Question for barrel girls

[RoperAB]

My colts are pretty good in the mud but I have to really admire the way them barrel racers can turn a barrel at speed in a foot of mud.
How do you get them so solid in the mud? Is it a gradual thing over years of raceing on different footing?

[the_jersey_lilly_2000]

Never like mud!!!!! There is only one outdoor arena that I'll let Lil Lilly run if it's remotely wet. It has sugar sand which doesn't get slick. Even then I don't like it. She don't either. But it allows the horse to dig in rather than it's backend flyin out from under him.
That can happen tho in other arena's that aren't wet at all. It all goes back to what kinda sand and what kinda foundation the arena has. If it's done right, it is great ground. If not, wrecks can happen. There's one arena around here, down in Magnolia, I refuse to let her go there. too many horses go down. They have great payouts at their barrel races, but not worth gettin yourself or your horse hurt over. So we don't go to that one. Also has alot to do with who's workin the ground and if they know what they are doin.

[RoperAB]

I seem to bring rain at outdoor rodeos We dont get much rain in the summer but if I go to an outdoor rodeo it tends to rain.
Seems like atleast once a year up here somewhere the girls end up running in a bunch of mud.
Have seen some wrecks. Im guessing some horses get injured even if they dont wreck. But some girl/horse combos seem to be able to run the mud almost effortlessly.

[the_jersey_lilly_2000]

We've had that happen...go to an outdoor pen, somethin your really lookin forward to.......ever time..it's gonna rain just enuff to make it a big mess. LOL