I started barrel racing in 1998 on my first barrel horse, Linley Twist. She was out of shape but knew her job & she was my teacher. We went to 2 clinics at the Josey Ranch in Karnack, TX. I learned so much with that horse, she gave me 110% every time she ran. As she got in better shape, I figured out what I was doing & we were consistently falling betwen the 1 & 2D. It was ok with me, because I bought her as a 3D horse!
In April 1999, Twist gave me a pretty colt out of a Magnolia Bar stud. Later that year, Twist came up with COPD. I managed it for a few months & had her leased out on a breeding program. It wasn't meant to be and I lost Twist a week or so before Thanksgiving that year.
I still had the colt, Easy, who was a handful! I tried to start him myself, having no experience in starting a horse before & wound up getting hurt pretty bad. In the mean time, I'd bought another horse & just decided I was done with horses (yeah, right). I sold everything I had except my Martha Josey saddle and started singing. That lasted for more than a year. During that time, I hardly ever rode and didn't miss the chores that went along with horse ownership.
Then, it happend - I got bit by the bug in a BAD way! A lady in Iowa that is on a barrel racing list with me told me about a mare she had that would be perfect for me. Long story short, Beckys Easy Winner, aka Seven, came to be mine. She is a goofy horse, sort of acts like a 4 year old kid, but I wouldn't trade her for anything! We've been to the Josey Ranch and Seven has been to the trainer so we are ready to go! Since 2005, I've been hurt & she's been hurt & we haven't made it to many barrel races in between, but we are ready to start 2007 right! We will start out at the local saddle club to get our feet wet & move up from there!
I have also been fortunate enough to travel the area helping with Team Josey Clinics. If you attend a clinic in Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, Indiana or Mississippi - let me know! I might just be there working the tack booth! Josey Clinics are a blast for the young & old, new riders or seasoned veterans! Everyone can benefit from them! Come see us on the road! |
