The Pursuit, the Pause – and a Golden Future, Part III
Click here for Part II in this three-part series.
PART III – THE SILVER (GOLD) LINING
With Pistol’s comeback (after ten years of being sidelined), it’s not that I did ONE lengthy rehab, and now he doesn’t need any special TLC and we were both back to “business as usual” like we were over a decade ago.
A big part of getting, and now keeping him sound is knowing, honoring and working around and within his limitations – and most importantly taking and applying lessons I learned from the long and grueling setback and comeback process.
During that time I held onto a quote by Tim Grover (Michael Jordan’s trainer) that said something like “You can never come back from an injury the same, you have to be better.”
The idea is that if you don’t come back better, you’re at risk of the same or other injuries and setbacks happening again. Most horse people assume that risk of re-injury is very high, but not necessarily. I can say with confidence, Pistol is better today at 23 years old than he was at 10.
Pistol and I still run barrels, because I go about it with a different approach and perspective. I’m more aware, more intentional, more thorough… more present. I am a better steward of him in a multitude of ways – and what I’ve learned and the habits I’ve formed will carry over to every horse I touch. My enhanced and always-growing awareness, skills and experience will help prevent injuries, but should they ever happen, I have confidence I can put the odds in our favor to overcome them (and be even better for it!).
Maybe, with my spine injuries – I too could still work toward and eventually achieve my huge barrel racing goals? But to even attempt that with new limitations on my side, I realized that my comeback, also – would require a different approach and perspective.
Before I was sidetracked by our move and the lengthy build – I was already feeling called to ride more and write (be at a desk) less. Even with my new limitations, I could not fathom letting go of my life-long horse goals. I was not ready to throw up a white flag and accept a life of full-time, sedentary work (when the previous chapter already had too much of that!). In fact, with the unknowns surrounding my physical abilities, and if or when they might worsen – I felt more motivated than ever to (cautiously) pursue my horse goals full steam!
The online business landscape as I knew it had changed even more, not making it impossible to be successful, but requiring more than I was able to continue giving while also giving my best to my horses and goals with them. I knew I couldn’t sustain the pace I had in the past, and that my focus could no longer be so fragmented. I needed to take a “quality over quantity” approach to dial in on what mattered most.
Throughout my life I’ve been “multi-passionate.” There were years worth of sidetracks focused on reining, colt starting, problem horses, web design, equine bodywork and rehab, horsemanship, online business, book publishing, coaching, hoof care, home building, dog training, team roping, etc. The side quests would have to stop – I needed to be ALL in on my biggest barrel racing goals. With the uncertainty of my spinal injuries, the clock was really ticking now!
Now I have to say – side quests are not all bad. My varied background has prepared me for such a time as this. But also, we can’t live our entire life always thinking and acting as if “we have time.”
I knew I would need to ride and pursue my goals – but in a smarter and more targeted way than ever before. So I considered how that might be possible… I mapped out what my ideal day schedule would look like. I did financial calculations, timelines and estimates.
I came to terms with what would have to die in order for what’s most important to live.
My approach would have to be different…
My career needed to shift and put horses (AND my well-being) at the center, yet with my body’s new limitations, I couldn’t ride 10 head a day. But I COULD ride… I could possibly ride two (maybe three), with a lot of focus, care, thoughtfulness and attention. And a lighter horse load would allow me the time margin for the self-care I needed to stay sound and healthy myself. To take stretch breaks at noon, to get 8 hours of sleep most nights, to stick to my clean, anti-inflammatory diet, to get up at 4:00 a.m. for my physical therapy and modified workout each day.
Thankfully at our new place (where we raise our own hay) our overhead is low. And those few horses I was putting my love, training, time, skills, attention and experience into could be offered for sale when ready (1-2 per year) to fund this whole horse / barrel racing obsession and allow it to continue. Sure, I had bought and sold horses before (not always profitably), but that too, could be done differently and better than I had ever done before.
Instead of sitting at a desk more, with so many big horse goals still ahead of me – it’s time to ride, not necessarily more, but with more specific intention, and a more thoughtful approach.
It’s time to source already-really nice horses (with keeper potential) that need some polishing, so I can keep my skills sharp and my goals within reach, and then offer a select few to help other barrel racer’s dreams come true.
The life-altering car wreck was a wake-up call.
At first it felt it was so unfair that my healthy spine was taken away before I’d reached the life goals that would require my greatest physical athleticism. But the experiences I’ve been through now have prepared me with what might be even more necessary and important – wisdom. My limitations won’t stop the calling God already put on my life and in my heart, but they will make for an even more inspiring story.
So what will the unfolding of this look like exactly?
I consider Barrel Racing Tips.com my “life’s work,” and it isn’t going anywhere, but there will be some eventual additions and evolving happening – and I plan to start sharing regularly again. Podcast replays are already back on track. You can expect social media posts weekly on Facebook and Instagram. Emails more sparingly (more like monthly), subscribe here BTW. Teaching clinics is on hold for now. A new book is already (slowly) in the works, and… will be ready, when it’s ready.
I’ll share more about him as his readiness draws near, but I can’t wait for you to see what this very special equine athlete with Royal Quick Dash, Frenchmans Guy, Dash For Perks and Dash Ta Fame on his papers has to offer!
IN SUMMARY
It’s true that herniated discs are permanent and my spine will never be the same. It’s true that my spinal injuries could get worse over time and require risky surgeries. But it’s also true that my (and your) future has uncertainty with spinal injuries, or without. It’s true that in many ways I am and can continue to be better, in spite of and even – because of what happened.
Today, my future is more focused on what matters most, and less on what doesn’t than ever before. For that, I’m grateful – and I hope sharing my story inspires you to consider and focus in on what matters most as well.
And that kind, talented golden gelding in the barn right now? He’s not just a horse I’m training to sell. He’s a symbol of everything this season has represented — beauty that emerged from hardship, potential that refused to be crushed, and a future that is full of hope.
I can’t wait to introduce him to you properly. Stay tuned. 💛
Ultimately, there WILL be new barrel racing education and inspiration still to come (+ occasional barrel horses for sale!) but at a moderate and maintainable rate from me.
Going forward, here are the best ways to stay in touch:
- Follow along on Facebook and Instagram, even YouTube!
- Click here to get subscribed for a FREE Guide + some tips & updates.
- Make sure you’re listening in weekly to the Barrel Racing Tips Podcast.
- AND, keep a close eye on the Dream Horse page here at BarrelRacingTips.com.
Lastly, thanks so much for your patience and understanding as content production rate has ebbed and flowed in recent years. Consistency is important to me, so I’ve tried to always be transparent with updates. You can trust that all the timeless education that makes up BarrelRacingTips.com will be right here for you to make the most of, with more to come (at its own pace).
While you’re here, you might also enjoy reading:
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