behind the barrels

BEHIND THE BARRELS
Molly Powell says that
riding a cutting horse
taught her how to quiet
herself, both mentally
and physically, and not
to get in her horse’s way.
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Cutting
PART 1:
W H AT I LE A R N E D F R O M
In this three-part series, champion trainer and jockey Molly Powell shares
the riding techniques she learned in cutting, roping and jumping that
she says made her a better barrel racer.
Article by Molly Powell • Photos by John Brasseaux
M
any times during our competitive travels, we see
horsemen and women from other equine disciplines
and quickly separate ourselves from “them.” We are
barrel racers. They are not.
Well, in 20-plus years of barrel racing professionally, I have had the chance to participate in many other types of riding
besides my chosen sport. In my mind, there is no doubt that my experiences riding with “them,” those who participate in other disciplines, has
influenced my horsemanship and barrel racing success in every way.
I always preach “horsemanship” as the key to winning—especially
on different horses. If I had only one year to train a “city slicker” to run
barrels and win, I would spend 11 months training on horsemanship, and
one month on the actual barrel pattern.
During the next three months, I am excited to share with you what
I learned from three of my favorite non-barrel racing disciplines—
cutting, roping and jumping. The riding techniques I picked up from
these sports helped improve the way I ride barrel horses, and I believe
they can help you, too.
I’ll never forget that feeling at my first cutting of having my stomach
drop out from underneath me like I was riding a rollercoaster. What an
eye opener. I could ride a barrel horse to a first place finish, but I could
hardly stay on that cutting horse, much less help him out with the cut.
Many times, I actually got in his way, and nearly fell off of him, when
he was working for me. Because he was such a well-trained, responsive
horse, he was confused by all of my very unintentional “cues.”
The more I cut, the more I became aware of how much my horse felt
my leg pressure and responded according to how much I squeezed with
my legs. From my perspective, I was just trying to stay on his back any
way I could, and so I would “knee up” to stay on him. But the leg pressure, coupled with my nerves, made my horse leak forward toward the
cattle and took us out of position to do well.
The Cutting Seat
Cutting is an amazing sport. The true instinct of a working horse is
portrayed in this competition. It’s horse versus cow. I get shivers down
my spine and sometimes a tear in my eye when I watch a great horse
work a cow; the intensity and emotion are so dramatic! But I’m always
appreciative of great horses doing what they love.
I first got involved in cutting when I was a freshman in high school in
Montana. I had just entered the high school rodeo scene and was blood
thirsty for an “all around” buckle. Cutting was an event that I felt I
wanted to try, as my parents had several friends who came to our indoor
arena to practice. I was able to borrow an Open cutting horse, and after
a few practice lessons, I was off to the rodeo.
By pushing herself down into the saddle, as she would on a cutting horse,
Powell says she has achieved a more secure and effective seat.
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BEHIND THE BARRELS
Powell likens the back-and-forth turnng motion of a cutting horse to the turn of a barrel horse. But, she says, riding a cutting horse makes you more aware
of where you should be balanced on your horse’s back.
With more cutting practice, I learned that if I got a good seat by pushing myself way down into the saddle and pushing the heel of my hand on
the backside of the saddle horn and locking my elbow into my hips, I was
in a much better position to cut a cow successfully. I also learned how to
get a “slouch” in my back on a nervous horse when I needed him to relax.
By slouching, I was able to relax my whole body, including my legs. Now,
every time I step up on a nervous horse, I instinctively slouch in my seat
and work on relaxing him.
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Before I rode the cutting horses, I just thought I could ride well.
However, with the riding skills that I learned from cutting, I gained a
much better seat. That good seat has helped me to have the confidence
to ride horses with different styles of turning. That confidence in my
riding skills enabled me to keep up with stronger horses and urge them
to go for the win and not worry about me staying on them!
I refer back to riding Shali Lord’s SX Docs Slider often because he
has such a unique turning style. I would say that the confidence and
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BEHIND THE BARRELS
experience in getting a good seat and locking my rear end down in
the saddle was the only way I could have had the guts to ride “Slider”
down the alley at the National Finals Rodeo. Thank God for those
cutting lessons!
Achieving Balance
Another thing that I learned from cutting was balance—and I mean
awareness of my balance on my horse’s back. I realized that I needed to
be in the middle of my horse, so that I wouldn’t distract his performance.
On an Open horse, that was one of my few jobs as his rider. A cutting
horse comes back through himself with a lot of force when he cuts a cow,
much like a barrel horse will when he finishes a turn on a barrel. I used
this similarity to my advantage and applied my cutting horse balance to
my barrel horse balance.
Competing at cutting added to my preparation skills, as well. I would
always try to take a deep breath and slowly exhale right before I competed at a cutting. While I was riding through the herd, searching for that
perfect cow to cut, I was also trying to quiet myself both mentally and
physically. I knew that my horse could feel me relaxing, and that would
help him to focus and relax also. I tried to relax my legs and get that deep
seat that I knew I needed. This put my body in a very quiet, focused state
and allowed my horse to work and think on his own.
Every time I ride down the alley on a nervous horse, just before
he launches toward our first barrel, I try to take that deep breath and
exhale into my run. It’s one of the keys to riding a nervous or sensitive
horse for me.
Take the Challenge
These days, I see lots of young riders focusing mainly on barrel racing
and not working much on their horsemanship education. I don’t think
that I would have had as much success if I hadn’t had the opportunity to
gain that invaluable horsemanship experience that I did through other
types of riding.
Sometimes, I look back at all the opportunities that my parents provided for me by helping me with my barrel racing career. They always
encouraged me to try out different types of riding, and now I’m so thankful. If you are interested in becoming a stronger competitor than you
already are, challenge your horsemanship skills. You’ll be glad you did!
For more information on Molly Powell, visit mollypowell.com.
The Secret
to Molly’s Success
Molly Powell has completed work on the third installment of her popular
DVD series, The Secret to My Success. The Secret to My Success Volume
III: The Inner Game of Barrel Racing is intended to help barrel racers deal
with what Powell calls “the final step to becoming a champion”—mastering
mental toughness.
To help pinpoint the champion mindset for her DVDs, Powell enlisted the
help of world champion bull rider Gary Leffew, two-time American Quarter
Horse Association Trainer of the Year Donna McArther and All American Futurity
champion jockey and two-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier Tami Purcell.
“I went to work [on these DVDs] with my friends and heros—the people who
have inspired me,” says Powell, “and they have shared their own stories and
techniques for success.
“I hope this DVD will inspire viewers as it has inspired me.”
For ordering informtion on this new DVD set, as well as the entire Secret to
My Success series, visit mollypowell.com or amazon.com.
Powell is a 10-time NFR qualifier who took home the championship in 2004 and the
reserve championship in 2005. Her career earnings total more than $895,000.
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