08/25/2020
Dear Bully Betty Barrel Racer...
I have one question for you, does being a bully boost your ego to have a better run? Help you sleep better at night? Does being a mean girl give you more friends??
It’s been many many years since I’ve had to deal with the woman who is the reason barrel racing has a snobby unfriendly feel to many others. But I had the pleasure of running into her today! It’s been a couple hours since the encounter and I find myself sitting here still thinking gosh it’s sad people like you exist within our sport giving it the bad name.
I took my c**t to a big barrel race today to ride in a time slot and work barrels with the action for exposure. I went to work through a pattern and at each barrel rated from a lope to a trot and double circled each can (FYI there were zero “rules” on pattern work I could have walked the pattern and taken as much sweet time as I pleased). Well I guess I wasn’t moving fast enough for her so as I circled my third barrel some stranger came high loping up my c**ts butt and circled between me and the barrel. I’m very thankful he stayed cool calm and collected as he’s actually my c**t who typically jumps out of his skin and takes any excuse to explode.
As I came back to the chute to wait my turn again for the pattern this woman not only didn’t apologize, but waited until I was within ear shot to tell another racer she “thought” about hollering but then decided she didn’t care..... she continued as I walked past with some comment like “oh I was wondering if I interrupted something out there”..... all in a very snarky tone, and purposeful to make sure I overheard.
I’m a big girl, I’ve been around long enough not to care and smiled as I walked by as I’m sure that bugged her more then my own smart ass comment back would have. What saddens me is my ego is fine, my confidence is fine, I’ve hauled the entire country, I’ve hauled all over the states, I’ve won enough horse trailers, saddles and buckles, while also been dumped on the ground and had barrels ducked and sat on wall runners. I’ve been around the block and you’re not the last sour cow I’ll run into on the circuit.
But what if I wasn’t?! Sure I’ve just moved again and it was my first time at this district with a spooky baby. But what if I was a 5D rider, new to the sport with zero confidence, zero knowledge, and zero friends to lean on?! YOU have now ruined that persons day, week, and possible entire outlook on this sport they were hoping to love.
So please before you back hand comment someone in the warm up pen. Check yourself. You don’t know who they are, where they’ve been, or what they’re going through. Our weekend away is supposed to be our escape and happy place, don’t take that away from someone else.
Be kind. Be humble. Be better. 💕
-Jessy Mathieu
