Let the Training Begin
Sometimes I feel like I’m in the movie Inception. I get “implanted” with these crazy ideas and it’s all I can think about.
Right now, it’s the Extreme Cowboy Race. A timed event that tests you and your horse’s ability to navigate obstacles (like bridges, dragging objects, and opening gated) and perform western moves (roll backs, sidepassing, lead changes). I spotted the event several months ago and it’s all I’ve been able to think about. It’s probably safe to say it’s been put on my Bucket List – as one of my must do things in my lifetime.
And wouldn’t you know, in a little less than two months there will be an Extreme Cowboy Race held at the Horse World Expo in Harrisburgh, PA, for the first time ever – that’s about an hour and half from me. Way too close for me not to be really really tempted to enter.
It is this sole reason that I took poor unsuspecting Boomerang from this:
To this:
It is also the reason I borrowed a Western Saddle.
And the reason I took Boomerang to his first Western lesson on Monday. I think I must be crazy.
See the idea of the Extreme Cowboy Race is so exciting to me! I want to try something I’ve never done before, I want to challenge my pony and myself, I want to see if we can do it. But then I remember I am an english rider, I grew up competing in Dressage, Boomerang is still very young and immature, and it makes me nervous just THINKING about how many people would be watching me at the Expo. Are we really ready?
If it wasn’t for the HEFTY entry fee, not to mention stabling, hotel fees, transportation, lesson fees, being away from work, and the short time I have to get ready – probably there would be NO question, and I’d throw my hands in the air and say what the heck do I have to loose? But the reality is that I don’t want to spend all my time, money, resources on something I think I’m only half ready for. I want to succeed. I want to enter the arena KNOWING that we’re ready for this. KNOWING that Boomer is ready for this.
And we might be. Maybe.
I’m going to continue working Boomerang. Taking him to lessons, practicing at home, perhaps swimming him in the indoor track pool for race horses – whatever it takes to push ourselves to maybe, just maybe, be ready.
And if all else fails. I discovered the American Trail Horse Competition. Boomer is going to kill me.
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You GO girl! I hope you can pull it off!!!! I will be there to take pictures of you should you go for it! I would be in your fan section 🙂 good luck to you and Boomerang in your training!
haha thanks! We’ll see how it goes. I’d really like to try it – but it also scares me outa my mind! We’ll see if Boomerang is ready for the challenge.
Hey at least Boomer can never complain of boredom! 🙂 I understand the expense thing. I’m not sure I would be able to justify spending a lot if I weren’t ready either, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try to be ready. You will know when it’s time if you’re ready to give it a shot. Good luck!
I think you are taking a good approach to it! Its good to challenge yourself, but if ya are like me, you like to “feel” ready before tackling something new~ 🙂 see how it goes, Boomer may surprise you!
Wendy Stephens competes a welsh pony in the extreme cowboy races, The Balief. I always thought ponies would be ideal in these races that require such bravery and surefootedness…bet a CP would excel at it. I even thought about mounted shooting too!