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Owned by Victoria

Black and White, it is what it says! Here’s where Barrel Horse Enthusiasts of all levels come to find tried and true tips, tricks and techniques!

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3 contributions to Troubleshooting Barrel Horses
Bit Talk - Josey Go-Around Bit
Ok ok ok, if you know me you know my passion, my obsession and my collective desire is to own … ALL the bits. Why? I say why not? No but in reality, honestly it’s due to the fact I know under most circumstances I’ll likely need a few difference styles and mechanical adjustments along the way for my own horses, client horses and clinic goers! Always always always! So why not talk about a few of my favourites!? Why they’re my favourites and the use behind them - and horse types and styles who they benefit most. I touch base on this in my Tack Talk Classrooms. But, we’ll give you a sneak peak! Let’s start with a Josey Go- Around, I absolutely love this bit, it’s a classic. The mechanics are simple, a Mullen always takes away the Wiggle & Jiggle and adds stability and balance while holding speed! What does Amazon say about this bit? GO-AROUND BIT - Reinsman's Josey Go-Around Bit features a brown iron, low port mouthpiece that is very comfortable for many horses and provides excellent handling qualities. HIGH PERFORMANCE - The "stops' on the shanks help the mouthpiece stay in place and the rider gets just the right amount of gag action. This bit can really package a horse up, keeping him collected and snappy in the turns. USE THIS BIT FOR - Use this bit for correcting a horse that elevates his nose or drops his shoulder and helping a horse use his rear end rounding him out in a turn. STAGE C - NECK REINING - Stage C bits are for horses who love neck reining and respond well to poll pressure. Features include solid mouthpieces and cheek attachments, and swivel cheeks with jointed mouthpieces or low to medium ports. SPECIFICATIONS - Bit Style: Combination; Bit Stage: Stage C; Mouth Size: 5" Mouth; Mouth Diameter: 3/8"; Mouth Material: Brown Sweet Iron; Mouth Type: Low Port, Ported, Smooth, Solid; Horse Size: Horse Martha is not only a legend but a mastermind when it comes to the Josey Tack Line, year after year. So what are my thoughts on this bit you’re thinking to yourself … why do I love it? I’m here to tell you - not only does this bit allow stabilization in a turn on a horse who might just be a nose follower. But this bit allows quite literally for lifting the shoulders into the turn, and asking for balance with a little bit of rate into your pockets. And holding your horse accountable to find balance without bracing into the hand. I find horses who are a little “Noodle - like” are really benefited from this style of mullen with any amount of gag on any style of cheek or shank. However believe it or not I run my main open horse with a fixed mullen straight bar mouth - and the shortest purchase length I could find with a short over exaggerated swept shank!
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Bit Talk - Josey Go-Around Bit
Welcome to Troubleshooting Barrel Horses!
What an amazing platform to share, connect, and advance Horse men and women everywhere to level up in every aspect of their journey as both professional athletes, weekend warriors or leisurely competitors. This community is FOR YOU - based on decades of dedication, commitment and passion for our equine athletes! We touch base on everything from training to coaching, tack to latest saddle brands. Drills, problem solving, events to rodeos and more. Literally, everything and anything! So welcome, Tell me about yourself!? Your horses!? 2026 or current and goals!? Topics you’d like me to touch base on and develop programs for!? Let me know in the comments below - let’s make this THE BEST platform for all things Barrel Racing around!
Welcome to Troubleshooting Barrel Horses!
0 likes • 23d
I’ll get the ball rolling! As he read, my name is Victoria! I have far too many horses, but have a great selection of Open, Futurity and Derby horses amongst my roster. My greatest accomplishment thus far in the last few years would be placing 13th in the Calgary Stampede Ladies Barrel Racing Qualifier with a broken foot and ankle - in an air boot against world champions. Some of my idols. Earning my nickname, “Skippy” and “Hop Along” with pride from a few of them amongst the stalls of the Stampede Grounds. What a feeling! What is your most recent - or just in general latest and greatest accomplishment !?
Purchasing the RIGHT HORSE for you!
It’s no secret we all wish we could buy an NFR caliber horse tomorrow. On a dollar store budget. But it’s not just the financial aspect that matters. It’s our ability to do that horse justice. This is why it’s so important we analyze ourselves as riders, and level up to or purchase the correct style and level of horse that complements us, and thus as complementing them as well! It’s easy to get caught up in the swooning of Futurity and Derby trainers - they usually make it look absolutely effortless. But I promise you behind closed doors. There are many struggles many tears, many frustrations and a lot of days where throwing in the towel would be much easier. And what about the new generation? What about the weekend Warriors? What about those on rodeo road? The local jackpot supporters who don’t miss a race. The gymkhana enthusiasts!? Well, the best part about the horse world is there’s a horse for each and every level. Each and every writer and each and every tax bracket. So why is it so important to do your due diligence and find a horse that’s best suited for you? Besides the obvious? Let’s chat about it more … I’d love to hear your thoughts on how you ended up with your current horse(s) - if you had a plan purchasing them. Or if you have trained them from the ground up yourselves or had them sent to someone to get them where they are today. Tell me everything! Did you have a budget? What were your bucket list “must haves” purchasing? Are you happy with your horse(s)? Or would you change anything? Let’s get the conversation rolling and start more into this segment - “Purchasing the right horse for you!”
0 likes • 23d
Let’s get the conversation rolling! I’ll start! When I purchased my open horse, Romeo it was absolutely on a whim and out of nowhere. While I was looking for another competitive open horse, he never crossed my roster. I had purchased two horses from his previous owner before, so seeing him come across my page was an eye-opener for sure when his sale post came up! I ended up selling my four year-old futurity mare - to be able to purchase Romeo. And my thought process was all over the place. I’m selling an up-and-coming who has her whole life ahead of her that I’ve trained on my own for a horse. I’ve never met. Never ridden, and I’m buying sight, unseen. Yeeesh! Stress! But I trust, trusted the process! Our story is full of ups and downs, but I can tell you that horse has brought me everywhere I’ve dreamed of, despite all of those ups and downs. I’ve never change a thing! Romeo is 18 years old this year, and somehow he gets faster with each season. And it doesn’t look like he’ll be slowing down anytime soon or so I help anyway! This is just a short quick example, of something that could’ve gone south really quickly! Sometimes trusting your gut doesn’t always work out! And I’ve been on the receiving end of similar situations where the horse I purchased in fact didn’t work out! I’ll touch base more on that later! So now let’s hear from you! 🙏🏻
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Victoria VanDerVoort
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5points to level up
@victoria-vandervoort-8944
With almost two decades in Training, Sales, Consignment & Coaching Victoria VanDerZwan offers Professional Online Equine Programs catered to you!

Active 10d ago
Joined Mar 24, 2026