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Quick Question for the Barrel Racers

8K views 40 replies 15 participants last post by  WesternPleasure27 
#1 ·
Okay, so, you'll have to forgive me for asking this but I'm new to western riding. I've only been riding western for about 3 years or so (rode english for 15 though).

Well, I got the new Smith Brothers catalog and was looking at all the pictures last night when I noticed something that struck me as very odd: it seemed that a number of the barrel racers in the pictures had rubber bands over the heel of their boot, running under the stirrup, then over the toe of their boot. :-? Why on earth do they put rubber bands over their feet? My husband's suggestion was that it helps hold their foot down in the stirrup during the turns, but in one of the pics the girl lost her stirrup and the rubber was just hanging out, wrapped around the stirrup. I felt his idea was pretty plausible but I'm still reallllly curious to find out the "real" answer. Any help? :grin:
 
#6 ·
Like OneTooMany said, it's so you don't lose your stirrup. In theory, the rubber bands will break if you fall. This works for adults, (not that they should need them) but often little kids will have them on their boots since they are more likely to lose a stirrup. Sometimes the rubber bands don't break as they should.

It's a quick fix that I'm also not very fond of.
 
#17 · (Edited)
They are used around here. NOT multiple bands though. I don't use them (just because I am clostrophobic and don't like the feeling of anything holding me down) but I do know several riders, many being friends of mine, who do. They are VERY TALENTED riders and only use them during a competition run. When your kicking it can be very easy to kick out of your stirrup...and when your heading into the third barrel at a flat out run, it's nice to have that outer stirrup to stablize yourself during the turn.
I don't think youngsters should use them...mostly because I don't think that they should need them.

It IS a practice to ensure saftey. 100lbs would easily break a thin rubber band. I've seen MUCH MUCH worse gadgets being used. People actually being TIED into the saddle with ropes and bungy chords...thin rubber bands hardly seem to compare on the dangerous level.

eta that none of these riders lack the ability to maintain proper foot position during a run. One of them even began her riding career as an engish rider...moving on to becoming an instructor. Granted I have seen people who I am very tempted to tell them to get some riding lessons... but, as with any other dicipline, not every rider is the same.
 
#19 ·
i have never seen any one do it but it makes seance. Even if u can keep ur feet in the right place there is that once chance where ur foot would slip and u lose the race because of it ect. Esp if your competing for a Huge cash prise even if u can keep the foot in the right place I'd want to make 100% sure it doesn't have that one chance to slip out.
 
#22 ·
Wow, velcro seats? Ropes? I don't know if I went to a show and saw this whether I'd laugh or be absolutly appaled. I just can't imagine some parent having the brillant idea of "Gee, Little Bobby sure does have a hard time staying in the saddle. Hey, I got it! Let's tie him into it!" WOW! I just can't imagine it, although I'm sure it happens.
 
#23 ·
I want to clarify something.. I have been doing barrels for 15 years and the rubber bands are not for holding your foot in the stirrup.. any barrel racer who does that shouldn't be barrel racing. I used to use spurs and it is to hold your spurs down from riding up your heel. usually you are supposed to put the rubber band around the top of your spur and down under the heel of your boot... you can put them around your stirrup but I would never ever recommond it... also remember that yes it is a barrel racing catalog, but they are models... not everything is acurate...
 
#25 ·
I want to clarify something.. I have been doing barrels for 15 years and the rubber bands are not for holding your foot in the stirrup.. any barrel racer who does that shouldn't be barrel racing. I used to use spurs and it is to hold your spurs down from riding up your heel. usually you are supposed to put the rubber band around the top of your spur and down under the heel of your boot... you can put them around your stirrup but I would never ever recommond it... also remember that yes it is a barrel racing catalog, but they are models... not everything is acurate...
There is a big difference between using a rubber band as a keeper to hold your spur in place and going around the stirrup to keep your foot in the stirrup.

AND YES people DO use the rubber bands to keep their foot in place. Folks that have been chasing cans for longer than you've been walking.
 
#24 ·
One more thing I wanted to add... When barrel racing, if your foot does come out of the stirrup, mine has plenty of times, if you are good enough it doesn't matter... I practice bareback even to get my balance correct.. so even if I lose a stirrup I can finish the race with very very minimal consequences. I have been around the PRCA most all my life and I have never seen any of those girls doing this... I believe that if you cannot ride without using help (keeping your foot in, being tied down, etc.) then you should not be competing until you are little more practiced.
 
#26 ·
One more thing I wanted to add... When barrel racing, if your foot does come out of the stirrup, mine has plenty of times, if you are good enough it doesn't matter... I practice bareback even to get my balance correct.. so even if I lose a stirrup I can finish the race with very very minimal consequences. I have been around the PRCA most all my life and I have never seen any of those girls doing this... I believe that if you cannot ride without using help (keeping your foot in, being tied down, etc.) then you should not be competing until you are little more practiced.
It's the WPRA that is the organization in control of barrels at rodeos, not the PRCA. And no, you won't see it as much at the WPRA levels but there is a lot of it done at the lower levels.
 
#27 ·
Yes... i stated that wrong.. ppl do use the rubber bands to hold their feet in the stirrups but they shouldn't... yes a flimsy rubber band will break... but then what is the use of it? If you can't ride or make a decent ride when your foot comes out of the stirrup then you should practice a little more... and I was talking in general... The WPRA is in control of the barrels at a PRCA rodeo, but it is still a PRCA rodeo... I am not trying to be mean to anyone who does use rubber bands... I am just not a fan... I see no point in it...
 
#28 ·
That was our point. None of us are going to care if you are using rubber bands to hold down a spur. However at the local levels, they aren't used for this. The only times I have ever seen rubber bands used are how we described. I too have seen velcro seats and "seat belts". They need to go get some riding lessons.

Now, I have seen vet wrapped stirrups, and I have stirrups that have a bit of traction on them. Like you said though, if I do lose a stirrup when riding, it's not going to be that big of a deal the only thing I would worry about would be it hitting a barrel while turning. If you're barrel racing, you should be able to balance yourself.
 
#30 ·
Its great...an omoksee just started here. And I was looking at their website because im going to one of their events this weekend. On their barrel racing page (where they described what the sport was) they had this video::



I am second guessing going if thats what they support that.
We shall see...
 
#35 ·
Its great...an omoksee just started here. And I was looking at their website because im going to one of their events this weekend. On their barrel racing page (where they described what the sport was) they had this video::

YouTube - Cute little Girl Running Barrels on a little horse

I am second guessing going if thats what they support that.
We shall see...
Its incredibley common...unfortunately.
But I'm not gunna boycott an event because of it. I want the money.
Its something you get used to. I don't support it what so ever but there's nothing that can be done. There are no rules against terrible riding.

I do think there should be rules against restraints for young riders though.
 
#32 ·
Im too busy about waiting for her to fall to see the cute in it...theres one I'm sure you saw where the horse slipped and fell and the little girl was hanging off the side of the horse. (She was fine).
It's reasons like that that I wish they wouldnt try and keep the kid on the horse by any other means than lessons
 
#34 ·
I've seen that video and I for sure hate it. I don't even thinks it's cute, just makes me cringe the entire time. Sad thing is LeahKathleen on the lower level circuits sometimes the 'professionals' are the ones sending the kids out there like that. There's a girl that runs barrels in my area that no way, no how would I let her teach any kid of mine to ride. She has a nice horse but she is one of the sloppiest riders I have ever seen and she turns out equally sloppy riders.
 
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