The Barrel Racing Blog

This Site Has Moved!

2010-01-01T09:45:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year everyone! Welcome to 2010, and with the new year comes lots of changes at the Barrel Racing Blog. As of today, I will no longer be posting content at THIS web address. You'll need to head on over to www.thebarrelracingblog.wordpress.com to find all of the site's new content.

This new site allows for me to keep a lot more permanent content around for you to see. I encourage you to explore all of the pages I have to offer, because there are a lot of really great stories that have come through the ranks on this site.

PLEASE, if you have any suggestions for the new site, news tips or you just want the old site back, LET ME KNOW! I love to hear from you. Remember, this site is for the barrel racing community, so help make it what you want!

Famous Silk Panties $100,000 BFA World Championship Run

2009-12-19T14:26:00.000-05:00

The Graves Ranch has a great YouTube site that posts many of their horses' runs, and I thought you all might like to see Graves' run aboard Famous Silk Panties, winning the BFA Superstakes.

TheTrickedOutHorse.com's Lisa Barone - Part 2!

2009-12-15T10:07:00.000-05:00

The woman behind The Tricked Out Horse brings real rodeo barrel racing experience to her outlaw brand of tack and belts. Lisa Barone has had success in the International Professional Rodeo Association, American Professional Rodeo Association, Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and at the All-American Quarter Horse Congress. Aboard her two mares, this summer she was the high-money earner on Dave Martin's Bullride Mania Tour and last winter won the Sundance Arena Series. Below, Barone talks with The Barrel Racing Blog about her successes as a barrel racer and her life outside the arena.

Where are you from?

Originally upstate New York, now reside in Fayetteville, Penn.

When did you begin barrel racing, and how did you get involved in the sport?

I started running barrels when I was 12. I've been riding even before I could walk. I started with show horses and pony hunters. As I got older I still showed horses, but started taking a liking to the speed events. Being from NY, we didn't have a High School or Youth rodeo team, nor did I even know much about rodeo. Alls I know is that I would go watch the local pro rodeo when it would come to town and think that it would be awesome to be able to compete like that someday. So I would just run barrels at our local shows, and as I got to be about 15, I decided that since I didn't like the politics in the show world that I would just strictly run barrels. Then not to long after that I wasn't only competing with those people I watched at the rodeos but I was winning championships. I moved to Penn. in spring of 2001, and in the past eight years I've had much success with the help of a few great horses.

What are some of your biggest successes in your barrel racing career?

IFR Qualifier, NERF IPRA Barrel Racing Champion, 2 time APRA Champion, Multiple time PRCA Circuit Finals Qualifier, Dodge National Circuit Finals Qualifier, 4x SRA Finals Qualifier, QH Congress Reserve Champion and Finals qualifier, as well as multiple barrel racing and open rodeo achievements.

What horses do you run now, and what horses have you had the most success on in the past?

I have two mares that I run currently, mostly one that most people know as "Reba" or Hears The Deal, as she is known on her papers. She is 14-year-old once in a lifetime horse. I purchased her from Deena Fries in November of 2001, and since then the mare has suffered three broken legs and still runs hard and gives 100%. She has the biggest heart of any horse I've ever seen. She may not set the world on fire like she once did, but she loves her job and will make the same run every time and put me somewhere at the top. She is Jet of Honor on the top and out of Colonel Freckles mare, I have a beautiful, coming 2 yr old Frenchmans Guy out of her that I will be hauling in the future. Reba will be bred back to "Guy" this spring and I am selling a few of her embryos, to keep her legacy going. If her babies have even half the heart she has, it will be such a blessing.

I also run a 13-year-old palomino mare, ThisBlondeMeansWar, "Blondie". She is mostly all foundation bred. I've only had her for about a year but I've tried to buy her for the past six years, and finally in February I got the word that she was for sale, and the rest is history.

What do you do when you aren't on the road?

When I'm not on the road, which is scarce at times, I spend time keeping all my business' running smoothly. Besides the leather business, I'm also a Certified Equine Massage Therapist and Adjustor, as well as I take some horses in for tune ups and have a descent size group of lesson students. Between all that I also help my fiancee, John Leinaweaver, keep his bucking program running smoothly. All in all there is no such thing as spare time around our household.

What associations do you run?

I run IPRA, ECWPRA, WPRA, APRA, SRA, SEBRA, NBHA, IBRA, as well as a few I probably forgot to mention!

What are your barrel racing plans and goals for 2010?

Hmm, that's a tough one. I'm taking this next year day by day. We have a little girl due at the beginning of March, therefore I'm not sure how much hauling I will be doing. I may just want to stay home and be a mommy for a while. We shall see, I even surprise myself at times. I do know that I would like to haul my colt some to get her used to all the chaos. As far as goals... only time will tell.

How does your background in barrel racing help you make better tack?

I see so many people buying tack, gluing "sparkly stuff" on it and selling to the public. I personally wouldn't use any of that on my horses as its mostly junk and it will fall apart. The cheap and competitive prices on those items normally reflect the quality. Therefore I sell only what I would use myself. I make all my tack custom... from beginning to end by hand. I cut out the Breastcollars, Headstalls, etc. then sew them together and hand set all the glitz. Therefore I intend on being the best out there in providing custom items to the buyer.

TheTrickedOutHorse.com's Lisa Barone - Part 1!

2009-12-14T12:28:00.006-05:00

Barrel racer, soon-to-be mother and bride-to-be Lisa Barone has had a lot on her plate this past year, but none of that has stopped her from producing some of the most eye-catching tack and western accessories east of the Mississippi. Her company, The Tricked Out Horse, offers more to barrel racers than the simple bling headstalls and breast collars. From her wide selection of hides to her poker-chip conchos, Barone and The Tricked Out Horse bring an outlaw edge to tack world.

What products do you offer?

We offer headstalls, breastcollars, tripping collars, tie-down nosebands, bronc halters, belts, spur straps, dog collars, buckle purses, diaper bags, gear/clothes bags and misc. items such as crosses, drink coozies and coaster, over-and-unders and stirrup hobbles. Basically we can make virtually anything.

Why are your products different from other lines out on the market?

Most lines are custom, and all our work is made from scratch. I have come up with some styles that haven't been touched on yet. Plus I let the customers come up with their own design and make it to their specifications

Who is your target market and why?

I have a wide range of market from Show to Rodeo. My dog collars for instance are sought after by many being that it is my own design and there aren't any like them on the market.

What is your inspiration for your work?

I'm a very creative, artistic and competitive person. I like to be the best at all I do as well as I like having satisfied customers. Happy customers are repeat customers.

When did you start making tack/belts/etc.?

2005
What is the price range for a headstall/breastcollar set?

$300-$700

How can readers of The Barrel Racing Blog get a hold of your products?

www.TheTrickedOutHorse.com

Check back tomorrow for more on Barone's barrel racing accolades and how that's helped her put together these great products!

A True Testament to the Barrel Racing Community

2009-12-10T00:55:00.002-05:00

Bobby "Booger" Barter's death is devastating to the barrel racing and team roping industries. With that said, his death has underscored the fact that these so-called industries are much more than just that - these are communities of people who love and care for one another in ways not comparable in many other areas of life.

While the details of Barter's death remain unclear and may never truly be known to anyone but his immediate family and Barter himself, what will always be known is how Barter lived. His devotion to barrel racing and team roping as sports and as communities of people produced forums like BarrelRacingBuzz.com, where still today complete strangers are coming together to morn his loss. Though they are in mourning, conversations continue on about Christmas recipes, the National Finals Rodeo and more.

Already, an NBHA district in Texas is organizing a fundraiser for Barter's young son, Bandera, selling $5-arm bands. Friends of Barter are uploading videos of his fun-loving ways to the forum, and some are discussing having a Booger Barter Memorial Show.

For some reason that I'll never know or begin to understand, barrel racers come together because we get each other. In times of grief, we can relate to one another like few others in our lives. In times of joy, we celebrate together. When Sherri Cervi and Tammy Key ran Stingray and Dinero, respectively, in Round 6, we all knew that we were witnessing a special moment in barrel racing history. Unfortunately, we also knew that that moment would be overshadowed by the heartbreaking moment that occurred in Athens, Texas, earlier that same day.

Yesterday, I posted a short blip about Barter's death, linking to The Barrel Racing Report that ran what appeared on the World Barrel Racing and World Team Roping websites. That short post received more views than any other story in the nine-month history of this blog. In fact, it received more than twice as many views as any other post I've ever put on the site.

Normally, most of the Barrel Racing Blog's readers come from Pennsylvania and Ohio, but yesterday, a national audience flocked to this small site. Readers came in from Athens, Texas, and Athens, Ohio. Obviously, most visited the post about Barter's death, but many poked around at what else the Barrel Racing Blog had to offer. If I were to guess why, I would say it's because we as barrel racers can't help ourselves - if we see an article about Joe B Jammin or a listing of results from a small town rodeo in Ohio, we can't resist.

Sad news in this week's Barrel Racing Report

2009-12-09T12:05:00.000-05:00

This week's issue of The Barrel Racing Report delivers some terrible news for the barrel racing industry as a whole. As reported last night on World Barrel Racing Production's and World Team Roping Production's websites, Bobby "Booger" Barter has died and with him he has taken the WBR and WTR. His death and the loss of the WBR and WTR has left a vacuum in the industry, one that because of lessons learned from Barter's groundbreaking ventures in both industries, will be filled in due time.

Change is Coming!

2009-12-08T21:31:00.000-05:00

So, if you've noticed that things have slowed down here at The Barrel Racing Blog, I really apologize! I've been making big plans to move this blog over to a NEW site, with tons of new features and lots of great information.

Pretty soon, I'll need you all to start logging onto www.thebarrelracingblog.wordpress.com, where I'll be adding content daily. The new site right now has the same content as this one, and you can continue to get content on both sites until Jan. 1 when the new site will be fully up-and-running!

Throughout this process, I'd love to get feedback from my loyal readers. This website began as a venture in building an online community of barrel racers and helping barrel racing enthusiasts connect with one another. So, nothing would help me more than hearing from you exactly what you would like to see in a barrel racing website.

QUESTIONS: What can I do to improve The Barrel Racing Blog? How can I help you interact more with this site and with one another?

Two people, 65 horses killed in Lebanon Raceway (Ohio) Fire

2009-12-05T15:57:00.000-05:00

In a terrible story coming out of Cincinnati today, at least 65 horses and two people are confirmed dead in the rubble of a barn that burnt down this morning at Lebanon Raceway.

CNN.com has a more thorough story on this tragedy, with video of the fire. According to CNN, this is the second fire at this facility, as in 1988 35 horses were killed in a fire.

Please keep those who lost their lives and those who lost their beloved horses in mind this weekend.

Photos from the Last Two Barrel Races

2009-12-02T21:40:00.000-05:00

Just in case you have been to either Porchview Arena or Henderson Arena in the last month for a barrel race, I wanted to give you the website of the photographer, called Forever Works, that was there taking pictures.

While their pictures are a little bit pricey ($35 for an 8x10 or two 5x7s), they got some great action shots of more than just the second barrel. They were also recently at Kowboy Corral and other regional shows.

A Barrel Racer's Letter to Santa

2009-11-29T08:34:00.003-05:00

Dear Santa,

This year, I've been very, very good. I have taken my horses to the vet when I thought they were the very least bit sore, and I've rested them when they've needed it. I have cleaned my stalls each and every day, and I've always picked my horses' feet before and after riding. I make sure there are enough shavings in the back of my trailer, and I keep my truck clean and above a quarter tank.

I have paid my fees through money I made working pleasure horses and have paid my fuel bills by pumping plasma out of my arms twice each week. I have spent hours sitting through mundane meetings for work and have written hundreds of stories for the newspaper, all to pay for my habit - barrel racing.

I've run in the rain and the mud and in the hot summer heat, and I've sat through the cold at barrel races. I have exhibitioned my young horse and not hurried her, and I've retired my old horse when it was her time.

So, Santa, if you think I've been good, too, then here's a list of some horsey things I'd like to find under my tree on Christmas morning:

1. A year's supply of Lubrisyn

Santa, Lubrisyn will help me take care of both my young and old horses, and it will keep me from making as many trips to the vet's. My vet even thinks I should have it, knowing it will keep me from driving him nuts with sore horses! It will help keep my horse' joints moving smoothly, even though sometimes I run on some tough ground that hurts them. If you get this for me this year, I'd really like another year's supply next year, too!

2. Ed Hardy Tack from Bar~N LLC

Not just for me, but for my diva mares, too! Santa, this will go perfectly with my new Lagrange Boots, Rock N' Roll Cowgirl and Cowboy Militia duds. Santa, I haven't bought new tack since I got my custom made 5J set over four years ago. I'm really due for a good new set! On my old black mare, this stuff would really pop. Santa, like I said before, I've been very, very good.

3. An Ed Hardy Halter by BillieAnn Sexton

It's only fair that I match my new headstall and breastcollar with this halter! Santa, I've had the same rope halter on my old mare for 10 years, and she's definitely due for something flashy on her little head! Plus, with the attitude both my my mares have, Ed Hardy's "Love Kills Slowly" line would fit them perfectly! Santa, you'd also be helping out BillieAnn Sexton by buying me one - she's not a big company, just a great young cowgirl putting out a great product!

4. Western Glamour's "Cowgirl is the New Black" Shirt

This shirt says it all. A life many of us have been living for years is really catching on, as styles are swapping back and forth between western and mainstream. Its the perfect treat for me because I've been a good cowgirl all year long.

5. The New Horse

The mystery horse. Santa, please. I know every little girl asks for a pony every year, but this is serious. I've paid my dues with my young horse, and she's doing great...BUT, I'm really ready for a finished aged mare. I've never had a ready-made horse before, but as I get ready to head out on the career search, finish my thesis for graduation and start a life, it would be great not to have to tune on a colt. The freedom of just being able to go on the weekends and not worry about checking, helping or even just exhibitioning would be amazing! I'd love to not have to get to a barrel race at 7:30 a.m. to exhibition, and heaven forbid, just get there a class before the 4D. Santa, if you need help looking for this horse, I have one in mind - we should talk!

So, Santa -

This is part one of this list. As the holiday season moves forward, I'm sure I'll think of more! Am I being greedy? Probably! But even cowgirls can dream, right?

Thanks, Santa.

Chelsea

Poll! What's your favorite PA/OH winter series?

2009-11-25T08:28:00.000-05:00

With many of us struggling through the snow and the wind in Pennsylvania and Ohio throughout the winter, it's great to have an indoor arena to escape to regularly. While many local arenas offer shows of some sort during the colder months, few actually have true winter series with year-end awards. In western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio, Buckhorn Arena (West Sunbury, Penn.) hosts Fast Times events that combine steer wrestling and barrel racing, giving out great year-end awards. This year, Blue Lakes Arena (Newbury, Ohio) will be giving out a series saddle at its winter series contest shows. Dave Martin always hosts the Sundance Arena (Fredonia, Penn.) winter rodeo series, that gives out a year-end buckle.

So, at the right hand side of this page you'll see the poll - which series do you prefer? The poll closes on December 7th!

Despite Knock, Poppino's Team wins WPRA Finals Team Tournament

2009-11-19T10:33:00.001-05:00

This year, the Women's Professional Rodeo Association tried out a new team event at the organization's World Finals, and The Barrel Racing Blog 's good friend Tana Poppino 's team took home the team title. Despite her knock aboard Goose , the rest of the team dominated and brought home the title.

To read Tana's full blog on the event on her website, click here .

Another Giveaway at On The Rodeo Road!

2009-11-17T15:16:00.001-05:00

My good friends at On The Rodeo Road are giving away another bag of Daily Edge from Total Health Enhancement! All you have to do is write a comment on their blog about what your goals are for 2010, and they'll pick a new winner sometime soon! So click here to go straight to their site and get to typing.

When Navicular is the Best News I've Heard All Day...

2009-11-13T12:11:00.000-05:00

Normally, I save this blog as an outlet for journalistic expression. I usually write articles about top barrel racers, arena conditions and new products. But, today, I'm reflecting. I'm thinking about where barrel racing fits into the grand scheme of life, and I wanted to share a story with you all.

While I was at the All-American Quarter Horse Congress a few weeks ago, I received a phone call from my mother, letting me know that my aunt had been diagnosed with stomach cancer. I come from a very close family - 'very close' doesn't even begin to touch upon how much love my family has for one another. When I heard about my aunt, I was standing in the middle of Lagrange, looking at gator boots. I stopped, cried and hugged my dearest friends. It was a gut-wrenching moment for me.

Over the last few weeks, we've heard nothing but good news from the doctors. They removed part of her stomach, and the surgery went great. She was told she'd have to be in the hospital for 10 days, since the surgery we got great report after great report. She began eating again, first soup then Jello. And then, just yesterday morning, the bomb went off. My uncle sent me a text message - my aunt's biopsies came back, and the cancer had spread to her lymph nodes.

I got this text message just as I was throwing on my boots to head to the vet's with my 16-year-old barrel horse. I had been worried about her all week - worried that she had something seriously wrong with her that would make it impossible for her to ever ride again.

Instantly, though, this message changed my outlook on things. Any news I received about my horse that meant I could keep her happy and healthy for years to come would be good news.

My amazing best friend picked my horse and I up to go to the vets with two of her own horses. She and I agreed that drinks just might be necessary after taking three horses to the vet, and we both expected the worst.

After lots of examining, nerve blocks and x-rays, the doctor had a diagnosis. I discovered she has the very early stages of navicular syndrome, and all she'll need to be sound is proper shoeing to be able to be ridden and loved for years to come. She won't run again - she's earned her retirement 10 times over. My friends horses will be OK in the long-run, too. So, we breathed a sigh of relief.

So, yes, navicular was the best thing I'd heard all day. Sometimes, every once and awhile, something happens that puts the rest of life into perspective. This week was one of those weeks, where all I can do is throw my hands up and go along for the ride. If praying is something you do, I'd appreciate a few prayers for my family. If it's not, please keep my family in mind as we go through this difficult time.

Bit of the Week - Lance Graves Rope Nose Sidepull

2009-11-11T11:51:00.000-05:00

We haven't had a chance to throw together our "Bit-of-the-Week " section lately, but this one is definitely worth a mention.

This Lance Graves' sidepull is way more than just a hackamore. It's shanks rotate outwards, giving you the feel and connectivity of a snaffle bit while maintaining the pull of the hackamore.

Right now, I'm using it on my six-year old that needs a little bit of a check before a barrel but still needs the lift and guide around a barrel like a snaffle would provide. I can lift her shoulder with this bit and still reach down and pull her around with it if she needs more help. My team roping, horse-stealing boyfriend also heels off of the same horse using this, and it gives him enough pull to slide to a stop on the heeling side.

Update on the 2010 PRCA Season with Tana Poppino

2009-11-09T10:47:00.001-05:00

After a rough 2009 season plagued by injuries, The Barrel Racing Blog's friend Tana Poppino is back on the rodeo road with two healthy horses . She's making a run for her third NFR qualification, and so far, she's starting out hot.

As she and her husband drove to a college rodeo to watch her son compete this weekend, Poppino told The Barrel Racing Blog that she won the Billings, Mont., PRCA NILE Rodeo aboard her bay, Amigo.

"Amigo is getting back go his pre-injury runs," Poppino said of the bay that took her to two NFRs.

She also hit the Prairie Circuit Finals , where she won round 1, was third in round two but knocked in round three to put her out of the average.

With Amigo, Poppino's knocked her second barrel twice this year, something that she said is very out of the ordinary.

"I'm going to have to learn from my mistakes," Poppino said. "I'm hitting my second going into it. When I'm sitting really good (to win an average) is when I seem to hit the second."

She's also been running Goose, her grey gelding, at jackpots to keep him sharp. He has to run at the WPRA World Finals in Tulsa, Okla., this weekend while Amigo takes a break before hitting the road hard in January.

"This is really about the only time of the year you can give them a good rest," Poppino said. "Hopefully they're going to be used a lot this coming year."

Keeping her horses healthy is key for Poppino. She regularly uses products from Total Health Enhancement, one of her sponsors. And by the way - our friends at On The Rodeo Road are giving away a FREE bag of the Daily Edge to one of their readers - just comment on their blog with why you love your horse, and later this week they'll pick a winner!

Stick with The Barrel Racing Blog all year as we follow Tana Poppino throughout her run for the NFR this year!

Free Giveaway at On The Rodeo Road!

2009-11-06T12:22:00.001-05:00

My good friends at On The Rodeo Road are really hooking their readers up with a great product! Total Health Enhancement's Daily Edge - used by The Barrel Racing Blog 's good friend, NFR-qualifier Tana Poppino - helps maintain horses at top levels of performance.

Just visit On The Rodeo Road and leave a comment telling them why you love your horse so much. Then on November 12, the girls at On The Rodeo Road will select one lucky reader to get a free five-pound bag of the supplement! It's that easy!

Interview by On The Rodeo Road!

2009-11-05T09:49:00.005-05:00

Earlier this week, my friends at On The Rodeo Road interviewed me about The Barrel Racing Blog and my background as a barrel racer. It's humbling to have such a great site interested in what I'm doing here with The Barrel Racing Blog. One of The Barrel Racing Blog's very first posts was a review of On The Rodeo Road!

Please check out everything else the girls at On The Rodeo Road are doing. They're following some top rodeo competitors like Ohio-native Amber Mostoller, and they provide videos and in-depth interviews with competitors. Plus, they've really become one of the best aggregates for rodeo news across the country!

This Week's Barrel Racing Report - NBHA Worlds Results!

2009-11-04T10:43:00.003-05:00

This week's Barrel Racing Report has lots of results from the NBHA World Show, where Ohio's own Brad Shirey took home the 5th place check in the 1D Finals aboard Perky! Pennsylvania cowgirl Kayla Nace took home 12th place in the 2D on top of What's Up Hobby Doc, and Pennsylvania's Vickie Siesky, Shannan Eckenrode and Terry Grow placed in the 3D Finals.

Special congrats to Terry Grow, who WON the 2nd Go of the Seniors and consistently placed throughout the World Show!

Ed Hardy Halters by BillieAnn Sexton

2009-11-02T08:18:00.006-05:00

If you did not get to make it to the Congress to shop or if you did not find what you were looking for there, it's time to check out BillieAnn Sexton's hot line of halters made from Ed Hardy belts. Her custom halters add a rocker edge to the western world, with studs and conchos not used by other halter makers. She makes them in her free time on the way to rodeos, so she knows what barrel racers are looking for. Below, Sexton answers questions about her line and how to get a hold of one of these hot halters!

What tack do you offer? Just halters, or more?

When I find the time for fun I make halters and headstalls.

Where did you get the ideas for your halters?

I love the in-style, Ed Hardy line and the belts are really cool so I make the halters and headstalls from Ed Hardy belts.

When did you start making them?

June of 2009.

Where do your materials come from?

Ed Hardy Belts or Kippy Belts, a nylon halter, and "cool" conchos.

Where do you get your ideas?

Imagination, thinking out of the box.

Where do you sell your products?

I put pictures of the halters I made onto my FaceBook and many horse owners take a look.

Who buys this kind of stuff?

Any horse owner, not just rodeo people.

Why are your halters different from other things on the market now?

They are not just crystals and conchos they have unique style from the Ed Hardy line.

How can an interested party get a hold of one of your products?

Add me on facebook or myspace, Billie Ann Sexton, or e-mail me, barrelracer24-7_nfr@hotmail.com

Congrats to Penn., West Va., and Ohio Congress Placewinners!

2009-10-28T11:55:00.006-04:00

Over the four days that the cloverleaf pattern dominated the Coliseum, Bert Thompson threw down the fastest time of any Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania cowgirl with a 15.243, winning the Amateur barrel racing aboard her bay, Shesa Hurricane Payday. In youth competition, Jurie Buchleitner ran the fastest time in any youth class out of Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania barrel racers with a 15.434 on the back of her black mare, Gordons Lena 234.

For the full list of results, please visit the OQHA's website!

Junior Horse Barrel Racing

1st place - Megan Yurko - Beea Stash of Money - 15.283 - Wheeling, West Va.

6th place - Danette Potter - Fast Wager - 15.783 - Cecil, Ohio

Senior Horse Barrel Racing

5th place - Jurie Buchleitner - Gordan's Lena 234 - 15.431 - Creekside, Penn.

Amateur Barrel Racing

1st place - Bert Thompson - Shesa Hurricane Payday - 15.243 - Mannington, West Va.

5th place - Travis Smith - Sticks Rolling Stones - 15.357 - Blanchester, Ohio

8th place - Jessica Ford - Teddy Terrific - 15.497 - Chillicothe, Ohio

10th place - Lori Harper - Jessies Missin Cash - 15.555 - Hermitage, Penn.

Amateur Select Barrel Racing

5th place - Leticia Powell - Qui Fire - 16.158 - Dillsburg, Penn.

6th place - Jimmy Hill - Haida Smokin Gun - 16.230 - New Milford, Penn.

7th place - Bill Burton - JBS Mickey Mouse - 16.259 - New Martinsville, West Va.

Novice Amateur Barrel Racing

1st place - Lori Harper - Jessies Missin Cash - 15.725 - Hermitage, Penn.

3rd place - Kylie Keslar - Honor My Lil Pistol - 15.736 - White, Penn.

4th place - Desiree Pesko - Quick Morning Dash - 15.845 - Minerva, Ohio

5th place - Patsy Lyall - RS Tuff Shadow - 15.873 - Zanesville, Ohio

Youth Barrel Racing 13 & Under

1st place - Megan Yurko - Beea Stash of Money - 15.453 - Wheeling, West Va.

5th place - Taylor Howell - Easy to Strike - 15.878 - Arcanum, Ohio

6th place - Caitlin Marchese - Array of Echo - 15.886 - Monroeville, Penn.

7th place - Megan Yurko - Easy Go Ned Pepper - 15.887 - Wheeling, West Va.

9th place - Collin Watson - Nik Can Do - 15.920 - Cable, Ohio

Youth Barrel Racing 14-18

2nd place - Jurie Buchleitner - Gordons Lena 234 - 15.434 - Creekside, Penn.

3rd place - Abigail Ringer - Missin Eudie - 15.583 - Hartville, Ohio

4th place - Tori Becker - Day Dreamin La Jolla - 15.764 - Pittsburgh, Penn.

9th place - Gabrielle Oder - LJS Poco Freckles - 15.893 - Hamilton, Ohio

Novice Youth Barrel Racing 13 & Under

1st place - Trate Brown - Midnight Rose Bud - 15.799 - Byesville, Ohio

2nd place - Zane Johnson - Ems Pretty Chick - 15.81 - Parkersburg, West Va.

6th place - Megan Yurko - Beea Stash of Money - 16.035 - Wheeling, West Va.

7th place - Zane Johnson - Flying By Meyers - 16.067 - Parkersburg, West Va.

8th place - Bailey Angelo - TDL Renes Rambo - 16.075 - Normalville, Penn.

Novice Youth Barrel Racing 14-18

1st place - Abigail Ringer - Missin Eudie - 15.735 - Hartville, Ohio

4th place - Stevie Young - Oh for a Jet - 15.824 - Barnesville, Ohio

6th place - Mia Shaffer - Bunch O Honey - 15.941 - Apollo, Penn.

8th place - Jesse Swink - Jai Alai Jessi - 16.053 - Acme, Penn.

NYATT Barrel Racing

1st place - Summer Reese - Robins Last Princess - 15.866 - New Richmond, Ohio

6th place - Jessica Detweiler - Happy All the Time - 16.679 - Lake Harmony, Penn.

9th place - Meranda Hayes - Dashaspeck - 16.756 - Kitts Hill, Ohio

In the Aftermath of the Congress...

2009-10-26T11:21:00.003-04:00

After five days at the All-American Quarter Horse Congress in Columbus, Ohio, I am laying on my couch with a nasty sinus infection and a big hole in my bank account. After all of the money spent on things I didn't need, the voice lost from yelling so hard for friends and the weight gained from eating cinnamon roles, bourbon chicken and roast beef sundaes, I've started to think about why I really love the Congress so much.

1. The Congress Bubble - With everything going on in the world and all of my passions overextended, it's wonderful to escape from it all and only worry about what draw my friends are in the youth and sweepstakes. When my biggest problem at the moment is what color gator boots to buy from Lagrange, life is good.

2. The Memories - Pulling in to the Congress, the parking lot, barns and Coliseum look just the same as they did all of the years we hauled my trusty youth horse, Zippos Three Dee, or "Onyx," there from Pennsylvania in the middle of the night. Those were the best days of my life, hands down, and each year when I return I'm reminded of the "on-top-of-the-world" feeling that I had then. I remember my trainer, Ginny Bowman, making the experience all about Onyx and me, putting on my splint boots "just right" and waking me up at 2 a.m. to trudge through the rain to the warm-up pen. I remember all of pictures we took with my friends and family after the announced the Top Ten, and the pride I'd feel buying my Top Ten coat. Even more, it was the late nights running around on golf carts until all hours of the night, trying to find trouble because we couldn't get into the Corral, that made the trip even more exciting.

3. The Shopping - I save up all year to be able to buy what I want, and some of what I need, at the Congress. Nowhere else in Pennsylvania or Ohio can you spend so much money in one place on your horses. With every product imaginable, I am always able to make that dream Congress purchase. One year it was a Dale Chavez pleasure saddle, another year a Dale Martin barrel saddle, and the list goes on.

4. The Food - While eating at the Congress can be a financial venture in itself, it's important to indulge at least once while you're there to get the full effect. The bourbon chicken, apple dumplings, cinnamon roles and roast beef sundaes are just a few of the fair-food delicacies. While it is impossible to eat anything without spending at least $6.50, one bite into the bourbon chicken and you won't regret a thing.

5. The Reunion - Being plopped down out here in the middle of Southeastern Ohio, I miss my Pennsylvanian barrel racing family like nothing else. While we may see each other at one or two shows that I drive home for, rarely do we get to spend an entire five days together like we do at the Congress. We spend our time shopping because we know exactly one another's tastes, and we talk each other into spending the money we shouldn't. We have time to talk about everything we used to talk about, and in the end, the goodbyes are always impossible.

6. The First Barrel - The money barrel at the Congress is the hardest to make of any pen I've ever, ever seen, and the split second a horse nails it perfectly, the rush of adrenaline even someone sitting in the stands feels is like no other. Nailing that first barrel at the Congress sets many horses up to have a perfect second barrel, so that in the end, they get a straight line to the hard-to-perfect Congress third barrel. The cloverleaf at the Congress separates the men from the boys, so to speak, and many great horses can never seem to clock there.

Second Congress Update

2009-10-25T10:12:00.000-04:00

With the sweepstakes getting ready to kick off, most of the ground issues that plagued barrel racers the first two days have been worked out. Even more, most have managed to figure out how to land the Congress's infamous first barrel. The second go of the sweeps saw some of the fastest runs of the week, with it seemed like nearly everybody landing somewhere in the 15s. After a bad fall in the first go, Ohio's Kelly Pitts clocked 15.4 to make it to the short go. Pennsylvania's Shana Simmons time of 15.3 also held her in place for the finals from the first go. Stay tuned for finals updates!

First Congress Update!

2009-10-23T09:06:00.000-04:00

With the first day down at the All American Quarter Horse Congress for Ohio and Pennsylvania cowgirls and cowboys, the first barrel proved to be as elusive as always and the ground as slick as usual for this show.
The sweepstakes was difficult to watch at points when great horses and riders like Kelly Pitts and Stevie Young went down in painful fashion turning barrels. Still others struggled to turn the first barrel at all, as the monster run from the alleyway to the first made it tougher than most other pens.
Brett Monroe won the barrel race, and special congrats to West Sunbury, Pennsylvania's 13-year-old Shana Simmons for placing 3rd!

Weekend Review - IBRA/NBHA at Porchview Arena, Acme, Penn.

2009-10-16T12:45:00.002-04:00

On one of the coldest days so far this fall, western Pennsylvania's barrel racers headed to Porchview Arena in Acme, Penn., to show down in one of the last barrel races before many head to the All American Quarter Horse Congress. For many of the youth, the pressure was on to have one of the last good runs before the Congress. In the open, though, it would prove to be a pee-wee's show, as Julie Siesky, the leading Penn-Ohio pee-wee, set a pace atop her mother's retired barrel horse early in the night that held throughout the 70 horses in the Open 4-D.

What: IBRA/NBHA Barrel Race, 3D Youth, 3D Open, 4D Open, 3D Masters

Who: Barrel racers and pole benders from the Tri-state area, many IBRA members

Added Money: $300 added in the 4D, $25 added in the Youth

The Ground: The major complaint of the show was that the ground was not sticky enough for some horses that really needed to get down deep in it. It did seem rather loose, but no major falls or accidents happened because of the ground. It was pretty safe. The fastest time of the day was run in the Masters, with Roger Bracken cracking a 15.2, but nothing was faster.

Overall: Some great horses ran some great times at this show. It was great to see Julie Siesky win the open with a 15.4, as later her mother said this was her first 1D check ever. A lot of people ran in the 15s, showing the consistency of the competitors in the area.

The weather put a damper on the fun, and the mud outside the arena got lots of splint boots filthy. Parking became kind of a nightmare as many people were parked in because those who pulled in later were trying to avoid parking in the field and getting stuck in the mud, although the mud in the fields ended up not being too bad.

Porchview's show committee had some great warm soup and coffee to keep everyone warm, though. Some vendors also showed up to sell sparkly tack, jewelry and purses.

Part Five with BillieAnn Sexton

2009-10-16T08:00:00.002-04:00

A lot more goes into each run than just the 15 seconds or so in the arena. Every cowgirl has her favorite saddle, her favorite traveling partners and some terrible stories from on the rodeo road to share. Below, BillieAnn Sexton talks about the "extras" that go into each rodeo.

Extras

What type of splint boots do you use?

Professional's Choice on the front. Polo wraps on the back.

What type of saddle do you ride?

My favorite is my Ken Raye/Tami Purcell. I also love my Martin/Sherry Cervi saddle.

What kind of truck do you pull your trailer with?

Ford, 450

Who do you travel with?

Bobby Abernathy, Daniel Robertson, and Cody Miller is usually the crew.

What's the worst rodeo experience of your life?

In Memphis, Tenn., in the barrels I was running home from my run, and at high school rodeos they never keep a open alley, which my horse going to rodeos is not use to a close gate in the arena. So "Sassy" realizes the gate was closed and crow-hops right, then left, I was not prepared for that my hand was still on my whip not the saddle horn, and it slingshots me into the bucking shoots. I chipped a few teeth, got knocked out, had a severe concussion and got a piece of my lip ripped off. That morning and afternoon on a snowy Memphis day was not to exciting. On the bright side, I placed, and that night I was in the performance in the breakaway roping. Although I was told by the doctor not to ride, I won it.

What will you not leave home without?

Magnets and treats for the horses, and also, my phone.

How often do you give your horses time off?

Since I have a few they get weekends to stay home from running, but I keep them exercised.

How often do you take time off yourself?

Maybe a day out of a month? I love what I do, so I am not "in need" of time off.

What are your future goals? College, PRCA, etc?

I turn 18 March 5th, I am going to buy my Pro permit. I hope to make the Circuit Finals this year and in two or three years make a run for the National Finals Rodeo. That is a lot to ask for, but its been my dream since I was 10 and I'm sticking to it! I am not going to college rodeo, I'm going to take college classes online, one day I would like to own my own practice in equine embryo transferring.

Part Four with BillieAnn Sexton

2009-10-15T08:00:00.003-04:00

Whether she is warming up for the IFR or getting her breakaway horse ready for a local rodeo, BillieAnn Sexton keeps her warmup consistent with each of her horses. Below, she discusses her routines on the rodeo circuit and the mentality she tries to maintain while living the rodeo life. She also talks about what products keep her horses running great each weekend.

Outside the Pen

What is your warm-up like?

Long trotting and making the horse be soft and supple by moving it over with my leg, bending at the poll, and getting there rear end under them.

Do you have any rituals that you never break?

I use to have them bad, call me crazy but when I was little I could not pick out the color of the rubber bands to put in my horses mane, I would just use what ever color I picked first and put it in, or I would call it bad luck for myself. I have grown out of the superstitions.

How early do you like to get to a rodeo?

At least an hour before, when we arrive I want enough rest time for my horse to perform, hauling is hard on all horses. As soon as we arrive I water them and put there magnets on them unless they are already on them.

Who do you look towards for advice?

My mom, when I get down on myself for messing up under pressure she will always give me the best advice.

Who else's runs do you always watch?

At the IPRA's, Laura Kerley, her and her horse Jackie are such a team.

What supplements do you use on your horses?

SeaBuck, it keeps my horses shiny and healthy while also preventing from ulcers. I also give them a shot of Adequine, which is a joint supplement every two weeks.

What do you feed your horses?

SafeChoice.

What veterinary practices do you use most often?

I will always stretch my horses necks with a treat to both sides, and stretch there legs. At a walk, zig-zagging down a hill builds there stifle muscles. I love cold liniments or wrapping my horse in poultice for trailer rides. If my horse's legs are swollen a little from a trailer ride or the blood circulation is not flowing enough I will run cold water over there legs for 20 minutes and then put magnets on them.

What rules do you play by with your horses? What drugs will you use and what drugs won't you use?

I give a shot of Adequan to all the performance horses every two weeks, it is a joint supplement. Also if I know I am competing at a big rodeo I will give a shot of Legend 72 hours out. Also Banamine is a great muscle relaxer if one my horses feel horse.

What's the best part about your riding?

Spending time with my horses and becoming a "team" with them.

What do you struggle with riding-wise?

Mainly its in my mind, I tend to think to much.

Are there any head games you play with yourself that can mess you up?

Yes, many, pressure is something I been working on for a long long time now, if the odds go for me to win a average by the time I make the short go, I won't. I start thinking about it way to much instead of going out there and riding hard, I will safety up, which leads to mess up. Go hard, EVERY TIME! Don't learn the hard way, like I have.

Part Three with BillieAnn Sexton - In the Arena

2009-10-14T08:00:00.002-04:00

With more experience in the rodeo pen than women twice her age, BillieAnn Sexton has figured out how to win in some of the toughest setups the IPRA has to offer. She has run everywhere from Marietta, Ga., to St. Tite, Quebec, and she has done a lot more than just barrel race. The cowgirl knows her way around the roping pen and can catch a calf in breakaway as well.

In the Rodeo Pen

What type of alleyway/entrance do you prefer?

I like a narrow alley way that is centered with the third barrel but any alley way were the third barrel is in sight for line up is fine.

What are you thinking running towards the first barrel?

I try to keep my mind clear and feel what I need to do at the moment, make a good run.

What are you thinking running home?

It kinda depends on the run I feel like I made. Good run I am thinking those good, sweet thoughts. Run with a few mistakes, I am anxious to hear my time. If I hit barrel I am thinking about what I should had done differently.

How do you approach a barrel (e.g. big pocket, straight, etc.)?

I learned to make my "spot" about 4 feet over to the side of the barrel, enough room to where my horse can shape and snap back around the barrel quickly.

What do you worry about most while rodeoing (e.g. the ground, the weather, the arena size, the competition, etc. etc.?)

I try not to worry about that to much. I do have a few barrel horses so some do better in different arena conditions then others. If I know the size of the pattern and whether its hard or deep ground I will pick and choose the horse to take.

What type of shoes do you have on your rodeo horses?

Sassy, Dora, and Barracuda I have rims on the front and regular on the back. I put the rims on them for traction. Brownie I have 2 degree wedges on his front because he does not grow much heel.

What type of ground do you prefer?

Depends on the horse, this year I have mainly taken Sassy and Barracuda, Sassy loves hard trashy ground and Barracuda works the best in deep ground.

What size of pen do you prefer?

The pen size doesn't matter to me either it will just pick the horse I want to run at that rodeo.

Do you like to run in slack or the performance, and why?

Performance, I like the crowd, the loud music, bright lights, just the whole excitement in the atmosphere.

Why did you decide to run the IPRA?

Its a wonderful association and its a great place to season myself before I turn 18 and start Pro rodeoing.

Why do you run rodeos instead of barrel races?

I use to go to a lot of big super shows and also rodeos, but I now mainly go to rodeos because I like traveling from rodeo to rodeo instead of being at one place all week. The rodeo's are a lot more exciting, but I do also enjoy going to barrel races.

What type of horse do you think makes the best rodeo horse?

A rodeo horse has to be very seasoned and can handle all types of ground. Rodeo ground is not always good. I like horses that are bred run and cow so they have the mind, but also have enough run to win.

What is your favorite IPRA rodeo?

St. Tite, Quebec, Canada.

What is your horse's cue to turn a barrel (i.e. lift, leg pressure, check, etc.)?

When I get to my "spot" I sit down grab for the saddle horse with outside hand, lift my horse with inside rein and bump with inside leg witch picks there rib cage up and shapes them.

What is your most common mistake?

Wanting to sit down and go for saddle horn before my "spot." Instead of drive, drive, drive all the way to my spot then sit down, lift, and shape.

Part Two with BillieAnn Sexton

2009-10-13T08:33:00.006-04:00

With a herd of top horses, Sexton

has the ability to change horses depending on the arena. Below, she talks about what

she does to season young horses to get them ready for

the rough IPRA circuit.

Training

How much training to do you do of your own horses?

Exercise everyday, long trot them in a pasture for 20 minutes. I mainly work my horses off the barrels, I keep them flexing and moving off my leg, I also like to work all off them on calves and steers to keep their minds thinking of more than just barrel racing.

Who else helps you train and and tune horses?

Myself.

What is your favorite training tool for a young horse?

The round pen. The confined arena helps there attention go to the person on there back. Its a great way for a young horse gain consistency for perfect circles.

How old do you like your horses to be before you start rodeoing with them?

I think it depends on the horse. Some mature quicker then others. If they are four and can handle being pushed hard then I believe they can be hauled.

What is your favorite bit for a young horse?

Sherry Cervi snaffle or a twisted wire draw bit.

How do you get a horse ready to rodeo?

There is a big difference in rodeo and going to barrel races, so first I will get a young horse seasoned going to barrel races with them, then it's time to be under the big lights at a rodeo.

What type of ground do you have in your arena at home?

Sand, it gets pretty deep but I think it helps a horse find its rear end while going around the barrel.

Do you ride horses for other people?

I am still young and also learning myself on training my own barrel horses, but i believe I may start that soon.

BillieAnn exercising her horse, Brownie, at home in Westville, Fla.

Making It in the IPRA -17-Year-Old IFR Qualifier BillieAnn Sexton

2009-10-12T18:08:00.009-04:00

Seventeen-year-old Westville, Fla., cowgirl BillieAnn Sexton is making a run this year to qualify for her second International Finals Rodeo. With over $6,000 won this year in the International Professional Rodeo Association, she sits at 16th in the world. At 17, she is already doing a whole lot right to make a major name for herself in professional rodeo.

Background

When did you start running barrel horses?

I was 8 years old when i got my first barrel horse. I competed in reining before I became a barrel racer.

Who taught you to ride?

Dallas Dewees, many time SouthEastern Circuit winner.

Why barrel racing, instead of anything else?

Its intense and it will get your adrenaline going more then any other sport.

What has been your biggest accomplishment to date on the back of a horse?

Qualifying to the International Finals Rodeo(IFR)09' and winning the second round. Also Reserve at NBHA Youth World-04'

Do you hold any arena records?

Gallup New Mexico, 15.9.(I think I still hold it.) Montgomery AL, the covered arena, not coliseum, 15.6. On the old stakes in Autagatville AL. 14.7. Valley 4, FL, 16.3.

What horse have you had the most success on?

"Shorty" Desert Patriot

What is the biggest check you’ve ever taken home in a single weekend?

Oh my, this one is hard! If I am not mistaken during the Mega barrel race I won around $5,000 that week I placed 2nd in a round, placed in a round and in the average aboard shorty!

What does your family think of your rodeo life?

They are fully behind me 110%. I am so blessed to have such great parents.

The Rodeo Horse - Having What It Takes for Tana Poppino

2009-10-07T10:00:00.006-04:00

After years on the rodeo circuit, two trips to the National Finals Rodeo and a win at the Calgary Stampede, Tana Poppino is doing something right when it comes to picking her mounts. Rodeo is Poppino's passion, and only a select few barrel horses can ever truly become rodeo greats.

"I'm a romantic," she admitted. "Rodeo is rodeo. That's where it all started. There's nothing like running in the middle of the wide open spaces in front of a crowd of ten thousand on a Sunday afternoon."

Rodeo shows who's the best horsewoman over an entire year on all different types of ground,

weather and arena size, Poppino said. While barrel races require specific types of ground, relatively uniform alleyways and consistently sized patterns, rodeo is always changing, requiring the cowgirl and the horse to stay on their toes.

"Rodeo forces the mental game. When set-ups are constantly changing, you have to deal with it. It forces you to be stronger mentally," she said of her sport.

Finding a horse to handle all of that is not easy, and keeping them healthy is even harder, Poppino said.

A rodeo horse has to be, first and foremost, mentally tough. The horse has got to want to run barrels.

"Until Amigo came along, I never had one that would run at that top level," she said. "He has grit and heart, and you can't get that from breeding."

Poppino bought Amigo as a four-year-old already broke. She usually buys her horses that way because she does not enjoy the slow work that young horses require. She doesn't mind them making mistakes as they gain their speed, as long as they are trying.

To keep her horses going, Poppino takes a "hands-on" approach to their health. On Amigo, she uses everything from chiropractics, acupuncture, ice boots massages and joint injections regularly. She also believes in using Adequan on a regular basis. Really knowing her horses is important to her, because that way he can tell when something is off before it becomes a major problem.

Poppino also counts on her partners at Total Health Enhancement, Equipride and Professional's Choice to help keep her rodeo horses healthy.

Getting to know Tana

2009-10-05T07:46:00.005-04:00

When Tana Poppino made the decision in July of 2006 to quit her job as a media coordinator and rodeo full-time, she took a leap of faith, literally, on the back of her bay gelding, Amigo. With her faith in God and Amigo, Poppino spent the next year qualifying for her first National Finals Rodeo. She repeated the trip in 2007, and that year she also took home the biggest check of her life when she won the Calgary Stampede.

The mother, wife and former full-time media relations coordinator from Big Cabin, Okla., has lived her life on the back of a horse but only recently became a full-time rodeo cowgirl. For the last ten years Poppino has counted on her stout partner, Amigo, but injuries in the past two years made her look towards a new equine here - Goose. The calm grey gelding was wildly different from the more nervous, quick Amigo, but soon Goose and Poppino would find their stride as well, a pleasant surprise for Poppino.

Now with two rodeo-ready, healthy horses, Poppino is setting out on the PRCA/WPRA circuit for the 2010 year, looking to make a run at the NFR.

Tana on Goose

Tana on Amigo

Please check back the rest of the week to see more of our series with Tana Poppino!

Congress Therapeutic Riding Fundraiser

2009-10-02T10:20:00.002-04:00

Whether or not you're heading out to the Congress this year, the AQHA and the Congress are asking competitors and spectators to pledge $10 to their America's Horse Cares program. This program helps people with disabilities gain freedom through horseback riding.

On a personal note, my mother works with emotionally disturbed high school students, and as often as she can she takes them to Slippery Rock University's therapeutic riding school. Her students experience huge changes on the back of a horse and there's nothing they look forward to more. While many worthy causes exist, I think we can all relate to how much our horses help us in our times of need. The confidence and comfort a horse can provide to a person with disabilities is difficult to measure.

This Week's Barrel Racing Report - NFR Qualifiers Announced

2009-10-01T09:30:00.003-04:00

This week's Barrel Racing Report has the full NFR qualifier listing! See where your favorite WPRA cowgirl falls.

Your place for Congress Results

2009-10-01T09:27:00.003-04:00

TheBarrelRacingBlog will be camping out at the All American Quarter Horse Congress from Oct. 22-25 to get you all of the up-to-the-minute barrel racing and pole bending results. We will talk to place winners and make sure to grab a hold of Pennsylvania and Ohio competitors to talk about their Congress experiences.

I can promise you, too, that we will have photos and videos from the Congress night-life, too!

Just keep following TheBarrelRacingBlog and we'll have all the information you need!

Dave Martin Announces His Finals Invitees

2009-09-26T16:51:00.003-04:00

The 2009 BullRide Mania barrel racing finals (Nov. 21) invitees have been announced. This year, Dave Martin invited the winner of each stop on his tour plus former tour champions and place winners from his April 2009 Harrisburg event. $2,000 is added to the one-run rodeo finals with a $100 entry fee due via Visa or Mastercard by Oct. 31.

The list of invitees includes:

MARKLYN SIMMS – SKILLMAN, NJ – 6/13
JEN SIMAS – SKILLMAN, NJ – 6/14
LISA BARONE – SHARTLESVILLE, PA – 6/27
CHELSEA MAGAHA – MCHENRY, MD – 7/4
LAURIANA CORSO – MERCER, PA – 7/11
LAUREN REISINGER – SHARTLESVILLE, PA – 7/18
LANIE JONES – TROY, PA – 7/29
BETH BORROWY – CENTREVILLE, MD – 8/15
LACY BARRETT – DAYTON, PA – 8/18
CASEY ALLEN – GREENSBURG, PA 8/22
KATIE KLINE – STONEBORO, PA 9/5
LAURA AOUREDAKES – CANTON, OH 9/6J
AMBER REDFOOT –PLACED AT APRIL 2009 HARRISBURG
ANNE BATHON – FORMER TOUR CHAMPION
DENISE GORINSKI – FORMER TOUR CHAMPION
DOREEN ULERY – FORMER TOUR CHAMPION

Weekday Review - SEBRA Ashland, Ohio - Sept. 22

2009-09-24T12:39:00.006-04:00

With a tiny pen and slick ground, only four out of ten barrel racers kept barrels up and finished the pattern at the SEBRA Bulls and Barrels in Ashland, Ohio. Ohio cowgirl Darlene Miller who has proved herself time and time again in small pens took home the win, while Alicia Pottmeyer took home the second place check at the Ashland fairgrounds in front of a large Tuesday-night crowd.

(Note: Our camera couldn't capture the first place run, but we did get Alicia Pottmeyer's second place run.)

What: SEBRA Bulls n' Barrels @ Ashland, Ohio

Who: 10 Ohio barrel racers

Added Money: $300 added, $50 entry fee - $15 of the fees went to SEBRA and $35 back into the pot.

The Ground: The ground was the story of the night. The fair committee put about one foot of sand on top of the hard stone track, so as soon as a horse dug in deep it hit the hard ground and lost all of its footing. Dangerous was the term used to describe the ground by various barrel racers there that night. Even the announcer made mention that all of the cowgirls would be watching out for the ground after the first barrel racer slipped. With the small pen and the ground that was making horses slip, lots of girls knocked because the ground was pushing horses into the barrels.

Overall: This wasn't the best rodeo for barrel racers. To start out the night, fireworks went off without warning within just a few yards of the horse trailers. Then, immediately after the rodeo while girls were all still packing up and cooling down horses, fireworks went off again next to the trailers and did not stop for at least five minutes.

I'm not sure what the rodeo crew or fair committee could have done better to improve the ground, but conditions were miserable for barrel horses. Any horse that ran down into the ground at all had trouble, and by the end of the ten horses such deep ruts had formed that horses had trouble getting up and out. The run out was also dangerous because as soon as horses left the arena they were on hard track and the stopping wasn't good for horses' hocks.

A major plus of SEBRA's production was that it allowed barrel racers to have a few minutes in the arena to first see how the ground would be. At least girls could see what they were getting themselves into and let their horses get a feel for the slick track underneath the deceptive deep sand.

This Week's Barrel Racing Report

2009-09-24T12:33:00.002-04:00

This week's Barrel Racing Report is loaded with results from some major barrel races and rodeos out West. If you're keeping up with what's going on west of the Mississippi, this is the place to look.

Weekend Review - SEBRA Buckin' Ohio in Burbank, Ohio

2009-09-21T10:51:00.000-04:00

Before the final show in the Buckin' Ohio Bulls n' Barrels series, the barrel racing summer standings still were not finalized. Jessica Cantrell sat one winning paycheck behind series leader Tami Sutton going into the event. In the end, Sutton left a barrel down and Cantrell took home the first place check, bumping her far enough ahead of Sutton to take home the buckle for the summer.

What: Buckin' Ohio SEBRA event (Barrels not sanctioned by SEBRA, though)

Who: 13 Barrel racers - top 3 in Buckin' Ohio Series, all Ohio cowgirls

Added Money: $300 added, $40 entry fees

The Ground: The footing was a sandy mix that dried out over the last few weeks without rain. It was very soft and it didn't seem as if any horses hit hard ground as the ruts formed around the barrels. It wasn't deep enough, though, for any horses to get stuck in it. The sand pushed away from some horses but nobody seemed to have any major trips. Those putting on the rodeo made a huge effort to make the ground as good as possible for the barrel racing. They even worked up the ground after intermission, directly before the barrel race. With only 13 girls, the ground never got too bad.

Overall: This was a great local rodeo that drew in some great local talent. The ground was not an issue, and the pen was almost a perfect size. A 14-second pattern, it wasn't too long and narrow or too big. The biggest challenge for some contestants and some hotter horses is the lengthy alleyway. The alley was almost as long as the arena and was barely five feet wide at the base, so hotter horses had some serious issues with having to contain themselves. The timer was only a panel past the out gate, so horses had to come in running blind and run out through a tough gate into an even tougher alleyway. A horse needed to come through the gate hunting the first barrel hard.

While the crowd was loud and really into the bull riding, it seemed like a lot of the fans were MIA for the barrel race. The arena was practically silent until horses rounded the third, and even then the crowd didn't seem nearly as into the barrel racing as it was for the bull riding.

Results: Jessica Cantrell won the rodeo with a 14.4, and it took a low 15.0 to be fourth.

And The Winner Is....Hilltop Arena!

2009-09-20T10:37:00.002-04:00

TheBarrelRacingBlog's Top Indoor Arena in Pennsylvania and Ohio is HillTop Arena in Byesville, Ohio! It beat out Circle G Arena in Lewisburg, Ohio, and Buckhorn Arena in West Sunbury, Pennsylvania, as the top vote-getter.

Earlier in the summer, TheBarrelRacingBlog reviewed an NBHA at Byesville, where over 250 horses ran in the warm-up alone. HillTop's long alleyway opens up to smaller covered arena where a 15.0 usually wins the barrel race.

Weekend Review - Marietta, Ohio APRA

2009-09-14T13:31:00.005-04:00

The Buckeye Rodeo Company brought some tough competitors to the tiny track pen at Marietta, Ohio's Washington County Fair. The American Professional Rodeo Association and the Mid-States Rodeo Association co-sanctioned the event that brought in 12 barrel racers from around the region. The ground was the usual dirt-on-track style, and pen was barely a few strides across, presenting a challenge to even some of the best rodeo horses there.

What: APRA/MSRA Rodeo

Who: Buckeye Rodeo Company Stock, 12 mainly local barrel racers

Added Money: $300 added. $62 non-member entry fee.

The Ground: The light dirt was soft on top and hard underneath. Most horses didn't have a problem with it at all, partly because the pen was so small that most of the big horses could not get going fast enough to slip. (To inject a big of personal experience, though, I was on a young, smaller horse that could get going fast enough and did fall because of her turning style.) Again, most horses handled the ground fine, and it was very similar to the BullRide Mania at Dayton, Penn.

Overall: The rodeo was a huge success. The crowd was huge and was completely into the show. The event drew in some good local barrel racers and team ropers. As for the runs, though, the rodeo was a tough one for most barrel racers. The gate was a side entrance that the gateman told the competitors to run, so the second barrel was directly in front of the alleyway. The biggest struggle seemed to be keeping the barrels up in the tight set up. With fans and grandstands on both sides and chutes behind the third barrel, a lot of cans fell over. Most horses also struggled with getting up any kind of speed through the pattern and most horse's turns weren't as honest as usual because of the small set up. It was a typical small track rodeo, with lots of factors contributing to make the run tough.

Results: Still waiting on the results from the APRA office. Since my horse fell on top of me and I was hurting pretty bad, we headed home after the team roping slack and didn't stay for the barrel racing slack. I'll have them for you as soon as I get them!

Hats On!

2009-09-11T11:22:00.003-04:00

As I poured over my Google Analytic statistics that tell me what people are looking at on TheBarrelRacingBlog and how they got here, I noticed that someone searched the phrase "how to keep your hat on barrel racing."

And that led me to this short post - duct tape. When I was 14, a very tough cowgirl told me that stampede straps are for wannabes. That stuck in my head immediately, and from then on I was bound and determined to never ever be forced to use one again.

I tried everything - bobby pins, maxi pads (yes, ask anyone on the Fly-By-Night Crew from 2004), paper towels - and nothing would keep that thing on my head. Finally, one night, I overheard some older women talking about how they keep their hats on their heads. They said they place an inch-long strip of duct tape on their hats then press it tightly to their foreheads. The trick hasn't failed me yet. By now, my hat is so molded to my head that nothing would make it come off, but for new hats that aren't quite right yet, duct tape solves the problem!

Weekend Review - Henderson's Arena - Jackson, Ohio

2009-09-11T08:14:00.003-04:00

The final weekend of summer drew in huge crowds and top horses at Henderson's Arena in Jackson, Ohio. With exhibition only on Friday night, by 6 p.m. Friday the parking lots were full and electric hook-ups were scarce. When all was said and done, though, Ohioans Kelly Pitts and Brad Shirey took home the wins in the 1D on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.

What: NBHA OH District 05 Money Maker.

Who: Hundreds and hundreds of barrel racers from Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Kentucky. The Open had over 350 horses on Saturday night.

Added Money: $2000 each night in the Open 3D.

The Ground: As usual, the ground at Henderson's was soft and deep, generally in a good way. Some people came out of the pen complaining the ground was too deep, but most thought it was fine. The tractor drivers did a good, quick job working the arena, helping the huge show to move along. After every 100 horses they ran a big drag that kept the ground holding. The ground was not particularly fast, though, as 15.5s and 15.6s have won at Henderson's before, and usually a few more horses get into the 15s than just the three or four that did this weekend.

Overall: This was a top-of-the-line show. Many of the best horses in the area showed up to run here. The barns were packed, and the parking lots were crammed. With well over 100 in the Youth each day, too, the show was a huge success and really drew in the talent.

Although the committee only held exhibition Friday night, if you needed to do some tuning the barrels were set up in Henderson's outdoor arena, where the ground was soft and the pattern isn't much different from inside the arena.

Aside from just the ground, the competition and the added money, the hospitality at Henderson's Arena could not be better. The food stand offers a wide array of delicious Southeast Ohio's best home-cooked meals and desserts at reasonable prices. Even more, Henderson's Western Wear and Tack Shop had some great sales and always has the latest in western fashion that's hard to find anywhere else on the East Coast.

Results: Kelly Pitts on Tin Zan Man won Saturday night with a 15.964, and Brad Shirey took home all the money Sunday with a smoking 15.838.

Vote in the Poll! What's the best indoor in PA or OH?

2009-09-08T07:17:00.005-04:00

Barrel racers in Pennsylvania and Ohio bounce back and forth across state lines each weekend, and everyone probably has their own favorite arena. This poll is about show arenas - do you prefer the shorter runs at Simmons Equestrian Center or the mammoth run to the first barrel at Diamond 7? Do you like to short alleyway at Henderson's Arena or the long one at Hilltop? I don't have enough space in my poll to fit all of the arenas I want to offer, but I have put in as many as possible.

NFR Qualifier and Calgary Winner Tana Poppino's Blog

2009-09-07T09:00:00.000-04:00

Oklahoma cowgirl Tana Poppino is busy hauling up and down the rodeo trail this summer with her two geldings, Amigo (Perryman Star) and Goose (Doc Hickorys Cross). She's been taking time out, though, to share her experiences in a personal blog called On the Road, where she shares insights into both her best days and her worst. She writes:

I am back at the fairgrounds at Tremonton, Utah. My trip to Nampa was
dissappointing, but it reminded me that success takes hard work. Good runs come
when there is totally unity between horse and rider. Even though I am competing
with a broken ankle, I have not been able to ride and work my horses every day,
and have lost the edge I need to win.

Check out the rest of Poppino's site at tanapoppino.com.

The Bad Run

2009-09-06T10:02:00.005-04:00

The bad run isn't the fast run with the knocked barrel - it's the run that is so out of character, so terrible, that you find it hard to show your face for a few hours at an arena. Others rarely notice this run, but it's the run that makes your skin crawl when you watch the video and the run that makes you feel like your barrel racing career is all for naught.

Maybe that's just me, but I doubt it. Two weeks ago, I had one of those runs. I pulled back on my horse going to the first barrel (an ultimate No-No), then proceeded to blow my third barrel by not helping my horse finish her turn and over-riding. It wasn't just at a barrel race, though, it was at a rodeo, in front of a crowd. Not just a rodeo, though - it was the closest rodeo to my home town in years at Greensburg, Penn.

If I mess up a run on my colt, I don't feel as bad. We're new together, we are allowed to make mistakes. It's the bad run on the old horse that kills me. I've owned her for 10 years and run her for about five. She was hurt every other year and I've been running her for less than a year, this time around, but I really have no reason to mess up the way I did at that rodeo.

My first "bad run" was in the finals at the All American Youth Barrel Race in Jackson, Miss., when I was 14. Before then, I had no expectations for my horse's or my own abilities. I had a good year before that, and I wanted to make my youth career that week in Jackson. In all the pressure I put on myself, I forgot how to run my horse completely, and ultimately she fell and broke her hip. I cried the whole 24-hour drive home.

Maybe these feelings go away the better you get and the more you've won. In the future, when TheBarrelRacingBlog profile a barrel racers, we'll ask about their bad runs and how they cope with screwing up.

If you have stories or thoughts on your own bad runs, let us know! Comment here or email them to toy9207@gmail.com.

Natalie Overholt - The Extras That Keep Her Going - Part 5

2009-09-04T08:52:00.003-04:00

A lot of external factors go into a run each night. Sometime's its the saddle, other times its the trip to or from a rodeo that weighs heavy on your mind going down the alleyway. Here, Overholt talks about some of the things other than the horses and the ground that go into life on the rodeo trail.

Overholt's dog, Jasper, is her favorite traveling buddy.

Extras
Who are your hauling partners?
My dog Jasper always goes with me. Sometimes I haul by myself. Usually haul with Tyler West and sometimes with some girls from around home.

What is your favorite memory of life on the rodeo road so far?
There are a lot of good memories. One of the best was when Tyler and I rode our horses bareback in the grand entry at North Washington, Penn., last year. He rode a 4-year-old that had never been in a grand entry, and I rodeo my horse Casey.
Last weekend I got to throw t-shirts to the crowd on the victory lap and New Windsor, Ill., that was fun.

When you are at a rodeo, who else’s run do you make sure you watch and why?
People I am traveling with to discuss runs afterwards. Plus whoever else’s run I don’t miss.

What type of truck and trailer do you drive and why?
Chevy because Chevys are fast! Mine is just a gas engine but I wish I had a Duramax diesel.

What’s the worst thing that has ever happened on the road?
My horse fell into gate and scraped her legs all up and had to vet out of some good rodeos.

Where is the farthest you’ll travel for a rodeo?
Depends on how much money is added.

How often do you take time off?
Little as possible.

How long do you condition a horse before you run it?
Couple months

What type of hat do you wear?
I need a new hat.

What kind of saddle do you ride?
Circle Y

Natalie Overholt - Riding and Ethics - Part 4 of 5

2009-09-03T09:35:00.002-04:00

Without vet checks at most rodeos, barrel racers on the rodeo trail can get away with more than those showing futurities or some of the larger horse shows. An unspoken questions is often, "What is that horse running on?" Below, Overholt addresses her thoughts on steroids, her own riding ethics and much more.

Riding and Ethics
How much time do you spent reviewing your runs and going over what you did wrong or right?
I watch the run a few times on tape if it was taped, then think about what went wrong and start on a solution as soon as possible. The sooner I can figure out the problem and find a solution to the problem the better.

What do you do to practice on your older horses if you’re having a problem?
Usually if the horse is finished, seasoned and already winning and I start having problems with it I go to the vet to see if they are sore, and that usually fixes the problem.

What do you do best riding-wise?
Getting the most potential possible out of a horse, and I’m light handed.

What do you or have you struggled with the most while riding?
I have trouble keeping my stirrups. It doesn’t matter what I do I seem to lose them. I’ve also had to start over from square one with a lot of green horses.

What rules do you play by? Any ethics you try to follow when it comes to doing what it takes to win?
I try to see each individual horses strength and build from there. I feed vitamin supplements. I’ve seen too many good horses get wrecked or messed up for life because of steroids so I stay away from using that kind of stuff.

What veterinary technique has served you best (i.e. hock injections, Legend, shock wave therapy, etc.)?
Chiropractor adjustments and having the knees, hocks and stifles injected.

Overholt - In the Arena - Part 3 of 5

2009-09-02T09:45:00.003-04:00

A true competitor, Overholt talks about her adaptability to different arenas and ground in the rodeo pen.

In the Arena
What type of ground do you prefer to run on?
Prefer good footing and to be at top of drag but I take whatever it is and make the best of it.

Do your horses have any preference of ground or do you pick horses that can take anything?
Casey the horse I run the most will run on just about any type of ground, but it has taken a lot of hauling and running in different pens to get her that way.

Do you like big or small pens?
I like medium sized ones the best but it doesn’t really matter I just try to adapt to the situation.

What is going through your head when you’re running to the first?
Oh no don’t hit it...

What are you thinking running home?
To push as hard as I can and don’t stop till I’m at the gate. Way to often I see horses shut down before the timer line.

How do you approach a barrel (i.e. with a wide pocket, straight at it, etc)?
Fairly straight with little pocket.

Do you run with spurs, a hand whip, or nothing?
Usually with spurs and a whip. It depends on the horse. I have one horse that hates whips and if I carry one he tries to run off and loses his head even if I don’t use the whip.

What is your horse’s cue to turn a barrel (i.e. lift, leg pressure, etc.)?
My horse Casey rates barrels really good so I just have to drive her all the way. Most other horses I just sit back a little and barely touch the inside rein.

What is your favorite bit for a finished horse?
O-ring, jr working cow horse or a half wonder bit.

Overholt Covers Training Techniques and Tools

2009-09-01T11:51:00.003-04:00

Overholt is far from just a jockey. The Michigan cowgirl has trained her own horses for years and spends her days on the backs of young horses. Below, she covers her training ideals and some of her favorite tools.

Natalie and Casey at the IBRA Ultimate Challenge in Cloverdale, Ind., where she won the 1D out of 500+ horses.

Training
Do you train your own horses?
I usually train my own horses. I have had some that were already trained or started on barrels. But now I do the majority of the training myself.

What philosophies do you stick to when training young horse?
Horses have different personalities, characteristics, abilities and athletic styles. Because this stuff varies from horse to horse, each horses learns at a different pace and needs individualized attention. What I do and how I train a horse depends on the individual horse. I try to do what will work best for that particular horse. The more natural something is to a horse the easier it will be for the horse to learn and do.

How far will you push a young horse?
Depends on the individual horse and what they can handle.

What sort of horse body style do you prefer?
I like smaller built horses because I am more comfortable on them. However I have had some big horses and know of other big horses that do a great job barrel racing.

Any bloodlines you think are better than others?
Jet of Honor and Sun Frost breeding is probably my favorite.

At what age do you expect one of your prospects to be ready to hit the rodeo trail?
That all depends on how early the horse was started.

Any favorite techniques when putting a young horse on the barrels?
Start out slow and give them plenty of room coming into barrel to prevent them trying to slice it or cut into close as they get older.

What is your favorite training tool?
Martingale

What is your favorite bit for a young horse?
O-ring

Michigan Cowgirl Natalie Overholt Goes On the Record

2009-08-31T08:13:00.006-04:00

In July, Natalie Overholt dominated a field of some of the toughest rodeo competitors in the country at the Ellicottville, New York, IPRA rodeo. Calling Burr Oak, Mich., home, Overholt has spent much of her life up and down the rodeo circuit. Not just a competitor, she trains most of her own horses and has a lot of wisdom to show for it. In this five part series on this multiple time International Finals Rodeo qualifier who's currently sitting in the top 20 in the IPRA World Rankings, Overholt talks about her own riding, training and ethical philosophies, plus she touches on some extras that help her get down the road each week. A rodeo cowgirl by trade, Overholt has made a life and a career out of living on the road.

Background
When did you start running barrel horses?
I started riding and doing peewees at horse shows since before I can remember. I got my first “fast” pony when I was four or five. I got my first barrel horse when I was nine and entered my first rodeo at nine.

Who taught you to ride?
Mostly my dad and older sisters and brother. They just put me on a horse and said, “go.”

Why barrel racing, instead of anything else?
That is what I grew up doing and seems to be what I’ve always stuck with. I also like breakaway and team roping but I don’t do it very often.

What has been your biggest accomplishment to date on the back of a horse?
Probably having to learn how to ride a bunch of different horses over the years.

Do you hold any arena records?
I think I hold the arena record at Crossroads Arena in Cloverdale, Ind. In 1991 I set the arena record at the Northeast Regional finals in Wilmington, Mass., but have no idea if it still holds.

What horse have you had the most success on?
Mr Liberty Bob - He was a very fast and talented bay gelding I ran when I was 9 to 14 years old. I won a lot of rodeos on him and qualified for the IFR 2 times, won the average at IFR 22 and won the Northeast region and many other accomplishments.

What is the biggest check you’ve ever taken home in a single weekend?
Around $2000

What does your family think of your rodeo life?
Not sure what they think. I think they wish I would stay closer to home more often and get more colts rode.

Michele Dibert on Her Own Riding and Ethics - Part 5 of 5

2009-08-25T19:53:00.003-04:00

Riding and Ethics
How much time do you spent reviewing your runs and going over what you did wrong or right?
I usually know what I did wrong when I come out! I try not to spend too much time on what I have done wrong but what I need to do to make it right the next time!

Who do you look to most for advice?
Some good friends…Roger Grow, Kelsey Rice, Shirley Blauser, and Mike Boone.

What do you do to practice on your older horses if you’re having a problem?
It’s usually not him but me that has the problems!

What do you do best riding-wise?
Hanging on!

What do you or have you struggled with the most while riding?
Keeping my hands down!

What rules do you play by? Any ethics you try to follow when it comes to doing what it takes to win?
You always want to win but you need to wish others Good Luck and tell them Congratulations if they win! I just want a clean run and if I get the win that is a big plus!

What veterinary technique has served you best (i.e. hock injections, Legend, shock wave therapy, etc.)?
Hock & coffin injections and Conquer liquid

Michele Dibert - Important Extras - Part 4

2009-08-24T07:09:00.003-04:00

Extras
Who are your hauling partners?
I have a great support group that I haul with…my daughter, Landon, Kelsey, Shirley, Grows, Altmans, & Brackens. I would consider a bunch of my IBRA members though to be my hauling partners.

What is your favorite memory of life on the road so far?
Just about every trip made down the road with the horses is a memory! I love my trips to the
East IBRA Nationals though.

When you are at a barrel race, who else’s run do you make sure you watch and why?
My daughter’s runs for sure and there are so many others that I hate to miss someone. I’m always there to support my friends to cheer them on!

What type of truck and trailer do you drive and why?
My truck I love, it’s a 2007 Southern Comfort Chevy Duramax daully…it is so comfortable and it runs super! I have an Exiss three horse with living quarters but that may change in the future, I need something bigger!

What’s the worst thing that has ever happened on the road?
Two flat tires within a half hour on the trailer! We also got held up for a few hours on the way home from TN from a bad accident.

Where is the farthest you’ll travel for a barrel race?
The farthest South I have gone is TN and West would be Missouri but would love to go out West to run or even down into Texas.

How often do you take time off?
My work schedule is Wed-Sat so I have to take a good many Saturdays off.

How long do you condition a horse before you run it?
I try to ride at least three to four times a week. I like turning horse out too so they can play and be horses!

Any superstitions/habits before running?
Well I usually give my horse some Rescue Remedy and I take some myself. I do this everytime and it seems to be working. I also stay away from the pen until it’s my turn to run.

What type of hat do you wear?
I have a couple different kinds but I like Bailey & Resistol.

What kind of saddle do you ride?
Can’t ride in anything but my Bob Marshall.

Weekend Review - Bullride Mania @ Greensburg, Penn.

2009-08-23T18:21:00.003-04:00

We'll continue with our series on Michele Dibert Monday, but today it's time for a weekend review of the Bullride Mania at Greensburg, Penn. The first rodeo at the Westmoreland County Fair in years, Dave Martin's Bullride Mania drew in a huge and lively crowd. On top of that, some of the BEST barrel racers in Western Pennsylvania pulled in to have local shoot-out style race.

What: Dave Martin's Bullride Mania - Bulls and Barrels only.

Who: Some of the best barrel racers in the area, but not too many from far away. 18 girls all together.

Fees: $50 cash only, one hour prior to the show.

Added Money: $300 plus 100 percent payback.

The Ground: When we pulled in, the ground couldn't have been worse. I groaned when I walked up to the arena to see huge clumps of mud, car parts and rocks all mixed in a sticky mess. The pen was bigger than almost any of Martin's usual patterns, and the arena was set up in an area where they usually do motocross. Two hours before the show started, the fair crew began working up the arena with three different tools. They also had people picking up huge rocks. They worked for nearly an hour, and when they were done, the arena was as close to perfect as it could get given the conditions. It wasn't too slick and it wasn't too deep as I had originally feared. Also, while we were warming our horses up, many of the barrel racers and Martin's Fly-By-Night Crew picked up rocks and metal parts from around the barrels to make sure it was as safe as could be. Two horses had major slips, but most of the seasoned rodeo horses that were there loved the ground and threw down some smoking runs.

Overall: This was one of the toughest, most competitive bulls and barrels I have ever, ever been to. With only 18 girls entered, at least 14 of those girls had a solid chance at winning the barrel race. The barrels were set very close to the fence, and the first barrel was set close to the timer. It was the kind of pen that you had to get going hard before you entered the pen and then push-push-push the entire ride. For as close as the barrel were to the fence, the crowd and the bucking shoots, though, few people knocked.
The long runs were really great to get the most out of the horses. I've never seen a spread so close at one of Martin's rodeos. After talking to a few other competitors, we all agreed that at most of Martin's shows, if you run within half of a second of the winning time, you can usually pull a check. Here, however, almost all of the horses ran a 15 second time, with a 15.4 winning it and a 15.6 as the last hole to be paid. He paid four spots, with one 15. 4 (11-year-old Casey Allen), two .5s (Doreen Ulery and Bailey Angelo) and one .6 (Cathy Allen, Casey's mom and 2008 APRA Barrel Racing Champion). Everyone had respectable runs it seemed. This was the kind of pen that a good rodeo barrel racer on a good rodeo horse could have a lot of fun. Hopefully Dave Martin will get the Westmoreland County Fair on his schedule again next year, because word will get around that this was a great little rodeo and a great place for barrel horses.

Note: Usually, I run a photo section of the ground. My camera died this weekend, and I just purchased a new one today. Sorry there aren't any pictures!

Michele Dibert - Inside the Arena - Part 3

2009-08-21T09:26:00.002-04:00

In the Arena

What type of ground do you prefer to run on?
Deep

Do your horses have any preference of ground or do you pick horses that can take anything?
My horse likes it deep!

Do you like big or small pens?
The horses I ride are big so I prefer big pens so they can stretch out.

Where is your favorite arena and why?
I have a couple favorites. Diamond 7 Arena is on the top of my list. The ground is always super there and the facility is nice. The stalls and arena is under one roof. They also have a nice warm up pen and hook-ups are a plus! I love going to Murfreesboro, TN to the Tennessee Miller Coliseum. For an out door pen I like Clyde Saddle Club, another big pen, and the ground is always good.

What arena have you had the most success in?
Diamond 7 Arena & Tennessee Miller Coliseum

What is going through your head when you’re running to the first?
You will laugh at this one, I always tell people I don’t remember my first, I usually have my eyes closed.

What are you thinking running home?
Go all the way to shut that clock off!

How do you approach a barrel (i.e. with a wide pocket, straight at it, etc)?
I have been taught to go pretty straight to the first.

Do you run with spurs, a hand whip, or nothing?
I use bumper spurs and I have an over & under that I may use from time to time.

What is your horse’s cue to turn a barrel (i.e. lift, leg pressure, etc.)?
I have gotten myself into trouble a lot this year by bumping my horse to soon to clue him so I’m trying to stay up and out of my sit and dropping my hands till I get by the barrel.

What is your favorite bit for a finished horse?
I’m using a Jim Warner gag right now that I really like!

Michele Dibert on Training - Part 2

2009-08-20T09:00:00.001-04:00

Training

Do you train your own horses?

No, I have a full time job so I don’t have time to train them. They go to Grow’s Equine Services.

What philosophies do you stick to when working with a young horse?

I don’t want to get them burned out. I want a horse that will be good for the future! I feel you should take it slow with them.

What sort of horse body style do you prefer?

I like a tall horse built like a TB.

Any bloodlines you think are better than others?

I love my Dash For Cash but recently have fell in love with Quickstraws!

At what age do you expect one of your prospects to be ready to hit the rodeo trail?

I have started one recently and he has handled it well. I just need to trust him to do his job and he will take care of me.

Any favorite techniques when putting a young horse on the barrels?

I haven’t had that many young horses but the one I have right now likes to pick his own pocket.

What is your favorite training tool?

Draw reins!

What is your favorite bit for a young horse?

L & W chain snaffle

Weekday Review - BullRide Mania @ Dayton, Penn

2009-08-20T07:56:00.004-04:00

With a rainstorm wetting down the arena about 20 minutes prior to show time, the ground was nearing perfection for as much as a little fair track could be. The crowd, though smaller than normal probably because of the rain, was really into the show and could be counted on for some great applause throughout the performance.

What: Dave Martin BullRide Mania/Rodeo - Broncs, barrels, one-go of bulls, steer wrestling and breakaway roping (though there weren't any entries in the GBA) at the Dayton Fair

Who: A good mix of great locals and BullRide Mania tour regulars

Fees: $50 cash only, one hour prior to show time

Added Money: $300 plus 100 percent payback

The Ground: The arena was set up inside the track on what looked the the dirt used for tractor pulling and the demo derby. There were plenty of car parts in the arena, but since Dave gave barrel racers time to warm up in the pen before the show, we had the opportunity to clear out as many parts as possible from around the barrels. The crew had dug up the ground, and for any horse that knew how to run on top of the ground instead of down into it, the dirt couldn't have been much better. For others, though, there weren't really any slips and falls. Moreover, it didn't seem to matter at all where you ran in the list of 22 girls - the ground didn't change and didn't develop big ruts, but the times didn't seem to speed up as the night went on, either.

Overall: With the crowd being pretty into it, the show was a lot of fun for the barrel racers. Martin, who announces the rodeo, did a great job of letting the crowd know who was a local cowgirl so the crowd could really get behind them. As usual, grand entry was mandatory so a lot of horses that weren't rodeo horses really didn't like the loud music and the crowd. Being at a fair, the show presented a lot of challenges for some non-rodeo horses - like all of the amusement rides next to the arena, the stage and grandstands that horses had to run into, and the short runs with one stride between one and two and only three or four strides between two and three. It was the horses that could really turn and pick up and run between the barrels that got this rodeo done.

Results: 1st - Lacy Barrett 13.0 - 2nd - Chelsea Toy 13.4 - 3rd - Doreen Ulery 13.6

(Dave paid three more holes, and as soon as he posts his full results I will have a more detailed account [in the coming days!])

My run from Tuesday night.

Michele Dibert - PA State IBRA Director Goes on the Record - Part 1

2009-08-19T09:00:00.001-04:00

Three weeks ago, Michele Dibert lit up the Pennsylvania IBRA Finals, brining in more money than any other horse and rider team that weekend. For the IBRA director who spent much of her time organizing and running the finals, this was no small feat. After her big weekend, Dibert spent some of her time talking to TheBarrelRacingBlog to answer questions on anything from her riding styles to her favorite truck and anything in between. In the first part of the series, Dibert discusses her riding background and her role as the state IBRA director.

Background

When did you start running barrel horses?

I actually haven’t ridden barrel horses that long. I traded four minis for my first barrel horse in 1998. His name was Nonstop Moon and he taught me a lot about barrel racing.

Who taught you to ride?

My childhood neighbor taught me how to ride.

Why barrel racing, instead of anything else?

I like the fact that your against the clock and it isn’t based on how much you spent for your outfit and tack. It’s your horse, you, and that clock! I love speed too!

What has been your biggest accomplishment to date on the back of a horse?

A good showing last year at Nationals! Actually every clean run I feel is an accomplishment.

Do you hold any arena records?

At a local arena in my home town.

What horse have you had the most success on?

There’s actually two that I have done well on, my gelding Mr. Castenada and my daughter’s gelding, Cody.

What is the biggest check you’ve ever taken home in a single weekend?

2008 IBRA East Nationals

What does your family think of your barrel racing life?

They support me, they know it’s what I love to do, and my daughter hauls with me!

How long have you been the PA IBRA State Director?

4 years

What are your responsibilities?

Promoting IBRA, getting shows approved, answering questions that members have and giving them support, making sure rules are followed, keeping the PA IBRA website updated, awards and planning a banquet, and numerous other things.

Why did you decide to get involved with the IBRA?

It’s a super organization with good values. The members are terrific and make you feel like your family. I have made so many great friends being a part of this organization.

What do you like about the IBRA as opposed to other organizations?

On the most part everyone is there to have a good time and everyone is like family.

How much longer do you plan to work with the IBRA?

As long as I can!

What are the perks of the job?

Great friends!

Heads Up on a Great Local Barrel Race

2009-08-18T11:59:00.003-04:00

This September 12 and 13 Simmon's Equestrian Center will be holding the September Sizzler, giving out three Tod Slone saddles in a dramatic fashion. This show isn't just giving out saddles to the fastest, a huge amount of consistency will come into play for the show.

To win the PeeWee saddle, kids and ponies have to qualify in the first Pee Wee class, and the top ten from that class get the chance to run for the saddle later in the day.

The show committee also threw together a "Target Race," in which a rider choses one class plus his or her run in the 4D to combine to come up with a target time. The fastest combined time wins the saddle. For example, a rider could designate his or her run in the Warm Up Barrels to combine with his or her run in the 4D. Youth have the option of using their runs in the Youth class for the Target Race.

Even more, the Open 4D has $2,000 added Saturday, and the Warm Up class even has $500 added. Winners in each division of the Open, Youth and place winners in the slot race will all receive trophy halters.

Hats off to the organizers of this show to throwing together what already looks like a great barrel race!

View Ohio Arenas in a larger map

Good Luck n Leave 'Em Up!

2009-08-14T19:15:00.001-04:00

For everyone headed out this weekend, best of luck where ever you're going. TheBarrelRacingBlog is headed to Ford City, Penn., for the Fort Armstrong Barrel Racing Association show in Memory of Bob Buchleitner.

Check back Monday morning for a weekend review of the show, complete with results, photo slideshows and even some video!

Part Three of TrackMyHorse.com

2009-08-13T08:05:00.003-04:00

As the site's membership grows, Mike and Tracy have heard more and more success stories. His main goal through all of this is to make the website available to as many barrel racers across the country as possible, and so far, the feedback has been all good.

Janet Vegter Kerr of Ohio uses TrackMyHorse.com to monitor her performance on her horse, FQH Rod's Fast Deal. The features built into the site that allow her to see how her bit changes and supplement changes give her a competitive edge, Kerr said.

"For example, I always run in a junior cow horse bit outside and an "o" ring inside. Well, after using TrackMyHorse.com, I found that my horse actually worked better (clocked faster and left the barrels up) with a junior cow horse in some indoor pens and an "o" ring for some outdoor pens," Kerr said. "It's all stuff that when I was just writing it down in a journal I missed."

The graphs lay out changes in the horse's performance so clearly, Kerr said, that trends are hard to miss.

The ability to see how mitigating factors affect horses' performances is another thing that Mike said sets TrackMyHorse.com apart. It's saved horses careers, Mike said, by showing what the horse's rider is changing rather than just trying to guess what the particular horse is doing wrong.

Where's TrackMyHorse.com going from here? Mike and Tracy said that nobody knows for sure how many barrel racers exist in the U.S., but they know for sure they want a good portion of them using TrackMyHorse.com to help improve their horses' performances and values. Even more, the couple plans on expanding into other areas of equine competition, but those plans are still on the drawing boards. For now, Mike and Tracy will keep promoting their site at barrel racers all over the West.

Part Two of TrackMyHorse.com

2009-08-12T09:38:00.005-04:00

The Mahans have built a site that has so far tracked over 1700 barrel races from across the country, with members from Texas to Pennsylvania and back.

And they've done it all with close to no advertising. When the site was launched, Mike and Tracy placed one ad with Barrel Horse News, and the site took off from there. Some of their old contacts back in Ohio and Pennsylvania jumped on the bandwagon and began using the site, joining other barrel racers from across the country.

Mike and Tracy set up a booth at the WBR Race for the Cash II in Ardmore, Okla., July 17 to do their first bit of public relations and advertising since the sites' launch. Since then, Mike said the site has been receiving new members daily.

One of the website's biggest draws is that it allows riders to track their own progress and set personal goals.

"The encouragement you get from being able to focus against yourself is such a confidence builder," Tracy said.

When competing against girls like Jordan Peterson, sometimes it is difficult to see progress when the average barrel racer watches the professionals break records every weekend. With TrackMyHorse.com, though, riders can watch their own progress and compete against themselves and the clock, rather than worry as much about what the top of the ranks are doing.

On top of that, the website offers riders the chance to see the true value of their horse. Since the beginning of barrel racing, owners have only been able to anecdotally describe their horses' performance over time. This website allows for a complete performance history of any given horse and can be used when marketing the animal.

"The heartbreak of this is that there are so many young ladies, professional cowgirls, with no history of their success," Mike said. "For the first time, we have that history."

The site can track barrel races back to 1999, so if you've saved any times, winnings or records, you can enter back-data into the site. The performance history of any horse can be made public and can be downloaded as a PDF and printed. It can be used as a sale flyer or can be saved as a reminder of a great horse.

Horses with performance histories can also be submitted to the site's free classified section, where members can buy and sell horses using their complete resumes.

Part One of TrackMyHorse.com - A Look Into the Future of Barrel Racing

2009-08-11T10:42:00.001-04:00

Mike Mahan spent years developing a computer system to help his wife Tracy improve her times in the International Barrel Racing Association. In the end, what Mike created changed both Tracy's barrel racing career and both of their lives.

The program Mike created is now known as TrackMyHorse.com, a website used by nearly 100 barrel racers across the country to monitor their horses’ performance.

Now based in Texas, TrackMyHorse.com began six years ago out of Mike’s desire to help Tracy improve in the arena. He created his own program to follow her times in each arena, monitor the winning times and to track outside factors like supplements, shoeing schedules and veterinary appointments.

“The real core of this was to see Tracy succeed,” Mike said. “This is for any
parent for their child or for any husband for their wife who wants them to
succeed."

With the ability to track her progress and gain a better understanding of factors contributing to both good and bad runs, Tracy’s times began improving.

“It was through other people seeing it in the grandstands that this really took off,” Mike said. In the grandstands at IBRA Nationals in Murfreesboro, Tenn., one year, people saw Mike using his Tracks system and begged him to make it available for others to use.

Knowing how the system had helped Tracy, the couple set off to make TrackMyHorse available to barrel racers nationwide. Six years in the making, TrackMyHorse.com was released on the Internet in January 2009 and is now available for $12.95 per month.

The husband and wife team are not just Internet entrepreneurs, though; when they aren't running barrel horses or working on TrackMyHorse.com, Mike and Tracy are a private flight crew that fly across the country. They use their down time to run TrackMyHorse.com, and even more, they have begun setting up booths at large barrel races in Texas and Oklahoma to advertise the website.

In route to Glen Rose, Texas, for a Win $ More barrel race, Mike and Tracy discussed TrackMyHorse and all of its features with TheBarrelRacingBlog. Stick around the next three days to see what TrackMyHorse might have to offer, plus gain some insight into the lives of Mike and Tracy Mahan.

Bleeders - Some Insight from Barrel Horse News

2009-08-10T08:26:00.000-04:00

Last month's Barrel Horse News featured a lengthy feature on Exercise Induce Pulmonary Hemorrhaging, or bleeding from a horse's nose, generally after intense exercise.

The article covers EIPH with great detail, listing new treatments not yet widely used amongst barrel racers.

With the middle of summer heating up and our horses running hard each weekend, EIPH can factor into our horse's performances more than we'd like. Though the article says we still can't be sure why horses bleed, there's a lot we can do about it.

Listing Lasics, Premarin, Omega-3s, Seramune and nasal strips as some treatment options. Check out the rest of the article to get all of the great details!

Weekend Review - NBHA @ Hilltop Arena, Byesville, Ohio

2009-08-02T22:58:00.006-04:00

With no big shows within hundreds of miles in each direction, the Ohio NBHA District 05 Money Maker at Hilltop Arena in Byesville, Ohio, drew in top barrel racers from Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. This Weekend Review will cover a ground review as well as some information on how the show ran. Results will be posted as soon as possible, but since the show ran until about 4 a.m., I didn't stay to get the results that night!

What: NBHA Ohio District 05 Money Maker

Fees: $3 grounds fee per horse, $10 non-member fee, $20 Warm-Up Barrels, $25 Open Barrels

Added Money: $525 in the Warm-Up, $400 in Youth, $1000 in Open

The Ground: It seemed to present a few challenges for a lot of horses. The grounds crew put a huge amount of effort into keeping it nice, with big drags after about every 100 horses or so. The third barrel was slippery for many horses as ruts quickly developed on its back side after just a few runs. The ground was mildly deep, and it seemed that horses with more slide did really well in it.

Overall: The good horses at this barrel race threw down! With too many great runs to watch, Hilltop Arena was home to some of the best runs I have seen this summer. With the best horses clocking in the low 15s, almost anything faster than an 16.5 looked great. If you hit into the 15s, you definitely were in great company! I'd say District 05 certainly made their money this weekend. For a one day show, this was just huge and had some of the toughest horses in the Northeast. The trailers went on forever and many people were left to park in the driveway and block others in. The weather was great, though, and the hospitality was tops!

Website Review - The Barrel Racing Buzz

2009-07-29T09:12:00.003-04:00

The Internet's Fastest Growing Barrel Racing Site

Recently I discovered a website with many of the same goals as thebarrelracingblog, The Barrel Racing Buzz. This site builds the idea of community within the barrel racing industry by providing forums, informational articles, advertising , videos and an events calendar, all easily accessible on their site.

The site even runs a live webcast that features large barrel racing events from across the country. Those running the site seem to be well connected within the industry, as they are able to feature video interviews with some top contenders like Kay Blanford and Marlene McRae.

My favorite thing about this site is its multimedia features. It incorporates blogging with video and photos that really enhance the experience and help bring the big names and big events to people across the world. This site focuses mainly on national barrel racing events, with many put on by the World Barrel Racing Productions. The events calendar, however, is user-generated content, so anything and everything can be submitted as an event.

Overall, if you want to stay in touch with what's going on across the country, mainly out West, this is a site for you. With their product videos and interviews with top barrel racing experts, this website can really keep you on your toes with what's going on in the industry.

Barrel Racing Report for July 28

2009-07-29T09:03:00.002-04:00

Check out this week's Barrel Racing Report, with the latest rodeo and barrel racing results from across the country. This week, they've got all of the NHSFR results and the Cheyenne Frontier Days results, along with a whole lot more! Futurity entry forms and all, this week's report is full of great info!

Stay tuned later this week for thebarrelracingblog's feature on TrackMyHorse.com, a website devoted to monitoring you and your horses' performance.

Follow The Barrel Racing Blog on Twitter!

2009-07-27T10:58:00.001-04:00

If you are already using Twitter, follow brrlracingblog to get up to the minute updates from the site!

July 21st Barrel Racing Report

2009-07-27T10:43:00.001-04:00

Sorry I'm late with this! I had a computer crash that has delayed things for this one woman operation, but stay tuned as I will be featuring an extended interview with Natalie Overholt, recent winner of the IPRA rodeo at Ellicottville, New York.
In the mean time, follow the national barrel racing happenings with The Barrel Racing Report.

Upcoming Rodeos of Note

2009-07-21T09:33:00.005-04:00

If you're deciding about what rodeos to hit in the coming few weeks, I have a few suggestions based on a bit of personal experience and a lot of advice from friends. With July over half-way through, summer will be ending before we know it. It's time to get in those last-minute trips up and down the road to make sure we did all of the rodeo'n we could this summer.

View Upcoming Rodeos - July in a larger map

July 25 - APRA/IPRA @ Brookville, Pa

This rodeo can bring in a great crowd. It is supposed to rain all this week in Brookville, but the weather for Saturday looks clear. I haven't been here for a few years, but the last time I went the arena was soggy and deep after a long hard rain. If I remember correctly, it's a pretty long pen with a decent run to the first, given that the pattern stays the same. The grand stands are pretty tall behind the second barrel and generally very full, so if you have a horse that finds it tough to run into a crowd, then you might have some trouble with this one. The rodeo usually draws in a large number of locals, so the money usually isn't too bad.
Rawhide Rodeo Company is putting it on, with $400 added per event. Call ins were Monday, so if you aren't already entered you've got to stay home. Sorry for the late notice!

July 29 - BullRide Mania @ Troy, Pa

This bulls 'n barrels is normally a rough n' tumble show. It's been known to pour down rain for this show and the ground can be sticky. In the far north of Pa, its kind of out of the way for a lot of people, but for some reason there's usually a decent amount of girls entered. Its on a small track, so if you've got a horse that can handle that sort of pen then Troy is for you. Moreover, there's $300 added and since its not on the weekend, you can hit other rodeos on Friday and Saturday. If you win one of Dave Martin's shows, your automatically qualified for his finals in November in Harrisburg, which always have thousands of dollars up for grabs in a big arena.
Call ins are any time before 48-hours prior to the show at 717-334-7724.

August 1 - BullRide Mania @ Shartlesville, Pa

A staple of the BullRide Mania Tour, Shartlesville offers a great arena with good ground for barrel racers across Pennsylvania and the surrounding states. Mountain Springs Arena, owned by the Miller family, is always extremely well kept. The ground isn't deep and doesn't get too slick when it rains. The times are normally in the 16-17 second range, depending on where the barrels are set. It's never too big or too small really because the pattern is usually really even. The crowd really packs the grandstands and gets into the rodeo. If you breakaway too, then all the more reason to come to Shartlesville. With $500 added, the show normally draws in at least 30 girls and often pays over $900 to the winner.
Calls ins are any time before 24 hours before the event to 717-334-7724.

August 7, 8 and 9 - IPRA/APRA @ Attica, NY

This rodeo always draws in the big girls from all over the country. With $1,5o0 added, Attica pays big and can make a huge difference in the World Standings. Its a big pen and the ground can be deep, but with five perfs and two slacks you've got a great chance of getting good ground at one time or another. Its a great arena and a good test to get ready for North Washington, Pa, later in August.
Calls ins are Thursday, July 30 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at (800) 547-6336, or on the Internet at http://www.rodeosportsnetwork.com/ Wednesday, July 29 9:00 a.m. to Thursday July 30 2:00 p.m. CST.

Calf Manna Coupon!

2009-07-18T09:56:00.005-04:00

Hey everyone! I may have mentioned earlier that I rely on Calf Manna Pro for some extra go-juice for my old barrel mare. Well, while cruising around Facebook today, I actually saw an advertisement that wasn't bogus!

Calf Manna Pro is offering $2 off a 50 lb bag! I think I'm out of it, so this coupon really helps on my tight budget!

Aren't online coupons fun?

Ed Henle - Part 4 - The Mental Game

2009-07-17T16:22:00.001-04:00

In this final section, Henle discusses many of his thoughts and philosophies on competition.

What morals/rules/ethical standards do you live by when running horses? In other words, how far do you think people should go to win?

- I don’t really believe in drugging up a horse; however you cant control what other people are doing. I personally wouldn’t be able to stand myself if I “cheated” to win but that’s just me and some people will do ANYTHING.

What vet do you use? Why?

I use Bill Smith from Chester Vet to do all the shots and checkups, but I use Jimmy Boucher when I get their hocks done or x-rays etc.

Any major career goals?

- I’d like to stay in the sport for along time. As a goal, I’d like to be able to go anywhere in the country and be competitive.

What are you going to school for?

- I am going to Penn State for business.

What’s the best thing about your riding?

- Some people have to work extremely hard to ride but everything has come pretty natural for me.

What do you really struggle with or what was very difficult for you to learn when running a horse?

- When I started running my colt I had a hard time adjusting back and forth between her and Gunner. They run completely different, and this caused me to over-ride the good horse.

How supportive are your non-horse friends and family of what you do?

-My family is extremely supportive and all my closest friends are involved with horses as well so they are supportive too.

Any superstitions when it comes to running your horses?

- I always follow the same routines when getting ready to run but I do think any would be considered superstitions.

How do you feel about those who say barrel racing is a woman’s sport?

-The majority of people are indeed women; however there are guys who do it therefore calling it a girls’ sport is not true. I do think its bullshit that guys can’t run barrels at most rodeos.

Ed Henle - Part 3 - In the Arena

2009-07-16T18:14:00.002-04:00

Henle's abilities as a rider have brought him big checks at barrel races across the region. With two placings at the AQHA Congress under his belt, getting to know his approaches and methods to riding and training could help every level of barrel racer.

How long do you usually wait before running a young horse?

- I like for them to be at least three before I do any kind of running around the barrels, but I do have a two-year-old right now that is loping the pattern. But I’ll probably wait another six months or so before I started asking him for a little speed.

What rules do you follow when working with a young horse? Where’s your limit?

- I’ve found that you really have to be careful when you’re getting after a young horse. If they make a mistake, instead of beating its ass it’s better to let them make mistakes and then show them what your asking of them. Some horses can take a little discipline, but I have come across some that get worse.

How is your patience with young horses?

- I would say I’m pretty patient with the young ones, at times you really have no choice so you just have to look at the big picture and not what is happening at that moment.

What are you thinking when you head through the gate towards the first barrel?

- To be honest, everything that happens in the arena is a reaction. I’m not really sure anything is going through my head.

How do your horses approach a barrel? (With a big pocket, straight at it…etc?)

- Gunner runs pretty straight, but I do give him an average pocket. The app mare doesn’t run quite as straight as gunner, but my pockets are about the same on both.

How often do you exhibition?

- Never on the good horse. When I started taking the colt to shows, I would take her through exhibition maybe two times, but now I do not exhibition her at all. The majority of people in exhibition are in there because they as a rider need the practice, not the horse. It’s crazy when you see the same people running their horse to death in exhibition.

What sort of set up do you have at home to practice?

- I have a big outdoor arena where I do most of the riding. I have the barrels set up but I only ever work the young ones on barrels at home.

Any arena records?

-Buckhorn. 14.408

Do you train other people’s horses?

- Yes. Most of the people send their horse to me to be broke. I also get people wanting their horse on the pattern but unless the horse is athletic I won’t take it because I don’t like to waste my time with colts that do not have the athletic ability to do it competitively. I usually only take in two at a time, but I have a waiting list a mile long.

Ed Henle - Part 2 - Training Tools, Arenas and Products

2009-07-15T11:55:00.004-04:00

In this part of the series, Henle talks about many of the tools and products he uses in his training. He also covers the arenas he likes and the ground on which he prefers to run.

How far are you willing to travel for a show and why?

- I try to stay within four to five hours, but if it’s a big show with a lot of added $ I’d drive further.

What kind of truck and trailer do you drive?

- I have a 3 horse Elite, and I pull it with a Dodge.

What’s your favorite bit for a young horse and why?

- Don’t really have a specific bit for a young horse, but generally its something real mild.

What’s your favorite bit for an older horse and why?

- Nothing specific, basically whatever works. I do a lot of bit changing depending on the horse and situation.

What’s your favorite training tool and why?

- It’s probably something as simple as a round pen because it makes training so much easier.

Where is your favorite place to run and why?

- I really don’t have a favorite place, but I’d have to say Roberts Arena in Wilmington. The ground was always good and my horse usually runs good there, but lately I’ve been hearing that the ground there is terrible. I heard that they are moving the New Years show to another location because of the bad ground. But I’d still have to go with Wilmington.

Where is your least favorite place to run and why?

-Porchview. The ground is always terrible and the setup is bad around the chute.

What type of ground do you prefer to run on?

-Gunner is all slide so I don’t really like super deep ground. I really try not to worry too much about the ground unless of course it’s horrible. Sometimes the more you analyze it, the more problems you’re going to have.

Do you like to be at the top, middle or bottom of the ground?

- I prefer to be towards the end of classes but the top or middle of drags.

Any products/supplements you live by or just really believe work?

- I have my horses on the Dynamite feed program; it really seemed to calm down Gunner. For awhile I was having tons of trouble getting him in the arena, but after I switched he’s calmed down a bunch, and I don’t really have any problems.

Weeklong Profile of Ed Henle - Top PA Barrel Racer - Part 1

2009-07-14T08:52:00.004-04:00

This week we will be featuring an interview with Ed Henle, a barrel racer from Hookstown, Pa, who has been consistently in atop the Penn-Ohio standings over the last few years. The Barrel Racing Blog asked Henle some 40 questions covering his beginnings in barrel racing, his training techniques and his arena preferences. We go in-depth with Henle, shedding some light on the methods of a top local barrel racer.

History - Part 1

What horses are you running right now? What are their names, ages and how are they bred?

- SF Who Shot Doc (gunner) is 9 yrs old and Hustlin Miss Heather (Hustler) is 5. Gunner doesn’t really have much on his papers.

What associations do you belong to and are you trying to win anything big this year (any titles)?

- The only organization I belong to right now is Penn Ohio. I’m really not trying to win anything big but I am in the top 3 in the junior horse and adult standings.

What are some of your past accomplishments, and on which horse did they happen?

- At the 2004 Pa State Horse Show I won barrels and poles and was reserve champion in keyhole. In 05’ I won all 3 classes on my red app mare (Windy). In 07’ I won the youth average at the Wilmington Spectacular and I was 4^th in the open average. Also in 07’ I made it to the finals in Mississippi at the All American Youth on my gelding (Gunner). At one point in time I held the arena record at Wildhorse and Buckhorn. I still have the record at Buckhorn, but Mike Hulsinger has the record at Wildhorse. I broke the Buckhorn record last year and then I broke my own record this year. In 07’ I took 3^rd in the youth barrels at Congress and I was 5^th last year.

When did you get involved with barrel racing, and how?

- Im not positive when I started running barrels but I would guess around the year 2003 (I haven’t been into that long). My sister had always rode pleasure horses, but I was into the timed events where your running against the clock, not hoping a judge likes your style of horse.

Who helped you get started?

- Dan McGlaughlin helped me with the basics when I first started.

Was your first horse one that you trained?

-No, my first barrel horse was already trained…he carried my ass around and taught me a ton.

Where did you get the horse(s) you are running now?

- I bought Gunner from Deena Fries roughly 3 years ago. The app colt was born at our farm, I’ve had her since she was born.

Who started/finished it (them)?

- Deena Fries deserves all the credit on Gunner’s training. I’ve done all the work on the app.

Weekend Review - Bullride Mania at McHenry, MD

2009-07-06T11:05:00.006-04:00

What: A bulls, barrels and broncs rodeo by Dave Martin's Bullride Mania

Who: Bullride Mania tour barrel racers mixed with local barrel racers.

Time: 7:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Barrel racers run after the long-go of the bullriding and a 15-minute intermission.

Fees: $50 cash per night.

Added Money: $300 plus 100 percent payback.

The Ground: In typical McHenry fashion, the ground was deep, slippery red clay. The long, narrow pen was made slick by the week's rain on Friday. On Saturday, as the pen dried out, the local fire company brought in a tanker truck to wet the pen down again, making it even more slick and muddy than the night before.

Overall: The rodeo itself was pretty well organized and ran smoothly. Everything ran on time, and it was really nice to be able to show our horses the ground during the intermission. It wasn't really a rodeo for a young horse or a horse that hasn't run a ton of rodeos.

The hospitality couldn't have been much better. We had free camper hook-ups, a pavilion to cook out in, where Bullride Mania regulars cooked food for every contestant and guest. Those who put on the show also provided free meals after each performance. The fairgrounds even offered free stalls for however many horses we had!

Deep Creek Lake has a lot to offer during the down time, including a great bar across the street from the rodeo grounds and go-carts.

Results: Friday:

1)LISA BARONE 15.853=$450. 2)DOREEN ULERY 16.119=$270. 3)CHELSEA TOY 16.283= $180.

Saturday:

1)CHELSEA MAGAHA 16.962=$388. 2)CHELSEA TOY 17.104=$291. 3)LAUREN DEVLIN 17.120=$218. 4)KELSEY RICE 17.230=$145. 5)KATIE KLINE 17.664=$109. 6)SAM SNAPP 17.737=$60.

My run Friday, July 3rd.

I'm back!

2009-06-29T14:12:00.003-04:00

I'm back from Japan and South Korea, and that was an adventure. I didn't see one horse while I was there, a first for me in international travel.

Meanwhile, I have been networking with some excellent equine athletes and professionals, and in the coming months we will have some great content. Keep reading and enjoying, and please, if you'd like to see anything at all, feel free to shoot me an email at toy9207@gmail.com.

Did I Mention I Travel a Lot?

2009-06-12T10:37:00.002-04:00

As I've just finished up my finals for my junior year at Ohio University, I am getting ready to head to Japan and South Korea for the next to weeks. I won a national reporting competition, and the prize is an all-expenses-paid trip to the East. So, I will be updating my blog as much as possible from there, but I can't promise my regular content.

So, everybody, have a great first few weeks of the summer rodeo season. I will be missing the rodeo trail like crazy, so enjoy! Please keep me up-to-date on your results by emailing me at toy9207@gmail.com!

This Week's Barrel Racing Report

2009-06-11T10:52:00.002-04:00

Check out this week's edition of The Barrel Racing Report. It's got updated PRCA standings, with Mary Burger just ahead of Brittany Pharr and Lindsey Sears.

Cowgirl's Dinner

2009-06-09T10:06:00.000-04:00

After a long haul to a rodeo, a rough night at a rodeo and very little to eat, Waffle House looks great. And our horses don't mind the stop over, either.

Weekend Review - Fox Hollow Rodeo, Waynesville, Ohio

2009-06-08T09:39:00.005-04:00

What: A bulls and barrels, part of Fox Hollow's Summer Buckle Series

Who: Mainly locals. Fox Hollow Stock.

Time: There seemed to be a good deal of confusion on when things were starting, but the rodeo actually started around 6:30 with the Jackpot Bulls, followed by the Jackpot Barrels.

Fees: $7 admission and $18 entry.

Added Money: $100

The Ground: What Ground? At the beginning of the show, the ring crew watered the arena and then drug it with the same piece of equipment used to drag a baseball field with.

In this photo, you can see the rut around the first barrel that made the ground difficult to manage.

The ground was made up of some light sand, and WOW was it slick. Plus, quite the hole was created at the first barrel.

A view of the light, sandy ground.

Overall: It wasn't a bad little barrel race. There seemed to be over 20 girls, and some pretty good cowgirls and horses pulled in before it was all said and done. One of my hauling partner's horses slipped on the third barrel pretty bad, and for some reason they chose to use plastic barrels, so there were a TON of knock downs. Also, they just ran an outgate but no alleyway. The gate was nestled between two sets of bleachers, so pedestrians were a huge hazard running out. The timer was set DIRECTLY at the out gate, so you had to run the whole way out the gate or risk losing time. TIMER + OUTGATE + PEDESTRIANS ON CELL PHONES/KIDS = BAD NEWS!

Results: Brooke Vaughn won the barrels with a 14.91, and I followed with a 15.14. It paid $177 to win it, and $107 to be second.

A picture of my barrel horse turning the second barrel.

Save the Cowboys Fund

2009-06-07T10:16:00.000-04:00

Some friends of mine began a fund for injured cowboys, and they have some really unique merchandise. Called Save the Cowboys and started by two bull riders themselves, this fund looks to help pay the medical bills of injured cowboys. It also it helping to feed their families while they can't work or ride.

They're selling car magnets like the one above, t-shirts and patches. All proceeds go back into the fund. To donate, click here. They will be selling merchandise at many BullRideMania events this year.

New Ariat Boots - Courtesy of HauteCowgirl.com

2009-06-06T09:34:00.003-04:00

So, if you're out there making money on the rodeo trail, maybe you can afford these great new RodeoBaby boots by Ariat. They look greatttt.

The Barrel Racing Report - What's Up Out West

2009-06-04T10:18:00.000-04:00

Check out this week's issue of the Barrel Racing Report. This features mainly big-time content about what's happening out west, but it has some great ads for some top studs. It's nice to know what's going on in the futurity world and what big names are winning. These folks at the Barrel Racing Report do a great job of pulling together weekly results.

Transitioning from a Rope Horse to a Barrel Horse

2009-06-03T09:14:00.003-04:00

The Reason for the Switch

Sometimes, we don't have time to start a colt from the ground up, wait through its futurity years and slowly adjust the horse to life up and down the rodeo road. Finding a cheaper, finished rope horse is a great option for somebody who can't afford to splurge on a finished barrel horse but doesn't have the time to start a baby.

The Perks

Most ropers demand a calm, quiet horse who can stand in the box, stand tied for hours at a time and doesn't spook. Rope horses are used to cattle, so running down a rodeo alleyway as bulls fuss in the back pens won't bother them. They already know how to tuck their butts underneath them and move quickly, so all that's left to teach them is to turn a barrel. Usually, as our experts will tell you in this video, teaching a rope horse to turn a barrel doesn't take long.

Barrel Races or Rodeos?

2009-06-02T12:18:00.005-04:00

Every weekend my traveling partner and I debate where to go - do we take the chance on that rodeo with the rough ground or do we head to the clean, well drug arena to an NBHA or IBRA barrel race?

As anybody who knows me will tell you, I'm usually the one advocating for the always-risky rodeo ground. I just love to spend only a few hours at a rodeo, running against only 30 or so girls for a chance at a $1000 paycheck than sitting all day at a horse show for a chance at splitting $500 with the 300 other barrel racers that showed up.

But, then again, that's probably why my old horse has 4 broken legs. She's never actually hurt herself at a rodeo, it's always been at a big, great pen like Jackson, Miss., or Jackson, Ohio. The wear and tear on her joints inevitably, though, came from running on tracks like Canton, Ohio, and Dayton, Penn.

Some of the best barrel racers can flip-flop between both styles of running, but normally they have more than one horse that can perform at any arena. Mesa Leavitt, the three-time IPRA World Champion and Josey Junior World Champion has proven to be tough in both arenas, like her mentor, Martha Josey herself.

So, the question is...Where would you rather go? A rodeo or a barrel race?

Please comment!

Map of Arenas in Ohio

2009-05-28T15:57:00.003-04:00

I'm trying to put together an interactive map of barrel racing arenas in Ohio, and I need your help! If you have pictures of any arenas in Ohio or know of any arenas that I've omitted, shoot me an email at toy9207@gmail.com.

Here's the initial map:

View Ohio Arenas in a larger map

The Weekend Review - H & H Rodeo, Apple Grove, West Va.

2009-05-26T11:43:00.004-04:00

I spent this past weekend close to home, hitting a rodeo on Saturday night that definitely challenged our old horses!

Rodeo Review - Saturday Night at H&H Ranch - Apple Grove, West Va.

What: An open rodeo, part of H&H's summer series

Who: Mainly locals. H&H stock.

Time: Had to get there at 5:30 to pay fees, but show started late - should have started at 7 p.m.

Fees: $40 for barrel racers, $50 per team for ropers.

Added Money: None - 80 percent payback.

The Ground: DEEP. Although the weekend was completely dry, the ground crew plowed the arena over repeatedly and the ground was so deep! My barrel horse came out of the arena with her bell boots turned upside down because of how deep she had to dig.

Overall: The rodeo moved pretty slowly, so by the time they got to the barrel race, we could only rely on the arena's super poor lighting to see the barrels. The first barrel was decently lit, but the second and third were in pure darkness. I had to ride my 16-year-old horse like a colt to find them, even though she was still trying.

The gateman kept the gate closed, which was a nightmare for my old horse that is used to hunting an alleyway. Needless to say, we crashed into the gate as fast as can be because the timer was a panel-length away from the outgate.

Results: I won it with a 16.2. H&H only paid one hole, which was good news for me but bad news for everyone else. It paid $256 to win it.

In team roping news: I travel with my boyfriend, Corey Rose, and his partner, Alicia Pottmeyer, who team roped. They ran the team roping after the barrels. The bottom end of the arena was in complete darkness, and the steers darted erratically back and forth across the arena. NOT the place to team rope. Corey's steer ducked underneath his horse's legs when he was heading and Alicia's jumped under her's when she was healing. It was a rough time for those two, and not the happiest ride home for me!

I have some rough video that I will put up here later, in case anybody is interested in seeing what the pen looked like!

The Great Debate - Which Breed Has What We Need?

2009-05-23T10:09:00.009-04:00

As barrel racing continues to grow and the Quarter Horse continues to dominate the sport's biggest events, the common perception is that the breed is the ultimate barrel horse.

While the breed clearly is at the top of the rankings year after year, another breed - the Appaloosa - is commonly overlooked in its ability to be competitive.

The Appaloosa, originally used by the Nez Perce Indians in the northwestern U.S., is often mischaracterized as a wild, stubborn or crazy breed by many in the barrel racing industry. In what a spokesperson for the Appaloosa horse club calls "egregious misnomers," the Appaloosa has been painted as a difficult-to-train breed.

Appaloosa History - a Story of Native American Abuse

Historically, the Appaloosa is a victim of the U.S. Army's brutal tactics during the Native American

Wars of the 19th Century. What were once the fastest horses in the West were forcibly bred to draft horses in order to force the Nez Perce into agrarian lifestyles. The Appaloosa stallions were all shot, nearly wiping out the breed all together.

As the breed reemerged in the early 20th Century, Appaloosas were bred with Quarter Horses and thoroughbreds, developing into the breed we know today.

In the early days of the ApHC, Quarter Horses that displayed Appaloosa characteristics were also allowed to register, and in the 1970s solid Appaloosas, nearly identical to Quarter Horses, were permitted to register and show as well.

The Modern Appaloosa

Today, man solid Appaloosas fly under the radar at large barrel races nationwide. Ed Henle, a barrel racer from Hookstown, Pa., competed throughout much of his youth career on a sorrel ApHC mare.

"She was smart and extremely athletic," Henle said of his old horse, HR Second Wind, who owns an ApHC world record in the Figure 8 Stake Race. "Even when her knee was the size of a softball, she still ran hard. She had a ton of heart."

As the only horse in the history of Pennsylvania's 4H to win all three contest events in the same year, "Windy" also holds multiple youth and open world and national titles in the ApHC.

Henle is now running SF Who Shot Doc, a Quarter Horse, and consistently finishing in the 1D of major IBRA events. He's also training a five year old Appaloosa, who he considers very easy to train and very smart.

"I'm not sure if the Appaloosa's have the extra gear that quarter horses have," Henle said, "but they (Appaloosas and quarter horses) are both very competitive."

Henle agreed that Appaloosas have gotten a bad reputation and that people are misguided in thinking that Appaloosas are stubborn.

"Each horse can be as stubborn as any other," Henle said. "Appaloosas are no different."

Merida McClanahan, head of marketing for the ApHC, attributed the bad reputation Appaloosas partly towards the assumption that any bad horse with spots is an Appaloosa. She said many of these horses are grade horses or even ponies but are perceived to be Appaloosas.

Too Hot and Too Crazy?

Aside from being seen as stubborn, Appaloosa's also have the reputation of being

wild and crazy. Henle said much of this reputation could come from the fact that in actual ApHC events, horses run head-to-head against one another in a bracket-style barrel race, where

they could run over and over again until all other competitors are eliminated.

Horses must wait

at a starting line and wait for a green light, similar to that of a drag racer. This hypes up many horses and makes Appaloosas that would otherwise be calm more nervous.

When these horses are taken to open barrel races, they are sometimes perceived as more wild.

The Answer - ?

In the end, Appaloosas and quarter horses must be judged by each individual horse's performance and not by the breed alone, McClanahan said. The Appaloosa, with its Quarter Horse and thoroughbred breeding, is capable of competing with these horses.

"Its about the match between horse and rider," McClanahan said. "The training of any of the stock breeds makes the difference."

Editor's Note:

I have both an AQHA mare and a ApHC mare and have experienced success with both breeds.

Photos courtesy of WikiCommons.

Photo of "Modern Appaloosa" is Tuff Trader - ApHC 10 yr old gelding.

Bit of the Week - The Traditional Chain Bit by Sharon Camarillo

2009-05-19T14:53:00.007-04:00

This week's bit (I use the term 'week' very loosely) is another that I didn't think I would ever own and certainly didn't think would work on my seasoned barrel horses - Sharon Camarillo's Traditional Chain Bit.

The bit is nothing fancy. A trainer I work with went to one of Camarillo's clinics, taking a 12-year-old mare that she had been having a hard time getting a first barrel on. The mare had been shaking her head and running a half-stride past the first barrel. Camarillo suggested the bit change, and the woman and her horse haven't looked back yet. She's been using this bit in rodeos and barrel races for the past five years, and its been all good news.

I switched to the bit on my barrel/pole horse after she started diving on poles just a few weeks before the 2006 Congress. I needed something that I could really hold her shoulder up with but would not completely stop her. I tightened the curb chain, and even though I rarely use a shank, I found that this bit really worked with my hands. Two years later, its all I need to get through a pattern.

The bit has enough pull in the event that I end up past a barrel and need to pull my horse around, but it also has the perfect lift to keep her shoulders square going into a barrel. Like any bit, I've found that if I over-use it on the back side of a barrel, my mare shakes her head and over-bends. Obviously, I shouldn't do that, but it happens.

Around the roping arenas, I've noticed a lot of team ropers also using different variations of this bit. Team ropers with hotter horses seem to use this bit to give them the right amount of control before needing to switch to a higher port bit.

Shoeing for the Ground We Run On - A Lesson Learned

2009-05-16T11:38:00.008-04:00

Looking at upcoming barrel races on barrelhorses.com, I stumbled across an event I know all-too-well: The All-American Youth Barrel Race in Jackson, Miss.

After a great year on my horse in 2001, my parents agreed to drive me to Mississippi for this event. If I remember, some 800 other kids ran there that year, and Talmadge and Mike Green raised $25,000 in added money, with saddles given in every go in every division.

I was so excited - other than the Congress, this was the only "big" show I had ever run. It was the first time I had ever traveled further south than West Virginia for a barrel race, and unfortunately, the first time my horse had ever run in deep sand.

In the northern parts of the country, we find ourselves running in harder-packed dirt and clay mixes, sometimes with a bit of sand added. My horse had just slight rimmed shoes on, perfect for running in our northern dirt. BIG mistake.

In the first go, we wrapped one and two, but when we came around three, my horse's back end slipped right out from underneath her. She caught herself, jerked her joints up off the ground and ran home. We ended up in the 4D after all of that, and I qualified for the finals.

In the second go, Onyx couldn't turn at all. She wouldn't even get close to a barrel - completely unlike her. We just couldn't figure it out; I schooled all night in the practice pen but could not get a decent turn. The same thing happened in the finals the next day. At 14, I was devastated. I cried the whole 20-hour drive home.

When we got her home, she was nailing barrels where ever I took her. She won youth classes the whole month of July and never looked back.

Until August, when I noticed something just wasn't right with her back end. I took her to the vet, and low and behold, she had fractured her hip during that run in Mississippi and had been running on it ever since. Luckily, our vets at Fox Run Equine Center got us into a study for shock wave therapy , which healed her in about six months. She is still running today, with much thanks to Fox Run.

Moral of this story - BE CAREFUL WHEN YOU TRAVEL. I try to switch shoes depending on the ground at a particular time of year (much to the dismay of my shoer who thinks I'm a pain). When I'm heading down south like last weekend, I have pegs in my sidewinder shoes. In the good indoor arenas, I have a lot less grab with just a rim shoe.
At right, the sidewinder.

Rodeo Attitude News - Site Review

2009-05-14T12:12:00.003-04:00

Today I stumbled across a website for rodeo news across the country. Rodeo Attitude News calls itself the premiere rodeo website (which I can't quite verify), but it aggregates and produces industry news from the major associations - the WPRA, the PRCA and the PBR.

The website, which is a bit tough to read and get through because it has so much information, divides its pages up by association. It acts as an aggregate for different association's press releases, and brings them all together - featuring event coverage, stories on competitors and even entertainment. The top headline today came from a PBR press release about Ty Murray as a competitor on ABC's Dancing With the Stars.

It does provide some useful content, as it links to the association's pages. The site tries to highlight association event listings, but it seems to be a bit behind. That said, keeping up-to-date with any events within the rodeo/barrel racing industry can be trying at best, as promoters themselves tend to be slow at disseminating information.

The site has a lot of great resources, like practice pen listings and a personnel directory. It features some multimedia content and even message boards, which seem to be building an online community, as the message boards are relatively active.

It focuses mostly on rodeos and barrel races West of the Mississippi, though. So, for those of us stuck in the Mid-West or Northeast, it's just a nice site to look at every once and awhile.

Natural Calming Product - Select At Ease

2009-05-05T13:10:00.004-04:00

Sometimes, we all need to take the edge off. In barrel horses, that sometimes may come around more often than not. Instead of resorting to PromAce, which can be expensive and can have nasty side effects, I've found a product that is working wonders for a young horse I have - At Ease, made by Select the Best.

This young horse had never been off the farm when I bought her, and she was extremely nervous all the time. She had worried away all of her weight, and though she was eating bagfuls of Strategy, she couldn't pick up the weight. She would jump and kick in her stall, and no matter how much we rode her, she never got tired of pawing or screaming. We hauled her to shows and rodeos, and even though she rode fine, she acted like a weanling tied to the trailer.

So, in February, a friend gave me an old tub of At Ease powder that she had had for years and had never used. She just said she didn't know if it would help or not, but that it was worth a try. Desperate, I gave it a shot.

I gave her a tablespoon of At-Ease powder for four days before I took her anywhere, then gave her extra a few hours before we hauled. Within a few weeks, she was standing quietly at the trailer, picking up weight and not pawing when tied. She could concentrate on her barrels rather than the other horses, and her times changed dramatically.

At-Ease has Thiamine (B1), Pyridoxine (B6), Tryptophan (an amino acid) and Magnesium in its easy-to-feed powder, and my horse seems to not mind eating it. Before I started feeding it, I thought that maybe she was getting ulcers and I was really worried about her overall health. Now that she isn't fussing all of the time, though, I'm not so much worried about her stomach.

I know a lot of people use Ace to calm their horses down before competition, but this product takes the edge off without losing speed or performance.

Big Dee's carries it, and within Ohio can deliver it within one day.

Rodeo Blog Review - On the Rodeo Road

2009-04-30T15:38:00.003-04:00

Some of the toughest things about breaking into a rodeo association are getting to know the contractors, the arenas and the other competitors. On the Rodeo Road helps bridge the gap between those on the road now and those who wish they were.

This site features commentary and interviews from Amber Mostoller, Ashley Whyland, Bryan Massey, Scott NeSmith, Spencer Turner and Tracey Goodman. After each rodeo they hit, they do a review of the ground, their runs/rides, the hospitality, etc. It really helps you keep up with the people at the top of the IPRA leader boards.

Not only does it help keep you up-to-date with who is winning what, it lets rodeo fans get to know the personalities and points of view of the people who are out on the road winning every week.

I really love the interview questions that ask the barrel racers/bronc riders for personal experiences or funny stories while on the way to/from the rodeo, because often times the best stories happen outside of the pen. And since so much of what we do in the arena is affected by what's on our minds outside of it, this part of the interview is crucial!