What are some exercises for a horse that wants to “drive” itself to the first barrel and lean/knock ever so lightly? She has a rollback style on the first. She is well broke and her slow work is beautiful. This is a fast learning horse and wont take much drilling but I want to implement correction the right way. Thank you. ****Edited to add she doesn't have much "bend" when approaching, she is in and out quick.
Posted 2015-10-15 9:15 AM Subject: RE: First Barrel
Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9992 Location: Kansas
Following, I have a gelding doing the same thing. No matter where I set him up at, how many rollbacks etc...I've done. I can't keep him off first, or he will stop and walk around the barrel.
Posted 2015-10-15 11:08 AM Subject: RE: First Barrel
Elite Veteran
Posts: 669 Location: Central Texas
hoofs_in_motion - 2015-10-15 9:15 AM
Following, I have a gelding doing the same thing. No matter where I set him up at, how many rollbacks etc...I've done. I can't keep him off first, or he will stop and walk around the barrel.
Mine was doing this on the first barrel. It's not his best barrel and he's a big guy. So what I do is make his approach more of a wide arc and keep that bend in him (he doesn't bend much either). Although this is not the fastest solution it keeps him moving forward and not knocking.
Posted 2015-10-15 11:31 AM Subject: RE: First Barrel
Expert
Posts: 4766 Location: Bandera, TX
Have that horse think about you, get his focus back to you just a bit. I put my barrels close together and have them go up the pen to third and circle it back down to second and circle over to first and circle. As soon as I feel them heavy on the shoulder or pushing thru my hands I peel him off in another direction. Put them to work thinking about what your wanting. Yes, we want them hunting the barrel and sometimes I think when they get to much rate or to heavy on a certian shoulder we have developed that by to many practice runs. Change things up use other drills to get them working honestly. Not just the cloverleaf pattern. Do all lefts and all rights drills pass up first for third and be suprised how it will fix up a heavy hunter. On dry work if the horse can't lope a circle without your handling him get back to work and put that horse on his honor to make a perfect circle with minimal hand/rein help. If you lean that horse is going (or supposed) to follow you get him to staying under your 1/2 inch move in the saddle. That alone saves the big dogs when there running all out. Having a horse responding to that tweak in the seat is a big issue for me.
Posted 2015-10-15 11:47 AM Subject: RE: First Barrel
Guys Just Wanna Have Fun
Posts: 5530 Location: OH
Go to the first and set her down about a stride out---next time set her down a stride past---repeat several times BUT set her down at a different spot each time and roll back the opposite direction---You want her listening to you and your commands not anticipating the turn.
First Barrel
