The Weird, Unexplained, and Awesome

So I have been experiencing some really interesting things lately. School has started back for my son and i have to say, he is thriving! We had to make some changes and put him in public school. I was worried. But, I trusted that God was telling me that all would be fine. He is in fourth grade. We made the decision to put him back in a classroom (gasp) in a new school where he is making new friends. I have seen my child BLOOM. Literally. He loves the bus, the food, the teachers, and the friends! At first, I was like "why? Why do we have to do this?" Now i know it was what God wanted us to do. Our son found his Joy! 

 Next, I had this situation where I was without a horse to finish the season with my association. Barrel Racing y'all. Lynx was injured and Goose could not fill the gap. I borrowed a friend's horse. He did so well for me and clinched the year! We ended up Champion overall and in the adult group! I knew, in my soul, that I needed this horse in my life. I don't buy horses. I haven't purchased a horse since Gabe back in 2002. He is 19 now. But I did it and I'm not looking back! Splash is a blessing! 

Shortly after bringing Splash home, I started selling Summit Joint Performance. It's not unusual for me to sell products that I use. It is unusual for me to jump off a bridge and join a team to sell a product. This company and this product is simply AMAZING. Again, not looking back! 

 Flash forward... lessons this summer have been interesting due to COVID and all the changes in the world. Lessons cost money, people are cutting back and i expected to be one of the cutbacks. Instead, I have had one busy summer! I got a little low on funds to enter a benefit race that I enter every year to help support families in crisis while their kiddos are fighting cancer! Financially, due to vet bills and tires... and life.... I could not wrap my brain around entering. I casually put some stuff up for sale that needed to go. suddenly, two weeks before this race, I SOLD ALL OF IT. I also had to make the decision to pull a horse from my string. Goose doesn't want to be a barrel horse. While that was depressing, it gave me a sense of relief and opened up some new possibilities! Then, I started getting messages about new students!!!!!! Like God is saying "Hey, I got you! Watch This!" Now I can afford to enter that race that I have not missed since it began! Hayden's Help is the one I'm referring too and I am excited that I can now attend! Life has been a whirlwind and I honestly have been sitting here going "what is next?" God keeps saying "WAIT FOR IT". Prayers have been said. My prayers are being answered in HIS WAY. However, I see it. I see the answers. I hear you, God! I have been so BLESSED! Yes, bad things still happen (like needing to purchase three full sets of tires in two weeks time or stepping aside on Goose) BUT.... The Blessings Have Been Amazing! Thank you Lord!

That One Horse

We all have that one horse.You know. The one that makes us who we are today. The one that you wish you could keep forever. The one who taught you a lot and worked so hard for you at the same time. Some of us are blessed to get more than one. I'm very blessed to say that I have personally been the proud owner (or owned by) at least four of the version of that one horse! T.J. Was my first horse. He taught me all the things NOT to do when running a barrel horse. He also taught me grit. He taught me to listen. He taught me to be more aware of what is going on. He died too soon at the age of 19 in the fall of 2005. Next was Gabe. Yes I had a few between T.J. and Gabe but I have to skip over Thomas I didn't get as much time with them as I have Gabe. Gabe was that $800 yearling full of piss and vinegar from the get go. He was a hard nut to crack but on the inside, he has a heart of gold. But he wants things just so. He taught me to rejoice with the little accomplishments. He might have been a 3D local, 4/5D at big shows sort of barrel horse but he won his far share! Gabe is now 17 and retired. He has done it all from team penning, barrel racing, moving cows and right down to giving lessons. He also was able to carry my child through a year of playdays. If I had the money, I would put the $3000 in to him to fix what ever is wrong with him but honestly, he is fat, happy, and totally earned his right to be a sassy pasture ornament! When we were running, he gave his all. He was honest. If something was wrong, he told me. However, that punk would devour a set of reins, lead ropes, and in some situations, someone else's tack set! Not even kidding! He won a saddle, a buckle and a ton of other little things. He also won a lot of money! But due to weird circumstances, he is now just retired. Lynx is next. Lynx is my weirdo barrel horse! He is now 11. Born on our ranch out of a mare that was also born on our ranch. Oddly enough, he is the result of my hand picked bloodlines on a budget! I didn't plan on keeping him. Nope, he was for sale as a yearling and no one wanted him. Can't blame them. Despite his pedigree, he was an ugly ducking! Some how he ended up being mine. That blonde spot on his neck was something he was born with and he also has one on his front ankle. I had a dream about him before he was born and knew what he would look like before he hit the ground. Sure enough, my dream came true! He came out exactly like I dreamed! None the less, I had him for sale for $1500 and no bites. Finally I managed to get him from my dad and bring him home. I had no idea he would be the athlete that he is today! He has won about five buckles (I really need to count them) I don't even know how much money, and 3 saddles to date. I have never, in my life, had a horse that would run full speed to the first barrel and wrap it! It's a feeling like no other! I also have never owned a horse that ran in the 1D/2D at most all of his races! He is quirky. He has his special little things that I do just for him. He likes a routine. He wants me to say "Are you ready?? Lets Go!" In the alley! He loves his "special care" before each run and he is insanely jealous of attention that I give to anyone when I am riding him. He doesn't like me to answer my phone when we are riding. He hates anything heavy on his head. In fact, we ride in a super light snaffle with a super light headstall at home and we run in a super light bit. Even my race day reins are light and without snaps. To this day, no one has ever run him on barrels except me. Dee and Robert Carlton broke him and put a trotting pattern on him late in his 2nd year. But no one will ever run him except me. With that being said, he is an awesome lesson horse!! He will pack the kids around all day long. He rides like an English please horse at home (too fast for a western pleasure horse). He is a phenomenon! It just so happens that we bred Lynx's Dam back and Goose aka Perks on the Fly came into my life. Another well bred foal that no one wanted. He was born a gurlla and yes, I also had a dream about him before he hit the ground. I even have a sculpture that I made some 25 years ago that matches his markings. True to the mare's off spring, Goose is also quirky. However, he too went off to Dee and Robert and came back with the same pattern as Lynx. You can literally put their videos side by side and see how they maneuver around the pattern. Goose has had some really random stuff that we had to work through. Luckily I learned how to listen. Finally, at age 7, he is being entered into barrel races!!! I had to get some help though and I am not ashamed to say, I just don't have the trust bond like I do with Lynx to push Goose on the pattern. Well, God threw a 20 year old into my life whom is assuming the position of Jockey for Goose. I am super thrilled with how he is taking to his new life as a barrel horse!!! I have no doubt that he will give Lynx a run for his money! I really enjoy riding him at home. For the first time in my life, I have two that I really love to ride! Its just sort of crazy that they are maternal brothers!!!! They are both big boys! Zbar Lynx To Cash stands 15.3 hands and turns like a little cutter. Perks on the Fly stands 16.1 hands high and also turns like a little cutter! How on earth did I get so lucky to have these two??? Oh yeah...I am blessed! All in all, I have to say that God has really put the right horses in my path and the right people to guide and help me along the way! We might have to deal with some quirks here and there. But I feel that God has a plan for me! He is not done with me! So I will keep on riding Lynx and Goose and if I am really blessed, I will get one more foal out of Roxy (their Dam). I will be 40 in January and I am looking forward to the next chapter with Goose as my wing man and Lynx as my rock star! So when you loose "that one horse" understand that it might not be the end but the next chapter. Like I said, I have been blessed with 4! Don't give up. Just be patient and wait. If your heart is really in it and you trust God, your life will be filled with wonderful horses! I would not trade all the heart ache for the blessings that have been put on my plate!

A little history...

So I realize now that my horse, ZBAR Lynx to Cash is "new" to the world of barrel racing. Recently he has been winning in the 1D and I'm sure a lot of people are asking where we came from. So, here is a little history!

I bought Project Hold On with my dad back in 1999. She is Special Effort, Dash For Cash, Easy Jet and Raise Your Glass. She does have full AQHA papers vs appendix due to her speed index of 83 I think it was. Anyhow. She is a super LONG mare. Almost freakishly Long bodied! Horrible to ride because of her long back and short cannon bones. I knew I had to breed her to something short backed with a pretty head (her head is not so pretty but don't tell her that!). I chose a nice own son of Doc's Lynx out of an own daughter of Magnolia Bar. He was an older stallion but built like a Mac truck and PRETTY! He won a lot of points in roping and working cow horse etc. He stood 16.1 so I figured with the mare standing 15.2 we would get a nice sized foal. Not to mention that this  foal should be level headed and an athlete! The filly came out as a pretty palomino with a star, strip and two left socks. Unfortunately she was born when I had left the family ranch to become a County Extension Agent living 3 hours away. She was foaled in 2001. I am Aggie class of 2001! Whoop! Anyhow, Roxy (her barn name) was spoiled and did not go to school until she was six. She was a bit of a brat. My dad said "pick a stud and let's breed her!" Ok, will do! I went back to a stud we had used in the past named Pepos Peewee. He was a black stud and an own son of Peptonita out of an own daughter of Sugar Bars. He was all of 28 when we bred Roxy to him. All of his offspring are very easy to train and willing to do anything for their owners. You could say they all have a huge heart! 11 months later, Lynx was born. I had a dream about this colt. I knew we would be a tad bit of an ugly duckling but I knew he had a star and a left sock. I knew he would be something special one day. A week after my dream I got the call that Lynx had been born! 

Of course when the cell phone pictures got to me, I knew him from my dream. He was awkwardly tall and a little long necked with a huge head. But something drew me to him. Regretfully I had to place him for sale for my dad as a yearling. He was a hard keeper and well, dad wasn't into keeping geldings, colts, fillies etc. So, I put him up for a whole $1500. No bites. Like I said, he was kind of an ugly duckling! Well finally, around September of his yearling year, Jeff and I made dad an offer and lynx came home with us. 

I have a good friend who worked with me to get him 90 days of riding. I personally gave up breaking colts and really wanted a good foundation put on him. Boy oh boy did he come home with a good foundation! Dee and Robert Carlton did such an awesome job! They had him from august- November. When he came home, I was amazed at his willing attitude and his abilities. He has never been an in your pocket horse but none the less, he was special! Shortly after he came home he slightly bowed a tendon playing in the muddy pasture. So he got three months off. When I began to ride him again he was just as broke as he was when he was fresh from the trainer. Then I got pregnant! I could not ride with my baby in my belly. So he went back out to the pasture. Kolton was born in January of 2011. We moved to Wills Point two months later and finally it was time to ride. Gabe was coming back into shape and running good. Lynx was being hauled along and ridden. Nothing much. He did great but being 4, and still growing, I didn't want to push him. July of 2011 Gabe flipped over backwards tied to a fence. He was lame. Still is really. So it was time to move on and start riding Lynx and/or Trip, a little mare I acquired along the way. Trip was nice but went on to a calf roping home. I started to exhibition Lynx and he was slowly loping the pattern. He liked to slow lope and turn tight. I finally got up the nerve in November to ask for more. He shocked me with winning the 4D. Next thing I know we are hauling around. He kept getting faster and we kept trying to find a bit that was light enough but still had whoa. He was so touchy! He would cut right out from under me with a bit in his mouth! That big boy cuts like a little horse! Finally I had a hacks more made by JD Morrow. It was perfect! Then I got sick. I had to have some organs removed. Man oh man was I frustrated! From June 2012-December 2012, I was basically off my horse. We did make it to Elite in November when lynx acquired a lung infection. He had a triple lung infection that kept him at the vet for 6 weeks while I was having surgery. We seriously thought we had lost him. At this point he was 3D and getting faster. But we didn't realize he was a silent bleeder and had so much scaring in his lungs that he was holding his breath when he ran. We were all clear to start back to riding January 1st. I don't think my vet thought he would come back like he did! We went to Glen Rose that January and did pretty good. He just kept getting faster! 

We won our first buckle in the 2D. It was a six week series and we only made it to 4 of six. Mary Walker was there and helped us in the alley the night we won that buckle! I was so tickled! 

I got a job and tried to keep going. But between working, raising my son and the quickly growing pain in my hip, it was hard. We ran when we could. We made it back to Glen Rose in August of 2013. He tied for 20th in the 1D. WOW! Over 500 horses! But at that point I knew surgery was in my near future to repair my completely torn hip. I was doing good to walk without crutches. Back out to the pasture he went. Right along with his half maternal brother Perks on the Fly. (Same dam, sired by Perks Alive). Surgery for me happened before thanksgiving 2013. It was bad. It was very very very bad. After it was all said and done with, my doctor told me there was only a 10% chance the surgery would have worked. I spent that three months loving my horses through the fence. At 7 weeks post op I brought my saddle into the house and worked on just sitting in my saddle. It hurt but I had to try. At 11 weeks my doctor told me that even though he said 16 weeks before I can ride, he wanted me to ride. He said "it's who you are. You are a barrel racer and I think not riding is doing you more harm spiritually. You need to get back in the saddle so go ride!" It was cold and wet but I rode! It hurt but a good hurt! I think Lynx was glad to have me back in the saddle! At 13 weeks I entered up! I did leg him up from the ground for six weeks. I just had to do it in a way that it didn't hurt my hip. We also started back on FASTRACK. That helped him from the inside out!

Lynx came back strong! I did too. We had to learn how to ride all over again since my hip had been damaged for so long. But it's now June 2013. Lynx has won around $2000 since we started back in FEBUARY 2014. He has won the 1D at several races. Placed in the 1D and almost won us another 1D buckle! He placed high in the 2D at D&G then the very next week won the 1D locally. We beat our personal time over and over in a 6 week time span. We went from a 16.1 to a 15.6 on the same pattern! This last weekend he placed 2nd in the 1D. I'm still a little shocked! 

I know that God has put this amazing horse in my life for a reason! His "little brother" who is now 16.1hh, is coming along nice too. My life has had some amazing challenges and some wonderful blessings! Things have gotten bad then really good. But looking back, I think every set back was God saying...."wait, it will come in time". Now I am super blessed with an amazing athlete! He is only 7. His little bro is only 3. Both are on Fastrack. Both are doing amazing. I now feel a strong pull to rodeo! I decided to put it off for one more year. But we will be running at some bigger races until then! See y'all down the road!

Ah. Barrel Racing is good for the Soul.

So, yesterday aka Jan. 16th and Jeff's 33rd birthday, We went to a Barrel race. We hauled Joe and Gabe...of course my dog got to come too. :) It was a little muddy but overall we had a blast! We got there early and saddled up for exhibitions on Joe. Jeff actually went with me and that is rare! Joe and I managed to actually lope the pattern for the first time!!! We loped a 25 second pattern. Gabe, well......lets just say that I pulled a check for 2nd in the 4D so I should be happy.....but he was all about the blue barrel (garbage can) on the other side of the fence!!!! So, we came in hauling butt then went right past the first barrel like he did not even see it! I think I need to talk them into hanging some banners! lol After he got around the first, his second and third were nice and we had a good time. We ran a 17.1 Not sure how the heck we ran that FAST!!! I mean really, we went about 30 foot from the barrel!!!! WOW! He must have been rockin' and rollin! He felt really good too!
Well Jeff got me the pic of Joe loping his first pattern :) and everyone wanted to go out to eat. I was a little surprised when Jeff agreed and waited for everyone!~ OH and Brooke and Sarah were there too! Almost all of my favorite folks! Well we went out to eat at a mexican place with about 15 of us. It was a blast!
I joined NBHA TX 30 too. I have points there, so why not? I will post a video soon.

Another Great Weekend!

Well, I took Gabe and Gauge (my dog) to Conroe this weekend for a HUGE barrel race! Well, we planned on staying the whole weekend regardless of the fact that they were sold out of hook ups and stalls....We managed to get a stall, but had to run a generator Friday night. Gabe was slower than normal this weekend, but we had 3 good cans Friday night winning 2nd in the 4D! Man, we almost had that saddle!!! Finally got to bed around 2am.....and woke at 4am...That was it. Well, finally, after waiting all day, I got to run again! This time we were slower, but we managed to be just slow enough! Again we managed to place! We took 7th in the 6D! Yeah, it was not our fastest runs, but I was very pleased when i went and put all that money in the bank! Over $600!!!
My truck gave me some issues with starting on Sunday...took 4-5 hours....sigh. But we got back to the arena and I bought Gabe some bling! I will have to get my new headstall and then take glamor shots! The rest of the money went to bills and an entry fee....for Destry's Race in April!

My Weekend!

Hey Folks! I had a very busy weekend of Barrel Racing!!! Lots to do, but I figured you guys would like an update! I landed 25th in the 6D which gets me a prize.....I like prizes!! LOL Wish i had won money, but that is OK! I will have the video up in a couple of weeks when I get it in the mail. Gabe got a little hung up in the dirt, so we were not as fast as we could have been. We ran again Saturday night in the jackpot races and ran a 17.2!!! We only ran a 17.759 in the open race Friday. So, in the Jackpot race, My jaw locked up leaving the alleyway, hurt like hell. Then after having an awesome first barrel, I hung my whole belt on the saddle horn......while trying to get "unhooked" I dropped my reins and went about 4 strides to the second barrel (he did good and stayed on track) before getting unhooked. As soon as I got near my barrel, I was able to grab my reins again and we dove into the 2nd barrel.....wrapped it! Well, I dropped my outside stirrup.........UGH!! Well, I decided to push on with out it and we did good on the third. Would have been better if I could have stepped out! Well, i never found my stirrup and pushed on the way home. Thank God he is smooth and has the hang of the closed alleyway!!! Anyhow, I was blown away at how nice his run was!!! We fell at the bottom of the 4D. No money but a way better run! Also, I was told that if I could get my shit together, I might have a 2D pony! Gabe agreed.....he said it was all me!! LOL

Its Been a While, Sorry

Well, I have been busy and not tending to my business as much as I should!! LOL But, I am here now!!! OK, for starters, PMS is here...hopefully gone by the end of the week, I have gone several months with out a steroid shot....meaning that my Body is doing better. Gabe is getting in shape and I am getting used to my new saddle. Our last run was in Marshall and I am NOT thrilled about it.


Basically, i was nervous and holding on for dear life to a slow moving train. I did not ride him. I sat there. OH and if I dont figure out how to SHUT MY MOUTH, I am going to break out the duct tape!!! LOL However, yesterday we went to the covered pen in Hemphill and made two runs. First one, we did not go right to the first...so, I took him all the way to the fence and re-directed. Second run was OMG great!! He did everything that we have been practicing! So, we are ready and I am going to try like hell not to dwell on anything this week. We will be heading to Wacko on Friday for the WBR race. BIG race and lots of fun! We will run Sat night and Sun morning. I am thinking that we will not have internet, so be patient since I am not coming home till Monday. Thankfully I will have brooke for a co-pilot and she claims that she is the driver, groom, shit raker and something else...LOL So, we should have fun!! Also, Michelle is going!! SO, good times had by all!!! TTYL!

Wow! What a Weekend!!!!!

Well, I have been busy!!! Hannah came into town Friday night and we rode Gabe and Joe around for about an hour! Joe was doing so good! Anyhow, we loaded up and headed to Stonewall around 9am! We ran, Gabe did great ( a little wide on the first) all in all, good race! I rode Joe around long enough to hear that I was not near the placings on the 3D. Joe did GREAT! Went to the trailer, called around to say that I ran and did good....Decided with Bobby's help, to turn the rig around and haul up to Mindien! Keep in mind that we are in Louisiana.... :) Anyhow, BR to start at 5pm, it was 3pm...So we waited!!! THIS IS WHEN I wish I had a generator!!! It was HOT!!!! Anyhow, they started 2 hours LATE, I ran around 10pm...BUT, we won a check in the 3D!!! I am really wanting to figure out how the heck to ride!!!! Shelly, you would have thought that I had NEVER been on Gabe!!!LOL. Anyhow, funny part of the trip number 2~ I think we turned the truck and trailer around about 5 times that day!!! Also, Hannah kept tell me she had never been that far NORTH!!! LOL. Oh, and I got my new saddle!!!

My Take On the D System For Barrel Racing.....

Thud Thud I am going to say my peace over here about the 6D stuff. Cause, I am tired of that never ending story. Basically, you have your 1D horses that are sometimes 2D horses....even 3D on a bad day. But, the D system was designed to allow more horses to compete in barrel racing.I mean really. How many horses are going to be PRCA barrel horse material? But, can they turn 3 cans pretty and fast? YUP. Might not be the fastest horse out there, but, they give their all and most of the riders give their all as well. YES we all want to be the fastest runner and we all aspire to find that one horse that will get us there.Here is the deal. We all want to do the best we can do. WE ALL want to have a fast consistent horse. Some of us are not as fast as others and the D system makes it worth while for us to keep on racing. Without the D system, there are several horses that would be deemed worthless because they are not the fastest horse out there. But, they are not worthless. They all have heart. The all want to preform for their owners. Yeah, there are some people out there who dont put enough time and effort into their sport, but, the majority of us that are not 1D runners want to gain speed, skill and be the best out there. Dont knock the D system. For once in my life I feel like there is a place out there for every barrel horse to compete.

I remember back when you had the open and the novice classes. I ran for many years in those classes always a fraction of a second poor. KICK YO BUTT I would climb the novice ladder (horse) and enter the open to fall short of the money. Now there is a chance for me to continue to climb the ladder!!!! So to all those peeps who think if you are not in the 1D you are not trying hard enough!!!!!!

WBR