b'Running the RaceHow Much is Too Much?By Betsy Nunnhowfastdouwannab@gmail.com, facebook.com/Willnunnp3, youtube.com/user/howfastdouwannabW hen you have rodeoed and/or trainin the exhibitions, they arent even in the horses for a living you see a lot ofpattern and while you are trying to lope different styles and many ways ofa circle to go to the first barrel they are so doing things. There are many ways tofocused, like tunnel vision, on tucking that get to an expected end so there are lotshorses head like a show horse and kicking of ways to do things right. I have mythat hip in that they end up in your circle. own opinions on how to make a barrelYou have to stop and wait for them to move horse. Some can be attributed to ridingso you can work your horse. Meanwhile, I and working lots of horses over theam warming up my horse, which is a retiredTomorrow is a new day and years. A large portion of my knowledgewarhorse off the track and he is having a comes from my mom and dad (Bonnieblast with himself kicking up and showingyou never know what the Lord and Jeff Lemaire) but there were otherthe world who he is. Some individuals that folks, through the years, that I rode orthink they are trainers put things so overmay show you to help your traveled with that were my friendsthe top for these horses that they take that were/are great champions.the personality and the try right out ofsituation if you just ask. I believe I learned a bunch fromthem. They are so worried about looking them and the wisdom that wasprofessional and being in control all of transferred to me has helpedthe time that they never let that horseway. That said, it doesnt mean its the correct way to do make me the horsewoman andjust be a horse. Another thing ole Jefferythings. Once we learn better we do better.person that I am. My dad alwayswould say was, Betsy, leave them alone, said, Betsy, if you will shut upquit picking on them and go ride! LetThe other thing is right now is its hot. Dont make a and listen and hide and watch youthem just go be a horse! mountain out of a molehill. Work them two or three might learn something. Certaintimes at a lope if they need it, walk them five to six times things over the years stick out inTheir horse is probably WAY more brokewhile you cool them off, squirt them off, let them roll my mind and my heart as well. Ithan mine but mine wants me to win andon your lead rope, pet them, and put them up. Dont get think you can learn so much aboutwork for me in the end because they lovethem so hot that they just dread when you walk up with a person by watching them on aand respect me as I do them. My horsesthe halter. It may sound silly but I think that you can horse or with their dogs. My dadare not perfect, nor am I. They maketake the spirit completely out of a horse by doing too also said he liked being around his animals more thanmistakes. They make mistakes when I train them. Do I gomuch. Less on some horses is more. I am not saying to people because they didnt talk back and they can teachthrough the pattern 27 more times in the next 10 minuteslet them be a complete pickle either. Its like raising kids. you a thing or two if you are willing to listen.until it is perfect? No! I quit when I have made some sortPraise them when they do well and then when you need of improvement that day. Rome was not built in a day. Ito get after them, do it and then leave them alone. Dont Charmayne James, one of the all-time greatest hands andtell myself this a bunch. You cannot just pick-pick- pick.just keep picking at them (that was another Jeffreyism). champions to ever throw a leg over a barrel horse, has aBack off of them when they give you something correct asI think of some of the things he used to tell me once way with her horses and her dogs. Her horses like her.that is how they learn. Itsa day I bet. I am thankful I had the folks And her dog? Well if you saw Charmayne, her miniaturekind of like relationshipsI did. They taught me a bunch. I am also Australian Shepard wasnt very far away, always admiringwith people. Say what youthankful for all the different hands, horse her. Scamper (Ten-time WPRA world champion barrelneed to say and be done.trainers, champions, and just the all-around horse) was owned originally by the Drapers and heYou dont have to go ongood people that I have had the pleasure would dang sure buck you off. Charmaynes familyand on for someone toof knowing in my life that acquired him and rode him in the feedlot. They madeunderstand what youhelped mold and shape me. a great horse out of him. She rode a lot of horses inmean. Give that horseShoot they are still doing that between as well and she told me that the more horses shesome grace. Maybe yourfor me weekly. could win on the more feathers in her cap. People thinkmom and dad never I can only win on Scamper, she said. Well, guess what?gave you any graceTomorrow is a new day and She won ten world championships on him and thenand always demandedyou never know what the along came Cruiser. She won the world on him for theperfection but heres your chance to learn howLord may show you to help 11th trip. He had a different style and way about him butto give grace and forgiveness to that horse. Andyour situation if you just ask. so did Sloopy, Magic, and others that she won on. He hadheres another thought. if you are not seeing aSuch is life my friend, such lots of bend as compared to Scamper.She can jockey onepositive that day then go put them up. Be done.is life. This too shall pass. No as good as anyone in my book but the neat thing aboutI have seen more people ruin horses becauseone may have ever extended her is those animals dug her. We havent hung out in athey cannot let things go. You may not have theyou grace so you might long time but the last time I saw her she said, Did youtools in your tools belt to fix it. You may nevernot have thought about ever think we would be hanging around the baseball fieldhave those tools to fix it. It may be time to lookincluding it in your training or the swimming pool and not the arena? I bet she is ainto your situation and be real with yourselfprogram. Maybe this is the good mom with her kids like she is with her critters. Youand your horse. Be humble and say, Uncle! iftime in your life and in your never saw her out back picking on her horse.you need help. horse training that things will change a bit and there will be more of a softening that can only come from the man Sometimes I see folks that are training and they justDont get me wrong I can be blamed for picking on oneupstairs. People will feel it and your animals will sense wont back off that horse until there is perfection. Evenat certain points in my life when things werent going myit. Until next time. pray a bit and go sleep on it. ArizonaRealCountry.com July 2020 15'