b"Running the RaceBy Betsy Nunnhowfastdouwannab@gmail.com, facebook.com/Willnunnp3, youtube.com/user/howfastdouwannabS omeone asked me recently,anyway maintenance or what qualities do you lookanti-inflammatory wise for in a barrel horse? Monthsjust running the wheels off before and after the finals, mythem. Those horses still mom, my husband, and my friends all seem to be discussingtry and try. Those folks how horses are bred and how they are made. We commentmay win a ton. It might on who is winning what and on what horse. There are sobe their first horse that many horses out there that are winning that are similar fadtheyve won on. They bred but there are also those that are bred super old schoolthink its easy so they quarter horse. There are also thoroughbreds and those thatsell the horse and go buy are half quarter horse and half pony that have won a ton inanother. Well, its not the WPRA. Some paints that are mostly quarter horse havethat easy. That horse that been to the finals in the barrel race as well. they sold was absolutely phenomenal but they That said. does someone just look at how a horse is bred ordont understand the is it important to pay attention to how theyre made as well?beautiful heart of that In the end, you could spend a lot of time, money and efforthorse until they no on breeding and training your next hopeful, only to find outlonger have it. Now they have to ride something else that they just werent made that good in the first place. Thereforedoesnt give all to them every time. Its the old saying, youjust because you think they have talent and ability if they you may have to spend a lot of time at the vet keeping themdont know what you have until its gone. I have also seendont fit you. Let someone else go on with that horse and let running. They may be completely awesome so you go aheadpeople absolutely take the heart out of a horse because theyhim be a champion even if you arent riding him. Dont let and do this because you love them but if you wouldvedo not realize all the runs that they put on them can just takeyour pride get in the way of letting a horse be a good one. started out looking at how the stud is made as well as theit out of that horse. The horse that they dont understand orIf you are having trouble or do not have the time that its mare that they are out of, you might not have this problem.appreciate has more heart than any of them to keep goinggoing to take to put into that particular horse, find someone Look to see if a stud horse's legs and feet are straight andout there and doing their job to the best of their ability. Itswho will. not offset or crooked. See if the mare's are as well not toreally not a partnership. Its more of a dictatorship.mention what their temperament is like. If this is somethingI guess if I have to pinpoint what exact qualities I would that you are not well-versed in ask someone you respect toSpeaking of partnerships, my mother always says, Peoplelook for in a barrel horse? There would be many. help you pick those horses before you start. I know a lot ofthink that they can buy a certain horse and go win on it or There are so many variables to finding the right horse for There is absolutely no substitute for heart. you. It has to fit your level of riding and what your goals are in the barrel racing world. Do you want to breed one? Do These are those horses that are not made perfectly and you want to buy a finished product? Do you want to buy a prospect? What is your budget? How much can you spend a month, if you need to pay for a trainer? How much can they run sore to the best of their ability. These horses you spend to have someone coach you? Do you want to rodeo big time? Or do you just want to go to the jackpots? will give you their best on their worst day.Do you want to be a weekend warrior? Be realistic when you purchase a horse and when you are looking. Dont just message or text and look at videos. If you think you people think its just maintenance but if we started at thethat they are going to buy one that is a full brother or sistermight like a horse go ride it. If the seller is reputable ask if very beginning putting these horses together correctly, weand go win on it. Its the combination of horse and rider.they think it would be a good fit for you. If you are green, might not spend as much time and money in that direction.Its not just the horse and how he is bred. We have raised,you dont need a green horse. If you have a kid, they dont Also, your shoer makes a huge difference from the get-go astrained and sold so many of them that we picked to makeneed a green horse either. Sometimes as parents we tend to to whether that horse stays balanced. Trimming them anda barrel horse out of and hopefully the next champion onthink our kid can ride like the wind and maybe they can. taking good care of their feet helps them stay straight footedour place. I tried to put people with a horse that I thoughtSometimes they need that older solid horse instead of the or straight-legged. These things can all give you more bangwould be a great partnership. Some amazed me and went onyounger horse we think will last longer that they can grow for your buck if you start out headed in a good directionto do some awesome things as far as what they won becauseup with. If you are green have someone with you when you from the very beginning. I am speaking from experience.in one sense that horse was better than the passenger butlook at the horse that knows what they are looking at and We have raised and trained a lot of them. In the process oftheir passenger knew it. They followed directions when theythey will tell you the truth and listen to the truth even if its life, we learned through our successes as well as our failures.bought that horse because the keys to drive that vehicle weresomething you dont want to hear. Not to say that theres not a ton of them out there that are notgiven to them. They did not reinvent the wheel per se and perfect and people are winning on them and they wouldntwent on to win big rodeos right off the bat and continuedIn this world we live in, we want what we want andtrade them for the world. I totally get it. I dont think there iswinning. They did not peak and then fizzle when the tunewe want it now. Its almost like its turned into a drive-a way to decipher the heart of the horse. Some of them havewas gone. They truly appreciated those horses.through window. But in the horse world just because you a horse for years and years and will still beat you and theybuy it doesnt mean its always going to work out. Work at are not perfectly made either nor perfectly bred as far as theThen there are those horses that someone else literallyit and have staying power but also realize that if you need barrel racing world would consider these days. hated that we ended up with. We treated them with respectto sell that horse and find something that fits you better and they, in turn, treated us with respect and we won onyou may have to do that. Ultimately you may think you That brings us to the next thing that people mention whenthem. One of them, in particular, was one my mom madeare looking for one that looks a certain way and is bred a they talk about a great barrel horse. There is absolutely nothe finals on. His prior owner couldnt get him in the arenacertain way and is a certain age but that may not always substitute for heart. These are those horses that are not madebut with the right person, he went to the NFR and willbe the right direction for you. I guess what Im saying is perfectly and they run sore to the best of their ability. Nobe remembered in our family as one of the greats. Somedont put that perfect horse in a box as far as what you amount of medication can make a horse have heart. Thesehorses have beautiful qualities within them. They have sothink you need. Special things sometimes come in special horses will give you their best on their worst day. Theremuch talent and ability but they just havent found theirpackages. Always keep your eyes open. And go with what are so many of them out there. Often this might be a horseperson. So maybe what someone doesnt like in a horsebrings you peace when you are looking to purchase. Until that somebody came upon and they dont help them out insomeone else will. With that said dont stick with a horsenext time! ArizonaRealCountry.com February 2020 13"