Barefoot Performance: Western Performance

2009 Rodeo History - Barefoot Barrel Racing Success at Wrangler National Finals Rodeo!


December 2009, Jordon Jae Peterson rode into rodeo history by becoming the first barrel racer to compete at the prestigious Wrangler National Finals Rodeo on a barefoot horse. When the dust settled, Jordon and her great horse Frenchmans Jester (AKA Jester) finished in sixth place in the world standings.

Read all about them in THH Issue 38, Spring 2010! "Jordon Peterson: Barefoot in the Rodeo Big Leagues" By Johnny Holder


Barrel Racing in Easycare Epics Boots

Above: C.J. Holdren and her horse "Chuck" at a Barrel Racers of Texas (BRAT) race held in Alvarado, TX, on April 22, 2007. Johnny Holder pulled Chuck's shoes and fitted him in Easycare Epics about a month before this race. C.J. did her part by continuing to ride and train and gain confidence in his new boots. C.J. placed 5th in the 3rd division, with a time of 16.514 seconds. Photo courtesy Johnny Holder. See the article featuring C.J and Chuck in issue 28 of The Horse's Hoof Magazine.

Barefoot Barrel Racing

Above: High Flying Princess, ridden by Claudia Edgewater Lors. Owned by Claudia and her husband, Jeff Lors.

Jeff writes: Last April, I noticed our AQHA mare High Flying Princess' front left hoof had a pretty bad crack. I started monitoring it and she was barrel racing every weekend and it only got worse. I tried Horseshoer's Secret to no avail. I consulted our farrier and he recommended a hotshoe. I deferred to his judgement and let him hotshoe Princess. About two weeks, mid May, and one race after she was hotshoed she came up lame. I quickly pulled the shoes and fought with the hoof that was hotshoed. She was in so much pain and it just really hurt me to see her suffer. I thought to myself, I just need to really research the "why we shoe horses" when she runs in sand and dirt which is really non-intrusive. I started a crazy search on Google typing "shoeless horses" " no shoe horse" on and on and finally found http://www.thehorseshoof.com ... I was so happy because what my gut had been telling me someone had researched and given me the "authority" to proceed to go shoeless for the 2006 season.

But I was still not 100%...my wifes' father, a respected horsemen in the Navajo community, was not buying it, and convinced me to try another farrier. We drove 200 miles to Cortez and had Chance Tate shoe Princess...yes, everyone cringe! While he is a great farrier and has a wonderful T3 Stables, Princess threw a shoe on the first barrel and running on three shoes and 11 vertabrae out according to our chiropractor. I was angry! I was so angry with myself for not trusting what I felt for our horse. I vowed after causing her the additional pain because of my stupidity that she would not wear shoes again period!

During our 2006 rodeo season, Princess competed in both Pro and Indian rodeos. Her best finish in the pro circuit was 10th in Clovis, New Mexico. She also qualified for the INFR and won Triple JJJ Rodeo in Chinle, Whiteriver Rodeo, Northern Navajo Rodeo in Bluff, Central Navajo Fair in Chinle, Bylas Mt. Turnbull Rodeo, Western Navajo Fair Rodeo, SWIRA Champion Barrel Racer 2006 and was fourth in the average at the Navajo Nation Fair. Yes, all without horseshoes!

Why didn't she win the Indian National Finals Rodeo this year? Again, my self confidence and stupidity! I allowed our farrier to trim her before we raced the final two races! He trimmed her too close and I was against the trim but my wife's father went ahead with it anyway! Now I really need to either learn to trim or find someone to trim our horse!

I am currently under intense pressure from her father to have her shoed! Guess what? I just smile and say I respect your "old school thoughts" but how can you argue with six first place finishes? We want to be the only winning PWBR (PRCA) Barrel Racing shoeless horse on the Turquoise Circuit! We hope to preach the gospel of shoeless horses and have already won one convert...Claudia's best friend and Breakaway Roper Savannah Begay!

Thanks for letting me share our story!
Jeff Lors, email: jlors@hotmail.com
www.geocities.com/jeffreylors
Greasewood, AZ

Claudia Lors, an 8th grade schoolteacher in Greasewood Springs, Arizona, is seeking sponsorships to help fund her barefoot barrel racing. She writes: I am Navajo and a Barrel Racer! I am just starting my 2007 Barrel Racing and hoped that you would be a part of my 2007 rodeo season! During my 2006 rodeo season, I competed in both pro and Indian rodeos. My best finish in the pro circuit was 10th in Clovis, New Mexico. I also qualified for the INFR and won Triple JJJ Rodeo in Chinle, Whiteriver Rodeo, Northern Navajo Rodeo in Bluff, Central Navajo Fair in Chinle, Bylas Mt. Turnbull Rodeo, Western Navajo Fair Rodeo, SWIRA Champion Barrel Racer 2006 and was fourth in the average at the Navajo Nation Fair. My husband drove our truck over 38,000 miles in pursuit of our dreams. I am currently seeking sponsorship for the 2007 rodeo season.
I would gladly advertise your company at each rodeo when my name is announced! I would also like to sell “ad space” on the side of our new Featherlite Trailer.
I am open to proposals so please feel free to call and we will gladly meet with you.
If you have DSL please watch our video from 2006 -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKrSHOUL6Hg
Cash donations can be sent to jlors@hotmail.com via our rodeo Paypal account.
Please contact Jeffrey Lors or Claudia Lors at (928) 654-3292, or email: jlors@hotmail.com to discuss sponsorship.


©2007 by The Horse's Hoof. All rights reserved. No part of these publications may be reproduced by any means whatsoever without the written permission of the publisher and/or authors. The information contained within these articles is intended for educational purposes only, and not for diagnosing or medicinally prescribing in any way. Readers are cautioned to seek expert advice from a qualified health professional before pursuing any form of treatment on their animals. Opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher.


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