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!
if you come to MN … please please please let me know!
the girls and i would LOVE to come and see you! we're in mpls but … we can drive a bit … and the girls would have a blast meeting the horses … and i would have a blast meeting you!
both runs looks great, especially the 2nd one! Yes listen to Zach, you get to race, I envy that! I raced for 7 years and since I've had kids I just don't have the time, energy, or finances to get back into it!
Well Jen, I can understand. You work and work so hard at something, and if you have ANY type of competitiveness in you at all, you are going to be upset every now and then, right? And yea, you'll lose sight of the big picture every now and then, but at least you have a good man to bring everything back in to perspective.