Olds, Alberta was an exciting place to be the last weekend in April. Barrel racers flocked to town for the 3rd Annual Barrel Bash where an Open, Youth and Slot race was held. The top 10 ten in the average over 2 long goes were brought back for a sudden death short go. Toni Dixon and her horse Jig French Truckle were the short go winners. Toni answered some of our questions about herself and her horse.
-What is the name of the horse you are running?
Jig French Truckle, her barn name is “Muffin”
-How old is she?
9 yr old sorrel mare, She is by a son of Frenchmans Guy out of a Bunny Bid, Truckle Feature mare.
-How long have you been running barrels on her?
3 years
-What is the training background on this horse?
I bought her from Buffy Romeo as a 6 yr old. Buffy bought her as a 3 yr old from
Keisha in Nebraska. She took her to some Futurites and Derbies until I bought
her.
-What is your training and riding style with your horse?
I team rope, (heel), and breakaway a bit on her. I do very little barrel work with
her. If I am on the pattern I do slow work. I am a quiet rider.
-What is it you like best about her?
Her desire to please and her love to run barrels. She is deceptively fast because
she is so smooth and powerful.
-You won the Short Go, but was this your best run of the weekend? If not, which
one was and why?
My fastest time of the weekend was my short go run of 15.107
-How do you prepare for your runs (warm up etc.)? Did you have to do anything
different having to make more than one run in the same arena?
I like to warm her up away from the action if I can. She worries when I am too
close to the in- gate so I don’t go near it until her run. Once she is warmed up, I
like to keep her warm but calm. It was nice we had the opportunity to ride in the
arena between go rounds. I was able to walk the pattern and let her relax in the
arena.
-What kind of saddle do you use?
Coats saddle
-What kind of pad do you use?
Wade pad
Toni and her new saddle!
-What kind of bit do you use?
Small gag snaffle with rollers made by Dave Elliot.
-Are there any specific goals you set for yourself and your horse this season?
I would like to continue to run smooth fast consistent runs on her.
-What lead you to be a barrel racer?
I grew up in Ontario and only rode English (jumping, 3-day eventing, dressage
and fox hunting). I moved to Alberta in 1983 and starting riding in a western
saddle. I learned to rope and cattle pen. When my second son was born, my
husband suggested I get into barrel racing which I did in 1988. I have been barrel
racing ever since. My husband, Howie and I bred, raised and raced running
Quarters Horses for 15 years. I have trained several running Quarter Horses to
run barrels.
-What do you do when you’re not barrel racing? (job, other interests etc).
I am on the Board of Directors for the Calgary Stampede. I am a volunteer for the
Canadian Cancer society.
-If you were to share a training/rodeo tip what would it be?
I feel it is important to do other things with your horses. Don’t drill them too much
on the pattern. When on the pattern do lots of slow work.
Toni has a special shout out:
I would like to say a special thank you to Lisa Nault and her team for putting on
the Olds Barrel Bash. It was an excellent weekend, very well organized. I would
also like to thank all the sponsors especially Frontier Western Shop for their
generous sponsorships.
Click this link to view complete Barrel Bash results.
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