Topeka, KS Barrel Bash

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.

Wait for it.

Wait. For. It.

She ran in there, looking at everything! Like she is a darn colt! She scotched the whole way through her run. You could see her/feel her thinking, “Crap, what’s that there? Wait. Is that a sign? Are you sure I need to go right at those signs on the fence by the second barrel? Seriously, you want me to run at more signs?”

I didn’t even pack a spanker with me on this trip, because Lord knows Gump doesn’t need one, and while Sonora is bred to be a racehorse, running fast is usually the farthest thing from her mind. I know this. I pay her fees anyway. At best she’ll be a 3D horse. I don’t really care. I love her. I think she’s gorgeous. And I don’t care what anyone else says. Besides that, she really hates an over an under, or a dressage whip.

Sunday, my horses both felt better, and I could tell it was going to be a better day. Gump ran nearly a second better than the day before and I rode Nora in a bridle that had split reins on it, so I could get her attention. It worked. She ran over a second better.

I have decided however, that I must borrow a 1D horse from someone. STAT. I have completely forgotten what it feels like to blow in there, and make a run on one, and I think I’ve lost my ability to get a horse to that level.

I do have video, but my aunt took it for me on her camera. There are photos too, but I don’t have those yet. I promise I’ll share when I get them!

Comments

Maureen@IslandRoar says

September 10, 2009 at 5:29 pm

I love reading this stuff. It's like another world for me. My kids rode, but Eastern and nothing like how you describe it.
Thanks!

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BrownEyed Cowgirls says

September 12, 2009 at 2:55 am

I know exactly what you mean. I have spent so many years getting horses "to that point" where they are ready and capable of being competitive and then passing them on, that I have forgotten what it really feels like to make a truly competitive run.

It's a totally different mindset. And one that is very difficult to explain to people. I think what happens is that we get used to having time to "think" when we are putting training runs on our horses. But then the horse gets to a certain point where they are outrunning what our minds are thinking. It can be kind of tough to turn on the autopilot and let all that careful training we have done take over.

This is one of the reasons so many good trainers aren't necessarily top competitors and why so many top competitors take horses that have already been well started or are running well.

It's very difficult to go back and forth between the training mentality and the competitor mentality. That's not to say that it can't be done. It's just difficult.

Gee-can you tell I'm struggling with the same thing myself?

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