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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1035
 
Location: TN | How many of ya'll like to work your horse in the training at a barrel race before you run him/her? How many like to skip the training and just run?I'm trying to figure out what will work best for my horse and I. I'm going to a show Friday and Saturday. I've entered two barrel races before and worked him in the training both times and he did well at the first run and not so well at the second (more nervous). Then I entered one rodeo in between and just made the run and he did awesome. So I'm thinking about trying to just warm him up and run him to see how he does. When I work him on the pattern at home I always trot/stop and then lope through. What do you all suggest I do? |
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 Dog Resuce Agent
Posts: 3459
 
Location: southeast Texas | You never know till you put on your big girls panties and just go for it.
I use the exhibition if I start having problems. (after pain issues ruled out)
your horse needs to learn to make that working run when asked.
Your horse sounds like he is ready to take the training wheels off..... |
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 Veteran
Posts: 204
| My mom and I finally figured this out this year with our horses....We used to ALWAYS do the warmup sessions at horseshows....this year we finally stopped. Which seemed to help most of the time (they can still be brats from time to time of course haha) . I think when I work my horse on barrels at the show before making a run he gets used to where the barrels are and isn't as "alert" when I make my run. I've found that when I do not warm him up on barrels, he hunts for the barrels better and I don't over analyze as much since I haven't had the time to "map out" everything.
But every horse is different!
Edited by TheMidasTouch 2013-11-27 8:56 AM
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Veteran
Posts: 294
| I just warm up my horse and then run. No practice runs. I want him to know his job and want everything he's got for the run that counts. Also if you do compete in rodeos you will not have that opportunity for a warm up run. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1432
Location: Never in one place long | For me it depends if I have a veteran horse or a younger one.... the older ones I don't unless they for some reason need tuning, the younger ones I usually do depending on their training level and personality. You just have to know your horse. |
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| We are starting to transition out of the warm up runs, or breezing through them without pushing. At arenas we know well we've quit the warm ups all together. We went to a larger indoor race last weekend and did opt to warm up because we've never run in that pen and it had been sometime since we'd run inside at all.
I hope by the end if next summer to be done with warm ups altogether |
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 Born not Made
Posts: 2931
Location: North Dakota | Depends on the horse.
My old horse who was a finished and seasoned horse, would always run harder on his 2nd and 3rd runs (if we were doing a double header jackpot). So I'd do an exhibition run at full speed on him, and then he'd be ready to go for his first real run. He didn't need any tunie; He just got better the more times you ran him.
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 754
Location: Arkansas | Unless I'm having problems, I stop exhibitioning once I start entering. My end goal is always to make a rodeo horse, and they don't get the option to make an exhibition, so I try and train accordingly. |
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 Saint Stacey
| I think practice runs tend to be over done and they end up ruining more horses than they help.
If you have a colt or a problem, then use them if you think thye will help. But if the horse is finished and knows their job, then don't.
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  Damn Yankee
Posts: 12390
Location: Somewhere between raising hell and Amazing Grace | I prefer to get my horses where they never need exhibition, but sometimes I choose to either jog or cruise a slow pattern to just wake my gelding up. He can be flat footed sometimes. I never use exhibition to train though. I know some ppl have to, but I prefer my training to be done at home. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1035
Location: TN | Your comments have given me the confidence to do it! I'll "put on my big girl panties" and just run with no exhibition lol. I think he can do it so I might as well try it. Ultimately I'd like to enter more rodeos so like some of you said I've got to get him used to not making training runs. Thanks for the advice! |
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 Expert
Posts: 2097
Location: Deep South | I only exhibition on colts, never on finished horses. |
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 Thick and Wavy
Posts: 6102
Location: Nebraska | I like my horses to not need an exhibition, too. My paint mare hardly ever sees the barrels until we go to a barrel race. Every once in awhile, I will trot her through for an exhibition just to get her listening to me but she doesn't need them. I just started entering my sorrel mare in late June and we've already phased out most of the exhibtions. I'm still at the point of trotting her through in new arenas, but by next year I will stop doing that. |
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Damn Yankee
Posts: 12390
Location: Somewhere between raising hell and Amazing Grace | KatieMac88 - 2013-11-27 10:49 AM Your comments have given me the confidence to do it! I'll "put on my big girl panties" and just run with no exhibition lol. I think he can do it so I might as well try it. Ultimately I'd like to enter more rodeos so like some of you said I've got to get him used to not making training runs. Thanks for the advice!
It's kind of one of those things where if you have always done exhibitions, and you want to stop, you may have to deal with a few not so great runs until you and your horse adjusts. So if it doesn't go well the first time, don't get discouraged!!!! |
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 Balance Beam and more...
Posts: 11493
Location: 31 lengths farms | I thought my mare was the kind that HAD to have an exhibition run, then went to a big race and time only's were at 7 am, I drew like 235 on her, there was no way I was showing up at 7 am to try to get a time only done and then make her stand at the trailer for the next 5 hours or so to make another run so we went cold turkey. Turns out she fires WAY harder and she didn't need the time only anymore. |
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 Veteran
Posts: 141
Location: College Station, TX | Depends on the horse. Once they're familiar with the sights of new arenas I always try it a few times without. I have one that has never had another after we tried it, and one that I still trot through the pattern before hand just so she can see there is in fact enough room for her between the barrel and the fence. It's over a full second difference with her if I don't take one first. She's only 4 so I'm hoping she grows out of that! |
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 Guys Just Wanna Have Fun
Posts: 5530
Location: OH | SKM - 2013-11-27 10:41 AM I think practice runs tend to be over done and they end up ruining more horses than they help.
If you have a colt or a problem, then use them if you think thye will help. But if the horse is finished and knows their job, then don't.
Exactly---I have seen so many seasoned horses ruined from being exhibitioned over and over again. No sense in it. I have always been under the theory that every horse has X number of runs in them, we do not know what that number is, but every time you run you get closer to finding out. Use those runs wisely. |
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 Fact Checker
Posts: 16572
Location: Displaced Iowegian | Mighty Broke - 2013-11-27 12:31 PM SKM - 2013-11-27 10:41 AM I think practice runs tend to be over done and they end up ruining more horses than they help.
If you have a colt or a problem, then use them if you think thye will help. But if the horse is finished and knows their job, then don't.
Exactly---I have seen so many seasoned horses ruined from being exhibitioned over and over again. No sense in it. I have always been under the theory that every horse has X number of runs in them, we do not know what that number is, but every time you run you get closer to finding out. Use those runs wisely.
agreed.........it depends on whether I had a young (novice) horse or a seasoned horse. I never ran my seasoned horse in exhibitions! He knew his job! I think MANY people run in the exhibitions for themselves...not the horse....they don't have the confidence in the horse they are riding. |
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 Blackbelt Babe
Posts: 9405
Location: South Georgia Good o'l USA | SKM - 2013-11-27 10:41 AM I think practice runs tend to be over done and they end up ruining more horses than they help.
If you have a colt or a problem, then use them if you think thye will help. But if the horse is finished and knows their job, then don't.
Ditto, I ride a lot of young horses so it's usually training that I go for but the older, finished horses will get warmed up and schooled, while doing so, outside the arena on response cues so they'll be answering me with "yes mams", inside the arena...occasionally, I may take them in slow though just to let them see and familurise themselves to the pen...it just depends on the horse and issues or situations that may need to be addressed. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 929
| I wouldn't really say that I "exhibition"...we just walk the pattern once and then do our run, but I do it at the rodeo grounds because my one horse has been used extensively by the rodeo queens and every time I enter the rodeo arena she thinks she is there to be "pretty." LOL...when she walks the pattern she knows that she is there to WORK, and does just that.
With my youngster we will be doing lots of exhibition runs at many places at many different speeds until it is time for the futurity. |
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 Night Watchman
Posts: 5516
Location: Central Montana | Not on a seasoned horse or one that is ready to roll. It is a huge waste of my money and a waste of time for people who really need that time. I also am one that believes that exhibtions should be run AFTER a barrel race, not before. |
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 Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| Mighty Broke - 2013-11-27 12:31 PM SKM - 2013-11-27 10:41 AM I think practice runs tend to be over done and they end up ruining more horses than they help.
If you have a colt or a problem, then use them if you think thye will help. But if the horse is finished and knows their job, then don't.
Exactly---I have seen so many seasoned horses ruined from being exhibitioned over and over again. No sense in it. I have always been under the theory that every horse has X number of runs in them, we do not know what that number is, but every time you run you get closer to finding out. Use those runs wisely.
This, mine never even see a barrel unless at a race. They are finished and do not need any practice. |
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 IMA No Hair Style Gal
Posts: 2594
| I exhibition, but I have never ran a finished or seasoned horse.
When my horses is running consistently at his fullest potential I will ease off the exhibitions.
I don't go crazy though...as in I don't use my exhibitions to make a "run." I use them to make sure he is not leaning in and shouldering....and that I can maintain speed and control....I use them to establish how fast I can send him in my actual run while still staying fluid and keep him from resisting the bit.
And then if he does spit the bit I go back around the barrel before going to the next one and work on getting him to come back to me.
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 352
Location: Texas | I exhibition before I run, well I like to try. But it is cor me, not my horse. She doesn't need it. I've just gotten back into running and I feel better if I can try a slow run first. |
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 BHW Jr. Cougar of the Year
Posts: 14957
Location: Heart of Texas | I only exhibition green horses, and never at a run. Unless, I don't plan on running in the open that day. |
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 I Chore in Chucks
Posts: 2882
Location: MD | My horses are only 6 and 7 so they get to do a trot through. Usually just to find the "monsters" in the arena. the seven year old doesnt need it but i feel better. Only work them in it once each and then run them.
My 6 yr old is kind of jumpy and is convinces banners and tractors may eat him. So its nice to get him used to it. If i can I prefer to do the open arenas or 30 minute sessions intead. I think i exhibition more for me than i do for the benefit of my horses. But oh well... people like it when i donate im sure |
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 Expert
Posts: 2276
Location: ohio-in my own little world with pretty ponies :) | It depends on who I'm on. My mare I make a run during exhibition because she always runs better each time so I run once during exhibition(just let her pick her speed and get her head in the right place) |
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Exhibition before or just make your run?