Barrel racing at Cowboy College

I rode around the ring clockwise and then, on Rocco’s command, I reversed Viejo and rode counter-clockwise, and then we cantered a bit, me getting the feel of Viejo and him getting used to someone other than Rocco giving him commands. There were some 50-gallon barrels a few yards apart down at the end of the ring and Rocco said anyone who was of a mind could gallop down there, turn their horse around the barrels, and gallop back. A young cowboy showed us how to do it. He was all grace and effortless motion, horse and rider a thing of beauty.

Right up until that moment, I had absolutely no intention of taking Viejo for a gallop. But watching this young cowboy made me change my mind.

I made a little clicking noise and gave Viejo a light kick and he went tearing for those barrels like a freight train on a downhill track. I don’t think I’ve ever been so afraid. I held the reigns tight and used my legs to squeeze Viejo with all my might, bouncing around in the saddle like a sack of potatoes on the back of a tractor. In other words, I did everything wrong. I was afraid that Viejo would run right past the barrels and into the fence, but at least one of us knew what he was doing.

I began to ease up on the reigns, focusing on moving with the horse instead of against him, and by the time I pulled Viejo up short in front of Rocco, you’d swear I’d been a cowboy all my life. Sort of.