| Western Style Decor for your ranch or cabin! |
Tips #1 - I welcome you to CCL Ranch Decor and thought I would share a little background with you about us. Are you into
horses? My family and I are. Barrel horses have been a part of my life since I was 13 years old, about 50 years ago. Since I
fell in love with the competition of barrel racing in the dark ages, it has become a fine science compared to just aiming toward
a barrel and trying to leave them standing. I think the biggest revelation was the fact that it is an evolution of skills that takes
longer than most of us want to acknowledge. After all, we are working with an animal with the brain the size of a walnut,
they say.
I would get them galloping around the barrels pretty early in the game before flexing, bending, stretching, hundreds of bit
changes, protective boots, or even being half "bridle-wise" was ever heard of. Needless to say, in that many years, I had
quite a few that either blew up from the pressure because they did not have the underlying development of skills that was
necessary to perform that type of competition or they just weren't suited for it because I did not know what type of horse to
look for. I just took what was affordable and available.
Fortunately, I was trainable and have picked up a few things down that long road. Back in Tennessee and Mississippi
where I originate, we traversed to many a weekend horseshow, jackpot, or rodeo. The competition there is pretty tough,
but because of the HUGHNESS that is Texas, you did not have quite the numbers "back east" to compete against that
in Texas show up at almost every function.
In my younger days, I battled a lot of peer pressure and what would be thought about me if my horse did not perform well.
Did that ever happen to you? I thought it reflected greatly on my prowess as a rider and trainer. Young barrelracers
seemed to have their own clicks and groups and a lot of gossip made the rounds, and it was mostly negative. It seemed
I not only had my competition to worry about, I also had to overcome doubts and fears in my own head that popped up
to the surface every time about three horses before my name would be called to run up the alley. You might say that I
was overly sensitive -- could be. Still, it was there, along with screaming crowds, strange arenas, bad ground, and bad draws,
interfering with my performance because I was not focused where I should have been, and that was with the very first step that
my horse took toward that alley where the barrel race actually starts. Some approaches have to be down the center or more
to the right or to the left. And if that first step was not putting me in the correct position to the first barrel, chances were it was
not going to be a good barrel. As I matured, I figured out that no one cared about my run anyway as they were more than
likely busy thinking about overcoming their own problems.
So, you might say that the same pressure that ruined some of my past horses for barrels was going to do the same for me as
all my confidence seemed to drain away the minute I put my foot out of the truck. But, I was too much into the sport to give it
up. Before computers, there wasn't a lot of information going around about training barrel horses, at least not where I cam
from. I did find some books about other sports and our inner mind-games and how to overcome defeating ourselves, and I
was able to apply it to my sport. One phrase I learned to repeat when I was rodeoing quite heavily was that no matter what
happened -- broken gear, bad ground, arriving on the grounds late -- or whatever hundred other things would happen to
un-focus your mind -- was the phrase "no problem." That's it. I would just say "No problem," to myself instead of dwelling on
the bad stuff and it seemed to help diminish the negative situation.
I have really enjoyed sharing with you and have lots more to say about barrelracing at a later date. Do you have any stories
you would like to share regarding your experiences with horses? E-mail us with your story at
admin@cclranchdecor.com and we will post it right here. Just say if you want your name and location to be anonymous.
We would like to hear from you. I'm not too old to learn and want to see what you an teach me.
Till then, try to leave 'em standing.
Cam Locke
horses? My family and I are. Barrel horses have been a part of my life since I was 13 years old, about 50 years ago. Since I
fell in love with the competition of barrel racing in the dark ages, it has become a fine science compared to just aiming toward
a barrel and trying to leave them standing. I think the biggest revelation was the fact that it is an evolution of skills that takes
longer than most of us want to acknowledge. After all, we are working with an animal with the brain the size of a walnut,
they say.
I would get them galloping around the barrels pretty early in the game before flexing, bending, stretching, hundreds of bit
changes, protective boots, or even being half "bridle-wise" was ever heard of. Needless to say, in that many years, I had
quite a few that either blew up from the pressure because they did not have the underlying development of skills that was
necessary to perform that type of competition or they just weren't suited for it because I did not know what type of horse to
look for. I just took what was affordable and available.
Fortunately, I was trainable and have picked up a few things down that long road. Back in Tennessee and Mississippi
where I originate, we traversed to many a weekend horseshow, jackpot, or rodeo. The competition there is pretty tough,
but because of the HUGHNESS that is Texas, you did not have quite the numbers "back east" to compete against that
in Texas show up at almost every function.
In my younger days, I battled a lot of peer pressure and what would be thought about me if my horse did not perform well.
Did that ever happen to you? I thought it reflected greatly on my prowess as a rider and trainer. Young barrelracers
seemed to have their own clicks and groups and a lot of gossip made the rounds, and it was mostly negative. It seemed
I not only had my competition to worry about, I also had to overcome doubts and fears in my own head that popped up
to the surface every time about three horses before my name would be called to run up the alley. You might say that I
was overly sensitive -- could be. Still, it was there, along with screaming crowds, strange arenas, bad ground, and bad draws,
interfering with my performance because I was not focused where I should have been, and that was with the very first step that
my horse took toward that alley where the barrel race actually starts. Some approaches have to be down the center or more
to the right or to the left. And if that first step was not putting me in the correct position to the first barrel, chances were it was
not going to be a good barrel. As I matured, I figured out that no one cared about my run anyway as they were more than
likely busy thinking about overcoming their own problems.
So, you might say that the same pressure that ruined some of my past horses for barrels was going to do the same for me as
all my confidence seemed to drain away the minute I put my foot out of the truck. But, I was too much into the sport to give it
up. Before computers, there wasn't a lot of information going around about training barrel horses, at least not where I cam
from. I did find some books about other sports and our inner mind-games and how to overcome defeating ourselves, and I
was able to apply it to my sport. One phrase I learned to repeat when I was rodeoing quite heavily was that no matter what
happened -- broken gear, bad ground, arriving on the grounds late -- or whatever hundred other things would happen to
un-focus your mind -- was the phrase "no problem." That's it. I would just say "No problem," to myself instead of dwelling on
the bad stuff and it seemed to help diminish the negative situation.
I have really enjoyed sharing with you and have lots more to say about barrelracing at a later date. Do you have any stories
you would like to share regarding your experiences with horses? E-mail us with your story at
admin@cclranchdecor.com and we will post it right here. Just say if you want your name and location to be anonymous.
We would like to hear from you. I'm not too old to learn and want to see what you an teach me.
Till then, try to leave 'em standing.
Cam Locke
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| Call us for information on starting and finishing your barrel horse, individual lessons by multiple regional IPRA finalist, AQHA Superior earner, and many other accomplishments. We have many years of experience in barrel horse training. 918 575 3449 |
ALWAYS LEAVE 'EM STANDING
Tips #2 - You know, I must be pretty slow. I knew that a horse had to have a lot of basics to help him
progress in barrel training, but I have only REALLY realized just how much a lot of basics “is”. You really
have to be quite a disciplinarian to get your point across to even the most agreeable horse.
I discovered that you really don’t create a soft mouth. What you create is suppleness, and the more the
better. How much is too much? You cannot bring his head to your toe too much (alternating sides), you
cannot trot too many small circles with the neck flexed in the direction of the turn. You must insist that your
barrel prospect respect the bump on the bit to give his head. If not, you accelerate the intensity of that bump
till he gives and immediately bump again if he takes his head away. How many times do you do this? Why,
until he ceases to resist by taking his head away. Of course, you use your inside heel to ask for flex in the
girth area and rib cage at the time you ask for the head. And don’t ever forget the reward – release the
head as soon as he gives it. Take it back with a bump as soon as he resists.
You will be amazed when you go to the pocket and get the flex in the neck when you ask for it, how much
easier it is to navigate the barrel. There is no way your horse can shoulder.
Sometimes it really takes perseverance. I’m talking possibly a couple of weeks to get that soft response.
The other technique is the “reverse arc.” You all know what that is – bump the inside rein to pull your horse’
s head to the inside, use the inside leg and ask your horse to do a circle going the opposite way. It’s a little
bit like side passing, except the head and rib cage is flexed to the inside. The front end should move to the
outside of the arc more than the hindquarters.
This exercise is great to do IMMEDIATELY if your horse pulls on you anywhere in circle around the barrel. It
makes him back off the bit, allowing you to hold him up and away from the barrel, if necessary. Do enough of
these, and you should not have to hold him up and away.
Till then, try to leave 'em standing.
Cam Locke
progress in barrel training, but I have only REALLY realized just how much a lot of basics “is”. You really
have to be quite a disciplinarian to get your point across to even the most agreeable horse.
I discovered that you really don’t create a soft mouth. What you create is suppleness, and the more the
better. How much is too much? You cannot bring his head to your toe too much (alternating sides), you
cannot trot too many small circles with the neck flexed in the direction of the turn. You must insist that your
barrel prospect respect the bump on the bit to give his head. If not, you accelerate the intensity of that bump
till he gives and immediately bump again if he takes his head away. How many times do you do this? Why,
until he ceases to resist by taking his head away. Of course, you use your inside heel to ask for flex in the
girth area and rib cage at the time you ask for the head. And don’t ever forget the reward – release the
head as soon as he gives it. Take it back with a bump as soon as he resists.
You will be amazed when you go to the pocket and get the flex in the neck when you ask for it, how much
easier it is to navigate the barrel. There is no way your horse can shoulder.
Sometimes it really takes perseverance. I’m talking possibly a couple of weeks to get that soft response.
The other technique is the “reverse arc.” You all know what that is – bump the inside rein to pull your horse’
s head to the inside, use the inside leg and ask your horse to do a circle going the opposite way. It’s a little
bit like side passing, except the head and rib cage is flexed to the inside. The front end should move to the
outside of the arc more than the hindquarters.
This exercise is great to do IMMEDIATELY if your horse pulls on you anywhere in circle around the barrel. It
makes him back off the bit, allowing you to hold him up and away from the barrel, if necessary. Do enough of
these, and you should not have to hold him up and away.
Till then, try to leave 'em standing.
Cam Locke