Barrel Racing: My Art Story by Leah

My Art Story by Leah W.

Barrel racing. Barrel racing is definitely an art.There are so many ways that barrel racing is an art,
I might not have enough room on my google doc to explain it. I love barrel racing, along with
riding my horse when I am roping, on the trail, or even just riding in the arena. It is my true
passion, and I do not know what I would do without my horses. 

When did I start? I started riding before I could walk, whether it was riding around the ranch with my
dad, or riding with my mom at the barrel races. I started barrel racing when I was old enough to stay
awake when I was on my super tall horse. I remember riding my dad´s old ranch and rope horse
Roaney having to whip and spur the whole way when ol´ Roaney was just trotting along pinning his
ears because he did not want to go any faster. I got started because I was surrounded by this sport.
My mom had participated in many competitions, and won quite a few. My dad did not barrel race, but
he was riding in the pasture checking yearling cows everyday, and constantly competing in ranch horse
competitions. He also roped in many ropings. I was raised around horses, and I am really glad I was, or I
would never be doing the things that I love most with horses. 

My practices are always either bad, or good. Even though a bad day may be extremely discouraging, I
still keep the thought in my mind that when I do have a bad day, I am learning. I may have a mistake
that I can not correct for the life of me, but it still teaches me to stay patient, and have determination.
If my day was good, I have to make sure I stay humble, even though it can be very hard because I might
have done really good, but I have to make sure that I remember that it wasn´t just me that did good, my
horse did outstanding, and I have to remember to never take all of the credit. When something goes
good, you have to make sure that you know that it wasn´t just you that did it all. A stick is stronger when
it is joined with the branch and other limbs, but on its own, it is nothing but something that is waiting to
be broken. The obstacles\es that I face are staying humble, and getting frustrated. If I get frustrated, I
might as well not even try. When I am frustrated, I can not see the good in anything, and when that
happens, I can only think about negative things making me doubtful, and discouraged. Therefore,
those are the obstacles, and what practice looks like for me. 

What inspires me? So many things inspire me. Including my horses, people that have accomplished
great things in the sport, and even my family. My horses inspire me because no matter what, they are
always giving it their all. We may have a terrible day, and I may do nothing but pick and pick and pick
at them for tiny things that do not even matter. Even though this may happen, I can guarantee that
the next day, they will have forgiven me, and moved on, giving me their best. I love that fact about
animals, and I really wish that I could be more like that. The people that have accomplished great
things in the sport inspire me to keep working to be better so that maybe one day I too could
accomplish something as cool as that. People like Lisa Lockhart, Haylee Kinsel, Sherry Cervey,
and so many more awesome barrel racers with their awesome horses. My family inspires me
because they can be great people that I can count on when I need help, or support, and they
are constantly doing awesome things. I can learn from them, count on them, and make myself
better by being with them. Like I said before almost all of my family rides horses and competes
in these things. That is why they inspire me so much. 

Some people that I admire that do this art are Lisa Lockhart, Sherry Cervey, Haylee Kinsel, Ivy
Conrado, my family, and so many more people. I admire them because they have
accomplished incredible goals by working hard, and never losing determination. 

I have lessons in a certain way. I do not technically have lessons, more like just learning.
My family is giving me great feedback, and advice that I love because it is making me and
my horse better. That just gets me and my horse closer and closer to my ultimate goal of
making it to the NFR (national finals rodeo). 

The people that support me in this art are my family, and friends. I can always count on my
family to be right there to have my back whenever I need support, and I hope that it is the
same way with them. Family friends are very supportive because they can teach me new
things, and they are very helpful. 

Barrel racing and riding my horses mean so much to both me and my family. Whenever I
get a chance, my family and I will go out and ride our horses. I think that it means so much
to us because  it makes us better people, and it is what we all love. 

The message that I hope to share with my art is that animals, especially horses, can be
considered an art, and that horses can make you better. They can teach you so many things.
To be a better person, to always stay positive and stay determined, and, to never, ever give up. 

The skills that I am learning by barrel racing and riding horses is to be a more pure horse, to
never give up, and to stay positive and keep your ultimate goal in your mind at all times. I
am always getting better and more pure because of this art because animals are the only
things that are perfect in this world, and people could never be as pure as these animals. I love
them, and without them, I feel that I would not be as lucky as I am now, and that I also would
not have the opportunities I have now, and I would not be as happy as I am now. 

I definitely see this art as being part of my future because I drive myself to always have my
ultimate goal of making it to the NFR in my head, and I am always going to try to drive myself
to get to that goal until I do get there. Therefore, that is why barrel racing is going to be part of
my future. 

Barrel racing and riding my horses is always going to be a part of my life, whether it takes
whatever I will ever have, or if I get to my goal in a few years. I definitely believe that riding my
horses and barrel racing is an art.