While I enjoyed my time doing this, the cycle of starting a horse, getting them ready to the point someone else can compete on them, and then selling them became mentally exhausting for me.
That's when I decided to keep one of my finished horses and compete on him for a while. It was nice to have a little consistency when it came time to run, and having a finished horse around helped my mentality and gave me the confidence I needed to be at the top of my game. But most importantly, competing on a seasoned mount gave me the opportunity to reflect as a rider and remind me how I can keep my cool when it comes time to compete and perform to the best of my ability.
1. Get in Sync
When working with young barrel horses, you don't normally make multiple runs in a month, which makes the training process a little longer. And if you do run too many times, it can become overwhelming and cause more problems in the long run.
When I had a chance to compete on a more finished horse, I was able to run barrels multiple times in a short amount of time. It helped me get in sync with my horse and quickly connect. This helped set us up for success at some of the country's biggest events.
This story is from the Winter 2022 edition of Horse and Rider.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the Winter 2022 edition of Horse and Rider.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
A Horseback High
Riding vacations can be found around the world, and here are five bucket list rides in the United States
JOIN THE CLUB!
Riding clubs of all forms can be found across the country. What should you look for when choosing—or starting—a club of your own? We asked three club leaders to share their insights
Help Is (Sometimes) Only a Phone Call Away!
Do you depend on over-the-phone advice from your veterinarian? Here's what you need to know about telehealth to help you understand what you can, and can't, expect
REPLACING FEAR WITH CURIOSITY
Horses have both flight and investigative behaviors but not at the same time. Learn how to help your horse switch to curiosity when his flight instincts kick in, and how to put the brakes on when he's already gone
Ranch Riding Mares
Evaluate and place these performance mares. Then see how your choices compare to our expert judge's.
An Empty Stall
The loss of a horse leads to a new landscape of managing emotions and moving forward
Strengthen Your Mental Game
Prepare your mind for peak performances with your horse by implementing these tips from reining trainer Shane Brown
Burning Off the Fresh
Whether your horse has gone unridden due to a health problem, the weather, or your schedule, a thoughtful process can keep everyone safe during his return to work
Return to Exercise Slowly
If you’ve been turned out to pasture for a while, as the result of injury or just a busy life, return to exercise in a safe and steady way
Ground Tying for Ranch Trail
There are many reasons to teach your horse how to safely ground tie