These are heavier. They have a base & if you hit one, it just retracts back into place. The pop-up barrels, I thought, were just collapsible & easy to tote around. The retractable ones I'm referring to would be good for practice, if you're riding & hit a barrel, don't have to get off to set it back up.
an arena I used to ride at had them and they were super cool! The only problem I saw with them is when they got pretty old they always sat at an angle which drove me nuts!
Posted 2015-02-06 8:54 AM Subject: RE: Retractable barrels??
Expert
Posts: 1477 Location: In the land of peanuts and cotton
I've had a set for about 10yrs. Priefert made mine. If your wanting to be able to move them around then you need pop ups. These you fill the base with sand or water and when you hit it it stands back up. There not the easiest to move even when they don't have anything in the base. If your wanting to put then in one place and leave them there then that will work fine. I got to where it was having to take mine up and down because where I had them is where the peanut trucks park when there not hauling. It was aggravating so I got pop ups for Christmas and I'm going to sell my retractables.
Really don't plan on moving them around. They will be for my home arena to practice with. The only time need to move them would be to work the ground from time to time. I was just wondering if anyone had them & if they liked them enough to spend the $ to get them or even where to find any. NRS had some but they are out of stock or something now. Seems like the wind would blow the pop up ones around???
I've had both and liked both but the Prieferts stayed in my outdoor arena and finally after a few years the Texas sun did a number on them and they just started falling apart. I bought some SeventeenFlats and I have had them for a few years and really like them. Yes they are light and will blow away but when I know I will be using them outdoors I will put half a cinder block in them and they don't go anywhere. I mostly use them in my covered arena so the sun doesn't play much of an issue for them.
I think they are great for a show having exhibitions but I wouldn't want them in a practice pen. I want to work on barrels that if I hit them they go down so I can fix my problem and know where my horse needs to be. JMO
When they first came out they sold for $499.00 and were called Fuller retractable barrels. I know when Preifert bought his patent they went down to around $300.00. I haven't seen them for sale anywhere for quite some time. I really wonder if they are still made.
Retractable barrels??
