4-H Horse Club ready to mount up
By By Justin Rodgers / 4-H youth agent
Jan. 26, 2003
I have been ridding horses since before I can remember. I started out riding for pleasure, but as I got older I sought the thrill of barrel racing. I have always enjoyed the thrill of competing with other barrel racers.
The thing I like about the barrels is that I am competing against the clock. No judge's opinion comes into play. If you have the fastest time, you win.
Of course, the pattern must be run correctly and all barrels must remain in the upright position or there will be a five-minute time period added for each barrel you knock down.
Barrel racing is a sport that takes many hours of practice for both the individual and the horse. However, all of your time is not spent running the barrel pattern, the horse also needs to be exercised away from the arena. This gives the horse a chance to relax; he does not need to think he has to run wide-open all of the time.
If you have an interest in barrel racing and are looking for a good place to compete, the Lauderdale County 4-H Horse Club will host a 4D barrel run Feb. 1 at the Lauderdale County Agri-Center.
The training barrels will begin at 9 a.m. and cost $3 a run. The senior 4D will start at noon and will be followed by the open and youth classes. There will be $1,500 added to the open and $400 added in the youth with 80 percent payback.
This is an MBHA MS 07 event so NBHA rules will be applied; however a permit is not required to participate in this event.
This is the Horse Club's annual fund-raiser for various programs, projects and trips members will participate in during the year. Please come out and support these youth.
These 4-H'ers and their parents have put a lot of time and effort to put this barrel run together. Whether you will attend as a spectator or a participant your help will be greatly appreciated.
If you are interested in horses and are between the ages of 8 and 18, consider joining the Lauderdale County Horse Club. The club offers you monthly educational programs, a chance to be involved in community service projects, clinics on horsemanship skills and a chance to compete at the district and state level shows with other 4-H'ers.
It also gives you a chance to meet people who share some of the same interest as you.
For information please contact the Lauderdale County Extension Service at 482-9764.
