My journey through life on South Dakota Ranch
Here is her photo from the barrel bash, at Topeka, KS.
I was really excited about this photo because I only have one other photo of her running barrels and I don’t really like that one- I just bought it because it was one of the better ones that had ever been snapped of her. So when this one was taken I was like, “Yes!”
I just think she’s gorgeous.
Yesterday I loaded up the trailer and took Sonora (Streakin Iron) and my Gump to the Barrel Bash at Huron. This makes the third barrel bash I’ve been to this year and I really hope to get to go to one in Minnesota in October. I’m really liking the producer of these races.
Anyway, I didn’t win any money, but my horses did good. Like I’ve said before, Nora is a pokey gray mare, and she’s just not a sprinter. But I love to ride her and I don’t care if she doesn’t win any money- she’s gorgeous and she turns good for the most part. Here is video of her running:
Gump made a good run- we’re just still not running as hard as he is capable- I felt like he was really getting after it but the clock said otherwise. So we’ll just keep working on things. Here is his pretty run:
Then of course, in true Jenn fashion, I had a pity party on the drive home that snowballed into absolutely craziness. Sometimes, I believe it is a wonder that Zach still loves me. I had convinced myself by the time I got home that I am never getting better; considered quitting; that I’ve forgotten what it feels like to ride a smokin’ horse; and was wondering why anyone ever sent me a horse to train in the first place- because certainly I hold no credibility if I’m not out winning barrel races. Zach wants me to remember that I *get* to barrel race. That it should be fun. And that if I’m not happy when I don’t win a check, that I’m in the wrong business. That my horses are works in progress. It’s true- I just need to keep at it, remind myself that it took 2 years with my black horse before I ever won a check on him and that it took another year after that before he clocked a 1D time. I’ve only been on Gump for a year. So things really aren’t as bad as I tend to make them.
I just gotta keep on keepin’ on; not let what anyone else thinks or says get to me, and know that I have what it takes to make a super horse. I think I’ll go ride this afternoon, actually!
My friend Jill and I wrote this a couple years ago- I figured it was time to pull it out and share it with the rest of you!
B- broke by this I mean $money$. NOT broke to ride! I know how you ladies (and men) think.
A- addicting, like crack, we can’t live without it. Someone should start barrel racers anonymous.
R- rate, no not sitting for a turn. Really, people, get your minds out of the arena. Rate that everything else goes downhill. When is the last time your house was as clean as your trailer?
R- ridiculous. Do you really need all those bits? Polo wraps? Bell boots? Supplements? THREE CHIROPRACTORS ON Speed Dial????? This one could go on forever…
E- everyday pain in the Tail!!!!! feed (oz. of this, oz of that)…groom (and why cant we brush our horses like ropers, just where the saddle goes?) …ride (breezing makes my back hurt!!) …15 min hydro-therapy on legs (not just one of them, but all them, even the colts) …and people wonder why we are late for everything except the barrel race.
L- love it, or we wouldn’t do all of the things mentioned above.
S- smooth, yeah the smoothest run usually does win, but by smooth we mean who else can talk their husband or daddy into another multi-thousand dollar pet?
I have to admit that there are times when I hate the traveling that is involved in getting horses seasoned. Maybe I just got spoiled when I was in Texas, because I could go a lot of places without driving for hours. But, if I really want to make the big time as a trainer and someday maybe make it to Vegas, I have to get over it. There are no if, ands, or buts, about it.
So despite my dread of driving I-29 through Iowa (I HATE that road!), I made the what is supposed to be 9-hour drive to Topeka, take 12 hours. Ok, so it wasn’t me that made it take that long. It was the road construction. But I suppose that is neither here nor there.
We made it. That’s the important part.
Saturday’s runs weren’t super fast. I really wanted Gump to do everything correctly. The last couple runs we made at home, he was blowing off the first barrel. So I really needed to keep him picked up going to the first. I just wanted everything to be smooth. No complaints from me in that department. He went where I told him, at the speed I told him, and was correct.
Sonora’s run was just funny. There’s really no other way to look at it. She was actually a teeny bit sore from the trailer ride the day before so she wasn’t really as free as she can be. And of course, her being sore, isn’t the funny part.
Every day on the ranch brings a different set of challenges. A different circumstance; a new set of chores. There is never really a set schedule. The only thing set in stone, is that each day will be different and sometimes the same. Circular logic, I know.
What we can count on is gorgeous weather. Awesome horses. Cows that escape into pastures-namely the alfalfa pasture- where they shouldn’t be; and machinery breakdowns.
It’s haying season here- we’ll put up around 2000-3000 round bales this summer. We start haying in June- or at least thinking about it- getting mowing machines ready; making sure the baler is in good working order. But despite the boys’ best efforts something always goes awry. The baler may pick up a rock, or a bearing just wears out. One of the mowers breaks. On a non-haying note, two weeks ago it was the four wheeler- which got stuck in fourth gear (we still haven’t taken it to the shop). This week the dump rake broke, which forced Zach to borrow a rake from the neighbor as ours is kaput until we get it to a welder’s shop (which won’t happen until next year).
Last week a dozen cows and their calves were out in our alfalfa field. This week a dozen more. The best part about all of this- is that I’m fortunate enough to get to be the one to put them back. Which means I’m the one horseback; the cowgirl that gets to ride across a pasture putting cows back where they belong. How much better can life get, if you’re me, than to saddle a pretty horse (lately it’s been Wayne’s stud horse Nukie) and move cows through a pasture?
Since the four-wheeler is dead for the moment, I’m the one that gets to saddle a pretty gray mare (Sonora) and ride through two pastures to bring the geldings in. And actually, as much as I hate it that Zach is in the hayfield this week, I like it that I get “saddled” with that job. There’s not much in this world that’s more fun (at least to me) than to long-trot out across a pasture on a good horse, in search of, well, more good horses!
Here is my run from Saturday when we won the 4D and I almost fell off:
Here is Gump from last night at our place, winning the 3D at the NBHA Sanctioned Show we had:
Kelsey winning the youth 2D in Rapid on Saturday:
Kelsey making a run in the youth last night:
Her run from the open isn’t up yet, but when it is, I’ll post it here. Now I’m off to wash some manes and tails and ride more ponies!
Saturday afternoon we returned to Rapid City for a barrel race. Zach drove up with the horses and met us. We also showed Big to a lady from Gillette, Wy and she purchased him on the spot! We are very glad that that wonderful horse found a great, new home. To top of what had already been a super weekend, Kelsey jumped out there, and won the youth 2D class, and Gump made an almost perfect run at 1/2 speed to win me the 4D and a check of $100.00. There were things in that run that could have been improved, yes, but the point is that he was listening and we were both feeling for each other. I will post the video soon- y’all will all laugh, as I almost fell off the end at the end of my run when I go to stop him!
I told you there was a LOT going on- so I’m decided to summarize with photo collages. Meg took the photos, and I made the collages. Let’s start with yesterday- We went to a barrel race in Ft. Pierre. We blew the second barrel again (and it’s all my fault, I realize) but nonetheless we looked cute and she snapped some fun photos of us. I really do love him; my throttle is just stuck on wide open, so we’re still going to work on remedying that (how many times can you say one-rein stop?)…
This is no longer the newest baby (as I started this blog, Zach said there’s a new one at the barn- I don’t know yet if it belongs to Shuttle or Banjo’s mom- Miss WDX Snippette, but I’ll be sure to report on that when I do). This baby is by Chachi out of a Jet Smooth mare the ranch purchased last year. He’s gonna be a pretty muley looking bay if you ask me!
Yesterday marked Dino’s 6th ride, and his first time in the snaffle bit. I am going to learn to leave my perfectionist at the gate when I get in a pen with a baby like him. He fussed with the bit for about 5 minutes and then went right on to riding around excellent. We’re just walking and trotting right now, but he is soft and he’s trying really hard. Just like his big brother above. The best part about Dino though, is that he will never learn to brace, and he’ll never learn to run blind or run off. I am very pleased with his progress. He’s not nervous. He’s not tight. He’s not offering to buck. He really just wants to do what I ask. What more could I want?
These are from two days ago- Ty on the “wild” stallion, Poco Tivio Pep, aka, Chachi. He’s turning in to quite the little cowboy! And Chachi has pretty much made himself priceless, as he really tunes in to Ty and feels for him. I have some video of some rides too, that I’ll post at some point.
And last but not least, here is Zach on our newest stud prospect, DX Tabasco Tivio, a 2007 Chachi baby out of a Sniper Rae Buck mare. He is quiet, kind, responsive, willing and we’re considering getting him ready for the hackamore futurity as a 4 year old. Here is shown with 8 rides on him. He’s already loping around and moving out nicely. He too has never shown any desire to anything but make you happy and try his heart out to do what you ask. We are loving the Chachi babies more and more with each passing ride!
