So today, I worked another PacWest production. We had some BEAUTIFUL weather out in Sacramento today! Arena conditions were fantastic and we had 61 runs in the open and quite a few more in the other classes.
Today, my friends... was a Murphy's Law day! We had one tractor fizzle out. Ok, we still have one, right?! Sure, until that nice John Deere's tire exploded! LOL. Wow, kinda hard to drag after every 5 when you have ZERO tractors. So Alison sees her opportunity. She wants to hook a drag to her Toyota Tundra and get to draggin'! And drag, she did. FAST. I was cracking up... and quite honestly between her and the awesome folks who hand raked, the ground was awesome.
So yes, there were a few delays today... but I don't think anyone minded too much given the efforts put forth by everyone AND the blessing of beautiful California sunshine.
Thanks everyone for making a great day. I want to personally thank everyone who pitched in helping with the gate, raking, setting barrels, fixing tractors, getting fuel for the tractors that broke, and most of all your PATIENCE! It was a Good Day.
For your viewing pleasure... our family donk, Angel. I bet she can hear a leaf of alfalfa hit the manger from a mile away with these ears!
Saturday, February 17, 2007
...and another race rolls by
So today, I worked another PacWest production. We had some BEAUTIFUL weather out in Sacramento today! Arena conditions were fantastic and we had 61 runs in the open and quite a few more in the other classes.
Today, my friends... was a Murphy's Law day! We had one tractor fizzle out. Ok, we still have one, right?! Sure, until that nice John Deere's tire exploded! LOL. Wow, kinda hard to drag after every 5 when you have ZERO tractors. So Alison sees her opportunity. She wants to hook a drag to her Toyota Tundra and get to draggin'! And drag, she did. FAST. I was cracking up... and quite honestly between her and the awesome folks who hand raked, the ground was awesome.
So yes, there were a few delays today... but I don't think anyone minded too much given the efforts put forth by everyone AND the blessing of beautiful California sunshine.
Thanks everyone for making a great day. I want to personally thank everyone who pitched in helping with the gate, raking, setting barrels, fixing tractors, getting fuel for the tractors that broke, and most of all your PATIENCE! It was a Good Day.
For your viewing pleasure... our family donk, Angel. I bet she can hear a leaf of alfalfa hit the manger from a mile away with these ears!
Monday, February 12, 2007
Welcome! Who am I? What are we doing here?
Good day, dear barrel racers.
I will start the first official Canchasers blog by giving you a brief history, as some of you may not know me. I started competing in speed events a whopping 26 years ago. I was in CHSRA Dist. 2 and then various barrel racing associations including NBHA Dist. 7, and the AW4D from it’s inception. I gave up barrel racing sometime around 2001 and started showing dogs. Dogs are easier to pack around and take care of, especially when you move away from your family ranch and live in town!
My good friend Alison Norberry approached me about helping announce at her newly formed PacWest Association races. I was thrilled with the idea of being able to get back in touch with something that was once such a huge part of my life! I jumped at the opportunity. I’ve run quite a few of the PacWest races at Sacramento Horseman’s, and also thanks to Kristen Elbeck, I’m handling the NBHA Dist. 8 races in Brentwood. I can’t tell you how much I enjoy operating these races and doing the announcing. It’s not even work, it’s fun! Well, fun for the most part. Given my years of experience being one of the competitors, I can tell you that we as barrel racers have little idea how much work putting on one successful race is. I think back on my days coming through that start gate, and all the (petty) moaning and complaining I did! Now that I’m on the other side of the arena fence, I have a tremendous appreciate for the folks that BRING these races to you.
We just wrapped up a big race in Santa Rosa over the weekend of February 10th and 11th. This was a benefit race for an NBHA Dist. 7 member, DeAnn Gregori. DeAnn is dealing with some pretty severe health problems, and so the NBHA Dist. 7 Director, Stacie Shortt, stepped up and organized this race. She enlisted the experience of Alison Norberry and her husband Brett. The Norberrys had just put on a hugely successful charity race in September 2006 to raise money and awareness for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. I was proud to be a part of that volunteer crew. What DeAnn and Alison face on a daily basis is overwhelming and scary, yet they both forge ahead and keep their heads up. They inspire me every day. When I feel life smacking me around, all I have to do is think about what my friend Alison has to contend with, and suddenly my “problems” become very small indeed. I digress.
I just wanted to say a couple of things about the race last weekend. We have a really great crew, and some great competitors. I appreciate each and every one of you, and what you bring to the table. Constructive comments and suggestions are always welcome, but I’ll go on record and say that rude and useless comments are not welcome. Because most of you are courteous and appreciative, you may have no idea that we are often treated horribly by competitors and/or members of their family. My Mother raised me to respect myself and others, and I expect the same thing from people around me. I have mellowed out quite a bit (so I hear), but again, I will not tolerate someone disrespecting me or the people working with me. I gave up my entire weekend and traveled away from home to VOLUNTEER to help put this race together. I heard a lot of snipping/sniping and complaining mainly through the ears of others, and it disappointed me.
NBHA Dist. 7 was handling the ground, stalls, awards, payouts, auction, and all other events. PacWest co-sanctioned this race, and was responsible for pre-entries. If you have comments or suggestions regarding the race, it's always best to speak to the people in charge of a particular area. For entries, contact Alison via www.hotponies.com For any other concerns, contact Stacie Short from NBHA Dist. 7 I always say if you aren't part of the solution, you're part of the problem! Help everyone make these races work for you!
Respectfully,
Stephanie Davis
Kadillac Event Services
I will start the first official Canchasers blog by giving you a brief history, as some of you may not know me. I started competing in speed events a whopping 26 years ago. I was in CHSRA Dist. 2 and then various barrel racing associations including NBHA Dist. 7, and the AW4D from it’s inception. I gave up barrel racing sometime around 2001 and started showing dogs. Dogs are easier to pack around and take care of, especially when you move away from your family ranch and live in town!
My good friend Alison Norberry approached me about helping announce at her newly formed PacWest Association races. I was thrilled with the idea of being able to get back in touch with something that was once such a huge part of my life! I jumped at the opportunity. I’ve run quite a few of the PacWest races at Sacramento Horseman’s, and also thanks to Kristen Elbeck, I’m handling the NBHA Dist. 8 races in Brentwood. I can’t tell you how much I enjoy operating these races and doing the announcing. It’s not even work, it’s fun! Well, fun for the most part. Given my years of experience being one of the competitors, I can tell you that we as barrel racers have little idea how much work putting on one successful race is. I think back on my days coming through that start gate, and all the (petty) moaning and complaining I did! Now that I’m on the other side of the arena fence, I have a tremendous appreciate for the folks that BRING these races to you.
We just wrapped up a big race in Santa Rosa over the weekend of February 10th and 11th. This was a benefit race for an NBHA Dist. 7 member, DeAnn Gregori. DeAnn is dealing with some pretty severe health problems, and so the NBHA Dist. 7 Director, Stacie Shortt, stepped up and organized this race. She enlisted the experience of Alison Norberry and her husband Brett. The Norberrys had just put on a hugely successful charity race in September 2006 to raise money and awareness for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. I was proud to be a part of that volunteer crew. What DeAnn and Alison face on a daily basis is overwhelming and scary, yet they both forge ahead and keep their heads up. They inspire me every day. When I feel life smacking me around, all I have to do is think about what my friend Alison has to contend with, and suddenly my “problems” become very small indeed. I digress.
I just wanted to say a couple of things about the race last weekend. We have a really great crew, and some great competitors. I appreciate each and every one of you, and what you bring to the table. Constructive comments and suggestions are always welcome, but I’ll go on record and say that rude and useless comments are not welcome. Because most of you are courteous and appreciative, you may have no idea that we are often treated horribly by competitors and/or members of their family. My Mother raised me to respect myself and others, and I expect the same thing from people around me. I have mellowed out quite a bit (so I hear), but again, I will not tolerate someone disrespecting me or the people working with me. I gave up my entire weekend and traveled away from home to VOLUNTEER to help put this race together. I heard a lot of snipping/sniping and complaining mainly through the ears of others, and it disappointed me.
NBHA Dist. 7 was handling the ground, stalls, awards, payouts, auction, and all other events. PacWest co-sanctioned this race, and was responsible for pre-entries. If you have comments or suggestions regarding the race, it's always best to speak to the people in charge of a particular area. For entries, contact Alison via www.hotponies.com For any other concerns, contact Stacie Short from NBHA Dist. 7 I always say if you aren't part of the solution, you're part of the problem! Help everyone make these races work for you!
Respectfully,
Stephanie Davis
Kadillac Event Services
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