This is my first ever blog and my first attempt at blogging, lol. Well I can’t say it’s going to be great or even anything anyone will like. But I will be sharing anyway as I’d like to share and express my life. I’ll be talking about my Horses and Barrel Racing/Rodeo, Life, Happenings on the Farm and whatever else I want. J Please look past punctuation and spelling for it is not a talent of mine, and sorry if it bothers anyone I will try my best to make it correct.
As it is the first of the year what a great time to start, I hope everyone can follow as my writing may jump all around as does my mind.
Dixie
So far this past weekend and week has kept me so busy, With Barrel racing season starting back and life drama. As for the weekend it was the kick off of the FTRB (Flickerwood Team Roping and Barrels) I took two of my horses. First was my young 3 year old Dixie (Dashing Ms Dixiechic) and a older mare of my dad’s that I have been starting on the barrels. He calls her Babe but I refuse to call her by that, her registered name is Shining Dollinic.
Let’s
start with Dixie, oh where to start: Wow, grrrrr, can I just scream, well that wasn’t
bad. So many emotions with her. She is something special that is for sure, I
don’t want to go into too much detail about her as I’d like to use one entry
just to talk about her. She was in a
mood for sure Saturday, or maybe I was to idk. As her usual she wasn’t on her
best behavior, pinning her ears back and trying to kick other horses, “ I sure
hope she grows out of that”. But to add to that she drug me across the barn,
tried to bite me and wiggled all over the place. Given she is only 3 and a baby
but still she needs better manners. But then I also have to give her some leeway
as she has been out of commission for three months due to injury and lack of
being ridden “due to bad weather and me not living at home nor in the same town
anymore” this was her first trip back to the arena and had only been rode 4
times since she was hurt. After a fun warm up session (I’m so sorry to the
young girl on the paint horse that Dixie tried to kick its head off) I had her
entered to run two trainers (Trainers: cheap entry fee to run the barrel
pattern but no winning, used just for training and/or experience). Entering the
arena she picks up her first lead, “Excited” as this has been a problem area.
Coming to the first barrel she hesitates and causing me to be slightly unseated
and up over her instead of seating deep.
This is caused by her coming down on her front legs instead of her rear.
But we make a nice turn and on to the second barrel. She switches leads J J this is great but
again hesitates at the barrel, but I urge her on and again another turn. And
lets repeat all this again for the third barrel. All in all I have to be happy
with this run she clocks a 18s run slow loping the pattern and gets all her
leads.
So here
comes the next run I’m thinking since we had the hesitation I’ll use the whip
to just encourage her to keep her forward motion. We let’s say none of this
happened. First barrel she jumps this way, then that way, hesitates and I’m up
over her neck, grrrrrrrrrrr. “There is not a monster in this barrel, what are
you doing silly horse.” Second barrel this way, that way, now the camera man is
a monster. She’s weaving and wiggling
shaking her head the whole run, it just fell apart. So upset and feeling
discouraged. :( One good run, one bad, the score is even lol. This horse will not
run, what has happened?? So back to training we go I hope next time and with
warmer weather coming soon she will get it together and start making really
nice runs. Dollinic
Next we
go to my Dads mare Dollinic is what I’ll call her, as Babe just isn’t
happening. (Again I will write a separate entry down the road about each horse,
so that you can get to know each and every one.) I had her entered into one trainer
and in the Open (Open: I’m running for MONEY!!!). I have only ridden this mare
about 5 times in her life and this has all been in the last 3 months. My dad
started her on some slow pattern work this past summer, and as we tease him
they were “stopping and smelling the roses” while running the pattern. So I decided to take her and start putting
the pressure and speed to her and see what I could get done. I’ve made two
training runs on her back in November having never ridden her before. She made
two nice runs, running 19s just loping really having no idea what we are doing,
and being hesitant as she worries about things. So come Saturday I decide its
time, lets add some speed, it will either work or fall apart.
Her
training run went good, I pushed her harder and with the little amount of work
we have done the past few rides we are starting to come together as a team. She
improved up to a 18s run, I’m happy with this, all barrels where left standing,
the monsters where not hiding in the barrels and she made nice tight turns.
Only problem she is shouldering toward the second barrel, but all this can be
fixed, she’s very very green on the pattern. Then it’s on to the open run, this
time I’m going to use the whip and push her as hard as I can, “it’s do or die
time”. Well the more I ride this mare the more I like her. She handled the whip
well gave me more speed but still tried hard and gave me nice turns. Just one
problem….. The second barrel… using the whip caused her to lean harder toward
the second barrel and down it goes. But before the day started I set a goal
with this mare, “If I can run a 17.9 I will be very happy” guess what… She did
it!!!! We ran a 17.9 yes the down barrel was bad and in the end gives us a No
Time so no money, but I’m still happy. My Dad and I have a bet, he thinks this
mare can’t do it, so I’m out to prove him wrong, she has so much heart and want
to, so wish us luck. JAt this time I’m not sure when I’ll being going to my next race, but I’m sure it won’t be to long down the road. But in the mean time back to the training pen we will go.
To finish up today I’ll make a short point on the Life
Drama. I’m just gonna say a Bad situation turned out good. I’m very proud of
this person for standing up and taking care of them self and life is soon to be
back on track. You Go Girl!!!
