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 Mature beyond Years
Posts: 10780
   
Location: North of the 49th Parallel | Please help me not get discouraged. This process is so frustrating and I want to beat my head against the wall. She's 7 so not that young and was reined on before but even then some days she would lay out an awesome run and the next it was a dog and pony show. This horse has so much talent but some days.... It gets easier, right? I wish I could buy a finished horse because this "making" your own horse is frustrating.
Edited by bccanchaser16 2014-08-06 11:30 PM
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 Owner of a ratting catting machine
Posts: 2258
| Seasoning horses is humbling. There, I said it. |
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 Expert
Posts: 4121
Location: SE Louisiana | I always thought the best seasoning for horses like that was garlic salt and maybe a little bit of pepper..
Edited by komet. 2014-07-26 10:47 PM
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 Certified Snake Wrangler
Posts: 1672
Location: North MS | A friend of mine says they make you look like a "possum's pouch" sometimes. Then they have an awesome run the next go round. Definitely keep you on your toes. |
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The Resident Destroyer of Liberal Logic
Location: PNW | classicpotatochip - 2014-07-26 10:45 PM
Seasoning horses is humbling. There, I said it.
Lol the truth doesn't get much harsher than that.
I'm getting ready to have to season a colt too... And I'm dreading it more than I'm dreading giving birth. Lol
Good luck!!! And yes, it does get better... "Somewheeeeeeere over the rainbow.... Way up high....." |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 898
Location: Mountains of VA | I feel your pain.............I'm riding a 7yo, definately not young and green. She lays down a nice pattern here at the farm. Take her off the farm and she is looking/spooking at the BARRELS, WTH  I have to be able to do a couple of exhibitions otherwise she does not like going near the different colored barrels.
Not sure if it is a sign of intelligence or super sensitivity. Eitherway, it is FRUSTRATING. |
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Expert
Posts: 1561
| komet. - 2014-07-26 10:45 PM
I always thought the best seasoning for horses like that was garlic salt and maybe a little bit of pepper..
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 Dr. Ruth
Posts: 9891
Location: Blissfully happy Giants fan!!! | I actually was just doing some reflection this past weekend. I think my story is somewhat different as I had to get myself seasoned as well as my horses. I took a 10 year break and I am still not all the way back into it nor are my horses but we have made some serious improvements. I looked at videos from a year ago and then the ones most recently and the differences are just extraordinary. But I take a different take on our journey. First, no matter what, I come out of every arena praising my babies (3 of them) and I thank God we came outside of the pen safe and sound. And when I reflect on our run I find one good thing that happened and we go on that. I try and have a goal and that has gotten more and more specific but this year every weekend we have met that goal (some weekends I have been thankful we are running multiple days-lol). I just stay positive and thankful I have these guys and that they are willing to work. 2 of them recently have started to hit the 2D and are really starting to find their legs and I am starting to ride them hard. It is a really fun journey for me.
PS-all of them started this journey late in their lives. I don't do babies so that road I can't tell you. They all started barrels about their 7/8 year old years.
Edited by sassy&tessa 2014-07-27 7:26 AM
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 Chasin my Dream
Posts: 13651
Location: Alberta | Just keep going....you have to also take into consideration how many runs you've got to make on her and see it does take time.... |
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 Keep those crap slapping tails away!
Posts: 8871
Location: Around here somewhere... | I'm the odd duck out... I LOVE seasoning horses!!! |
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 ...Dot Dot Dot...
Posts: 2062
Location: SW New Mexico | I am in my first year seasoning my OTTQH.. It is exhausting... sometimes.. and humbling..
We have made 19 competition runs..since Oct 2013...
He can run a 2D smooth run, the next run.... he hits the 2nd, and doesn't clock..
I get frustrated.. I want to win the 1D like yesterday.. but Dave is worth spending the time.. and we will keep plugging along!! :)
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 762
Location: NC | As much as i love my 6 yr old some days shes great, some days im just like huh?! |
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 Total Germophobe
Posts: 6443
Location: Montana | I know the frustration...it is hard, but it has to get better. But one week you can make a smokin run and the next you wonder what in the he!! happened. It just has to be all a part of the process. I'd love a finished horse too, but I love my mare more so I guess I just keep on with the seasoning proces. :) Here's a hug though as I know what you are going through, as do many of the people on here.  |
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  Sock eating dog owner
Posts: 4557
Location: Where the pavement ends and the West begins Utah | Sounds like your horse is WELL BROKE. So I will pit the blame on you and not your horse. You have to ride consistant or you will not have a consistant horse. Never quit riding because you made ( 1) great run. |
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Mature beyond Years
Posts: 10780
Location: North of the 49th Parallel | Well, thank the good Lord for the D system. I just got a message that I somehow placed in the 4D. That was a shock because yesterday was a complete disaster and she threw me the middle finger(hence the post). I'm a little less mad at the horse now! lol. |
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The Resident Destroyer of Liberal Logic
Location: PNW | bccanchaser16 - 2014-07-27 6:14 PM
Well, thank the good Lord for the D system. I just got a message that I somehow placed in the 4D. That was a shock because yesterday was a complete disaster and she threw me the middle finger(hence the post). I'm a little less mad at the horse now! lol.
Yahoo!!! A 4-D check cashes exactly the same as a 1-D check! Congratulations! |
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Expert
Posts: 4121
Location: SE Louisiana | svincent - 2014-07-27 6:25 PM
bccanchaser16 - 2014-07-27 6:14 PM
Well, thank the good Lord for the D system. I just got a message that I somehow placed in the 4D. That was a shock because yesterday was a complete disaster and she threw me the middle finger(hence the post). I'm a little less mad at the horse now! lol.
Yahoo!!! A 4-D check cashes exactly the same as a 1-D check! Congratulations!
Your horse has a middle finger???  |
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Red Bull Agressive
Posts: 5981
Location: North Dakota | I should NOT have looked at this thread. I'm going to look at a 3 year old. Of course he'll be doing a whole lot more running around balloons on sticks than around barrels. Must think happy thoughts. |
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Expert
Posts: 1586
Location: west of East Texas | I feel your pain. I always seem to be seasoning one. As soon as I get to feeling like we are finally 'there' (usually a couple of years) one of my girls needs a new horse. And guess which one they want??? I've just started a 5yo this year and she had a year of reining training before I got her. Just this Friday night she and I finally found our way within the 2 seconds of the winning run. I am on cloud nine to be running 1.9 seconds off! :) |
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 Night Watchman
Posts: 5516
Location: Central Montana | I have the reverse siguations - I have one I consider to be seasoned - I've hauled her all over the state since she was 3 but she is just started on the pattern, she is 8 now.
I quit running barrels to rein so she is sitting on the back burne, she has had some reining training but isn't going to be competitve at the level I want. |
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 Am I really the Weirdo?
Posts: 11181
Location: Kansas | classicpotatochip - 2014-07-26 10:45 PM Seasoning horses is humbling. There, I said it.
Ditto. It is a roller coaster ride and you can't get too high or too low. Heck earlier this month I thought I had my blaze face sorrel lined out and ready to go on a rodeo-winning tear, then he promptly creamed the first barrel and ran off the next two nights (after WINNING a rodeo the night before), then a week later decided to be scared of the bucking chutes and first barrel. In two weeks I went from choosing him over my more seasoned gray horse at the good ground rodeos to being afraid to run him at a rodeo until we hit a jackpot & he proves he can work in public again. UGH. |
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 Shipwrecked and Flat Out Zapped
Posts: 16390
Location: DUMPING CATS AND PIGS IN TEXAS :) | bccanchaser16 - 2014-07-27 6:14 PM Well, thank the good Lord for the D system. I just got a message that I somehow placed in the 4D. That was a shock because yesterday was a complete disaster and she threw me the middle finger(hence the post). I'm a little less mad at the horse now! lol.
Do you have any pictures of that? |
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 Veteran
Posts: 239
| komet. - 2014-07-27 5:43 PM
svincent - 2014-07-27 6:25 PM
bccanchaser16 - 2014-07-27 6:14 PM
Well, thank the good Lord for the D system. I just got a message that I somehow placed in the 4D. That was a shock because yesterday was a complete disaster and she threw me the middle finger(hence the post). I'm a little less mad at the horse now! lol.
Yahoo!!! A 4-D check cashes exactly the same as a 1-D check! Congratulations!
Your horse has a middle finger???
All horses do! They walk on them! LOL
OP: I hear ya, I am in the same boat with my mare and as someone said earlier it is humbling!!! And way to go on your 4D check! Keep riding!
Edited by 2H~QH 2014-07-28 10:28 AM
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 915
Location: SE KS | I am having a good time seasoning my 7 yo gelding. I hauled him & exhibitioned him last year, so this year I have been running him. He is working good, now if only his rider would get her shit together maybe we could do a little better!!! |
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Veteran
Posts: 238
| We discussed this a fair amount this weekend. I used to run in Cali where you could run almost every night of the week and 4 times on the weekend. Didn't take long to season one when you did that.
Here in FL there are almost NO week night barrel races anywhere, much less in a reasonable driving distance. And while you can run every weekend, you have to haul and they are 1 run barrel races.
Takes a lot longer to season one when you only run 2-3 times a month as opposed to 3-5 times a week. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1079
| SpottedT - 2014-07-29 2:52 PM We discussed this a fair amount this weekend. I used to run in Cali where you could run almost every night of the week and 4 times on the weekend. Didn't take long to season one when you did that. Here in FL there are almost NO week night barrel races anywhere, much less in a reasonable driving distance. And while you can run every weekend, you have to haul and they are 1 run barrel races. Takes a lot longer to season one when you only run 2-3 times a month as opposed to 3-5 times a week.
this is a very good point. Now combine that with living in tundra where you have to take 5 months off a year. That REALLY makes seasoning fun. :) But it is so totally worth it when they start working and not only that, but ENJOY going in there to work a pattern.
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 Expert
Posts: 1302
Location: California | I am so glad I am not the only one. I have been struggling so much these last couple weeks with mine. He is 7 and was futuried on briefly but I bought him 3 years ago and started him over. I got him feeling good and healthy finally. June of this year is when I first started entering him. We went from not clocking to winning the 4D to winning the 2D all within a week or two. I was on cloud nine. Then he started wanting to run off and dive into barrels again and it was like a knife in the stomach. Thought maybe he was sore again and had him worked on a little but he isn't. Now I am doing a 10 week little Friday night series running in the same arena every week to see if I can see improvement and consistancy after awhile. Last week was the first of the series and he was a complete jerk. I took him to the same arena last night to work him and he made the prettiest runs I have ever made on him, but this is in practice of course. I am making myself stick with this series though because I think it will be good for us. I know he can do it now which is the worst part about it. This horse has the potential to be the real deal but man have I shed way more tears than victories. Hang in there because I am trying to as well! |
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 Expert
Posts: 2457
| cavyrunsbarrels - 2014-07-27 9:33 PM
I should NOT have looked at this thread. I'm going to look at a 3 year old. Of course he'll be doing a whole lot more running around balloons on sticks than around barrels. Must think happy thoughts.
chin up pal!!! I've seasoned a horse to mtd shooting ...! A TON of patience and you'll get there! I'm not looking forward to hauling the 3 yo this fall to shoot off!! We can commiserate! |
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Mature beyond Years
Posts: 10780
Location: North of the 49th Parallel | Went to a "little" jackpot down the road- 80 girls showed up on a weekday barrel race. Anyways, I creamed the third barrel because I rode like crap and we zig-zagged all over the pen. Apparently she isn't ready to "throw the reins at". My fault. It wasn't pretty. BUT I had no gate issues. It's been something that has reared it's ugly head and I went over her with my vet with a fine tooth and comb and injected her hocks. Ordered some ulcer meds as well. She did go in cleanly at a trot, with a side alley too! It's the little things.
AND- I found out I won money from the last time I came to this pen. 2 for 3 this year for checks ain't bad.
Feel free to add any updates or vents about this long, humbling process. It will all be worth it, right!? |
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Certified Snake Wrangler
Posts: 1672
Location: North MS | Mine is doing great in private even at the arena we had trouble at the week before in "public". Awesome exhibition. Nice easy lope through. I wanted the same thing for our run, but he was wide open and WIDE! |
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 Not Afraid to Work
Posts: 4717
| The seasoning process is my least favorite of the whole shabang. I dont mind the dry work or the first rides even but the ups and downs of seasoning really sucks... and it makes me feel pretty crazy.
However, yes, it is worth it! Hang in there because it does get better and you will appreciate your finished horse so much more. Mine is finally getting there and I never want to let it go! |
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 Experienced Mouse Trapper
Posts: 3106
Location: North Dakota | Well, my guy is 6 and last year I would have given him away, this year he definitely is coming into himself. I got serious about patterning him this spring he has had 9 runs (mostly double headers) cut up his coronet band a month ago (so had a month out) Saturday the ground was DEEP and he didn't handle things well (we were in the 7D)
Drove an hour and a half to another big money added race on Sunday-(I thought of every bad scenario possible) my horse was a freak-everything scared him-everything. Except in the arena, went in and did a few exhibitions, still scared, I even think he tried to buck on me while I was riding him down, again all the bad scenarios went through my head. Went in and made one heck of a run and ended up second in the 4D with a heck of a payout!! Was half second splits too which was even better just 1.5 seconds off the fast time-I'll take it and look forward to seeing what he can do in the future!! Still flying high 4 days later. BUT going to another race on Sunday and only God knows how that's going to go :) |
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Total Germophobe
Posts: 6443
Location: Montana | That is all part of the fun of seasoning a horse! Two weeks ago I nearly fell off then this week we got our fastest time to date on a standard pattern with a 20.86. I also understand the gate is thing my mare has gate issues when she is in heat. Yes it is frustrating but I think we are starting to figure it out. So good luck to you...you at least have pulled more checks than we have. :) |
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Expert
Posts: 1586
Location: west of East Texas | Is anyone's young one trying TOO hard? She is on the hot side and I have to hold her face in order to get her pattern like I want it. I never push her, I just either hold her back or release just a little. She's busy, busy, busy and will pass up a barrel if I let her out too much. She can slow lope a perfect pattern but if I left it up to her, she would be off like a rocket. My analogy for her is... She's like a man driving, doesn't know where he's going but he's making good time. :)
What kind of bit would you suggest for a young one like this? She's seriously broke with a year of reining training. I thought I would have to teach her to move out, not slow down.... |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 596
Location: Somewhere in the middle of nowhere | chasendacash - 2014-08-08 9:44 AM Is anyone's young one trying TOO hard? She is on the hot side and I have to hold her face in order to get her pattern like I want it. I never push her, I just either hold her back or release just a little. She's busy, busy, busy and will pass up a barrel if I let her out too much. She can slow lope a perfect pattern but if I left it up to her, she would be off like a rocket. My analogy for her is... She's like a man driving, doesn't know where he's going but he's making good time. :)
What kind of bit would you suggest for a young one like this? She's seriously broke with a year of reining training. I thought I would have to teach her to move out, not slow down....
I was helping a high school girl this summer with her horse, horse may be 9 or 10...I told her the horse reminded me of the squirrel on "Over the Hedge" when he drank coffee, only this horse was more go, go go....barrel! as he went past it
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| chasendacash - 2014-08-08 10:44 AM
Is anyone's young one trying TOO hard? She is on the hot side and I have to hold her face in order to get her pattern like I want it. I never push her, I just either hold her back or release just a little. She's busy, busy, busy and will pass up a barrel if I let her out too much. She can slow lope a perfect pattern but if I left it up to her, she would be off like a rocket. My analogy for her is... She's like a man driving, doesn't know where he's going but he's making good time. :)
What kind of bit would you suggest for a young one like this? She's seriously broke with a year of reining training. I thought I would have to teach her to move out, not slow down....
It sounds like your horse hasn't learned rate.
It doesn't matter what discipline the horse has been trained, some horses have fragile minds and blow up easily. It sounds like the trainer has blown her up.
I fixed one horse traned by a well respected trainer, the horse was dangerously blown up. This horse couldn't stand, he knew he couldn't move forward, side to side or backwards, so on a loose rein instead of standing he would go straight up in the air. |
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Expert
Posts: 1586
Location: west of East Texas | I wouldn't say she was blown up but she is seriously 'antsy'. I've had her about 9 months and she had about 6 months off (her 4yo year) before that. (She's 5) she is calmer than she was and has learned to stand still and rest. She rates great at walk, trot, and slow lope but when the speed gets past that... it is a question mark. She's very eager to please and it's almost like she wants to do too much. |
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Seasoning horses- *update*