It seems like every barrel racer has fantasized about blasting down the alley at the Thomas & Mack at one time or another.  Whether you’re content to compete at local jackpots or have NFR dreams, we all have the same goal – to WIN.  The bottom line is that barrel racing is a timed event – a race, one that we are ALL trying to win.

This time of year, (in many places) the world falls quiet under a beautiful blanket of snow.  The timing is perfect to become quiet within as well, to reflect on the challenges faced and the lessons learned in the past year.  It’s also a time of year that presents opportunities to enjoy and appreciate the relationships in our life -friends, family, our horses.

It’s easy to develop a one track mind when it comes to accomplishing our competitive goals.  As another year draws to a close, and when you look back on your day, or your life, remember that it’s the relationships we form that make a difference, that matter in the end. 

This doesn’t mean that we aren’t aggressive as competitors.  However, as you press forward toward barrel racing success, do realize the value in pausing long enough to be mentored and become a mentor.  Pause long enough to reflect on what is working, what is not working, and resolve learn, grow and implement changes.

Whether you develop a mentor relationship, or really reflect on where you are and what obstacles are in your way, you’ll find that that pausing (something barrel racers are not necessarily known for) long enough to do these things can actually accelerate our success in the barrel racing arena.

I think you’ll pick up right away on the similarities in the answers below from this year’s top 15 NFR barrel racers… the power of parents as mentors, the importance of horse care and soundness, hard work, and appreciating and living each day to the fullest.

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