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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1131
  
| Have any of you ever went? What was your experience like? What were the different levels of people who went?
I may be going to the 7 day barrel school at Josey Ranch in June, if we can get everything worked out expenses wise. I'm super excited, but I'm wondering what goes on, simply because I need some mental preparation before I go. haha
I've seen a lot of great things about it, but none of them were recent opinions. Also do you think my mare will be ok going from Indiana to Texas in late June (heat and humidity wise)? We also have never hauled her this far before. Farthest was when we first got her 5 years ago, we bought her from Missouri, about a 5 hour drive. She did fine, but she had another horse with her. She will be going alone this time on a 12 hour drive.
Any advice or tips would be appreciated. I know these are probably all petty worries and it'll be fine, but I'm also a slight worry-wart. |
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 Regular
Posts: 60
Location: Oklahoma | A little worry is good to extent! You will most likely be prepared that way!
I went to the weekend Josey clinic this fall and absolutely loved it. There was every level of rider there! little kids and adults who mostly trotted the pattern all the way up to people who have competed their whole lives! And the one on one time and group instruction was so helpful. I learned a LOT over just 2 1/2 days and would LOVE to go to the week long school. well worth it in my opinion! There was even someone working a three year old there who went from walking the patternt h=the first day to fast loping by the end.
As for the haul, I think she would be fine as long as your well prepared. Lots of ventilation through the trailer and frequent water stops along the way. People haul across the country all the time, so I am sure that your horse can handle it. You would definitely enjoy it! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1131
| How was the weather while you were there? We have only 1 time had a problem with her away from home health wise, and it was when she got overheated from how hot/humid the barn was and started colicing in her stall at state fair. Should we be worried about her or was it not too hot in the barns? We put 2 fans on her when she is stalled (even at home) and she is usually fine. (Yes, she is kinda spoiled rotten. haha)
Thanks, that sounds a lot like what everyone else I've talked to said. haha. My mare is only a 2D horse when she wants to be (When she doesn't want to be, she can barely place in the 4D) so I hope they can point out what I'm doing wrong to make her so inconsistant. We have a stock gooseneck trailer, so it's pretty well ventilated, and she's been good so far about drinking away from home. I'm sure she will be fine as long as she has a hay bag, that always keeps her out of trouble. haha |
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Regular
Posts: 60
Location: Oklahoma | Well the clinic I went to was actually here in Oklahoma. But as for their barns, I am sure they will be alright for your horse. The whole staff is very concerned for the health of all of the horses at the clinic. We had one colic and they helped the student take care of her horse until it recovered. Ive never been to the Josey ranch but I guarantee they will have a nice set up that is in the best interest for the horses. Oh and they will be super helpful at finding anything that you need to adjust in your run. One of my favorite parts was they video your run and then watch it with you and show you anything your doing wrong. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1131
| Thanks! You were a lot of help. |
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 I Am Always Right
Posts: 4264
Location: stray dump capital of the world | I went to a 3 day clinic a few years back in June. I live in Texas and it is just hot here. Make sure that both of you are in top shape because you get a ton of riding time for your money. It is well worth the money spent. |
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 I hate cooking and cleaning
Posts: 3314
Location: Jersey Girl | I went to a 3 day clinic with Team Josey a couple of years ago and really learned alot. Only downfall was the number of students at 50+. |
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I'm a Cry Baby
Posts: 3781
Location: n.c. | You will learn a lot. Very good clinic. Went to a 2 1/2 day clinic. Lots of saddle time and even with high numbers, plenty of 1 on 1 time.
If you don't have your horse on electrolytes, put him on before you leave. That way he will drink plenty and should be okay. The stalls at Josey are great. No problems there. Have fun and learn alot! |
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 Expert
Posts: 2276
Location: ohio-in my own little world with pretty ponies :) | I haven't been the 6 day one at the ranch but I went to a weekend one and we learned so much!! They gave every single person the one on one time they needed! The only thing I didn't care for was we all waited in line to do our one on ones. So the longer you had to wait, the longer your horse stood still, colled down and then was asked to work pretty gard(depending on what you needed to work on) my mare had to run a few times and she was very sore afterwards and the next day didn't want to run. So I would advise you if they do that to ask if you can at least keep your horse walking until it's your turn. They also worked on poles with everyone and they were very nice about the people that did not want to participate(I was one) they really advised people to stay and learn but if you really didn't want to then you could go ride somewhere else or let your horse have a break. They were really so nice and listened to every person and genuinely cared and found what would work(not everything works for everyone) I couldn't even imagine how awesome the 6 day would be! I'm sure your mare will be fine....just check on her a lot and make sure she has hay and water and put shavings down in the trailer and I would wrap. |
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| I have been to 6 clinics. I love love love it there. I would move in with Martha and RE if I could! I have learned everything I know there and at my third clinic we won the saddle! Yes it is hot, but it is so much fun and you learn so much. You are riding most of the time and they have lots of one on one time. They know how hot it is while you are there so they make sure you and your horse and safe! You will have an absolute blast. From my experience, the best clinic is the thanksgiving/fall clinic - weather wise. The christmas clinic is so dang cold, and the summer clinic is really hot. But I am from south texas so I am definitely used to it. Just make sure your horse has plenty of water at all times!
We hauled to OKC one summer and it was really reallly hot. The best thing that I did was made an alcohol/water mixture in a spray bottle and every time we stopped, I would spray my mare down with it. It cooled her off nicely. |
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| I went to a 3 day clinic several years ago and felt it would benefit people that are starting out or maybe new at the sport. I didn't learn much from the clinic at all. I felt like it was a waste of money. But others did enjoy it and learned from it but were more younger and didn't have much experience. |
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Expert
Posts: 2276
Location: ohio-in my own little world with pretty ponies :) | I sort of after with the above poster! I felt like it was more directed to the people have specific issues or starting out. My mare and I were having issues so it was extremely beneficial to me. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1131
| Thanks everyone! Alcohol/water mix is a good idea I didn't think of. I think I'll learn a lot from them, since my mare isn't finished yet, that dang first barrel is the only think holding us back from being really competitive in the 2D open class, so I'll be interested in what they have to say.
ETA: I will definitely have to work her to the bone, hopefully it is a hot summer up here since it was a freezing cold winter, so I can build up both of our heat tolerance.
Edited by FlyingHigh1454 2014-02-16 1:57 PM
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They Don't Know Me
Posts: 3299
Location: Bastrop, TX | Outside covered stalls are pipe with sucker rod between the pipes, really open. They also have completely closed in wooden stalls inside a couple of barns. If you think for a minute your mare will kick at another horse tell them and they'll put you in the closed stalls and you can hang fans. People feed their horses at all times of the morning and evening and it can really upset your horse or the horse next to yours. I had one that never kicked at home but one morning I got there to feed just as they were cutting the pipe to get my mares leg out that kicked and got hung up. I was probably only 10-15 mins behind feeding her from the horse next to her. They saw it happen, got help and had my mare out in a matter of minutes and already had a vet on the way. She skinned her legs up so bad that vet suggested I not run her. We had came in the night before a 3 day so you have to be ready to run pretty early the next morning.
You will have a blast. I would love to go to the week long. Been to alot of the 3 days on several different horses from just getting seasoned to a couple that were placing in my area. It's the best place in the world to season one, they see and hear it all at those 3 day clinics. Good luck and have lots of fun. Go with a great attitude and you will love it. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1131
| bobbyjosocks - 2014-02-16 7:48 PM
Outside covered stalls are pipe with sucker rod between the pipes, really open. They also have completely closed in wooden stalls inside a couple of barns. If you think for a minute your mare will kick at another horse tell them and they'll put you in the closed stalls and you can hang fans. People feed their horses at all times of the morning and evening and it can really upset your horse or the horse next to yours. I had one that never kicked at home but one morning I got there to feed just as they were cutting the pipe to get my mares leg out that kicked and got hung up. I was probably only 10-15 mins behind feeding her from the horse next to her. They saw it happen, got help and had my mare out in a matter of minutes and already had a vet on the way. She skinned her legs up so bad that vet suggested I not run her. We had came in the night before a 3 day so you have to be ready to run pretty early the next morning.
You will have a blast. I would love to go to the week long. Been to alot of the 3 days on several different horses from just getting seasoned to a couple that were placing in my area. It's the best place in the world to season one, they see and hear it all at those 3 day clinics. Good luck and have lots of fun. Go with a great attitude and you will love it.
Well, she is a mare. Never really know what she's gonna do. LOL
Thanks! Everyone was a lot of help. |
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Martha Josey Barrel School