Page 95 - Barrel Stallion Register 2016

Q. Looking back, anyone in particular, who helped you out during your career as you were coming up through the ranks?
Oen: I think Mike Flarida is the reason I ride horses in general. I owe a lot to him. I’ve had friends more than mentors. People who, even though we’re competitors, are still friends. We’ll help each other with ideas or techniques. Where it’s not a judged event, it’s not nearly as political as a lot of the other disciplines that are out there. The best horse will win at the end of the day, and it’s not a judge’s decision. Troy Crumrine is another guy I grew up with learning from.
Q. Outside of competition, what’s your philosophy as far as conditioning horses, making sure they stay in top form whether it’s between races or in the offseason?
Oen: I think the horse’s mental health is most important, and trying not to over-train. I think that’s the most difficult thing for us as trainers - switching to a competitive mode and just training. That’s the hardest thing to do. You remember everything they did wrong, or you remember everything they did right. And sometimes when they start doing everything right, the things they did wrong are no longer happening. You have to drop it and act like it’s never happened before.
Q. In your opinion, how important is the fitness and weight of a rider to succeeding in the barrel racing industry?
Oen: I think maybe it’s changed a little bit. Here’s the thing: I don’t think it’s so much about
Pete aboard Hip Swingin Gypsy, the leading Barrel Futurities of America money earner and a leading money earner by Firewaterontherocks.
weight as much as it is about balance and where you put your weight to the horse’s advantage.
If you’re 300 pounds and are hanging on the outside, obviously the horse has to struggle harder to make a fast turn. I think in most cases, those who disperse their weight correctly know how to not throw off the center of gravity going around the front or in anything they do. From time to time, I think people who are moderately heavier than the 95-pound rider can use their weight to an advantage at times, whether it’s going into the turn, slowing a horse down, or speeding a horse up. I’ve seen some bigger riders and I’ve seen some skinny riders, if you want to call them that. I don’t think sometimes it’s as big a deal as a lot of people think it is.
Q. Any advice on the best way to make the most out of exhibition runs for a young utility horse, or tips in general on working with a problematic horse? Oen: Most of those young horses, they’ll get three to four exhibitions. I try to make sure that final exhibition is a quiet, calm and relaxed kind of chill-out exhibition. That’s how I want it to go. That’s my intent when I show up, but it doesn’t always go that way. It also depends on the caliber of the horse. There are so many things that could qualify as a problem. Sometimes,
I do believe though it’s not always the horse’s problem. They should look at something they’re possibly doing to cause the horse to do that. Some people don’t ever realize it, but their body language, how they’re holding their reins, and how they sit in the saddle can cause problems. Sometimes riders need to evaluate themselves rather than putting it all on the horse.
Q. You talked about the importance of keeping horses mentally sharp. Do you find that’s tough to do?
Oen: Not over training. That can be a trap that all of us can fall into, worrying about getting prepared for a run. Sometimes you have to think, am I just trying to build my confidence? Is it going to benefit the horse
or is this for me? A lot of times the rider will admit it’s for them and maybe wasn’t the utmost thing for the horse. There are options like quiet riding and off-pattern riding, but
a lot of it is just knowing when to stop. And it’s hard for some people. I know it can be hard for me. I’ll admit it. Sometimes they need a little more work, a little more training, whatever it may be. And sometimes, ability goes hand in hand with pedigree.
Q. What advice would you give to an up and coming futurity rider?
Oen: Find someone who has a riding style
you like or you can fit. I wouldn’t recommend anyone try to train a futurity horse until they’ve at least ridden a barrel horse and had some competition time under their belt. Kind of
like I wouldn’t recommend buying a 2-year-
old horse for a 5- or 6-year-old kid. Put the young with the old. Look at riding style versus who’s winning. Just because someone’s winning doesn’t mean you can ride that style or ride that particular horse. A lot of it has to do with a style. Find somebody you can trust, too. Someone
you can trust within the industry. There are a thousand ways to train barrel horses, and there’s not a wrong way. The ultimate goal is to find the fastest race for the horse that you’re on.
“. . . I like a big soft brown eye. I don’t like the white around the horse’s eye.”
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