Reasons For Downed Poles

There are several causes for downed poles during this event.

1)     Pole bending requires a level of precision unmatched by any other timed rodeo event. Many riders underestimate the skill required at high speeds and invariably knock the poles down.

2)     Horses often stiffen when rounding poles. A horse that flexes at the wrong time can position the rider too close to the pole, causing the rider to down the pole with her knee.

3)     Direction changes require perfect timing. If a horse changes direction a second too soon, the rider's knee will often down a pole.

4)     A horse that flexes in the wrong direction can cause downed poles. Ideally, a horse should flex in an arc that surrounds the pole. When the horse is inversely flexed, its flank can push the rider's knee into the pole.

In Pole Bending, it is important to bend your horse.  Getting the horse to flex around the pole creates more clean pole runs.

Sometimes It Takes Two - Picture of the Week

We all need help from our friends.  Especially when your horse is at least 2 feet taller than you. 

Muscle Memory

Here is a great tip for calf and goat tying.   Every time you get off your horse; at the trailer, hitching post, or practicing get off just like you would for goat tying or calf roping.  This builds and reinforces muscle memory.  Remember it doesn't always have to be fast.  It just needs to be done correctly.

Rodeo Mom Poem

Rodeo Moms

by Shauna Winter

Rodeo Moms are the meanest moms

That I have ever seen

I watch her as her kids compete

And all she does is scream

Kick, pull back, and hold on tight

Are things she’s known to say

I am quite sure that all the kids

Wish Mom would stay away

Mom wants her kids to win first place

No matter what the cost

It’s like she thinks that her own kids

Will be the next Lane Frost

It doesn’t matter what event

Barrels, Poles, or Goats

She only wants her kids to win

So she can sit and gloat

Now when it comes to roping

It becomes much more intense

She screams at them to catch their calf

Before it hits the fence

Rough stock events can’t be forgot

A mom will make a choice

To hide her face within her hands

Or let them hear her voice

A Rodeo Mom is oh so mean

Practice is a must

So when you hit the rodeo trail

It’s first place or bust

The lessons that I’ve learned so far

Is fun cannot be had

If you don’t win you better run

Cause Mom will sure be mad

I hope you know I’m kidding

No better Mom is found

The time she puts into this sport

To drag her kids around

First there are the clinics

That kids need to succeed

Of course kids have to clean the stalls

And learn how much to feed

They must also care for

The animals they ride

Because they know that if they don’t

Mom will “tan their hide”

Of course we never could forget

The reason for the chore

We take off each weekend

Which never is a bore

A Rodeo Mom will make her kids

Work hard at what they do

For she knows when they succeed

They are so happy too

The lessons that our kids have learned

While following the trail

Will help them as they go through life

And they will never fail

Among this group I’m proud to say

Are many of my friends

We all love this life we lead

And hope it never ends

Connie Combs Barrel Clinic

Forget the Hat - Rodeo Quick Tip

Think about speed events at a rodeo. They are usually done in 15 to 30 seconds. Anytime spent doing anything but running hard makes your time slower.

So, when running speed events forget about your hat. I have seen a lot of kids lose because they were concerned about their hat. If you are concerned about your had comming off wear a string to keep the hat on, however I do not recommend this. The hat can slide if you are turning a quick barrel and get stuck in front of your face. (True story! Ask me about it sometime.) The best thing to do is get a hat that fits properly and if it comes off, it comes off. It is better to get a squished hat than to lose because you tried to catch or adjust your hat.

Turning A Steer - Picture of the Week

Look at that roper!  He is too young to be turning a steer! 

Rodeo May 29-31-Events

Central Utah Junior Rodeo will be holding a rodeo May 29-31 at the Blackhawk Arena in Salina, Utah.  

More information is available on their web page: http://www.allhorseutah.com/CULBR.htm

Practice Tip

When you practice most kids want to go fast to make sure that they can perform well at a rodeo. That is totally the wrong thing to do.  We have come to the conclusion that if you practice slow and carefully you will perform better at the rodeos. 

 

When you practice slow and do it perfectly every time you build muscle memory and when you have to do it faster at the rodeo your "muscles will remember what you have practiced  and do it quickly."  I know it sounds really dumb but it works.  If it is goat tying, do it slowly. If you run barrels or poles, walk through the pattern and get in the correct positon as you enter the barrel/pole turn. If you rope, make sure that your elbow, wrists and hands are in the correct positions . PRACTICE PERFECT and the results will show.

Adorable Barrel Racer - Picture of the Week

Look at her get her horn and turn that barrel! Too cute!

Rodeo Quick Tip

"Don't look back."

I find that this often happens in barrels and poles.  The girls hits a barrel or pole or thinks that she has hit one and looks back to see if it is still up.  While she is looking back, she is either missing riding to the pocket of her next barrel or she is hitting the next pole.  Always, tell your kids to keep their heads up and focus on where they are going.  If they did knock over the barrel or pole, there is nothing they can do about it anyway. 

Missing the Bottom Back Leg of the Goat

Two reasons are common for missing the bottom back leg of the goat when gathering them.

1st Reason: Not bending and reaching out enough at the beginning of the gather.  This usually happens when we are focused on staying back in our hips in efforts of not putting too much pressure on the back legs of the goat.  So we get caught sitting too straight when reaching for the back legs, therefore only catching the top back leg instead of both.  Make sure you round your back and hunch over some to help keep weight back while stretching/reaching out for the back legs. 

2nd Reason: Not rotating LEFT wrist over so our left thumb can hook over bottom back leg of the goat at the end of the gather.  It's like you have both back legs and then the bottom back on drops when your right hand reaches for your string.   Small handed or short fingered goat tyers, really have to rotate their left wrist to get it on top of the legs when gathering so their left thumb can hook over all of the goat's legs. By getting your left wrist on top of the legs after gathering, it'll help hold all the legs tighter together while you tie.