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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 362
 
| Hello, so I know for sure I am taking way too big of pockets. This wasn't as much of an issue last year but I gave him the whole winter off from barrels and now he(and I) need some tuning back up. I watched a video on trainingbarrelhorses.com about correcting a wide turn but I need something else to try too I think. I have only ran twice so far so maybe we just need some more under our belt to tune up? We used to run in the winter too but due to him getting older I want him to have breaks. I am afraid while we run if I try to push him over so the pocket isn't so big he will slow down, you have to really push him to get past the second and third barrel especially. He is 17 so I try not to do too much barrel work at home, I had a show last saturday the 3rd and am planning on going to a jackpot tomorrow, should I do the pattern some at home today or leave it be for now? I need to find the fine line of tuning up but also not souring him. Also just curious, do you guys shoe or run barefoot? | |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 805
Location: Montana | Best thing that I found with older horses who know their jobs, is to set up one barrel and just work the size of your pocket around it. Set up cones in a square and work on turning squares. There is a lot you can do without being on the pattern. How far off the barrel are you? A good friend of mine just smoked a 17.0 on a standard pattern with about 2 ft between her and the barrel with her 16 yr old. Remember a lot of times the tighter the turn the more momentum you lose, the more time you lose. Especially if the horse has to adjust position mid-turn trying not to hit the barrel. As to running barefoot or shod, it depends 1. on horses feet, can they hold up to running barefoot? 2. The horses style, are they a run around the barrel style, or a slide and turn style? Run around and stay on top of the ground, I would say you can run barefoot, if they feet would hold up, slide and turn style, I would want something to help them grip the ground when they need to push away. 3. What type of ground are you running on? Something that packs easily and can hold a horse up? Fluffy top with hard pan underneath? Clay or clay like? something that has a lot of slide without a lot of grip? | |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 362
| Lucy's Mom - 2021-04-05 1:53 PM
Best thing that I found with older horses who know their jobs, is to set up one barrel and just work the size of your pocket around it. Set up cones in a square and work on turning squares. There is a lot you can do without being on the pattern. How far off the barrel are you? A good friend of mine just smoked a 17.0 on a standard pattern with about 2 ft between her and the barrel with her 16 yr old. Remember a lot of times the tighter the turn the more momentum you lose, the more time you lose. Especially if the horse has to adjust position mid-turn trying not to hit the barrel. As to running barefoot or shod, it depends 1. on horses feet, can they hold up to running barefoot? 2. The horses style, are they a run around the barrel style, or a slide and turn style? Run around and stay on top of the ground, I would say you can run barefoot, if they feet would hold up, slide and turn style, I would want something to help them grip the ground when they need to push away. 3. What type of ground are you running on? Something that packs easily and can hold a horse up? Fluffy top with hard pan underneath? Clay or clay like? something that has a lot of slide without a lot of grip?
My pocket is defnitely bigger than two feet! I run him barefoot because his feet hold up well, we don't run on typical "rodeo" ground as I would say, it's usually very good footing. He is not slide and turn he is four wheel drive all the way around. Maybe if I can get past the barrel more it would be easier. | |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 805
Location: Montana | I would set up cones about 2-3 feet off the barrel in a square and practice riding to each point. I had to do this with a mare I had, she has a super wrappy style and we would drag barrels over coming out if I didnt ride her to each point with my seat and feet. | |
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 Ms Bling Bling Sleeze Kitty
Posts: 20904
Location: LouLouVille, OK | simplytaylor16 - 2021-04-05 11:53 AM
Hello, so I know for sure I am taking way too big of pockets. This wasn't as much of an issue last year but I gave him the whole winter off from barrels and now he(and I) need some tuning back up. I watched a video on trainingbarrelhorses.com about correcting a wide turn but I need something else to try too I think. I have only ran twice so far so maybe we just need some more under our belt to tune up? We used to run in the winter too but due to him getting older I want him to have breaks. I am afraid while we run if I try to push him over so the pocket isn't so big he will slow down, you have to really push him to get past the second and third barrel especially. He is 17 so I try not to do too much barrel work at home, I had a show last saturday the 3rd and am planning on going to a jackpot tomorrow, should I do the pattern some at home today or leave it be for now? I need to find the fine line of tuning up but also not souring him. Also just curious, do you guys shoe or run barefoot?
To answer your question, I shoe fronts. At 17 he shouldn't need a tune up at all. do you have a video? it's hard to give advice with out seeing it | |
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 Born not Made
Posts: 2930
Location: North Dakota | simplytaylor16 - 2021-04-05 11:53 AM
Hello, so I know for sure I am taking way too big of pockets. This wasn't as much of an issue last year but I gave him the whole winter off from barrels and now he(and I) need some tuning back up. I watched a video on trainingbarrelhorses.com about correcting a wide turn but I need something else to try too I think. I have only ran twice so far so maybe we just need some more under our belt to tune up? We used to run in the winter too but due to him getting older I want him to have breaks. I am afraid while we run if I try to push him over so the pocket isn't so big he will slow down, you have to really push him to get past the second and third barrel especially. He is 17 so I try not to do too much barrel work at home, I had a show last saturday the 3rd and am planning on going to a jackpot tomorrow, should I do the pattern some at home today or leave it be for now? I need to find the fine line of tuning up but also not souring him. Also just curious, do you guys shoe or run barefoot?
Is he due for hock injections? When it the last time he has had them or been to the vet? | |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 362
| r_beau - 2021-04-06 3:04 PM
simplytaylor16 - 2021-04-05 11:53 AM
Hello, so I know for sure I am taking way too big of pockets. This wasn't as much of an issue last year but I gave him the whole winter off from barrels and now he(and I) need some tuning back up. I watched a video on trainingbarrelhorses.com about correcting a wide turn but I need something else to try too I think. I have only ran twice so far so maybe we just need some more under our belt to tune up? We used to run in the winter too but due to him getting older I want him to have breaks. I am afraid while we run if I try to push him over so the pocket isn't so big he will slow down, you have to really push him to get past the second and third barrel especially. He is 17 so I try not to do too much barrel work at home, I had a show last saturday the 3rd and am planning on going to a jackpot tomorrow, should I do the pattern some at home today or leave it be for now? I need to find the fine line of tuning up but also not souring him. Also just curious, do you guys shoe or run barefoot?
Is he due for hock injections?
When it the last time he has had them or been to the vet?
He is not due yet, just had them done about a month and a half ago, either way we went last night to a jackpot and he did fine so I'm not worried about it anymore. | |
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