Teaching and racing

Leanne Caban, barrel racing expert, will be sharing valuable knowledge at clinics this weekend.

Emerald's Leanne Caban is not only running barrel racing workshops locally, she will be riding in Monday's Mitchell Rodeo. Picture: Purple Fairy Imagery/Cherie Reev

HORSE SPORTS: Tricks of the trade will be the focus of two upcoming horsemanship classes in Roma, when rodeo rider Leanne Caban takes participants through the ins and outs of barrel racing.

The Emerald-based rider has travelled to the region for a number of local events, as well as to run the historically popular workshops at 'Craigann'.

She said there are so many people out there who want to improve their form in the barrel racing, so it made sense to run the classes again.

"I ran a clinic in Roma around two years ago now, and that was a two-day camp.

"Because of everything else going on in the area and the heat at this time of year, I thought I'd just run some mini half-day clinics and see how they go.

"There is a big pull for clinics, especially with juniors and more novice people coming in to the sport, and they want to improve, so fine-tuning some techniques and learning the art of horsemanship is the focus,” she said.

The difference between places in the fast-paced sport of barrel racing is minute, which means the smallest things can make a difference in giving a rider a competitive edge.

Ms Caban said that is why she teaches horsemanship in her classes.

"Our sport is evolving in Australia, and horsemanship is really coming in to barrel racing now. "Being able to control the horse at speed is the biggest challenge: their mind can sometimes take over and they lose control of the body.

"That's the biggest thing with speed events, is learning and practising control,” she said.

Originally published as Teaching and racing