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| Barrel Racing Tips from the Pros | ||
 Name: Molly PowellHometown: Stephenville, TX NFR Qualifications: 10 Horse: My main horse now is Midas. He is a 7 year old palomino gelding that my mom trained. Joined WPRA In: 1986 Career Highlights: NFR Champion, Calgary Stampede Champion, and Olympic Gold Medalist interesting facts: Joined the WPRA at age 10 What the Pros Use Feed & Hay: Total Equine, Bermuda and Alfalfa Hay Supplements: Support One by Pureform I also add a fat supplement to his Total Equine feed. Saddle: Molly Powell Freedom Fit by Reinsman Pad: Molly Powell Freedom Fit Balance Pad by Reinsman Bit: Molly Powell Bits by Reinsman Tack: Molly Powell X-Treme Series by Reinsman Question: You are an endorsee of Reinsman Equestrian Products and have had the opportunity to specifically design your own saddle with Reinsman, what are some of the factors you look for when designing and choosing a saddle to buy? Answer: Here's something that I have been considering…. a saddle can influence your style of barrel racing! I want my horses to turn their barrels with their hind end up underneath them and I also want their weight to be balanced and not have them drop to their front end in a turn. I believe that when a rider leans too far forward, more of the total weight from the horse and rider will inevitably shift onto the horse's front end. When a horse has more weight on his front end, he will have a tendency to have sloppier turns. Basically this unnatural balance handicaps his athletic ability. A horse's true power comes from his hind end. When I look at a saddle, I will first take the stirrup leather and swing it back and forth to see how far back my legs are going to be allowed to fall behind me. I don't want my legs to fall behind me because when they do, my upper body will more than likely fall forward from the inertia when we approach a turn, and I will handicap my horse from having a great turn. Another thing that I am picky about in a saddle is having the correct seat size. I estimate that about 75% of riders are riding saddles that are too big for them. When a rider sits in a seat that is too big, their ability to ride that saddle well is very much compromised because of the placement of the fenders in relation to the rider's hips. If your seat is too big, you will have a tendency to sit back on your pockets and your legs will be slightly ahead of you (this becomes more apparent when your stirrups are adjusted to the correct lengths and not too long). In a run, when you go to stand up in your stirrups, you will have a tendency to lose your balance and fall forward because your legs are not supported. Again, the result will many times be a less consistent or correct turn. I judge the correct seat size for myself by measuring the distance from my thigh muscle to the swell. I do not want my thigh to touch the swell, but the distance should not be over one inch. Somewhere in the middle is my comfort zone. When I have the correct seat size and stirrup length, I will notice that my shoulders, hips and feet are aligned. This balance helps me to minimize the shifting of my body weight approaching and leaving a turn. I can lean my upper torso forward or backward during a run. If I ever feel like I am not riding my horse to the best of my ability, I strongly evaluate my saddle. More than likely, when I have the correct seat and stirrup alignment, I will ride better. |
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 Name: Nellie WilliamsAge: 24 Hometown: Cottonwood, CA NFR Qualifications: 1 Horse: Reba’s Smokey Joe A.K.A. Blue Duck Pedigree: Mr. Bar Truckle X Azul Chips Mouse Joined WPRA In: 2007 2011 Highlights: Getting invited to the Calgary Stampede Career Highlights: Making the NFR in 2010 Goals for 2012: I want to stay closer to home and go to more circuit rodeos so that I can focus on younger horses. What the Pros Use Feed & Hay:Grass Hay and LMF Feed Supplements: Platinum CJ Saddle: Reinsman X-Series Barrel Racer Pad: Best Ever Pads Bit: Reinsman’s Molly Powell Money Maker Series Tack: Reinsman X-Series Tack Leg Protection: Pro Choice Question: There are so many different arenas for barrel racing, is there a trick to staying consistent in all different types of arenas? Answer: When I first started going to a lot of rodeos I was really out of my comfort zone in different parts of the country. The arenas in different areas can be a lot different from what you are used to running in at home. Experience goes a long way when you are rodeoing because when you have been somewhere previously you know what to expect. However, there is a lot to be said for being prepared. What I learned while I was traveling a lot is that it really pays to show up to the rodeo before you are up so that you can watch the barrel race to get a game plan. I will look at the position of the gate, whether it is a middle, alley, left-handed, or right-handed gate. This helps to gauge how you need to set your horse up for the first barrel. I will look at the distance between the gate and the electric eye to see if I need to move up before I start my run or if I need to be running before the gate in order to cross the eye at a full run. I look at the size of the arena and the distance between the fences and the barrels to figure out how to approach each barrel. This can depend on if your horse is a free runner or if he is a ratey horse. When I am at a new place I try to concentrate on measurements and distances instead of cosmetic stuff like color of barrels and color of fences and banners on the walls because unless you are on a colt or really green horse then stuff like that doesn’t seem to affect the run as much as having your horse set up right for the run. It is better to plan these things before your run because you only have a few seconds during your run to think of these things. The better prepared you are for each run the more consistent you and your horse will get in all types of arenas. |
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 Name: Sharon CamarilloHometown:Oakdale, California Horses: Chile and Jewel are both used to teach horsemanship and barrel racing skills at her clinics Career Highlights: Intercollegiate National Champion, NFR Qualifier, Inducted into the National Cowboy Hall of Fame and the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, accomplished trainer and clinician In Her Own Words: “In order to study horsemanship one needs an attitude of compassion, awareness, patience, forgiveness and confidence.” Interesting Facts: Sharon has been a guest at the White House and has performed in front of President Reagan What the Pros Use Bits, Pads and Tack: Sharon uses Reinsman Bits, Pads and Tack designed specifically for her. She has many different lines of Reinsman product that she recommends depending on the horse and rider. saddle: Designed by Courts Saddlery horse care and nutrition: Farnam products Question: You put a big emphasis on horsemanship at your clinics, what is the importance of horsemanship when a person starts barrel racing? Answer: One of my favorite quotes is by Vince Lombardi a famous football coach. He said, “Winning is accomplished in the fundamental phase, not the execution phase.” It is the same way in barrel racing. I believe that a winning run comes through preparation, practice, and experience. When I was competing a lot, my runs were consistent runs that sometimes weren’t the fastest runs. This strategy always won me consistent checks instead of a first place check here and there. To have consistent runs you have to have a horse that has a good foundation because when you add speed it makes everything harder. In an event like barrel racing speed is important but if the horse doesn’t know how to handle the speed then everything can fall apart quickly. So at my clinics I really work on horsemanship so that the rider understands why and how to make a successful barrel run not just once in a while but every time they enter the arena. |
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 Name: Britany FleckAge: 28 Hometown: Mandan, North Dakota NFR Qualifications: 1 Horse: 11 yr. old mare, Dasher Dude aka “Rootie” Pedigree: Sire: Texas High Dasher/Dam: April Dell Dude Joined WPRA In: 2008 2011 Highlights: Champions at San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo and the Cloverdale Invitational Rodeo in Cloverdale, British Columbia Career Highlights: 2011 NFR qualifier, 2011 Cloverdale, British Columbia Invitational Champion, 2011 San Antonio Champion, 2010 finished 17th in NFR standings, 2010 CFR qualifier, 2009 Badlands Circuit Champion, Numerous amateur titles in both barrel racing and all-around In Her Own Words: “As a professional barrel racer, I feel one of the most important aspects to success is setting goals. Each year, I set a realistic, but challenging goal to strive for throughout the rodeo season.” Interesting Facts: First Barrel Racer from North Dakota to make it to the NFR Goals for 2012: “My goals for next year are to make both the CFR and the NFR, but ultimately to have a healthy horse so that I can continue to make a living at what I love to do.” What the Pros Use Feed & Hay: I feed Omelene 200 mixed with Summer Heat Supplements: Oxymax and Platinum CJ Saddle: Double J Pad: Impact Gel Bit: short shank Sherry Cervi Tack: Reinsman X-series Tack Leg Protection: Professional Choice protective boots Question: The Thomas and Mack arena in Las Vegas is a very small set up for barrel racers, do you do anything different in small arenas that you wouldn't necessarily do in bigger arenas? Answer: When competing in a smaller arena like the Thomas & Mack in Las Vegas, it is necessary for Rootie and me to step up our game. Rootie is a very ratey horse, which can make a small pattern very challenging. When riding a ratey horse in a small pen, be sure to always look to your pocket and past the barrel. I drive my horse up into her turns as hard as I can, while always looking at my spot and never at the barrel. Horses tend to shut down quicker indoors and need the extra help to keep running through their turns. It works best for me to stay up riding over my horse a stride or two further before I sit than I normally would if I were outside in a big pattern. The second I sit and pick up on my inside rein, Rootie sits and turns. My tactics with her have worked in similar situations and my horse and I have been very successful in small indoor pens like Rapid City, San Antonio and Omaha. In Vegas, I plan to ride my horse like I have all year and treat each run like a separate rodeo. |
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