By Nancy Brannon; photos by Linda Rice
Eleven-time World Barrel Racing Champion Charmayne James brought her training skills to the Agricenter ShowPlace Arena July 7-10, 2016 to share tips with mid-south barrel racers. The clinic was full with 34 riders, and began with horse and rider evaluations on Thursday afternoon to see what each participant needed to work on during the clinic.
Following the evaluations, Randy Riedinger, Master Certified Equine Dentist, lectured on equine dentistry. Participants could also have Riedinger check their horses’ teeth during the clinic. Following the dental lecture, Charymayne gave an overview of how the clinic would work to participants.
The clinic officially began on Friday morning with riding instruction for all students. Then after a 1-hour lunch break, sessions resumed in the afternoon. Throughout the day, students could opt for dental or chiropractic work from Equine Chiropractor Casey Deal on their horses.
On Saturday, clinic instruction began with a lecture by Charmayne about “The Winning Attitude,” with drills immediately following. Both Friday and Saturday, clinic participants rode their horses all day.
Then on Sunday, students tested their improvements with a Live Clock barrel race. The clinic finished before lunch on Sunday.
Jordan Rice brought her 5-year-old horse “Roman,” HF Classic Payday, whom she’s been training since he was a 2-year-old. She’s done all the ground work and training so far, but needed help finishing him, and Charmayne was the right person for the job. “It was an experience of a lifetime!” Jordan said. “The first day I was nervous because my horse was not experienced. But Charmayne told me I had done a good job training him so far, but there were some things she could help me work on to improve. Sunday at the barrel race, I could really see the improvement! My hands were better; the horse was listening to me and doing what I asked. It was hot, but so much fun!”
The first day, participants heard a lecture from Equine Dentist Randy Reidinger. Jordan had her horse’s teeth examined and “worked on,” she said, and also had a chiropractic treatment from Casey Deal. “My horse really enjoyed it! He was licking and chewing, and it made a big difference in how he worked the rest of the weekend,” she said.
Jordan described some of the exercises riders practiced in the clinic.
A main part of Charmayne’s training uses five axis points around the barrel. Each is 3 feet from the barrel on each side, the same distance all around. Look over the horse’s outside ear going into the turn to locate these five points.
Another exercise Charmayne used was to help the riders make perfect circles – left handed circles at the walk, trot, and canter – and then right-handed circles. It is important to stay square with the horse and guide with the legs, not the hands. Make perfect circles in both directions so that the horse stays round, fluid, and gets collected. The rider’s hands should stay “in the box” in front of you, with equal pressure on both reins.
“We rode from 8 a.m. until noon and did drills, drills, drills!” Jordan continued. Charmayne’s assistant Heather Heath was available to every rider to help them understand and work through the exercises correctly that Charmayne was teaching.
“If we needed help, we could go to Heather, who was in the outside covered arena, and then when we were ready, come back in to the main indoor arena to check our progress with Charmayne. The things I learned on my 5-year-old, I can also apply to my older, 16-year-old barrel horse ‘Dusty,’ Smooth Jet Two Bar.”
All in all, Jordan described the clinic as “So much fun! It was exciting and a really good learning experience.” Jordan will be utilizing her new skills at IBRA barrel races in Bradford and Milan, TN this weekend.
Find more about Charymayne at: http://www.charmaynejames.com/ and on facebook at Charmayne James. Phone: 830-755-8888 or Email: clinics@charmaynejames.com. Read an article by Charmayne on “Subtle Adjustments” at Barrel Horse News: http://www.barrelhorsenews.com/training/training-articles/3566-subtle-adjustments
Eleven-time World Barrel Racing Champion Charmayne James brought her training skills to the Agricenter ShowPlace Arena July 7-10, 2016 to share tips with mid-south barrel racers. The clinic was full with 34 riders, and began with horse and rider evaluations on Thursday afternoon to see what each participant needed to work on during the clinic.
Following the evaluations, Randy Riedinger, Master Certified Equine Dentist, lectured on equine dentistry. Participants could also have Riedinger check their horses’ teeth during the clinic. Following the dental lecture, Charymayne gave an overview of how the clinic would work to participants.
The clinic officially began on Friday morning with riding instruction for all students. Then after a 1-hour lunch break, sessions resumed in the afternoon. Throughout the day, students could opt for dental or chiropractic work from Equine Chiropractor Casey Deal on their horses.
On Saturday, clinic instruction began with a lecture by Charmayne about “The Winning Attitude,” with drills immediately following. Both Friday and Saturday, clinic participants rode their horses all day.
Then on Sunday, students tested their improvements with a Live Clock barrel race. The clinic finished before lunch on Sunday.
Jordan Rice brought her 5-year-old horse “Roman,” HF Classic Payday, whom she’s been training since he was a 2-year-old. She’s done all the ground work and training so far, but needed help finishing him, and Charmayne was the right person for the job. “It was an experience of a lifetime!” Jordan said. “The first day I was nervous because my horse was not experienced. But Charmayne told me I had done a good job training him so far, but there were some things she could help me work on to improve. Sunday at the barrel race, I could really see the improvement! My hands were better; the horse was listening to me and doing what I asked. It was hot, but so much fun!”
The first day, participants heard a lecture from Equine Dentist Randy Reidinger. Jordan had her horse’s teeth examined and “worked on,” she said, and also had a chiropractic treatment from Casey Deal. “My horse really enjoyed it! He was licking and chewing, and it made a big difference in how he worked the rest of the weekend,” she said.
Jordan described some of the exercises riders practiced in the clinic.
A main part of Charmayne’s training uses five axis points around the barrel. Each is 3 feet from the barrel on each side, the same distance all around. Look over the horse’s outside ear going into the turn to locate these five points.
Another exercise Charmayne used was to help the riders make perfect circles – left handed circles at the walk, trot, and canter – and then right-handed circles. It is important to stay square with the horse and guide with the legs, not the hands. Make perfect circles in both directions so that the horse stays round, fluid, and gets collected. The rider’s hands should stay “in the box” in front of you, with equal pressure on both reins.
“We rode from 8 a.m. until noon and did drills, drills, drills!” Jordan continued. Charmayne’s assistant Heather Heath was available to every rider to help them understand and work through the exercises correctly that Charmayne was teaching.
“If we needed help, we could go to Heather, who was in the outside covered arena, and then when we were ready, come back in to the main indoor arena to check our progress with Charmayne. The things I learned on my 5-year-old, I can also apply to my older, 16-year-old barrel horse ‘Dusty,’ Smooth Jet Two Bar.”
All in all, Jordan described the clinic as “So much fun! It was exciting and a really good learning experience.” Jordan will be utilizing her new skills at IBRA barrel races in Bradford and Milan, TN this weekend.
Find more about Charymayne at: http://www.charmaynejames.com/ and on facebook at Charmayne James. Phone: 830-755-8888 or Email: clinics@charmaynejames.com. Read an article by Charmayne on “Subtle Adjustments” at Barrel Horse News: http://www.barrelhorsenews.com/training/training-articles/3566-subtle-adjustments
