The Space Between the Runs
- afenner
- Aug 11, 2025
- 3 min read
Everyone talks about the runs. The ones where it all clicks, and the ones where it all falls apart. But what about everything in between?
What you do outside the arena — on the road, in the barn, at home after dark — shapes who you are just as much as any 1D check or tipped barrel.
This is the space between the runs. And it's where champions are made.
Small Moments, Big Impact
There’s a rhythm to the rodeo life, even when you’re not racing. Maybe it’s brushing your horse after a long haul. Or cleaning tack late at night while replaying the run in your mind. Maybe it’s letting your kid cry after a tough go — and then helping them climb back on.
These aren’t wasted moments. These are growth moments.
When your kid learns to unload the trailer and water their horse without being asked, they’re building responsibility.
When they sit quietly after a run and process what went wrong instead of blowing up, they’re building maturity.
When they show up to help a friend, even when they’re hurting themselves, they’re learning empathy.
None of those lessons come from a stopwatch. But all of them show up in the arena eventually.
Life Lessons Happen on the Road
Barrel racing is more than a sport — it's a lifestyle. And the lifestyle is demanding.
From early morning load-ups to late-night stall checks, your kids are learning:
Time management (nothing teaches this like making it to a draw on time).
Emotional regulation (not every fairground has a good cry room).
Budgeting (even if it’s just deciding between snacks and an extra exhibition).
Social navigation (making friends, losing friends, managing rivals, and learning sportsmanship).
You don’t have to manufacture “teachable moments.” They’re baked into the lifestyle. The trick is recognizing them and helping your kid reflect on them.
What They’re Really Learning
So much of what we think barrel racing is about — speed, power, precision — comes later. What’s happening first is deeper:
Resilience: You’re going to lose. A lot. You’re going to ride the best pattern of your life and still miss placing. And then you get up and do it again.
Grit: Long hours, hard work, and uncomfortable conditions are just part of the deal. There’s no shortcut to toughness.
Grace: Whether it's someone else winning or your kid bombing a run, they’re learning to hold their head high. That matters more than a buckle.
How You Can Support the Space Between
You don’t need to be in the arena to be an effective coach or parent. Sometimes the best things you can do are:
Offer a snack and a listening ear after a bad run — not a critique.
Celebrate the effort, even when the outcome was disappointing.
Ask them what they think about their ride instead of jumping in with analysis.
Point out the good stuff: how they handled the alley, how they comforted their horse, how they packed up without complaint.
You’re shaping not just a competitor, but a young person. And they’re watching how you handle the space between the runs, too.
Final Thoughts
There’s so much more to this than the barrels. The wins and losses are just snapshots. The real story — the real growth — happens in all the in-between moments.
So honor the space between the runs. Celebrate it. Teach in it. And let your kid learn to love the journey, not just the destination.
The arena will show the world what they can do. But what they learn between those runs? That’s what shows them who they are.
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Ann-Marie Fenner
Ranch Manager, Breeder, Rodeo Mom
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