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  Extreme Veteran
Posts: 461
 
Location: Illinois | I just got my new mare in Oct and I am having an issue with her and her first barrel. No matter if I run her to the left or the right she wants to cut the first barrel off coming out of it. She drops her shoulder really bad and I always hit it with my foot because she is so close to the barrel. She gets really close to 2nd and 3rd as well but we don't usually hit it like the 1st. I just wondered if you had any suggestions on what I could do to get her out of this habit. I think a bit with more lift would help with the shoulder issue but what about her wanting to cut the barrel off? My old horse wouldn't go anywhere near the barrels so I am not used to knocking them and am at a loss.
Edited by ShortyHorse11 2014-12-27 6:21 PM
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 461
Location: Illinois | Anyone? |
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 Namesless in BHW
Posts: 10368
Location: At the race track with Ah Dee Ohs | Do you have a video you could maybe post? |
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 Shipwrecked and Flat Out Zapped
Posts: 16390
Location: DUMPING CATS AND PIGS IN TEXAS :) | I'd give you some advise if I could lol. I'm just trotting the pattern now though. Could you possibly slow her down and do slow work around the barrels? Possible lope or trot to the barrel, stop and make her walk the route that you want her to....back her up if she doesn't do it right?
I am not a barrel racer, so if I told you something wrong I'm sorry, but it could be a place to start or something to try. Good luck. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 461
Location: Illinois | I don't have any of me, I only have one of the girl I bought her from riding her and she doesn't hit the barrel. I don't know if it is something I am doing or if there is a trick that I don't know about. There is one on facebook of her hitting the first barrel but I don't know how to get it off and post it here. |
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Shipwrecked and Flat Out Zapped
Posts: 16390
Location: DUMPING CATS AND PIGS IN TEXAS :) | ShortyHorse11 - 2014-12-22 2:12 PM I don't have any of me, I only have one of the girl I bought her from riding her and she doesn't hit the barrel. I don't know if it is something I am doing or if there is a trick that I don't know about. There is one on facebook of her hitting the first barrel but I don't know how to get it off and post it here.
Are you using the same bit that she used? If she's new to you, it may just take slow work so you can learn each other.
Again, just trying to help, because no one else is lol. |
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 The Worst Seller Ever
Posts: 4138
Location: Oklahoma | It's hard to say without videos. I know when I start one, I want their 1st to be fast, so 3 strides maximum. Start with a tighter pocket, take aim to where it looks like her shoulder will hit the top part of the barrel, almost slice into it as a V. That will put her deeper into the backside, so she can clear it. Kinda like this....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9uv_1zYqXo
Edited by clover girl 2014-12-22 2:23 PM
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 461
Location: Illinois | I appreciate your advice :). I think I do still need to learn her and how she runs, I am not using the same bit she did just because I put it on her and it was WAY to much bit for her. She hated it. The girl I got her from said you really need to hold her going into the first, I have never gotten past a slow lope going into the first so I don't think that is my issue. I think slow work is the answer, just didn't know if there was any specific drills I could try. |
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Shipwrecked and Flat Out Zapped
Posts: 16390
Location: DUMPING CATS AND PIGS IN TEXAS :) | ShortyHorse11 - 2014-12-22 2:23 PM I appreciate your advice :). I think I do still need to learn her and how she runs, I am not using the same bit she did just because I put it on her and it was WAY to much bit for her. She hated it. The girl I got her from said you really need to hold her going into the first, I have never gotten past a slow lope going into the first so I don't think that is my issue. I think slow work is the answer, just didn't know if there was any specific drills I could try.
There probably are lol. I'll get some help. Hang on :) |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 461
Location: Illinois | clover girl - 2014-12-22 2:21 PM
It's hard to say without videos. I know when I start one, I want their 1st to be fast, so 3 strides maximum. Start with a tighter pocket, take aim to where it looks like her shoulder will hit the top part of the barrel, almost slice into it as a V. That will put her deeper into the backside, so she can clear it. Kinda like this....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9uv_1zYqXo
Ok, right now I am giving her a really wide pocket coming into it because that is what the girl said to do, with my old barrel horse I came in like you do in your video so that is how I am used to riding. I will have to give that a try and see if it helps. I will try to get a video next time I ride. |
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 Midget Lover
Location: Kentucky | Since it's the first barrel she is hitting, that's only one right turn and two lefts. Have you had her vetted yet? How old is she? I've noticed a lot of folks don't even use pockets anymore, so this mare may not benefit from that. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 461
Location: Illinois | I have had her vetted clean, she is 16. She does it if I take her to the left as well so I don't think it is a pain issue. I guess I never thought about the pocket thing.. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 461
Location: Illinois | LRQHS - 2014-12-22 2:24 PM
ShortyHorse11 - 2014-12-22 2:23 PM I appreciate your advice :). I think I do still need to learn her and how she runs, I am not using the same bit she did just because I put it on her and it was WAY to much bit for her. She hated it. The girl I got her from said you really need to hold her going into the first, I have never gotten past a slow lope going into the first so I don't think that is my issue. I think slow work is the answer, just didn't know if there was any specific drills I could try.
There probably are lol. I'll get some help. Hang on :)
Thanks! :) |
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Midget Lover
Location: Kentucky | What bit are you riding her in? Is it the same as the previous owner? She may just be a horse you have to hustle. A video would greatly help. |
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 Own It and Move On
Location: The edge of no where | It's really tough to be very helpful without a video...there's so many reasons that a horse will hit a barrel. However, if you're taking a really wide pocket going in, then you're going to hit more coming out. Move your pocket. Does she do this when you go at 3/4 speed or just when you run her? |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 461
Location: Illinois | Murphy - 2014-12-22 2:31 PM
What bit are you riding her in? Is it the same as the previous owner? She may just be a horse you have to hustle. A video would greatly help.
I am riding her in a CJ grasshopper (original) at the moment. I don't think it has enough lift on it. Her previous owner was riding her in a MJ Million Dollar bit and I just felt like that was way to much bit for her. She is super supple and responsive. I will try to get a video. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 461
Location: Illinois | MS2011 - 2014-12-22 2:33 PM
It's really tough to be very helpful without a video...there's so many reasons that a horse will hit a barrel. However, if you're taking a really wide pocket going in, then you're going to hit more coming out. Move your pocket. Does she do this when you go at 3/4 speed or just when you run her?
She does it going at any speed, I will try and move my pocket in. I was just going by what the previous owner said to do. I will try to get a video ASAP as well. |
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 Am I really the Weirdo?
Posts: 11181
Location: Kansas | ShortyHorse11 - 2014-12-22 2:35 PM MS2011 - 2014-12-22 2:33 PM It's really tough to be very helpful without a video...there's so many reasons that a horse will hit a barrel. However, if you're taking a really wide pocket going in, then you're going to hit more coming out. Move your pocket. Does she do this when you go at 3/4 speed or just when you run her? She does it going at any speed, I will try and move my pocket in. I was just going by what the previous owner said to do. I will try to get a video ASAP as well.
IMO when you give them a ton of room going in, two things happen and neither are good. 1 - the horses that really want to work will dive even harder at the barrel, or -2- you'll drag it over leaving. (This is why I've perfected the leg lift.....Clifford has a tendency to drag barrels over leaving and after hitting barrels cost us $2,000 in a summer, I decided I could move my foot out of the way LOL) |
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 Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | Go take a lesson or 5 and fix your riding. That will fix your horse. It's like magic or something. |
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Namesless in BHW
Posts: 10368
Location: At the race track with Ah Dee Ohs | I'm gonna agree with the rest...too much pocket going in. A video would be so helpful. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 461
Location: Illinois | I will have to work on the pocket thing, that seems to be the most mentioned thing. Like I said I don't believe in a huge pocket I was just told by the previous owner to give her one. I will try running her strait to the barrel like I'm used to and see what happens.
Thanks everyone for your help! If there are any more suggestions keep em coming!  |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 461
Location: Illinois | Three 4 Luck - 2014-12-22 2:42 PM
Go take a lesson or 5 and fix your riding. That will fix your horse. It's like magic or something.
That's a bit of a harsh judgement. I have been riding for 20 years, I think my riding is just fine. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 465
Location: Arkansas | http://www.conniecombs.com/DrilloftheMonth[1].pdf This is a good exercise |
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Hungarian Midget Woman
Location: Midwest | ShortyHorse11 - 2014-12-22 2:45 PM Three 4 Luck - 2014-12-22 2:42 PM Go take a lesson or 5 and fix your riding. That will fix your horse. It's like magic or something. That's a bit of a harsh judgement. I have been riding for 20 years, I think my riding is just fine.
Lessons are always a good idea if you have the option. There is always something new to learn no matter how long you have been riding.
Another set of eyes on a problem can be very helpful. |
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Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | ShortyHorse11 - 2014-12-22 2:45 PM Three 4 Luck - 2014-12-22 2:42 PM Go take a lesson or 5 and fix your riding. That will fix your horse. It's like magic or something. That's a bit of a harsh judgement. I have been riding for 20 years, I think my riding is just fine.
Holy hell, I've been riding for 32 years and still get help when I need it. As do the pros. None of us are perfect and there is always more to learn and ways to get better. Not a harsh judgement, just reality. Your horse is making the same mistake both directions...that's like a flashing neon sign. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 461
Location: Illinois | Here is a video of the previous owner running her a few days before I picked her up. She doesn't knock the 1st in this video but is there anything you can see that I need to do to keep her going like she is? Anything I am missing?
http://youtu.be/S-4_-m5qZC4 |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 461
Location: Illinois | bgtkt - 2014-12-22 2:46 PM
http://www.conniecombs.com/DrilloftheMonth[1].pdf This is a good exercise
Thank you! That's very helpful. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 461
Location: Illinois | And I understand lessons are a good thing no matter how long you have been riding but to immediately assume it is my riding is not a very nice way to come across. |
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 Total Germophobe
Posts: 6443
Location: Montana | Is she more push style or free runner? If she is push style, are you either not driving her far enough or driving her too far into her pocket? My mare is push style, and if you don't drive her far enough on usually the 2nd you'll hit it coming out. But with my mare that is usually the same with all barrels. Hope that helps. :) |
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Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | ShortyHorse11 - 2014-12-22 2:56 PM And I understand lessons are a good thing no matter how long you have been riding but to immediately assume it is my riding is not a very nice way to come across.
If a horse does the same thing both ways, 99% of the time it's you. And it's the same for all of us, not just you. Good riding is a journey, not a destination. |
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 Queen Boobie 2
Posts: 7521
| I think a lesson from someone you respect is far better than asking a bunch of strangers who may or may not be half baked to comment on a horse and rider they have never seen. |
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The Worst Seller Ever
Posts: 4138
Location: Oklahoma | After seeing the video, I think your pocket is your issue. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 461
Location: Illinois | mtcanchazer - 2014-12-22 2:58 PM
Is she more push style or free runner? If she is push style, are you either not driving her far enough or driving her too far into her pocket? My mare is push style, and if you don't drive her far enough on usually the 2nd you'll hit it coming out. But with my mare that is usually the same with all barrels. Hope that helps. :)
I'm really not sure. She turns without any coaxing or signals from me, she really knows her job but I guess I have to push her between the barrels. I am having a hard time driving her into her pocket before she turns on me. |
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 Hawty & Nawty
Posts: 20424
| I haven't ridden a pattern in a year. I wonder why the old owner gives her a full circle around the first but no pocket around the other two? I wonder if there really is something about that side that she is compensating for. (Take this with a grain of salt. My eyes are rusty.) |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 461
Location: Illinois | RidenFly - 2014-12-22 3:02 PM
I haven't ridden a pattern in a year. I wonder why the old owner gives her a full circle around the first but no pocket around the other two? I wonder if there really is something about that side that she is compensating for. (Take this with a grain of salt. My eyes are rusty.)
I have actually see a lot of people do that, they will come in with a huge pocket on the first and then hardly give any on the second and third. But I get what you are saying it is odd that she would giver her so much on the first and then nothing at all on the other two. I don't know what she could be compensating for though. |
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Shipwrecked and Flat Out Zapped
Posts: 16390
Location: DUMPING CATS AND PIGS IN TEXAS :) | I would just like to state that I am not half baked currently.......but, my friends are :) |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 461
Location: Illinois | clover girl - 2014-12-22 3:01 PM
After seeing the video, I think your pocket is your issue.
You think less pocket? |
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Midget Lover
Location: Kentucky | clover girl - 2014-12-22 4:01 PM After seeing the video, I think your pocket is your issue. I agree.
Start at a slower speed with less of a pocket. She knows her job, you just have to put her in the right spot.
Edited by Murphy 2014-12-22 3:06 PM
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 I am Woman hear me Roar
Posts: 3395
Location: Choctaw, Oklahoma | She is cutting off coming OUT of the barrel??? |
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Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | LRQHS - 2014-12-22 3:04 PM I would just like to state that I am not half baked currently.......but, my friends are :)
Cookies are way better if they're still a little gooey. |
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Hawty & Nawty
Posts: 20424
| LRQHS - 2014-12-23 1:04 PM I would just like to state that I am not half baked currently.......but, my friends are :)
Lmao. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 461
Location: Illinois | JRust - 2014-12-22 3:06 PM
She is cutting off coming OUT of the barrel???
Yes, she is cutting the barrel off coming out and my foot keeps knocking it over. |
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The Worst Seller Ever
Posts: 4138
Location: Oklahoma | ShortyHorse11 - 2014-12-22 3:05 PM clover girl - 2014-12-22 3:01 PM After seeing the video, I think your pocket is your issue. You think less pocket?
Yes ma'am. The owner isn't giving her very much in the video you posted.
Less pocket, or let the mare pick her spot. Many of the oldies already knwo where they need to be. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 461
Location: Illinois | Murphy - 2014-12-22 3:05 PM
clover girl - 2014-12-22 4:01 PM After seeing the video, I think your pocket is your issue. I agree.
Start at a slower speed with less of a pocket. She knows her job, you just have to put her in the right spot.
ok! thank you! |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 461
Location: Illinois | clover girl - 2014-12-22 3:09 PM
ShortyHorse11 - 2014-12-22 3:05 PM clover girl - 2014-12-22 3:01 PM After seeing the video, I think your pocket is your issue. You think less pocket?
Less pocket, or let the mare pick her spot. Many of the oldies already knwo where they need to be.
OK! Thank you very much! I know it is always a learning curve with a new horse, just needed to see what I could fix. Guess I should just get out of her way and let her do her thing!
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I am Woman hear me Roar
Posts: 3395
Location: Choctaw, Oklahoma | Smaller pocket, try to push her past the barrel, don't sit too soon, and stay out of her mouth coming around the barrel. |
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Total Germophobe
Posts: 6443
Location: Montana | JRust - 2014-12-22 2:18 PM
Smaller pocket, try to push her past the barrel, don't sit too soon, and stay out of her mouth coming around the barrel.
Yes! Yes! Yes! This is why I asked about push style or free runner! This advice is very good...as that is what my mare needs (except she needs a little help coming out of her turn), so I have very good first hand experience.  |
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Hawty & Nawty
Posts: 20424
| The owner tells you to give her a big pocket to first which she demostrates in the video. She also has a bit on her that you believe the horse hates and is way to much bit. There is a reason that owner is riding to that first barrel differently. I'll be the fly in the ointment and say again I believe there is an underlying issue.
Try finding a spot on the arena rails beyond your first barrel ride to it to where your leg passes the barrel and then ask for the turn. See if it changes anything. |
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 No Tune in a Bucket
Posts: 2935
Location: Texas | I did not read all of the responses, but I also believe that too big of a pocket going in could be part of the problem. You might try placing a tire on the ground in the spot that she is cutting you off to reinforce the shape that you are wanting. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 461
Location: Illinois | RidenFly - 2014-12-22 4:38 PM
The owner tells you to give her a big pocket to first which she demostrates in the video. She also has a bit on her that you believe the horse hates and is way to much bit. There is a reason that owner is riding to that first barrel differently. I'll be the fly in the ointment and say again I believe there is an underlying issue.
Try finding a spot on the arena rails beyond your first barrel ride to it to where your leg passes the barrel and then ask for the turn. See if it changes anything.
I get what you are saying.. why she performs just fine under her "perfect" conditions but I cannot get her to perform. I may have to go back and talk to her previous owner. She fully disclosed to me that she needed work on her first barrel when I bought her but all she said was you have to hold her going to the first or she is all over the place. Thanks for the advice, i will try that. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 461
Location: Illinois | RocketPilot - 2014-12-22 5:45 PM
I did not read all of the responses, but I also believe that too big of a pocket going in could be part of the problem. You might try placing a tire on the ground in the spot that she is cutting you off to reinforce the shape that you are wanting.
I actually have tires around my barrels in my arena that I put there after I got her, I wasn't riding in my arena last time I rode so I didn't have the tires and she cut in on me. |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| ShortyHorse11 - 2014-12-22 2:56 PM
And I understand lessons are a good thing no matter how long you have been riding but to immediately assume it is my riding is not a very nice way to come across.
It is your riding that is causing you to know barrels.
The horse is 16, seasoned, never knocked with previous owner, knocks with you. You are the new variable.
You need to find someone who will not sugar cost things and teach you how to ride this horse. I suggest going back to the previous owner.
The term pocket means different things to people, same with running straight at a barrel.
Personally if this was my horse, I would be getting back with the previous owner,
what i am guess is happening is you are giving too much pocket, sitting too soon, looking at the barrel, not keeping her round with your leg, not driving her around the barrel, and going too slow.
Also the grasshopper bit has enough bend and lift if used properly. The bit has a lot of bite, and may actually be too severe causing her to turn too soon |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 461
Location: Illinois | cheryl makofka - 2014-12-22 6:31 PM
ShortyHorse11 - 2014-12-22 2:56 PM
And I understand lessons are a good thing no matter how long you have been riding but to immediately assume it is my riding is not a very nice way to come across.
It is your riding that is causing you to know barrels.
The horse is 16, seasoned, never knocked with previous owner, knocks with you. You are the new variable.
You need to find someone who will not sugar cost things and teach you how to ride this horse. I suggest going back to the previous owner.
The term pocket means different things to people, same with running straight at a barrel.
Personally if this was my horse, I would be getting back with the previous owner,
what i am guess is happening is you are giving too much pocket, sitting too soon, looking at the barrel, not keeping her round with your leg, not driving her around the barrel, and going too slow.
Also the grasshopper bit has enough bend and lift if used properly. The bit has a lot of bite, and may actually be too severe causing her to turn too soon
This isn't entirely true, the horse would knock barrels when anyone but her main rider rode her. The previous owner even told me she would knock into the barrel if you didn't drive her past... so it may be a training issue that someone let her get away with knocking for too long and never corrected it just put a band-aide over it. I am not saying at all that it isn't me, I don't pretend to know all that much about barrels and if I am doing something wrong I would like to know. I can't exactly go back to the previous owner as she is in FL and I am in IL. I can talk to her on the phone but she cannot be there while I am riding the mare.
I am probably doing most of those things that you say I am doing, I admit that. That is why I am here looking for advice. What do you mean by going to slow? Should I not take her slow through the pattern? Just run her?
I didn't realise the grasshopper was that severe, always thought it was a pretty mild bit.
Thank you for your advise. |
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Miracle in the Making
Posts: 4013
| bennie1 - 2014-12-22 4:00 PM I think a lesson from someone you respect is far better than asking a bunch of strangers who may or may not be half baked to comment on a horse and rider they have never seen.
i agree plus no video plus did not like vonda.s comment |
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 Take a Picture
Posts: 12842
| I bet you are leaning into the barrel. That will sure make one drop their shoulder. Push back on the saddle horn and put weight on the outside stirrup. Practice this slow until you have perfected it then it should come natural at a faster speed. Hope that helps. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 461
Location: Illinois | vjls - 2014-12-22 7:56 PM
bennie1 - 2014-12-22 4:00 PM I think a lesson from someone you respect is far better than asking a bunch of strangers who may or may not be half baked to comment on a horse and rider they have never seen.
i agree plus no video plus did not like vonda.s comment
I added a video |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 461
Location: Illinois | streakysox - 2014-12-22 8:19 PM
I bet you are leaning into the barrel. That will sure make one drop their shoulder. Push back on the saddle horn and put weight on the outside stirrup. Practice this slow until you have perfected it then it should come natural at a faster speed. Hope that helps.
Yes that does help, thank you! I will try doing that next time I ride. |
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Take a Picture
Posts: 12842
| Look at these schedules and find a clinic near you. Both are excellent and very similar. I have been friends with Martha Josey for MANY years and just attended another clinic there. I live near both (Rienhardt and Josey.) I see Vickie in the grocery store or Walmart all the time--laughing. If you want to go kick butt, this will be the best money you ever spent.
http://www.rienhardtclinics.com/Schedule_2015.html
http://barrelracers.com/HOME/Home.html |
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Miracle in the Making
Posts: 4013
| streakysox - 2014-12-23 12:00 AM Look at these schedules and find a clinic near you. Both are excellent and very similar. I have been friends with Martha Josey for MANY years and just attended another clinic there. I live near both (Rienhardt and Josey. ) I see Vickie in the grocery store or Walmart all the time--laughing. If you want to go kick butt, this will be the best money you ever spent. http://www.rienhardtclinics.com/Schedule_2015.html http://barrelracers.com/HOME/Home.html
love ms vicki and dan they can fix most problem if you do the follow thru love them |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 618
| If she is responsive and seasoned then ANY little cue from you may cause her to "cheat" you. Is she dropping her shoulder, stiffening up in her rib cage? I had a mare that was so responsive that if I had to look to the fence, set my hand down, say whoa and then get back up over her to drive to next. Sounds easy but.was hard. One kitty mistake ie. sitting too soon, helping her or not sayin whoa meant ugly run. Just my personal experience with my horses but if they don't like the bit in their mouth, they brace against it, causing stiffness and poor form. If my horses stop working correctly, I go back to the o-ring or sweet six and martingale, if needed. I do not work the pattern but I do drills and exercises to help my horses use his body correctly. I also look at my riding and make sure I'm not the problem, which is the case most of the time LOL. Drills helps remind me of my horses response to my body language. |
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Hungarian Midget Woman
Location: Midwest | ShortyHorse11 - 2014-12-22 8:23 PM vjls - 2014-12-22 7:56 PM bennie1 - 2014-12-22 4:00 PM I think a lesson from someone you respect is far better than asking a bunch of strangers who may or may not be half baked to comment on a horse and rider they have never seen. i agree plus no video plus did not like vonda.s comment I added a video
Edited by barrelracr131 2014-12-23 7:36 AM
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| 2 suggestions: 1. have her checked over thoroughly for pain. She might be a pretty tough horse and not really showing pain so much exept through hitting the barrels. I've got an older gelding with arthritis, but he doesn't show it very much. I can tell more by his weight than how he acts when the arthritis is flaring up. Had another gelding that was still working but coming out of the arena *****d off. Found out he had lots of issues and must have been in excrutiating pain. The tough ones just keep trucking as much as they can and sometimes only show subtle signs of issues.
2. get lessons from a professional. In my experience, it is very, very difficult to change my style of riding from horse to horse. You are working with the muscle memory of your old horse. I see too many people try to ride different horses all the same way and getting very frustrated with the horse. I, too, have been riding and showing horses forever, but life (family, work, etc.) gets in the way and I cannot devote the amount of time compared to someone that can ride lots of different horses every day. If you don't have someone pushing and correcting you, you can develop bad horsemanship habits without realizing. It also helps to have someone watching to tell us what we actually did, not what we thought we did. LOL
Give it time to learn each other also.
Good luck. |
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Expert
Posts: 1226
| 100% agree with everyone that says get professional lessons. Not from some yahoo. Someone that is professional with references. |
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 Chasin my Dream
Posts: 13651
Location: Alberta | ShortyHorse11 - 2014-12-22 1:50 PM Here is a video of the previous owner running her a few days before I picked her up. She doesn't knock the 1st in this video but is there anything you can see that I need to do to keep her going like she is? Anything I am missing? http://youtu.be/S-4_-m5qZC4
There has been a lot of great suggestions and I agree with lessons, what I can tell u I see in this video is a horse that is keeping her hindend engaged under herself, when the hindend is proper the shoulder has no choice but to be correct as well...shouldering issues gets fixed from the back forward. Perhaps (from what your saying) she does require being ridden for each step in the run.....being aware of where are horses bodies are at all speeds is essential, some horses will forgive us and do their job others won't. Best of luck! |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 461
Location: Illinois | Thank you for all of your suggestions. I have a good friend who was trained by the reinhardts and I have wanted to do one of thier clinice for a long time. I will try and read through everything and get caught up and then start from the beginning. I will also try and get a video this weekend. |
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Take a Picture
Posts: 12842
| ShortyHorse11 - 2014-12-23 12:49 PM
Thank you for all of your suggestions. I have a good friend who was trained by the reinhardts and I have wanted to do one of thier clinice for a long time. I will try and read through everything and get caught up and then start from the beginning. I will also try and get a video this weekend.
The rienhardts are WONDERFUL. Talk about getting you motivated. The problem that I have is that they don't have clinics near their home. Go to one of their clinics and it will be money well spent. Besides, you will have a lot of fun.
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 461
Location: Illinois | There closest one to me is 4 hours away but MJ has one that is only about an hour from me. |
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 I Prefer to Live in Fantasy Land
Posts: 64864
Location: In the Hills of Texas | ShortyHorse11 - 2014-12-23 6:21 PM There closest one to me is 4 hours away but MJ has one that is only about an hour from me.
Personally...I would find someone good to give you a one on one instead of a MJ clinic. JMO |
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Member
Posts: 13
Location: Kansas | My horse started to do this at the beginning of this year, also. I had no idea what to do, so I asked several horse friends and fellow barrel racers. Nobody had the solution to our problem. So, we quit barrel racing completely for about a month, then started back with the basics. We also started to make wider pockets. We are now running and communicating the best we ever have. Hope this helps, just remember to take it slow and make sure, while doing slow work, you don't get to close to the barrel (if so, wider pockets). |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 461
Location: Illinois | Nevertooold - 2014-12-23 6:49 PM
ShortyHorse11 - 2014-12-23 6:21 PM There closest one to me is 4 hours away but MJ has one that is only about an hour from me.
Personally...I would find someone good to give you a one on one instead of a MJ clinic. JMO
The problem with this is I have no one to get advice from. I no longer have anyone around me that is super knowledgeable in barrel racing. |
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 Fact Checker
Posts: 16575
Location: Displaced Iowegian | streakysox - 2014-12-22 11:00 PM Look at these schedules and find a clinic near you. Both are excellent and very similar. I have been friends with Martha Josey for MANY years and just attended another clinic there. I live near both (Rienhardt and Josey. ) I see Vickie in the grocery store or Walmart all the time--laughing. If you want to go kick butt, this will be the best money you ever spent. http://www.rienhardtclinics.com/Schedule_2015.html http://barrelracers.com/HOME/Home.html
I agree with the Reinhardt Clinic.....I have helped several times at their clinic.....I see that you live in Illinois. If you can get to Bloomfield, Iowa (May) for that one, I would sign up. It sounds like you NEED someone to actually watch you run the horse. I will give you a "heads up".....If you have any inclination to attend that clinic, get your fees in NOW....it fills up quick. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 507
Location: Lost in the corn of Iowa. | If your wanting ideas on clinics, look at the thread I started about who does decent clinics. It'll give you a decent idea on where to start.  |
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 Crazy Chicken Chick
Posts: 36132
| I also LOVED Ed Wright so if there's one of his clinics anywhere close, it's worth the haul. I learned a TON and it made a HUGE HUGE difference in my riding/pattern. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 461
Location: Illinois | I went out and rode today and it went much better with all of your advice! I put her back in the bit her previous owner was running her in and made my pocket a lot smaller. We still kept knocking the first barrel so I took her to the left and we never hit one! I think I just need to learn to stay out of her way and let her do her thing and make sure she doesn't try to turn too soon. Also taking her to the left seemed to help. I am going to keep trying her to the left and see what happens. I am so happy that I got it mostly figured out! |
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I Prefer to Live in Fantasy Land
Posts: 64864
Location: In the Hills of Texas | Where do you live in Illinois? |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 461
Location: Illinois | I live an hour strait east of St louis, MO and a half hour strait west of Effingham, IL right on I-70. Little town called Mulberry Grove. |
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I Prefer to Live in Fantasy Land
Posts: 64864
Location: In the Hills of Texas | ShortyHorse11 - 2014-12-27 10:38 AM I live an hour strait east of St louis, MO and a half hour strait west of Effingham, IL right on I-70. Little town called Mulberry Grove.
You are kind of in no man's land.
There was a really neat lady that use to live by Effingham but she was pretty old when I left IL 18 years ago. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 461
Location: Illinois | Yeah lol, there is not a lot around me, it is all in MO, IN, or north in IL. I found a martha josey clinic in cloverdale, IN and that is only 2 hous from me. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 461
Location: Illinois | I have one more question. Her previous owner rode her in a bonnet and I have been riding her in just a nose tiedown, would that make a difference? |
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Expert
Posts: 2685
| ShortyHorse11 - 2014-12-27 6:19 PM
I have one more question. Her previous owner rode her in a bonnet and I have been riding her in just a nose tiedown, would that make a difference?
IMO, yes. 2 different feels so the horse might respond 2 different ways. |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| ShortyHorse11 - 2014-12-27 6:19 PM
I have one more question. Her previous owner rode her in a bonnet and I have been riding her in just a nose tiedown, would that make a difference?
Definitely
The bonnet works on poll pressure and gives freedom of the nose.
A regular tie down still allows the head to elevate more then the bonnet as it mostly works on nose pressure. Also if a horse wants the can get under a tie down depending on how it is adjusted. It can also shorten their stride depending on how tight whereas a bonnet does not. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 461
Location: Illinois | Thank you for the advice, I have never used a bonnet before and only had a noseband tiedown to use. The previous owner used a bonnet that just went over the ears, like a head setter I suppose instead of one that goes over the ears and around the nose.
Edited by ShortyHorse11 2014-12-28 9:55 AM
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Horse knocking first barrel *Asked another question in the last post!*