The first show of the year is always interesting. The weather is unpredictable, and the horses a little fresh. After having a show season like we did last year and ending right when we were figuring everything out, the beginning of this year felt like starting over. Plus, my confidence was, honestly, completely shattered last … More New Beginnings
With show season beginning, the entry fee expenses are increasing. We went to two barrel races in April, which added up to about three hours of total driving. For the first shows we stayed pretty close to home. The entry fees for the first show included three exhibition runs and a ring fee, for a … More April Expenses
March ended up being the most expensive month so far this year. Of course, a trip to the vet is the reason. Stinger went for his yearly joint injections, so new to this month’s summary of expenses is the milage and hours we spent driving. The vet’s office is a little over an hour away, … More March Expenses
Shedding is the universal sign of spring for equestrians, and it has begun in Pennsylvania. It is the time of the year for only the brave to wear Chapstick while grooming and it marks the beginning of our show season preparations. The major thing that is different for me this year is following up at … More Spring is Coming
February’s spending was very similar to January: feed and supplements, a trip to the tack store, and another payment for my slot race entry fee. I bought a new latigo and off billet set, as mine was very worn down and a pack of vet wrap. Stinger gets MVP Gastroplex once a day to maintain … More February Expenses
Snow in the winter was always so exciting as a kid. Delays and cancellations for school, sled riding, and snowball fights. Now as an adult I don’t look forward to winter as much. Icy roads trying to get to work, breaking ice from water buckets, and the worst of all is when the snow melts … More Wintertime Blues… and Browns??
One thing I really wanted to use this blog for is to show the real costs of barrel racing. Every month I am going to keep track of all my horsey expenses and make a summary post about them. But that’s not all, I am also going to keep track of the miles AND hours … More January Expense Recap
I always have trouble coming up with goals in the new year. I don’t really write them down and make changes to them as the year goes on and never accomplish what I initially imagined. This year I am taking some time to do some deep thinking and asking myself ‘what do I want to … More New Year, New Goals
It’s a scary title, I know but this has described the summer of 2023. I would have settled for something a little less expensive, although this is something every barrel racer has gone through at one time or another. So, let’s get into the details… Our season started out in the beginning of March, living … More Injections, and acupuncture, and vet bills, oh my!
It’s hard to believe that horses have always been a part of my life. Literally, my mom sold her horse when I was born, and they bought a yearling mini for me to grow up with when I was 6 months old. He is 27 this year, mostly retired and living with a family friend … More The Horses That Shaped Me
The Barrel Racer's Journal 