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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 878
  
Location: "...way down south in the Everglades..." | Just wanted to bounce some ideas around off of ya'll on some good drills, exercises, or ideas for working on speed. Mare is 7, turning a great pattern but not running hard. She runs hard to 1, completely lopes between 1 and 2, comes out of 2 strong but fades 1/2 way to 3, coming home is usually good but she's about 50/50 on whether she shuts down before the timer. She's in fabulous shape overall (not even puffing after a run) but I don't think she's comfortable running farther than the short distances she gets to in her paddock and the little area I work her. Happily we are moving this summer and she will have a large pasture to be a horse and an arena to work in, but ideas in the meantime would be great. I have an opportunity to work her in a large arena this weekend so I'd like to have a good plan on what speed drills I can try with her. |
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 Saint Stacey
| Check hocks and stifles. If those are good then treat for ulcers. We treated my daughters mare and she found about 5 more gears. |
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 Experienced Mouse Trapper
Posts: 3106
 
Location: North Dakota | is it speed or confidence, I have a BIG dude that if stretched out can cover more ground than most horses, however, he is very unsure of himself. I've improved his attitude about himself by breezing him with another horse and using a certain "kiss" sound to signal him to run (although I sometimes forget how to kiss the right way during a run) haha! For arena work, I like to set a single barrel in the middle of the arena and haul the mail to that barrel, get them to stretch out and then gather and turn. BUT, the one thing that made a difference that is VERY noticeable is that I rode this horse to break in our roping steers this spring which was a testament to my faith in this horse, he's really a chicken, but he got to where he loved the cattle, jumped right in the middle of them, turned them back. The next time I rode him in the arena he was full of himself, very more sure and confident. I've always been a believer in cattle and horses but this horse has always been timid enough that he hasn't been my favorite to ride, but this year......what a difference-I can't wait to turn him into a heading horse too :) He can run, but he's still probably only running at 2/3rd speed, so will see how the summer progresses. (I also treated him for ulcers over the winter) |
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 Expert
Posts: 2128
| Im am experiencing the same thing! This is my horses first year to be entered at rodeos. I used an over/under the last two runs, it seemed to help encourage him but hes smart and I dont think that will do for long. He is currently running a half second off the winning times. I know he has more. Everyone tells me it will come with hauling. In the meantime I am going to try to make sure he is in his best physical shape. I wish I had a long dirt straightaway or oval to stretch him out on. Following this thread hoping for more good advice :)
Edited by scwebster 2015-05-11 12:10 PM
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 878
Location: "...way down south in the Everglades..." | scwebster - glad to know I'm not the only one :-) Like your horse I know she has more to give, hopefully they come into their own soon.
Thanks for everyone's input thus far! I did treat her for ulcers in February (I believe) and it seemed to help some. I still use UlcerGuard the day before and the day I run her. I don't think she's sore but the next time I have the vet out I'll have him give her a look as that's a good point.
This weekend I want to try (among other things) to take her all the way around the arena and ask her to run hard down the long side and collect up some going around the ends. Hoping that will help. I'll definitely give that one barrel idea a try.
eta: I wish I had some cows to play with as I think it would do her a world of good too...at this point if she sees them she's pretty nervous about it!
Edited by Speedy Buckeye Girl 2015-05-12 8:02 AM
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Assistant to the Braun..
Posts: 1249
Location: Texas | A good drill to really get one to fire off each barrel is to begin by loping a big circle and slowly bring it in until its small (like if you were circling a barrel) as you come out of on a long stretch as if you were going to go down the arena side then really push them out of the turn and breeze them to the other end of the arena and then repeat with your circles. It really helps them realize that you want them to fire on the back side of the barrel and free up and run. This is also a good exercise for the rider because it helps you with body placement when they fire off the barrel to run to the next. |
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Ideas for Increasing Speed - Drills and Exercises