Preferences, Passions and
Principles
People who get involved in
the barrel racing industry often express to me that they get confused by all
the different styles and methods involved in the training and showing of
barrel horses. There are so many articles written on how to train horses
and much of the information is conflicting or opposing.
To sort this out for my
customers and students, I tell them to consider this:
Preferences: There are
many things in the barrel horse world that are simple preferences. The
saddle you ride must fit you and your horse and put you in a position to
gather, turn and run without making your horse’s back sore. It must enable
you to be balanced at all points from the beginning of the race to the
stopping point. What brand and type of saddle you use is your own
preference. There is not ONE brand that is the only kind that might fit
your preference.
The kind and color of
splint boots that you use is a preference. The type of reins,saddle pad,
breast collar and headstall you use is also something I would place under
preferences. (I see people using tassels on their headstalls that bounce
into the horse’s eye during the runs- I would call that a preference that
hinders a performance.) But, that is their preference in headstall
decorations. What about all the different brands of horse shoes? What
about all the theories of horse shoeing? These are also listed under the
preference column as long as it is enhancing your performance and not
hindering it.
Tie-downs can be very
controversial. I have seen articles written that say a horse cannot turn as
fast with a tie-down and have seen articles written that a horse can balance
better with a tie-down that is set correctly. Again, looking at the NFR
over the years, you will see a split in preference on this subject.
Sometimes it is about half and half.
Preferences are a matter
of choice and as long as it is not hindering your performance or costing you
time, these are simple matters of what you like the best.
Principles: Principles
are something that I am passionate about. I am passionate about making sure
that the horses that I train and handle are never put into a compromising
position that could cause injury or pain. I am passionate about training
horses that last a long time and perform until they are ready to retire. I
think that there are many programs today that produce horses that have no
longevity. Drugs, training and pushing horses beyond their capabilities
will shorten their longevity.
I never want to see a
horse being beaten and will refuse to work with a student that takes their
frustrations out on the horse by jerking and whipping it when a mistake is
made. I don’t like to see horses pushed beyond their mental capacities and
asked to do things that they are not ready to do. I dislike seeing horse’s
mouths all pinched and bloody – in fact, I don’t want to see any blood
anywhere on the horse.
One thing that I am very
passionate about is seeing a horse pulled up and beaten and jerked in
competition. I believe that we should have rules to expel that person from
competing. I am passionate about policing ourselves so that we never give
any ground to groups that are animal radicals. (You could even call me
radical on this subject and I have written letters to associations this past
year to turn in anyone that I see doing this.)
I am passionate about the
care of the animal. I am speaking of regular shots, worming, food, clean
water, clean stalls and proper tooth and foot care. I believe that a horse
that feels good and knows what you want from him- will be simple to train.
I am not saying that every horse will make a barrel horse – but every horse
has a place and a use and is worth something to someone.
Any method of training
that produces good horses with longevity is a good program. You just have
to find a style that fits you and that you like and go with it. All you
have to do is watch people that have good horses year after year after
year. And when they didn’t have a good one, they made one that was decent
in that year. We don’t always have champions each year – but a solid
program that works with the horse will always produce nice horses and great
ones when they come into that program.
So – don’t be confused by
all the things you see and hear. Just sort it out by preferences and
principles. I have changed preferences over the years on some things, but
my principles are something that will never change and I will always stand
up for the horse. My Bible tells me that the righteous man has a regard for
his beast. I not only have great regard for my horses, but love them and
the lifestyle that they have allowed me to live. They have taught me many
lessons over the years and I have come to realize how very smart and
sensitive they are. It’s up to us to set our principles high and stand up
for anything that is good for the horses and stand against anything that is
not.