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 Off the Wall Wacky
Posts: 2981
   
Location: Louisiana | I posted a while back about starting my three year old on the pattern. Well...I got him about 2 months ago, my fiancé had been riding him before just getting him broke and ready to go.
After riding him a little, I realized he had a really nice handle on him so I started just working on turning one barrel. We would go around it both directions at different speeds. I did quite a few different drills just to get him to realize we turn barrels. I have focused on rear end under us, shoulder up, nice and round, nose tipped...etc...
After he really had it in his head that we turn the barrel, I went on to the pattern. I trotted for a while and recently we have picked up to the occasional lope. He is a little in the lazy side so I have to really work to keep him going lol.
But he jut gets it. He hunts the barrels, he wants to turn. He really is trying for me. After high loping him through yesterday I thought I really need to back off and reinforce the basics. Then today he made it obvious to me he knows the basics. He is a smart little guy, he has it figured out.
So my question is, how fast have you had one come on??
Of course he's still a baby, we have "baby days" as I call them lol. I don't ride for a long time or drill anything too hard.
How fast is too fast?? |
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Expert
Posts: 1611
| dashnlotti - 2015-04-01 2:48 PM
I posted a while back about starting my three year old on the pattern. Well...I got him about 2 months ago, my fiancé had been riding him before just getting him broke and ready to go.
After riding him a little, I realized he had a really nice handle on him so I started just working on turning one barrel. We would go around it both directions at different speeds. I did quite a few different drills just to get him to realize we turn barrels. I have focused on rear end under us, shoulder up, nice and round, nose tipped...etc...
After he really had it in his head that we turn the barrel, I went on to the pattern. I trotted for a while and recently we have picked up to the occasional lope. He is a little in the lazy side so I have to really work to keep him going lol.
But he jut gets it. He hunts the barrels, he wants to turn. He really is trying for me. After high loping him through yesterday I thought I really need to back off and reinforce the basics. Then today he made it obvious to me he knows the basics. He is a smart little guy, he has it figured out.
So my question is, how fast have you had one come on??
Of course he's still a baby, we have "baby days" as I call them lol. I don't ride for a long time or drill anything too hard.
How fast is too fast??
What do you mean by he is lazy? If your constantly having to push one its a lot different than one that has a lot of try. Like one that has a lot of try and doesn't need pushing throughout the whole pattern usually is gonna be a good one and holding them together is an art because usually they start getting sore and you must decipher what is a training problem and what is a soreness problem. And no its not cause we are starting them too soon its because these type of horse run and use themselves SO hard.
But if you are constantly having to kick and push then you might be pushing too hard. It depends on if he is staying calm and response as to how far you can push him. I usually try to sale this kind because they are harder to get there and keep them there... |
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 I Chore in Chucks
Posts: 2882
Location: MD | my super star Tonka, I got him when he was just turning three, he was started with 60 days in the fall, turned out to pasture, I tried him out in January. I rode him and his breeder said, "I haven't really messed with him since the fall, I hope he rides off good for ya!" This horse rode off like he's been worked every single day, he didn't miss a beat. Started him on barrels in February, I had a weekly lesson with my trainer and that was the only time we worked on barrels. so in four lessons he was got to the point where I just had to bump him and let him work because he had it all under control.... i was just in astonishment. He just picks things up so easily and I'm blessed with this little man! |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| I had one who only had 30 days of training, and when I got her back, I was playing around on the barrel pattern, after 5 patterns, she was loping out of each barrel.
This mare never went backwards, was a futurity finalist, and still has a strong barrel career.
Enjoy it, they don't come around that often |
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Off the Wall Wacky
Posts: 2981
Location: Louisiana | Thank y'all. I guess I should take back the "lazy" statement. He has a good work ethic, but is perfectly fine taking it one step at a time.
My fiancé started him tracking the heeling dummy and heeled a few steers on him. Anytime we go to a rodeo he'll use him to help push cattle. He loves working cattle, he pins his ears and goes to them. That's the only time he gets excited lol.
I'm waiting for the moment that transfers over to the barrels, it's coming for sure. Yesterday I was really excited after working him. It's crazy how easy he is. I can lope him up to his rate point, sit and go to my horn and he eats them up. Yesterday was the first time he drove out of each turn going to the next. He is just smart.
I'm excited about him but I also don't want to have any holes in his training. He is going to be a fun one to run when he's ready. |
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 Take a Picture
Posts: 12841
| I have one at the trainers now. She was broke in April of last year with 30 days of riding and just chilled in the pasture till the middle of January when she went to the trainer. My trainer got her really broke and started her on barrels. It started raining here in E TX and didn't quit for over 5 weeks. She put a video up on Facebook after 6 rides on her when the rain finally quit. I don't know how to link to Facebook on my tablet but she looks great. Trainer loves her and has her loping throuh. She just turned three. The guy that broke her originally was really impressed with how fast she picked up on things. |
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 Having Smokin Bandits
Posts: 4572
Location: Woodstown, NJ | Sounds like you've got a good, smart horse. I've had a couple of colts that came along very fast. Just make sure you keep his head right by breaking it up with some good old fashioned trail riding and other slow, non-stressful stuff. |
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Expert
Posts: 1561
| We bought our mare last June and she was very green and couldnt lope a circle, then just last month she unexpectedly clocked .4 off. After seeing her potential we backed her off and are working on consistency and bringing her back slowly. Cant wait... |
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Take a Picture
Posts: 12841
| Itsme - 2015-04-01 11:05 PM
We bought our mare last June and she was very green and couldnt lope a circle, then just last month she unexpectedly clocked .4 off. After seeing her potential we backed her off and are working on consistency and bringing her back slowly. Cant wait...
Sounds like a good plan. |
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I AM being nice
Posts: 4396
Location: MD | I had a Dashing Elvis come in a few years back that had been turned out for a year. He was five at the time, I believe. After legging him up a bit, I started playing with him on the pattern. I will walk one pattern. After that, they trot. This was the 7th time he was ever pointed at a barrel at the lope.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNiqMjc6F88
I didn't let him see a barrel for a couple of weeks after that. Even at that green a stage, he didn't see the pattern often, at all. He obviously understood his job. I just kept improving his dry work and getting him stronger. |
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Expert
Posts: 1561
| WrapSnap - 2015-04-02 11:20 PM
I had a Dashing Elvis come in a few years back that had been turned out for a year. He was five at the time, I believe. After legging him up a bit, I started playing with him on the pattern. I will walk one pattern. After that, they trot. This was the 7th time he was ever pointed at a barrel at the lope.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNiqMjc6F88
I didn't let him see a barrel for a couple of weeks after that. Even at that green a stage, he didn't see the pattern often, at all. He obviously understood his job. I just kept improving his dry work and getting him stronger.
How was he as a finished horse? |
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I AM being nice
Posts: 4396
Location: MD | Itsme - 2015-04-02 11:25 PM
WrapSnap - 2015-04-02 11:20 PM
I had a Dashing Elvis come in a few years back that had been turned out for a year. He was five at the time, I believe. After legging him up a bit, I started playing with him on the pattern. I will walk one pattern. After that, they trot. This was the 7th time he was ever pointed at a barrel at the lope.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNiqMjc6F88
I didn't let him see a barrel for a couple of weeks after that. Even at that green a stage, he didn't see the pattern often, at all. He obviously understood his job. I just kept improving his dry work and getting him stronger.
How was he as a finished horse?
To be quite honest, I have no clue. I entered him a couple of times pretty early on, like not much further along than in that video and he was either in the 4D money, or bottom of the 3D in rather tough company. It didn't take him long to find a new home after that. |
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 My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
Location: Arkansas | dashnlotti - 2015-04-01 3:16 PM
Thank y'all. I guess I should take back the "lazy" statement. He has a good work ethic, but is perfectly fine taking it one step at a time.
My fiancé started him tracking the heeling dummy and heeled a few steers on him. Anytime we go to a rodeo he'll use him to help push cattle. He loves working cattle, he pins his ears and goes to them. That's the only time he gets excited lol.
I'm waiting for the moment that transfers over to the barrels, it's coming for sure. Yesterday I was really excited after working him. It's crazy how easy he is. I can lope him up to his rate point, sit and go to my horn and he eats them up. Yesterday was the first time he drove out of each turn going to the next. He is just smart.
I'm excited about him but I also don't want to have any holes in his training. He is going to be a fun one to run when he's ready.
I love reading these kinds of threads where you can tell the rider is excited and loving what her horse is doing and achieving. Good luck to you and hoping you two keep up the good work and go far together! |
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Off the Wall Wacky
Posts: 2981
Location: Louisiana | Chandler's Mom - 2015-04-03 12:22 AM dashnlotti - 2015-04-01 3:16 PM Thank y'all. I guess I should take back the "lazy" statement. He has a good work ethic, but is perfectly fine taking it one step at a time. My fiancé started him tracking the heeling dummy and heeled a few steers on him. Anytime we go to a rodeo he'll use him to help push cattle. He loves working cattle, he pins his ears and goes to them. That's the only time he gets excited lol. I'm waiting for the moment that transfers over to the barrels, it's coming for sure. Yesterday I was really excited after working him. It's crazy how easy he is. I can lope him up to his rate point, sit and go to my horn and he eats them up. Yesterday was the first time he drove out of each turn going to the next. He is just smart. I'm excited about him but I also don't want to have any holes in his training. He is going to be a fun one to run when he's ready. I love reading these kinds of threads where you can tell the rider is excited and loving what her horse is doing and achieving. Good luck to you and hoping you two keep up the good work and go far together!
Aww thank you!!
My fiance and I bought him as a weanling to be "our" horse. I did a bit of groundwork with him as a baby but my fiance did all the breaking. I remember when he saddled him the first time, he called me and said, "I don't know what else to do. He's practically broke but just isn't big enough to get on!" He always drives his colts before riding so they are further along when he does climb up.
He was my pick and just hasn't really matured as "pretty" as I though he would. To me his build is just not super great. He is short too. My fiance is a header so really likes a big horse, I also like tall horses.
This colt packed his first kid after just a couple rides. He is just so easy.
Kyle had been tracking the roping dummy on him and decided to back him in the heel box at practice one day. He had a guy wanting to buy him right then. He almost did because he doesn't need another heel horse.
We decided to keep him and finish him out.
Our plan is to give him a shot at barrels and most likely heeling. If he isn't quite what either of us needs as a rodeo horse, we'll finish him out, season him and have a nice safe kids horse.
But I really think he has other plans!! He is a cool little guy and is really trying to be good. I am trying to focus on perfect turns at every speed. He also still isn't in amazing shape, but is getting there. When my fiance had him he works, so he would only get to ride on weekends. Now that he's with me he gets a little more time!
I kinda feel bad that I didn't give Kyle enough credit regarding his handle. He really didn't have too many total rides when I got him, but he had the buttons and was ready to go on. I haven't been excited like this in a looong time... I have had just T-Bo for almost 5 years, it's been forever since I've had a baby. And now I have two. This colt and a 5yo I just got a week ago. I have high hopes for him as well but it's still early. He is a very sweet boy too and just needs plenty of hours before he sees a barrel.
Thanks everyone for your input and stories!!
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My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
Location: Arkansas | Pictures of your boys? I love to see who we're talking about on these posts!!
Edited by Chandler's Mom 2015-04-04 1:48 AM
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Off the Wall Wacky
Posts: 2981
Location: Louisiana | Chandler's Mom - 2015-04-04 1:47 AM Pictures of your boys? I love to see who we're talking about on these posts!!
Let me see if I can round some up, they're all on my phone! |
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 Chasin my Dream
Posts: 13651
Location: Alberta | My now 5 yr old gelding had a natural ability the first time I walked/trotted him around them (at 2) it was easy for him and he's definitely eager on all aspects.....just need to harness that eagerness and I need to learn to not ride like a drunk monkey LOL its fun to experience one with natural want and athlete ability 
Edited by dream_chaser 2015-04-04 10:51 AM
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How fast have you had one "get it"?