We Are The Champions....

[AUEquine]

Well it has been a long hot week, but well worth it in the end. Cash and I have spent the last 4 days in 100+ degree heat at the NBHA State Barre Racing Championships. We had a fairly mediocre week in the beginning. It began with the jackpot race. I was trying some longer reins to avoid hitting him in the mouth when we ran, but it didn't work. He tripped at the first barrel and I lost my reins. When I got them back I couldn't get them short enough and we crashed the second barrel. Oh well... back to the short reins. First night of the open, was an ok run for us. We ran a 17.0?? and the winner was a 14.7??. Somehow we were lucky enough to catch the last qualifying spot for the short go. We ran in the adult the next morning. Cash was not in the mood to listen to me so our turns were wide and we ran a 17.4??. That night we ran in the second go of the open and it was another ok run 17.1??.
The anticipation builds.... hahaha!
Sunday morning came and I was so nervous about the finals. I knew our 17 second runs didn't stand a chance in the finals. And right before our run a girl ran a 14.663. I new I was doomed, so we just went in to run for fun! I changed up our run a bit. I didn't let him run until the end of the ally. It worked well, we had a much better first barrel (first had been our killer all week). With a great first barrel it set us up to have a much better second barrel. I let him turn third on his own and just threw the reins up and a few whacks with the quirt and it was over. Then I hear the time... 16.658! I was ecstatic. I just laid on Cash's neck and rubbed and patted him the whole way out! A little later I realized that I had run too fast... I was in the 3D. I was still proud though. I cleaned Cash up, put him away, and started packing up the truck and trailer. It was pouring rain and I was trying to load the truck when my friend called. She said someone had just run a 14.641... I started jumping up and down! I continued packing because I was sure that there was someone ahead of me and I would just get a placing. She called back a few minutes later screaming that I'd won! I couldn't believe it!
WE WON!!!!! We were the 4D Champion! We won a saddle, check, and a wildcard to the world championships! Woo Hoo!!!!
Ok... I haven't taken pics of the saddle yet, but I do have videos!

Ok... youtube keeps freezing my computer up... not sure what's going on. Until I can figure it out, they are all on youtube, username AUEquine.

[CaddoCinnamon]

Sweet...Awesome job.
I am working with Cinnamon now. I haven't put her on the barrels yet but I am hoping that we can next year. that is awesome..

[Dakota Sunrise]

Awesome! Congrats!:clap:

[AUEquine]

Ok... youtube still not cooperating, but I think I found a back way to do it:

Adult:
YouTube- Cash State Adult

Open First Go:
YouTube- Cash State 1st Go

Open Second Go:
YouTube- Cash State 2nd Go

Open Finals:
YouTube- Cash State Finals

[Scout1026]

Yea!!!! Congrats!!! :)

[natisha]

Good for you. I never understood the 2D, 3D etc. but if you won a saddle & all that other stuff I'd say you did GREAT!!!!

[AUEquine]

hahaha! Quick "D" explanation.... This is how we compete different levels of horses against each other. In other disciplines things get harder (jumps higher, harder moves, etc.) but the barrel patter is always the same. So this is how we compete pros with hobby riders. Barrel races are divided into divisions. The 1D is the fastest. So the chick who ran the 14.641 won the 1D. Then they take her time and add .5 seconds. This starts the 2D. Whoever had the time closest to 15.141 without being faster wins the 2D. Add another .5 second to the 2D time and that's the 3D, then add 1 second to the 3D time and that's the 4D time.
I normally run in the 3D/4D in our district, and 4D at the bigger shows.

[TheBadLands]

Wow! 16.6? Did you buy him a red bull before the last run? lol

Great job!

[Equine_Woman]

That's fantastic!! Congratulations!!!!!!!

[AUEquine]

Wow! 16.6? Did you buy him a red bull before the last run? lol

Great job!

hahaha! I don't know what got into him! It's like he knew it was all on the line! When we were in the winner's area waiting for our pics there were a couple of people around who recognized him from his previous owner. They were all so impressed with how good he looked now, and how great he was doing. She had only done small open shows with him, and now he's stepped it up to be competitive in NBHA. I'm so proud!

[TheBadLands]

hahaha! I don't know what got into him! It's like he knew it was all on the line! When we were in the winner's area waiting for our pics there were a couple of people around who recognized him from his previous owner. They were all so impressed with how good he looked now, and how great he was doing. She had only done small open shows with him, and now he's stepped it up to be competitive in NBHA. I'm so proud!

OK! You're in trouble now!

Give em up!

[AUEquine]

OK! You're in trouble now!

Give em up!

huh?

[TheBadLands]

lol look at what I sized and bolded!

I want to see the pics! :cowboy:

[AUEquine]

lol look at what I sized and bolded!

I want to see the pics! :cowboy:

You and me both! I didn't have a camera. They had a pro photographer, but I forgot to go by and buy them before I left. I have the guys card. He has no website and the phone is disconnected. I have e-mails into our state director and district director trying to get in touch with him.
The photography was really sad at the show this year. We usually have a company do it that takes 10+ pics around each barrel and pics of your times. It's awsome. This year they got a brother of some GA barrel racer... good ole boy's club. They took one pic around one barrel... and they suck. My jackpot pic was of our butts a stride after the barrel... WTH? I took my good camera (nikon 30000), but it still didn't like taking pics under the covered arena.

[Rabid_Raccoon]

Awesome! Great job :)

[peace_baby]

Just watched the videos. That's so awesome! Congratulations. :)

[zoel_222]

That's awesome! Congrats! :clap:

[Oreos Girl]

Where was this AU? I went to Southeastern Arena in Unadilla, GA this weekend for a little while.

[AUEquine]

Where was this AU? I went to Southeastern Arena in Unadilla, GA this weekend for a little while.

This was the Alabama NBHA State Show it was held in Montgomery, AL at the WO Crawford Arena. Usually it's held in Andalusia, but they moved it this year. Lot's of rumors about why. I didn't complain though... it was only 45 minutes from us!

Another one of my friends got a wildcard this weekend too, so we're wanting to go to world in October. Just trying to figure out how to afford it! If we do we will be in Perry, GA for a week. Again... if I can find the money!

[Oreos Girl]

Perry is like 10 minutes away from me. I will have to make sure that I can go see some of the events in October.

[gaited07]

WHOOHOO CONGRATS CONGRATS!!!!!

I don't know a thing about barrel racing but I hear win a saddle, check and a wild card to the championships tells me you guys did AWESOME!!!

[Country Girl 43]

That is AWESOME!!!! Congrats to you!! Like they say, just relax and have fun and the rest will come. ;)

[miatapony]

That was great ... very nice .... got faster with each run too from what i saw ... ok i really need to play the lottery... to win ... lol that i great .. dreams are to running again.

[AUEquine]

Perry is like 10 minutes away from me. I will have to make sure that I can go see some of the events in October.
Can you tell be a bit about the place? Is there anywhere cheap around there to stay. I'm hoping to be able to stay with a friend in her horse trailer (same one from state show), but that will change if our other friend doesn't go and bring her trailer... then I won't have a spot. So I'm just trying to find back up options. I might can get a AC in my trailer by then, then I would just need a shower and potty.
Have you been to the Arena/Grounds there? Is a golf cart a good idea? I have one I could bring... just wondering if it was really needed.
World is the last week of October, so mark the calendars!!!


miatapony:
actually those videos are out of order. Our runs were 17.8 NT (barrel down), 17.0??, 17.4??, 17.1??, and 16.658. But we are getting things figured out. I've only had Cash since November... half the winter was lost to rain, and my current training is lost to night shift and heat! But hopefully it's all gonna change!
Cash is 18 so I'm not gonna change him much. I'm just trying to polish him up and do our best.

[Oreos Girl]

You should be able to stay on the grounds there. It is a very nice arena. We have the Georgia National Fair there in the beginning of October. (Georgia needs to learn that it isn't a nation.) I don't think that you will need an air conditioner in October especially the end of October so if you bring your trailer you could stay in there. Average highs for the area in October are 75 and average lows are 49. There are nice stalls and such there also. There are plenty of working toliets in the area (non-porta potties) if you can just take a shower in your friends trailer.

The website for the place (http://www.gnfa.com/).

It looks like camping spots for the NBHA are $25 or $35 depending on how much electricity you want.