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 The Crazy Mom
Posts: 2132
  
Location: Ainsworth, NE | I have a 5 year old I'm riding for a friend that they want to sell. She is broke but needs some "tuning" (better flex, moving from pressure ect). Right now I think she would do better left first but with more training she might get better/more coordinated with left turns. They want to sell her as a started horse not keep her until totally finished. So for resale purposes would going left hinder her "sale-ability"? |
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 Expert
Posts: 1718
 
Location: Southeast Louisiana | I know it's kind of an old mindset, but when I see one going to the left, I can't help but think they had problems is why they were possibly changed to the left. I can't help it, it's the first place my mind goes. So, I'd be ready to answer questions about whether she had problems or not. Now, this is coming from a girl with a horse that goes left first. So, it definitely wouldn't stop ME from buying one I like. Mine can go right, but his runs are better going left. I like his right turns better. I did recently try to sell him, and had one person who was turned off that he went left. So, I guess it can affect sale-ability. If she's just started, I'd just say she's going in both directions, but looking better to the left. If a buyer is determined to go right, they can finish her out that way. |
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| I personally... CAN NOT get a horse to make that pretty swoop into first to the left.... unless i make a circle... i have no idea why but i just can't invension that same swoop in from the ight to the left... maybe my two brains arent connected?!?!  |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 639
Location: God's country...aka TEXAS | I think it is the older mindset that automatically assumes a horse has issues if they go to the left. I personally prefer a left handed horse. I think they tend to have an advantage in rodeos where there are offset gates/alleys. They can see their first barrel better. |
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  More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
Location: Riding Crackhead. | Not for me it doesn't. The only time I think it would is if its a horse for a child. We have a sweet little mare that would make someone a great kids horse. She's a lefty, any time I've had a little one try her out they were messed up. |
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 Miss Laundry Misshap
Posts: 5271
| It would for me because my mom and I trade horses to ride. She can not get riding to the left. I guess 50+ years of only going right makes it hard to learn new tricks. I kind of like it, but we can't afford to have multiple horses that are only for 1 person. |
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Expert
Posts: 1414
| Doesn't matter to me! |
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 If it Ain't a Paint it Ain't!
Posts: 8519
Location: Mansfield, Tx | WOW....
I personally train all my horses to the left ....
You need to listen to the horse.. if the horse is better one way vrs the other then change or start the horse that way... just b/c a horse goes to the left barrel first doesn't mean it's had problems and they were switched.
a left handed horse ALWAYS has better ground( unless your the first horse out) then a right handed horse.
(some ppl need to stop and think about that) how many right handed horse are there and they all tear up the ground ( b/c of the approach they take going into it) but the approach is different going to the 2nd barrel (left) so, there aren't the BIG holes to fall into when running to the left barrel first. Of course unless a left handed horse has ran before you.
JHMO... take it or leave it. everyone has them. I prefer to run to the left barrel first if it fits my horse.
It would NEVER be a buying decision for me one way or the other.
Edited by RunningOnPaints 2014-05-28 7:32 AM
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Expert
Posts: 1226
| Would never have crossed my mind that a lefty would be that way cause of problems to the right. And I don't think that's true. It wouldn't effect my buying decision at all. If they run good why would it matter? Jmo also |
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Queen Bean of Ponyland
Posts: 24954
Location: WYOMING | It DOES for some buyers. I had people say so when I had a lefty for sale. A couple wanted to know if I would turn him to the right for them... lol |
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 You get what you give
Posts: 13030
Location: Texas | I run lefties and righties, so does my sister.
It doesn't bother me. I will say the first time you run a lefty you realize how many arenas have off center alleys! Theres a handful where we run all the time that are a little straighter to the left barrel first than the right and you have to adjust your approach.
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 678
Location: Canada | It only affects me on my "blonde days". I have some that are left but most go right. I was exercising a horse and decided to make a practice run. I couldn't figure out why he had the wrong lead going into first barrel and that he ran almost confused into second. It wasn't until I was turning second it dawned on me.... horse goes right first, not left. Thank goodness he's a cool horse and was up for anything but I'm sure he was thinking what is wrong with me.
Now at the gate I remind myself LEFT, or RIGHT first.
I do think left horses have an advantage in the draw as they do tend to hit fresh ground unlike horses who go right.
Personally I try all horses left and right, 90% of mine go better right but I pick what works for the horse. Personally I'd rather run a horse left that smokes his barrels, then take him right and make a mediocre run.
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 I Chore in Chucks
Posts: 2882
Location: MD | I personally like lefties better and it wouldn't affect my decision. the approach to the 1st is usually better and It helps me as a rider ride the horse I'm on and not go into auto pilot! I thought I would have huge problems with my lefty and getting used to it and it came a lot more natural than I thought and I'm happy to have that confidence now :)
Edited by Crowned Image 2014-05-28 11:18 AM
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 Big Gun
Posts: 2216
Location: Texas | Doesn't bother me. I make my horse go both ways, but I prefer left on the one I'm riding currently but this weekend at a 3 day weekend barrel race I took him left, right and back to left. Makes him listen to me too |
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 Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | My first barrel horse was a lefty, so it has never bothered me. I start everything both ways, and then pick the way I like them best. Some I have randomly switched back and forth for various reasons. The last horse I sold, I included videos of him going both directions even tho I liked him better left. His current owner is running him right. I don't think she would have bought him if he had been a dedicated lefty. |
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 Pork Fat is my Favorite
Posts: 3791
Location: The Oklahoma plains. | I do think it deters many from buying one and like someone else mentioned, I usually feel there was an issue that caused a horse to be switched. But that being said, my horse is being started to the left as it seems to be best for him. |
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 pow wow princess
Location: Where ever life takes me, Oklahoma | I'm sure it would a lot of people. My new boy that I have started is gonna be a lefty I tried him to the right, but we just weren't clicking that way, so to the left we went, I wasn't thrilled about it, but thats the way he does the best, so I am rolling with it and he is coming along amazingly well. |
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| I prefer the left actually. The first good/competitive horse I ever ran was a lefty, so it's just natural for me to go that way now. I actually have more horses that go left than right; they probably don't NEED to go left, but it works for me and my horses. |
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 Regular
Posts: 56
Location: Alberta | It wouldn't deter me from buying a horse. Some of the best horses that I have ridden went to the left. A couple of horses that I have trained on barrels I started them going to the right, but somewhere along in their training something wouldn't click and they wouldn't run a nice pattern. So I switched them to the left and they started to lay down some nice runs. That being said I had a horse that I ran to the right for about a year then he started to not want to turn his first barrel so we switched him to the left and he is still making good runs to this day running left.
I agree with what everyone else is saying about going to the left can be a big advantage with offset alleys, where I live we have a lot of them, and just the approach into the barrels you can have better ground. |
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 Angel in a Sorrel Coat
Posts: 16030
Location: In a happy place | It wouldn't bother me. I just bought a colt that goes to the left. Does anyone think it would have kept Lindsey from selling Martha because she was having trouble and she switched her to the left? |
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 Am I really the Weirdo?
Posts: 11181
Location: Kansas | Doesn't bother me, but I've had several leftys and can ride just as well going left vs going right. I take mine both ways during their training and all 3 of my finished horses can run either direction. It might make a difference to some people, but not everyone will shy away from a lefty. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1034
| I shy away. It makes me wonder what the problem was that couldn't be fixed any other way. |
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 Tough Patooty
Posts: 2615
Location: Sperry, OK | I don't understand why a person would automatically assume a lefty had issues to the right. Horses are "handed" just like people are. Horses are more comfortable/agile/balanced to one direction vs the other. With constant and continuous work you can get them to be more equal, but the still have a better natural ability to one direction than the other. Granted most horses seem to be left handed (go to the right barrel first) but there are a large number of right handed horses and common sense says they would go to the left barrel first in order to have one okay/good turn and 2 great ones vs 1 great one and 2 not as good. |
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 There Could Be Aliens Out There
Posts: 1393
Location: North Central Kansas | Doesn't bother me at all. We have two young ones now that are just much more natural going to the left than to the right. It does not mean that they have "problems". There have been many great NFR horses that run to the left. |
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 Expert
Posts: 2097
Location: Deep South | I'm surprised so many people assume that lefty's only run that way because there was something wrong with them. What an unfortunate misconception. My 4yo is running left, because his second barrel is much snappier that way. That's the only reason. Not that it was a terrible second barrel before, just that it's better now.
OP this is Kelly Allen's status update about her young lefty from this past weekend:
"Charge My Corona winning RESERVE at the CC5D!!! I'm so happy I can't stand it. Running a 15.019 right behind the one and only Jackie Ganter and Baby J. Won first and second in the futurity, winning 1st and 5th in adult incentive, and second in 1D day money. She also won the Hubbard UPRA Rodeo by over 3/10 for around $3500 this weekend. I love this mare!"
I bet Kelly isn't willing to part with her for any less just because she's a lefty.... |
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 Chasin my Dream
Posts: 13651
Location: Alberta | Doesn't bother me either and I agree a leftiy isn't due to bad things...my mare is a lefty cause her right turns are way better! I'm almost worried about training my colt to the right, only cause I'm worried I won't do it right, he's definitely a righty.... |
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Angel in a Sorrel Coat
Posts: 16030
Location: In a happy place | BamaCanChaser - 2014-05-29 11:54 AM I'm surprised so many people assume that lefty's only run that way because there was something wrong with them. What an unfortunate misconception. My 4yo is running left, because his second barrel is much snappier that way. That's the only reason. Not that it was a terrible second barrel before, just that it's better now. OP this is Kelly Allen's status update about her young lefty from this past weekend: "Charge My Corona winning RESERVE at the CC5D!!! I'm so happy I can't stand it. Running a 15.019 right behind the one and only Jackie Ganter and Baby J. Won first and second in the futurity, winning 1st and 5th in adult incentive, and second in 1D day money. She also won the Hubbard UPRA Rodeo by over 3/10 for around $3500 this weekend. I love this mare!" I bet Kelly isn't willing to part with her for any less just because she's a lefty....
Not to steal the thread but I didn't know this about Kelly! Way to go girl!!!!! Sure proud of you. And this is what I said in my earlier post about Lindsey and Martha but it has been long enough most on here have probably forgotten who Martha and Lindsey are. |
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Am I really the Weirdo?
Posts: 11181
Location: Kansas | ACEINTHEHOLE - 2014-05-29 11:29 AM I don't understand why a person would automatically assume a lefty had issues to the right. Horses are "handed" just like people are. Horses are more comfortable/agile/balanced to one direction vs the other. With constant and continuous work you can get them to be more equal, but the still have a better natural ability to one direction than the other. Granted most horses seem to be left handed (go to the right barrel first) but there are a large number of right handed horses and common sense says they would go to the left barrel first in order to have one okay/good turn and 2 great ones vs 1 great one and 2 not as good.
Ditto to that. |
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Pork Fat is my Favorite
Posts: 3791
Location: The Oklahoma plains. | ACEINTHEHOLE - 2014-05-29 11:29 AM I don't understand why a person would automatically assume a lefty had issues to the right. Horses are "handed" just like people are. Horses are more comfortable/agile/balanced to one direction vs the other. With constant and continuous work you can get them to be more equal, but the still have a better natural ability to one direction than the other. Granted most horses seem to be left handed (go to the right barrel first) but there are a large number of right handed horses and common sense says they would go to the left barrel first in order to have one okay/good turn and 2 great ones vs 1 great one and 2 not as good.
I agree but the fact is as you stated- most (I would guess 90%) of people train them to the right so when it differs from that- people question why. And I would say more than half were switched due to a problem on the pattern. |
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Expert
Posts: 1718
Location: Southeast Louisiana | TurnLane - 2014-05-30 2:02 PM
ACEINTHEHOLE - 2014-05-29 11:29 AM I don't understand why a person would automatically assume a lefty had issues to the right. Horses are "handed" just like people are. Horses are more comfortable/agile/balanced to one direction vs the other. With constant and continuous work you can get them to be more equal, but the still have a better natural ability to one direction than the other. Granted most horses seem to be left handed (go to the right barrel first) but there are a large number of right handed horses and common sense says they would go to the left barrel first in order to have one okay/good turn and 2 great ones vs 1 great one and 2 not as good.
I agree but the fact is as you stated- most (I would guess 90%) of people train them to the right so when it differs from that- people question why. And I would say more than half were switched due to a problem on the pattern.
And it's no big deal to me, if I was buying a lefty. I'd just say be prepared to possibly get asked that question. Also, for the OP's original question, I did have someone get turned off when they found out the one I had for sale went left. They didn't ask why, just said they'd rather not have a lefty.
Maybe most horses are right handed, like the majority of people are right handed. Anyway, I don't think it would affect the sale of a Martha, or any pro-caliber or 1D horse. But, it might for a prospect or any other average barrel horse. If they're proven 1D, people will put up almost anything.
Edited by Nita 2014-05-30 2:35 PM
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BHW's Simon Cowell
Location: The Saudia Arabia of Wind Energy, Western Oklahoma | I would rather have a horse that runs to the right and would rather buy a prospect that runs to the right. I think a left running horse is a a disadvantage because they have to run over tracks left by the majority of horses which run to the right. And I also think some people have more trouble getting their pocket right on left handed horses. It would definetly be a disadvantage to me. I do always start my colts going either way just in case there comes a time when they need to go the other direction becauase of physical limitations or just to change things up. |
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BHW's Simon Cowell
Location: The Saudia Arabia of Wind Energy, Western Oklahoma | TurnLane - 2014-05-30 2:02 PM ACEINTHEHOLE - 2014-05-29 11:29 AM I don't understand why a person would automatically assume a lefty had issues to the right. Horses are "handed" just like people are. Horses are more comfortable/agile/balanced to one direction vs the other. With constant and continuous work you can get them to be more equal, but the still have a better natural ability to one direction than the other. Granted most horses seem to be left handed (go to the right barrel first) but there are a large number of right handed horses and common sense says they would go to the left barrel first in order to have one okay/good turn and 2 great ones vs 1 great one and 2 not as good. I agree but the fact is as you stated- most (I would guess 90%) of people train them to the right so when it differs from that- people question why. And I would say more than half were switched due to a problem on the pattern.
Totally agree with this. |
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 I hate cooking and cleaning
Posts: 3314
Location: Jersey Girl | Nope. Makes no difference to me. |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| Personally I run better to the right and I am a lefty. My weakness as a rider is finding the perfect rate point going to the left at a full out run. I can find my rate point going to the right in my sleep.
I train all my horses to the right and try to keep them that way unless it is not working.
For the person who said left horses always have better ground, I have to disagree, as these horses have to compensate against all the dirt and holes the rightys leave behind, these horses are working against the rut rather then working in the rut.
If I was purchasing a finished barrel horse and everything was the same except on which barrel they take first, I would pick the right horse |
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Expert
Posts: 1718
Location: Southeast Louisiana | I run better to the right, too. My biggest weakness is ME... and fighting years of muscle memory.
When I run my lefty, I still struggle with reminding myself to look at the third when I come off of the 2nd barrel instead of wanting to head back across the pen. And my secret fear is that I'm going to try and make a left turn around that third barrel one day in front of everyone!
But, I'd make myself run sitting backwards in the saddle if that's the way my horse ran best and I thought it might get me in the 1D someday. |
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Left vs right barrel first on prospect, does it affect your buying decision?