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!
I like the way you think when it comes to your horse and it will pay off for you in a faster, willing horse that understands the job. Way to go Cowgirl!
Love the videos. You rock!!
I love hearing all this about the bits and how different people train in different ways. And my daughter and I loved watching the video of the races! We thought your horse looked so excited to start!
I’m with you on the not changing all the time thing.
Watching Gump, I don’t think his bit is the problem. Obviously, watching is not the same as what you are feeling, so take this with a grain of salt okay?
It’s not his bit…it’s your reins. Girl, you have a big gob of reins flopping around. What the heck is all that stuff flopping around, getting in your way? Why don’t you just use a regular roping rein to run in?
What I “see” is Gump wanting to be a barrel horse and he is waiting for you every step of the way to gather up and adjust and get that gob of reins where you need them.
Like I said, what a person sees and what someone feels when a horse is running is two different things…but I don’t “see” a horse that wants to run off. He is looking for that barrel when he comes in, so I really think if you would just start trusting him a little bit, he will find his rate spot and turn that barrel.
I hope I don’t come off sounding harsh…I probably do…A major communication flaw I have. But girl…you HAVE a barrel horse there. Let him run.
I don’t disagree with you that it’s a lot of rein. As part of me trying to be consistent I have started running him in the same thing I ride him in daily- which is that mecate rein set up you see. I agree that it’s a lot of rein, and if I weren’t so busy holding him back and being in his face, their wouldn’t be so much rein there. You’ll be glad to know that I have a shorter pair on the way. I don’t like a regular roping rein, because they’re too light. I have tried to run him in them before and he gets very nervous with the change in the feel, if that makes sense. As I was riding him around yesterday I was thinking to myself “I have to trust him. He goes where I ask, when I ask, stops when I ask, slows down when I ask” so that is what I will attempt to do this weekend. thanks for thinking he looks like a barrel horse!
That’s his competitiveness coming out. Gump…and all horses that have been competed on KNOW when it is game time. But that’s a good thing.
I ride Moon…and all my horses in a snaffle bit and split reins on a daily basis. The only time I pull out his “running” bridle is for competition…and he knows-LOL.
I really do understand your consistency theory and practice it myself. But competition is different than training and sometimes adjustments need to be made for that.
And Yes, I do think Gump looks like a barrel horse. Wanna let me ‘borrow’ him as a back up horse this year? -LOL 😉
Oh, how I miss Stephenville. All our friends are there. And you take for granted the atmosphere of the town. We moved a little ways away and people don’t know anything about rodeo and think you are just some hick.
great videos, I think he looks like a barrel boy to, you just have to let him go a bit more. Some of your turns are really good & then he will go really wide on the next. I can talk, I’d hate to see a video of me riding. I have the same problem, letting go & trusting the work that has been put in to build the relationship. Look forward to the next run video.