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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 619
 
| Just wanted to ask a question to clear some confusion. How much room do you give your horse on the 1st barrel to make a good turn? I have been told to pick a 5 ft spot off the front of 1st barrel and go straight to it, when leg is even, then turn. I was watching a video with Ty Mitchell and he says that a rule of thumb is 10-13 ft off the 1st barrel when leg is even with barrel then turn. What do you guys do to get that perfect turn as far as approach? Isn't not explained that clearly enough! ?? |
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  Sock eating dog owner
Posts: 4553
 
Location: Where the pavement ends and the West begins Utah | Fun question. If you take your arms straight out to your side that equals your height, if you do that twice that gives you aprox. 10-12 feet. Mark that distance out from the barrel. Determine your horses' size , how fast can you get around the barrel with out shutting down and losing momentum "safely". The first barrel is called the money barrel. Example if your in and out on the first barrel by the time your half way across only one second will have clicked off the clock. If you rate , take the paint off and lost momentum by the time your half way across four seconds will have clicked off the clock. This is not set in stone. Choose what fits your horse and speed. |
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Sock eating dog owner
Posts: 4553
Location: Where the pavement ends and the West begins Utah | Fun question. If you take your arms straight out to your side that equals your height, if you do that twice that gives you aprox. 10-12 feet. Mark that distance out from the barrel. Determine your horses' size , how fast can you get around the barrel with out shutting down and losing momentum "safely". The first barrel is called the money barrel. Example if your in and out on the first barrel by the time your half way across only one second will have clicked off the clock. If you rate , take the paint off and lost momentum by the time your half way across four seconds will have clicked off the clock. This is not set in stone. Choose what fits your horse and speed. |
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| I agree, I watch horses run who need a bigger pocket and arc in to keep it smooth and horses who can run in shallow and spin around it without losing time. Each horse has a very different style though and pros and cons depending on the pen.
I try to arc into it, I would guess I'm between 5 and 10 feet off when I start my turn, we come out close. |
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Veteran
Posts: 150
| I've been advised to try this for my smaller, very catty mare: have a slight arc, very slight, and upon the approach place her shoulder about 2-3 feet from barrel. So I did, and wow she likes that. In and gone! I've been running in way too wide and she was running by.
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Approach to 1st Barrel...