Shop Neon Daisy and Support a Dream

Monday, November 27, 2023

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 At multiple points in my life I've run businesses. They've provided extra income most of the time and a few times provided the entirety of my income. But the things they've all had in common are that they all are run with the goal of supporting a dream. 

When you see barrel racers or other competitive equestrian sport people out here running side hustles, in addition to their main horse focus, it's because it's expensive to play these horse sport games. And it's time consuming to get to the level that many of us are focused on getting to at some point in our lives. So when you support those businesses, you're not just supporting the business itself. You're supporting a dream and helping to make it happen. 

Neon Daisy is currently my only shop after closing Lust + Lore. I have some other things in the works, but losing the income from L+L was a setback. It was one that I had to do for the sake of my mental health. And we face those setbacks, both in and out of the arena, at times. It's just part of it. 

This blog post is about telling you what Neon Daisy stands for. This shop encompasses cowgirls. And when we say cowgirls...we mean ANYONE who wants to be a cowgirl. It doesn't matter how you dress, talk, walk, ride, or whatever...if you want to be a cowgirl, that's enough. You are one. We don't care if you have forty horses or none. Cowgirl is a state of mind. 

The majority of our items are made to order (excepting boutique and sale items). We choose brands that have eco friendly processes and ethical working conditions. We believe in protecting the planet because it's the only one we have, and we believe that all workers should be treated fairly. Currently most of our items (excepting sale items and boutique items) are shipped directly from our print partners so that we can ensure a speedy delivery. The shipping materials they use are created from post consumer recycled plastics and can be recycled again. 

The designs are either ones we have designed ourselves or purchased from the designer for commercial use. We believe in supporting other small businesses for our boutique items and designs that we purchase. We also have an artist program that allows for artists to submit designs that they get paid for letting us use. 

So when you support Neon Daisy, you are supporting not only my dream but the dreams of other small businesses as well. 

Come check us out! 

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Horse Fact Friday: Barrel Racing Terms for Beginners

Friday, November 24, 2023

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As I was picking out terms and writing this I had to remind myself multiple times to make the definitions short. They are oversimplified, and there is still a lot to learn. However, this will give folks new to the sport of barrel racing a place to start on these definitions. 

I could write an entire blog post on each of these, but then I reminded myself to just KISS (keep it simple stupid), and so here we are! 

I remember when I was super young (like 12), and I had started hitting barrels with the horse I was riding. A lady told me he was "dropping his shoulder" and "cheating me on the backside" and that if I resolved those issues I'd go back to running a clean pattern. I had no freaking clue what she meant by that and because I'm old I couldn't even take to the internet to google what she meant because google literally did not exist. I hope that these definitions help someone just starting out in the sport. And some of these definitions are just general ones used in riding. 

Barrel Racing Terms
  1. The D System: developed by the National Barrel Horse Association (NBHA) as a handicapping system for more fair competition. The fastest time sets the brackets and is the 1st Division (1D). Then half a second after the fastest time sets the 2nd Division (2D). A full second after the fastest time sets the 3rd Division (3D), and two full seconds after the fastest tee sets the 4th Division (4D). Some producers choose to do a 5D and make them all half second splits, so make sure to read the rules of entry as they can vary slightly at different races. 
  2. Producer: person or people who oversees the event
  3. Bottom of the ground: last to go before the drag
  4. Crying Hole: one out of the money (if an event pays to 10 places this would be 11th place)
  5. Drag: when the tractor goes around the arena to make the dirt nice again
  6. Drug his butt around the barrel: the horse got really low around the barrel and close to the ground using his hindquarters well
  7. Free Runner: a naturally running horse that does not need to be encouraged to open up. May have issues with rating.
  8. Hot: horse is excited, wound up
  9. Legged up: in good physical condition
  10. Performance (perf): a rodeo run with the crowds
  11. Pocket: the amount of space left between the horse and the barrel coming into the turn to give them room to turn it without knocking it over
  12. Push Style: opposite of free runner, this type of horse needs to be pushed to run, and rates well. Also sometimes referred to as "ratey"
  13. Rate: the slowing of speed approaching the barrel
  14. Slack: a rodeo run without the crowd, typically in the early morning or late evening
  15. Sound: healthy horse that is not lame
  16. Standard Pattern: the distance between the barrel and from the timer to the barrels is the same. A standard pattern measures 60 feet from the timer to the first and second barrels, 90 feet between the first and second barrel, and 105 feet between both the first and second barrel and the third barrel. 
  17. Exhibitions/Time Onlies: paid time slot to get in the arena with the barrels up at an event, usually limited to 60 seconds, this is the time to practice
  18. Cheating: horse cuts in on the barrels to make incomplete turns - "cheats" to take less steps
  19. Dropping the shoulder/shouldering: horse leaves the desired path of travel cutting to the inside, there is a fall in elevation of the front end and a desire to turn too soon
  20. Inside/Outside: the inside is towards the flexion, and the outside is the opposite of that. For example, in a left bend the inside would the left of the horse/rider and the outside would be the right of the horse/rider. If a trainer said to use inside rein/outside leg you would use the left rein and the right leg in the left turn or bend. 
If there are any terms you still want defined or would like more information on or videos of please contact me on social media and I would be glad to find those for you! 


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WHEN TO QUIT

Monday, November 20, 2023

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It might sound backwards to say that it's important to know when to quit, but it's honestly one of the most important things to know in life, and especially with animals. 

As I shared on tiktok last week, I had a training session with Bash where I had to get to a positive point, then quit. Bash is one of those horses that is the sweetest thing; he will follow you around and stick his head into the halter for you. However, he also lacks confidence. He's the epitome of the stereotypical goofy bay gelding. And that's fine. It just means I have to approach working him differently than some of the others we have. Getting frustrated with him because he's unsure never helps. Being able to feel myself getting frustrated so that I know when to quit does help. 

It does not mean that you're letting the horse get away with things. As I stated in my video I quit after getting the desired result a few times then end on that good note. 

And not only quitting with training. It's perfectly okay to acknowledge that you are not vibing with a horse and find a different horse. Or a trainer. Or really anything in your life. I recently shut down a successful small shop because it was mentally draining me. 

How do you know when to quit?

Well with training sessions, it's important to quit before you get frustrated and lose sight of the overall goal. End on a good note and try another day. Even if the good note is just practicing something the animal has already previously mastered. It doesn't have to be the something new. 

With overall larger things, like deciding that the animal you're working with isn't clicking with you. Then I say once you realize that it's not a good fit find that animal a home where it is a good fit, and find a horse that is a good fit for you. It does no one any good...you or the horse to try to fit when it's just frustrating for both of you. Only you can judge what is too frustrating for you or if it's just a phase or if you can push through the issues. 

I just personally believe that many horses wind up with issues after being paired with riders or trainers that work against them constantly rather than working with them. If you can't work with them then let them go to someone you can. There are tons of horses out there for you to find one that you can work with. 

Knowing when to quit or pivot can help us so so much in life. We don't have to fight battles that we really don't care about. It's all about defining our goals and then letting go of the things that don't serve those overall goals. 

Until next time! 

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Horse Fact Friday: 10 Tips for First Time Horse Buyers

Friday, November 17, 2023

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When looking for a first horse there are a few things that one should look into before decided on one. 

I see all the time people wanting to buy a baby horse and learn with it, which is not a great idea. It sounds cute, and those baby photos are adorable. But without an experienced horse person to train that cute baby you could end up with a very unruly and very large animal that is capable of hurting someone. 

So if you're looking to purchase a horse here are some tips for going to look at them! 

1. If you can take an experienced horse person with you to help assess. If you've been taking lessons the person you've been taking lessons from would be the perfect choice. But it can be a knowledgeable friend or family member. 

2. Stay smart. Don't just buy a horse based on color or because your kids get excited about it. It's awesome to be excited, but remember that a good horse doesn't come in a bad color.

3. Riding Lessons. Even if you've been taking lessons on a lesson horse, it is a great idea to continue lessons with your own horse after you get one. It doesn't matter what level you get to there is always someone that you can take lessons from and learn from. 

4. Make sure you handle the horse on the ground when you arrive. It can be a red flag if the seller already has the horse tacked up when you arrive. You want to make sure that you can handle getting the horse out, tacked up, and move them around on your own. If you can't handle the horse on the ground, then you know that isn't the horse for you. 

5. Have the seller ride the horse first, and recognize that the seller may be an experienced rider. A horse may respond differently with a beginner or intermediate rider. A good rule is to go and try the horse out a few times before making the final decision. 

6. Ask as many questions as you need about the horse's history. Their farrier care, what they are eating, veterinary records, show records, and any other questions you can think of. How old is the horse? Are there registration papers? How many owners has the horse had? What kind of maintenance does this horse require?

7. Get a veterinary check from your veterinarian. It can be cheaper to get a pre-purchase exam than to buy one that ends up having a myriad of medical issues that you are not prepared to pay for. 

8. What equipment does the horse currently use? Are you realistically able to use this equipment and afford it? If the horse requires a saddle that is specially fitted to them, is this an expense you are able and willing to take on. 

9. Be realistic with your own level of expertise when looking for a horse. If you know that you need a horse that is beginner safe and will safely carry you down a trail or work well for you in the arena then look for a horse that is at that level currently. Don't be discouraged or not take an older been there done that horse, just be realistic about what you need. 

10. Have fun! 

Having your own horse is an amazing experience, and I think anyone who wants to experience it should definitely do it. I also want to see and promote responsible horse ownership; I want to promote equestrian sports and one of the ways I can do that is by sharing knowledge with newcomers to the horse world. Being well informed means horses will be better cared for and people interested in horses will continue to promote the wide variety of equestrian sports which means horses will thrive. 

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Horse Fact Friday: Weight v. Volume

Friday, November 10, 2023

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 This one doesn't take a lot of research, but it's something I see asked repeatedly in Facebook groups by first time horse owners and that's:

"How much should I be feeding my horse?"

And it's such a broad question with so many answers which is why asking in a place like a Facebook horse group will get you a ton of varied answers. 

There are tons of articles that I am going to link at the bottom of this blog for your reading which talk about different ways to feed horses and how to determine what your horse needs. Reminder when you are researching what to feed your animal to look at objective third party websites and articles rather than articles and websites published by feed producers or feed stores as the latter are always going to paint their product in a positive light to make the sale. 

Horses are fed by weight and not by volume. Accompanied with the above question I'll see that someone is feeding their horse "two scoops of X" or one scoop of Y" and "three flakes of hay" except that scoops or flakes are not measurements. 

There is the fight amongst equestrians as to whether all forage diets or supplementing with grain is the best. I am not going to broach into what is best because I believe that this will vary from horse to horse. I have six horses: some have added grain to their diet and others are on completely grass hay with their minerals and a balancer. I think that drawing a hard line about feeding leaves us closed off to making decisions that may be best for our individual animals, and I'll share my personal journey with that on another blog. 

Forage is any roughage and can include a variety of grass hays and legumes. These can come in round or square bales, as well as pelleted, cubed, and shredded versions. Long stem forage like bales should be at least a part of your horses diet each day for mental stimulation as the chewing takes up time thus relieving boredom, but as long as your horse is otherwise stimulated and not participating in abnormal behaviors (tail chewing, weaving, etc.) as a result of boredom then all forage can be short stem from a nutritional standpoint. Horses should eat between 1.5-2% of their body weight in forage per day. 

Commercial feeds and grains should also be fed by weight and typically there is a chart on the bag that tells you how much weight in pounds should be fed per one hundred pounds of body weight. 

One thing we personally do is get a guaranteed analysis on the hay we are feeding to make sure we are supplementing our horses correctly. We also have done hair tests as well as blood work to ensure that we are feeding them correctly. While some vitamins and minerals can be overfed without risks, others do constitute a risk when overfeeding. 

A few things to take into consideration when setting up your feeding program are (in no particular order): 
  • caloric needs of your animal
  • quality of forage in your area
  • time it takes to feed
  • body condition of horses
  • horses vitamin/mineral needs
  • availability of feed
If you have any questions, please feel free to shoot me a message on social media! I'm not an expert, but I am happy to share any and all research I've done. 

Please remember that this blog nor is any research online meant to take the place of veterinary professionals and other equine professionals. 



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PopTart + Me

Tuesday, November 7, 2023

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PopTart came into my life in September of 2019. I hadn't owned a horse since I sold my mare, Polly, in 2008 before moving to Oklahoma. I had ridden a handful of times here and there over that time, but not enough to gain new skills or even keep the ones I have sharpened. And over the course of those years from 2007 to 2017 I was in a relationship that robbed me of the majority of my confidence. Especially with horses. 

After being told for years that I needed to give up my barrel racing dreams because I "didn't ride well anyway" and "wouldn't know how to ride a nice horse to save my life" among other worse sentiments wore down my confidence in myself and my abilities, despite having ridden since before I could walk and having horses my entire life. 

I had won everything local that could possibly be won, and I'd worked with multiple trainers learning everything I could from them. I'd read every book, magazine, and website I could find to help me evolve into a better horse person and rider. 

And when I got PopTart, we'd been riding some horses for a few months until that wasn't enough. I needed my own horse again. On the test ride, I took her out on trails and never thought twice about not being able to ride her. She is a lot of horse, but she's not a crazy untrained idiot. 

After bringing her home, my confidence sank. Every time I was tacking up I would just hear all the negative things about me and my riding permeating my brain. This continued for awhile, and as I worked on preparing her to run barrels I found that I was deathly afraid to go fast on her. This continued to get worse and worse. 

I rode her for the last time in March of 2022. 

Over that time I took to riding my senior gelding who I felt safe with. But unfortunately his time came due to age and cancer. Of course I had stopped riding him long before that.

Then the other day I was out lunging PopTart because if I'm not riding she still needs to be in shape, and I thought ya know what? I'm going to ride her. I took her to get tacked up, and then I realized that I needed new billet straps and latigo. Since I'd already made the decision I threw on the bareback pad, climbed onto the fender well of the trailer, and hopped on her back. 

It went beautifully. 

She pranced around for a bit then settled into a walk. The ride was delightfully uneventful despite the fact that my stomach continually threatened to purge itself of the chocolate milk that I drank right before heading out to work horses. 

We are back on a nice schedule of slow riding as she's almost six months pregnant, but I do hope that this builds my confidence. I don't want to spend 10 years building my confidence up even though that's the amount of time it took to break it down. 


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