r u here like right now? If u r do u wanna go to chat?

Hello Mamma!!!

Camp must sure wear them out

That has GOT to be a first for samby!

Just to add, you are right in that a well trained horse will make a huge difference with kids in Jr.Rodeos, youth classes, etc....But when it comes to professional or semi-pro barrel racing (which are who would be going to the Olympics), everybody has a well trained horse and you have to be a very good rider to be competitive.

You may believe that Chester, and that run may have looked competitive to you, but honestly .01 or less of a second could be the difference between winning and losing. As I said in the thread, I know MANY girls who have gone out and bought pro horses that were winning pro rodeos, and they can't even place with them at amature rodeos because they can't ride them properly. Trust me, my trainer can get a far better run out of my horse than I can. I am not even close to being able to run pro, and I am running only one second behind the pro riders. I high school rodeo'd with teens who rode their mom's horses who had been to the CFR and Calgary Stampede, not exactly fair but on the other hand those girls still weren't at the top of the standings in high school rodeo on those horses.

Anyhow though, I don't wish to argue anymore. I respect you very much as a horseperson.

Yes, I do agree barrel racing could use more rules regarding safety for children and for horses as well.

I basically got from your posts that you thought we were all like those idiotic parents, judging us all from that video. That barrel racers in general did not belong in the Olympics because we are bunch of idiots. Sorry, I must have taken that the wrong way.

Dang youtube is blocked here on this computer, I will have to watch it tonighit.

Chester I have huge amount of respect for you as a horseperson and parent. But please, I find it very unfair to judge an entire sport based upon one idiotic parents' actions. There are idiots all over the horse world, not just in barrel racing. I don't know if you think I am an idiot or not, but I will at least try to assure that barrel racing is no different than any other discipline for numbers of great horsemen/women, dedicated riders, and on the other end of the spectrum....idiots.