would be nice to stop fighting my head. Any sports psychologists out there? Part of it is me having expectations that my horse simply can’t meet right now, and part of it is me just not having made enough runs consistently. I have to tell myself that it takes run, after run, after run, after run, after…well you get the picture, to get into some timing and rhythm with my four-footed friend, and so I must continue to persevere.

In the meantime, I will take the small victories- the fact that my horse didn’t run off with me. That he turned a pretty second barrel last week, even though I asked late. That we are beginning to tune into each other more and that while we work on being “together” I can finance my trips along the way.

Today it’s snowing. Right this very minute. At the obscenely early hour in which I awoke. I don’t really mind being an early bird, but this is way too early. Especially for a day when it’s snowing. Now if you’ll excuse me, I think I must try and go back to bed.

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Filed Under: barrel racing, horses, life

A Really Great Sunday

1 Feb posted by ~The South Dakota Cowgirl~

Gump At Pierre, SD. Photo by Megan Zeller

Yesterday I found myself at the first barrel race of 2010. I would love to tell y’all that I won all kinds of money. But I’d be lying if I said that.

What won’t make a liar, is to tell you that my horse, Gump, made two really pretty runs, and I am extremely proud of him. We had two really pretty second barrels and for the first time ever, he ran at a second off. There were some tough horses there, and some girls that are consistently at the top of their game.

I also took one of my students with me. Sydney has been my student for about 4 years. She comes and rides with me anytime I am back in town. This was her first barrel race in 6 months or so. We were lucky to find her a really nice horse when it came time to buy her a step-up horse. Dude is worth his weight in gold. Not only is he broke like I would have him broke, but he’s really honest and wicked fast. Keeping a secret isn’t something I’m particularly good at, but I failed to tell Sydney (on purpose) that they were giving buckles to the first place winner in the average. The average, for those of you not rodeo savvy, is the combined time on more than one run.

This barrel race was a double header- so we made one run, and then had a break, only to make a second run about an hour later. In her first run, she ran good, but didn’t push her horse to the first barrel. So I sat her down and said she needed to let him run to the first barrel. She was like, “seriously? He’s not running? I feel like he’s not going to turn.”

I reminded her that he is very well trained and asked her if she trusted me. She was like, “yes”.

“Then send him to the first barrel. He will turn when you ask him”, I assured her.

And send him she did.

And she ran 1/2 a second off in the second round. Not only was it her fastest time ever; she won the biggest check she’s ever won. And she won the average buckle. And this wasn’t just any buckle- it was her first buckle to ever win! Talk about an excited 19 year old girl!

For those of you wondering- she outran me. And I couldn’t be more excited about being beat!

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Filed Under: barrel racing, horses

Timber Lake’s High School Rodeo

Stephenville Photos

Money, Money, Money!

The Weekend’s Barrel Race

Running, Running, Running

The Weekend’s Videos

A Fun-Filled Weekend

Push (A Lesson in Friendship)

It Wasn’t Pretty

A Really Great Sunday

South Dakota Cowgirl Art

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