I would LOVE to take a moment to thank the WONDERFUL Fallon Taylor for running in the NFR with a helmet. Not only is the number 1 ranked cowgirl riding in a helmet, but she’s encouraging other NFR barrel racers to do the same. 
'bout time! 
Heck, helmets are more aerodynamic than a cowboy hat anyway, so if you are trying to shave seconds off of your time, why not do everything you can to reduce drag? 
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Too bad she took it off to do her victory lap though. We’ll see if she continues to wear one from now on.
[QUOTE=rhinestone_cowgirl;7904065]
Too bad she took it off to do her victory lap though. We’ll see if she continues to wear one from now on.[/QUOTE]
She started wearing them in round 3, and has worn one every night since. Last night was round 8, so already half of the rounds she has worn a helmet.
Picture(s)?
Congratulations to Fallon. She’s a lot smarter than her competition.
I love it, but when I posted it on fb, one of my rodeo friends went off on a tangent. She is also the same friend that told my DD she didn’t need a helmet.
I too am very happy to see someone wearing a helmet at the NFR. And Fallon would be the one to not be afraid of what people will say.
She claims she will continue to wear one, so I hope that it continues in next year’s rodeo season.
[QUOTE=quikchik;7905908]
She started wearing them in round 3, and has worn one every night since. Last night was round 8, so already half of the rounds she has worn a helmet.[/QUOTE]
If she really wanted to make a statement, she would’ve worn it from the beginning.
I’m not saying its a bad thing; I think the negative stigma association with western helmet wearers is ridiculous and nobody should be making fun of anybody who does wear a helmet.
I read an interview on line somewhere to the effect that the decision based on discussion within the family had in part to do with that lousy footing we talked about on the NFR thread. She did have a serious injury (C2 which of course a helmet wouldn’t prevent) some years back so that may have been some food for thought as well.
The barrel racing world NEEDED this badly, but I find myself wishing it’d been another rider to do it. I shudder to think that kids will want to ‘ride like Fallon’. Still, any helmet wearer is a step in the right direction.
http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l616/LoveAngelico/Mobile%20Uploads/image-2.jpg
[QUOTE=Angelico;7913012]
The barrel racing world NEEDED this badly, but I find myself wishing it’d been another rider to do it. I shudder to think that kids will want to ‘ride like Fallon’. Still, any helmet wearer is a step in the right direction.
http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l616/LoveAngelico/Mobile%20Uploads/image-2.jpg[/QUOTE]
Almost every barrel racer can be captured riding like that at one point or another.
[QUOTE=SuckerForHorses;7913098]
Almost every barrel racer can be captured riding like that at one point or another.[/QUOTE]
I couldn’t find any of Martha Josey or Sherry Cervi flying out of the saddle. That was just a convenient picture of Fallon Taylor, I can show you many more of her with her lower leg slung way back, losing her stirrups, and whacking horses in the mouth (hands all over the place).
She isn’t asking for my advice, she won the big one and in her discipline it doesn’t matter how you do it. Her “style” works well enough for her, but I promise you it won’t for the kids who try to copy it (or their horses) any favors.
Well, here’s a page of Lisa Lockhart for comparison, admittedly better form on the whole but I suppose if I went looking I’d see decent shots of Fallon too.
Thinking of show jumpers and hunters, Rodney Jenkins and many others have had success over the years with less than classic style, and it’s true that most mere mortals should not try to copy their styles, same applies to barrel racing.
https://www.google.com/search?q=lisa+lockhart+barrel+racer&espv=2&biw=1680&bih=949&tbm=isch&imgil=iNZqlu6hNe44DM%3A%3BDPOkE15NtmdByM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fontherodeoroad.com%252F%253Fs%25253Dlisa%25252Blockhart&source=iu&pf=m&fir=iNZqlu6hNe44DM%3A%2CDPOkE15NtmdByM%2C_&usg=__ufQTJ-7szK0dzZ5ez7wvPFCbGjA%3D&ved=0CCcQyjc&ei=lLGRVJicLM-yoQSggIGADg#facrc=&imgdii=&imgrc=iNZqlu6hNe44DM%253A%3BDPOkE15NtmdByM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fontherodeoroad.com%252Fwp-content%252Fuploads%252F2012%252F12%252FOTRRLisaLockhart.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fontherodeoroad.com%252F%253Fs%253Dlisa%252Blockhart%3B600%3B399
[QUOTE=Angelico;7913151]
http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l616/LoveAngelico/Mobile%20Uploads/image-3.jpg[/QUOTE]
You do realize that her leg is like that to keep from hitting the barrel right?
[QUOTE=bugsynskeeter;7913212]
You do realize that her leg is like that to keep from hitting the barrel right?[/QUOTE]
You do realize that doesn’t make it safe, right?
http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l616/LoveAngelico/Mobile%20Uploads/image-4.jpg
http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l616/LoveAngelico/Mobile%20Uploads/image-5.jpg
http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l616/LoveAngelico/Mobile%20Uploads/image-6.jpg
http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l616/LoveAngelico/Mobile%20Uploads/image-7.jpg
I see the extra extra deep seated, high backed saddles are becoming more and more popular for barrel racers lately. Not hard to see why.
[QUOTE=Angelico;7913314]
http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l616/LoveAngelico/Mobile%20Uploads/image-4.jpg
http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l616/LoveAngelico/Mobile%20Uploads/image-5.jpg
http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l616/LoveAngelico/Mobile%20Uploads/image-6.jpg
http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l616/LoveAngelico/Mobile%20Uploads/image-7.jpg
I see the extra extra deep seated, high backed saddles are becoming more and more popular for barrel racers lately. Not hard to see why.[/QUOTE]
Have you ever ridden a finished, proven, top of the line, barrel horse? Just curious.
[QUOTE=SuckerForHorses;7913352]
Have you ever ridden a finished, proven, top of the line, barrel horse? Just curious.[/QUOTE]
Yes, several 1 and 2D horses. There is no reason to ride them carelessly. I doubt Ms. Taylor will be calling me for advice any time soon, though. Like I said, in barrel racing she can ride like that and be successful, so I doubt she’ll change. Luckily there are other barrel racers out there for people to look up to as well.
Take a look at some of Taylor’s “training tips” videos if you can stand it.
Last year I moved to a part of the country where western is a bigger deal than English. I went to the local western store looking for a child’s helmet. I was shocked to find that they stocked a big variety of helmets for adults but not a single one for kids. When I asked for help, the staff didn’t even seem the slightest knowledgable, like why on earth would you want to put a helmet on a kid? I had to buy it online. When I got it, I actually went back to the store with it in hand to show them that they do exist and here’s the size you might want to consider carrying. They were polite and thanked me but I was clearly the crazy lady they were humoring …
