NFR

[propspony]

[QUOTE=Beverley;7894760]
I watched last night, and wow, the footing so far is hard on the barrel racers. On-air speculation was maybe too much sand in the mix, but I wish they’d fix it. I didn’t see those problems last year, every single horse struggled with it last night.[/QUOTE]

We’re also having insane amounts of humidity. I mean the airport was fogged in for parts of thurs and fri (no, seriously! LOL!!) so I’ve been hearing the footing is “sticky” shrug but don’t know anything more than that.

[js]

I like that Fallon Taylor wore a helmet last night. I know helmets are poopoo’d in western riding but it was nice to see her wear one at least once. Was kind of funny to hear the announcers, their tone of voice made it sound like she was ready for a something big.

[propspony]

I like her style! That outfit Friday night… Whoooeeee!

[Beverley]

Sorry that Steven Peebles got hurt and had to drop out of the bareback.

[beau159]

[QUOTE=Beverley;7892463]

And one good story is the Utah barrel racer, sitting 4th going in, who is a NFR ‘rookie’ at age 57. She’s been competing for 40 years but never enough to seriously contend for the finals, but this year she went to Houston and won that big purse.[/QUOTE]

Nancy Hunter isn’t a rookie.

To make it to the NFR, you have to travel. A lot. All year 'round. Even though she had the caliber of horses to make it, Nancy was never able to make it to the NFR because she couldn’t do the traveling with her job and with her kids and their health problems. So she just usually stuck close to home and did the circuit rodeos. Her and Fuzz have been dominating the Wilderness Circuit for years, and have been to the Doge National Circuit Finals 6 times.

I’m very happy to see that she made it to the NFR because she is definately a cowgirl that deserves it. But she’s not a rookie. She’s already banked $18,000+ after round 4 and I hope she keeps continuing to place!

@js;7895867

I like that Fallon Taylor wore a helmet last night. I know helmets are poopoo’d in western riding but it was nice to see her wear one at least once. Was kind of funny to hear the announcers, their tone of voice made it sound like she was ready for a something big.

I was indeed happy to see that Fallon wore a helmet for the last two rounds. Being a fellow helmet wearer, it’s nice to see someone at the level of the NFR wear one.

However, her “stunt” of taking her helmet off for the victory lap may cost her. I would have thought nothing of it either, but it is PRCA and WPRA rules to have a hat or helmet on your head when you enter the arena… and she had hers off for her victory lap after round 4. I haven’t heard the final “word” on it yet on if she is going to be facing a large fine or not.

[Beverley]

[QUOTE=beau159;7897680]
Nancy Hunter isn’t a rookie.[/QUOTE]

Right, she is an NFR rookie as it is her first trip. If you check out my quote that you used, you will see that I summarized the details that you felt compelled to elaborate on.

[js]

I’m miffed with DirecTV regarding the coverage, twice now they have let a basketball game run well into the time when the NFR was to be on, making the NFR run really late. Hard enough for me to watch it when that it starts at 9 pm and runs till about midnight but making it run even later is impossible. I could record it but I enjoy watching it live.

[Beverley]

Gee I haven’t had that coverage problem, or maybe I just didn’t notice that it started late. Even in my time zone the bull riding is past my bedtime but I was glad I gutted it out last night. I’ll admit though that I do also cheat, there is a bit of a delay on the tv coverage and I check the live scores on the PRCA web site just to see what I’m gonna see.

[js]

We get it based on Central Time Zone, so normal start is 9 pm, barrel racing doesn’t show till around 11:30 pm. DirecTV is showing it on one of it’s big sports channel hence allowing the basketball game to play out. They did show the rodeo in its entirety but it makes it run even later into the night.

[beau159]

I have DISH and they do the same thing. If the sports event before it runs late, then the rodeo airs late.

I was a little miffed this morning when my DVR didn’t record Round 5! I had a series recording set up but apparently DISH only thought the first 4 rounds were “new” and the rest are “repeats”. :no:

Looks like they finally got the ground right! The barrel racing is finally reflecting the times that normally get run in the Thomas and Mack. Although that 3rd barrel caught a lot of barrel racers last night! And poor Christy Loflin had a tumble at the 1st barrel. I can’t imagine how hard it is to ride those NFR horses; especially Movin’ who is only 14.2 hands and quick as a cat.

[Beverley]

I was happy to see Joe Frost win the bull riding last night. Though Sage Kimzey is just incredible to watch every time.

As for horses I most want to steal- well Stingray the barrel racing mare remains a favorite, but I think Adam Gray’s nice gray roping horse would suit me just fine!

[js]

Is it really hot in the arena or warm up area (if they have one)? The horses are always very sweaty. I know they mostly have their winter coats, so didn’t know if the arena was hot, it was warm in Las Vegas or a combination. Do they have a warm up area inside or out? I’ve never been there so no idea how it is set up.

[beau159]

I am sure it is muggy inside the arena. Most indoor arenas usually are, unless they’ve got a heck of a ventilation system. I’ve never been there in person so I can’t speak for it.

I would attribute it most to the fact that a lot of the horses have their WINTER coat of hair, and when they are warmed up for their event, they are bound to get sweaty.

I was very saddened to watch the barrel racing from Round 7 last night. Seems like the ground has taken a turn for the worst again.

I don’t understand what the problem is. There are huge barrel races that hold up to 1,000+ runs in a few days on the same ground, and the NFR committee can’t figure out how to get the ground to hold for 15 girls?

This is supposed to be the top rodeo of the year … but it’s proving to have the worst ground in 2014. I’d be furious if I was running barrels at the NFR and had to run on that.

[quikchik]

The ground is definitely getting worse again. It is so sad for these ladies to work so hard all year & then have to worry that the ground is going to cause an injury. I think that is why a lot of girls have been going to their back up horses.

[Belmont]

[QUOTE=js;7902945]
Is it really hot in the arena or warm up area (if they have one)? The horses are always very sweaty. I know they mostly have their winter coats, so didn’t know if the arena was hot, it was warm in Las Vegas or a combination. Do they have a warm up area inside or out? I’ve never been there so no idea how it is set up.[/QUOTE]

Probably a combination of the two, along with LOOONNNGG warm ups. The ropers are usually on their horses long before grand entry starts, loping around and working. Barrel racers are on pretty early too.

It’s always a big PITA trying to warm up pick-up horses in small warm up arenas at rodeos. Or if there isn’t an area and you only have a back alley. It is such a big cluster. If you ride h/j and thought your warm-up rings are a zoo, just try to warm up horses at a rodeo. :eek:

[Gnalli]

[QUOTE=Beverley;7894760]
I watched last night, and wow, the footing so far is hard on the barrel racers. On-air speculation was maybe too much sand in the mix, but I wish they’d fix it. I didn’t see those problems last year, every single horse struggled with it last night.[/QUOTE]

The footing last night at the 3rd barrel STUNK royally. I saw too many horses slip when they made that turn-rear ends just sliding away. I am pretty sure it cost Fallon Taylor (in her pink helmet BTW) a bunch of money, and didn’t do the other girls or horses any good.

[Beverley]

[QUOTE=Gnalli;7905596]
The footing last night at the 3rd barrel STUNK royally. I saw too many horses slip when they made that turn-rear ends just sliding away. I am pretty sure it cost Fallon Taylor (in her pink helmet BTW) a bunch of money, and didn’t do the other girls or horses any good.[/QUOTE]

Agreed- the difference was Mary Walker’s just absolutely nailing that first barrel. A thing of beauty.

[Gnalli]

[QUOTE=Beverley;7901760]
I was happy to see Joe Frost win the bull riding last night. Though Sage Kimzey is just incredible to watch every time.

As for horses I most want to steal- well Stingray the barrel racing mare remains a favorite, but I think Adam Gray’s nice gray roping horse would suit me just fine![/QUOTE]

I think it is Cezar Dela Cruz has a really nice red horse with lots of chrome that could make a gaited horse person rethink her choice of mounts.

[Gnalli]

[QUOTE=Beverley;7905660]
Agreed- the difference was Mary Walker’s just absolutely nailing that first barrel. A thing of beauty.[/QUOTE]

That was a BEAUTIFUL run. When it works right and everything clicks, you get chills. I felt so sorry for Kacy (?) when she hit that 1st barrel, it just went downhill and she and her horse were all cattywhompus .

[Gnalli]

[QUOTE=beau159;7903068]
I am sure it is muggy inside the arena. Most indoor arenas usually are, unless they’ve got a heck of a ventilation system. I’ve never been there in person so I can’t speak for it.

I would attribute it most to the fact that a lot of the horses have their WINTER coat of hair, and when they are warmed up for their event, they are bound to get sweaty.

I was very saddened to watch the barrel racing from Round 7 last night. Seems like the ground has taken a turn for the worst again.

I don’t understand what the problem is. There are huge barrel races that hold up to 1,000+ runs in a few days on the same ground, and the NFR committee can’t figure out how to get the ground to hold for 15 girls?

This is supposed to be the top rodeo of the year … but it’s proving to have the worst ground in 2014. I’d be furious if I was running barrels at the NFR and had to run on that. [/QUOTE]

Yep, I would too. The venues that my girls run in run that tractor after every 6 runs.