|
Partners
in Performance
 Classes are
fill up quickly and we only allow a limited
number of students. If interested in attending, please reserve a date now with a deposit, so that we can include you
for this year. Click Here to see the
schedule.
Guest Speakers and Trainers
will include:
- Vinessa Perry
(Miss Rodeo Oklahoma
1999, Top 10 Miss Rodeo
America)
- Barbara Ware
(Western Wear fashion
designer, Speech writer)
- Alison Hedlund
(The Queen Connection)
- Jim Grillot
(Miss Rodeo USA
Photographer, Former
Judge)
- Casie Jo Roberts
(Miss Rodeo Oklahoma
Pageant Co-director)
- Tina Sanders
( NRHA & AQHA
Competitor)
If your the competitor that
has numerous titles, but haven’t made it to the top, I can guarantee, you will learn something
our new camps.
Come join us!
Call
Now
918 247-4539
or email Sandra
to enroll. |
Horsemanship
Tips
|
You
hear the announcer say, "The horsemanship winner is ....."
"I can't believe she won horsemanship!
Her pattern wasn’t that good. She didn’t have the sliding stops
that I had!" Have you ever hear those words after coronation?
Maybe you have said them yourself. We all judge each contestant in our
own minds as to who did the best in each category, but do we really
know what horsemanship is all about, other than who has the best
pattern. Have you really taken the time to think what is on that
score sheet?
Here are a few items that
are usually on there:
| Mount/Dismount |
Don't jump
mount unless you know how to do it perfect. Check your
equipment before getting on. Don't let your reins ever touch
the ground, and don't cross them after mounting. Most of
all, never touch the back of your saddle.
|
| Walk/Trot/Lope |
Are you
watching your markers? Do you bounce up & down, or rock
back & forth when riding? Does your hand tend to raise up
when loping?
|
| Circles/Figure
8 |
Again, keep
your markers. Know exactly what speed & size variation to
make according to the pattern, and make it very apparent when
doing your pattern. Use legs, not hands.
|
| Rollbacks/Stops |
Not all of us
have a horse that will do sliding stops, so make the best of
it. If he doesn’t, don't try to do one. Simply stop him
gently, but to a complete stop, so when he stops on his front
feet, you wont daylight. Come to a complete stop and hesitate.
Never rush. Don't do a circle for a rollback.
|
| Seat/Hands/Feet |
Are you in the
proper riding position? There should be a straight line from
the back of your ear down to the back of your heel. Use a long
ruler to test yourself. Toes up, heels down. Relax in the
saddle. Don't be stiff. Don't bow your back. Free hand by your
side, in front of your buckle, or in front, reiner style.
|
| Appearance |
You might look
nice, but does your horse and equipment? Did you use a
toothbrush to clean the tooling on your saddle? Are your reins
& bit clean, and what about those skid boots? Is
everything color coordinated, including the pad? Is your horse
clean & clipped? Are your boots free of dust?
|
| Answers
to Questions |
Do you know
everything about your horse saddle, bit, and riding equipment?
If its not your horse, but one that is brought in by the
committee for horsemanship, did you ask the person who gave
you the horse, questions about him? Do you know the horse
anatomy and diseases? Be prepared for any rodeo &
association questions. Don't make up an answer if you don't
know it. Never say, I will get back to you, if you
really don't mean it.
|
| Queens
Run |
Did you use the
whole arena? Are you smiling? If the arena is muddy,
make sure you slow down. Speed isn’t everything. If its not
muddy, do not go slow (your not at a horse show). The queens
run is about presentation and control.
|
I hope some of these
pointers will help. Most of all, if you mess up on your pattern, keep
smiling, and act like nothings wrong. A bad attitude will lose you the
contest faster than a bad horsemanship pattern will. Remember, its only
one category!
Good
luck,
Sandra
Sturgeon |