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ADD YOUR BARREL RACING EVENT!
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Brittany Van
Winkle.
I am almost 14
years old, I live in Hempstead with my dad and mom, Billy and Lisa Van
Winkle. I started riding when I was three. I started out showing pleasure,
halter, and trail, then I started speed events when I was six. I like going
fast much better. I play volleyball at school and will start high school
rodeo this fall. I also participate in 4H, showing heifer, steer and goats.
one of my most
memorable barrel races was: I was running to the first barrel and my hackamore
broke and fell down around Lottie's chest. by that time we were at the 2nd
barrel, I had to use all my strength to pull her over, we went around the 2nd
and then around the third and I ran a 17.0. well someone had shut the alley
gate when they saw me loose my hackamore, and Lottie ran right up to the gate
and stopped hard. I should of gotten off then, but I thought she was thru
running, well not her, she headed back to the first barrel and just kept on
going, doing a victory lap full speed around the arena. I just held on and
this time when she stopped again at the closed gate I hopped off... I won the
youth barrels that day, and I was so proud of her for doing the pattern by
herself.
of course the
4D, it gives everyone a chance to place. But I don't think payout in each D
should be equal.
My advise to
newcomers is to get a horse that already knows the pattern and to get to be a
team with your horse. Also, get to be good friends with good barrel racers
and learn from them. You must also have a good horseshoer, my dad says " no
feet, no horse", but he is a horseshoer, and a very good one. Ride in
the pasture, work cows, rope, jump logs, etc. all of this is good for your
horse. We (Lottie and I) don't practice much, and we don't exhibition, but we
do have fun riding or roping, or just exercising my four horses every night.
Some nights if its too late to ride I exercise them in the round pen.
I think if the
guys can keep up with us, then go for it!
I am too young
to notice any changes in barrel races. 4D's are fun, but I do love the
excitement of going to rodeos.
No, I don't
consider myself a pro, but I might be one day.
My favorite
barrel racer is Janet Stover, she is calm and quiet, but firm with her horse,
I like that.
I would have to
say my favorite horse is Lottie. You will hear more about her soon. She is a
9 year old sorrel mare and I love her. I put sun - in on her mane and
forelock. She does the same thing after every run. I get off of her,
loosen her up, then she shakes all over, my whip falls off the saddle horn,
and her reins go over her head, then she yawns three times, then she looks in
my pocket for her treat. She gets a treat after every run, even if we don't
do well. Because if we don't do well, I know it's not because of her, its
because of me. The better you get, the more little bitty teeny weenie
mistakes will hurt you. You might stumble one little time, and it will make
the difference between winning the 1D or getting 5th in the 1D.
Lottie is a
strange horse. About 10 times I would run in the open and do OK, then I would
run in the youth right afterwards and she would outrun the fastest open time
run that day. Same pattern, same timer, same horse. Who knows.
See Yall at the
next barrel race. Brittany Van Winkle
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