eDressage Haley Patterson – Barrel Racing & Dressage Maverick

Val’s Alive and Haley “turn and burn” en route to a fourth place Never Say Never (Hollywood) and Haley earned the Reserve finish in the State Finals in 2012. While barrel racing, Haley Championship Young Riders Prix St. Georges at the regionals in wears an approved helmet by choice! 2012. Photo by Brent Puhl Photography

By Lauren R. Giannini disqualified for that round. Barrel racing is fast, exciting and quick – 13 to 14 seconds being very fast. Enthusiasts call it “turn and Haley Patterson considers her family as funny, quirky and burn” for a reason. entertaining as the reality television show, Duck Dynasty. They “I have six barrel racing horses, ranging in age from two to 14, run a boarding facility at their Good Thunder Farm in Ohio. in various stages of training,” Haley said. “To race, I’m on the Her vet-father Bill plays polo. Her mother Kim does grand prix road just about every weekend. I had hoped to go to Dressage at dressage, coaches about 10 riders and enjoys reining. Haley, who Devon this year, but it conflicted with racing and I really want to just turned 21 in July, competes in barrel racing on the Pro Rodeo qualify for the National Finals Rodeo in December.” circuit in order to finance her dressage ambitions. She hopes to Barrel racing and dressage make Haley’s riding life interesting. move her dressage mount, Never Say Never, to grand prix in the “It’s a constant battle to keep myself riding well and not go back near future. She’s in her rookie year on the Pro Rodeo circuit. to the cowboy way when I do dressage,” she admitted. “I like “When I was 13, I met a girl who had a pony and I had a pony dressage because it gives me structure and keeps my riding and we decided to try barrel racing,” recalled Haley. “We started sharp. I like barrel racing because I’m really competitive, there’s going every weekend after that. But I was always into dressage, no judge – it’s just you and your horse against the timer. If I make long before barrel racing. I didn’t do Pony Club and I have never a mistake, it’s my fault. Barrel racing is about getting the job done.” jumped in my life. I do trail ride on both my dressage and barrel Haley, who takes online college courses for her business major, racing horses.” rides five or six horses a day. She does dressage with her barrel Barrel racing is a timed western event run against the clock over horses to get them supple, attentive to the aids and moving readily a cloverleaf pattern. Placings are often determined by 1,000ths off her leg. “I think all my barrel horses should be able to go in and of a second. On the Pro Rodeo circuit, knocking over a barrel do a training or first level test,” she said. “Every horse is different imposes a five-second penalty to your time, effectively dropping and I like to find out each one’s style.” you to the literal bottom of the barrel. On the National Barrel Horse Her dressage horse Never Say Never pricks his ears any time Association (NBHA) circuit, if you knock over a barrel, you are Continued on page 32 30 SIDELINES OCTOBER 2013 FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE