We take off at a dead run…headed for the left WHITE barrel…almost there…THEN MY MARE ZOEY JUMPS 6 FT (felt like more) TO THE RIGHT. Yes she was SCARED of the freaking white barrel. I AM A MAJOR BARREL RACING AMATEUR! Haven’t gone to many barrel races, but do different exercises in the barn that I learned from barrel clinics. We have only ever been somewhere – barn included – where the barrels were dark blue or black.

This particular incident happened at a barrel race-thankfully in exhibition (yes I went home after the exhibition). However, I am happy to report that I stayed on her as she jumped sideways and I made her go around the barrel-IN FRONT OF EVERYONE. Barrel one was TERRIBLE, barrel two was SLIGHTLY better and she actually went around barrel three with a little PRIDE.

I thought to myself, “It was ALMOST PERFECT in my arena”, so when I saw this post on facebook I knew this is exactly what happened to me.

Why? I know what you are all thinking-because I am WAY more relaxed IN MY OWN ARENA! I was as high strung as a rider could get that day. I hadn’t run barrels in front of anyone for a LONG time so I was super nervous!

After getting over the embarrassment and wanting to crawl UNDER my horse to hide, I did see some humor in it. My horse friends and I have laughed about it this week-and I have promised them that I will try again. So everyone will keep me to this-I will go to more than one barrel race a year.

My little lady thought I did GREAT-which made me proud of her. I would have told her the same thing if it would have happened to her-and I presume someday something like this will…

Until next time…

Alisha (aka Wild Woman of the West)

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