Posted 2015-11-07 9:01 AM Subject: How often to work a horse on the pattern
Expert
Posts: 1410 Location: Peach State
I have a young horse who has 60 days with trainer on him. I have area where I can cruise him through at home (I wouldn't say the ground is deep enough to push a horse) but he was being rode 5days a week and I can usually ride 3/4 days a week. I want him to continue to progress over the year and get seasoned. I ride in the pasture now a good bit on my finished horse he hardly ever sees the pattern at home. Just looking for some good ideas to balance out time on the pattern so he doesn't get burned out.
Posted 2015-11-07 9:13 AM Subject: RE: How often to work a horse on the pattern
Saint Stacey
You can accomplish more by simply walking the pattern than anything else. It gets them consistent and you don't get the burn out. It's nothing for us to walk a pattern 20+ times in a session. For every 1 time through fast, we walk 20 or more depending on the horse. It also creates muscle memory in the rider too. On a young horse we do this about every other day. We also pasture ride them.
Posted 2015-11-07 6:57 PM Subject: RE: How often to work a horse on the pattern
Elite Veteran
Posts: 1100 Location: Southeastern Idaho
This is a great question. As a roper I know nothing about how often to work a barrel horse on the pattern either. We have a high school girl borrowing one of our horses to run barrels and poles. She is doing very well so far but I have wondered how often do we work the pattern on an older horse? No real issues other than finishing that second barrel, rider wants to two hand her out of it and gets thrown back and checks the mare up. What would be suggested for how to work her and keep her fresh between rodeos?
Posted 2015-11-07 7:23 PM Subject: RE: How often to work a horse on the pattern
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Posts: 12841
luvropin - 2015-11-07 6:57 PM
This is a great question. As a roper I know nothing about how often to work a barrel horse on the pattern either. We have a high school girl borrowing one of our horses to run barrels and poles. She is doing very well so far but I have wondered how often do we work the pattern on an older horse? No real issues other than finishing that second barrel, rider wants to two hand her out of it and gets thrown back and checks the mare up. What would be suggested for how to work her and keep her fresh between rodeos?
Tell the rider to get one hand on the saddle horn to pull herself toward so she is not lugging on the horse's head. A finished horse does not need a lot of work on the barrels. The biggest help would be for the young rider to go to a clinic. Best way to keep a young rider from developing bad habits.
Posted 2015-11-07 7:26 PM Subject: RE: How often to work a horse on the pattern
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RunninOnARooster - 2015-11-07 9:01 AM
I have a young horse who has 60 days with trainer on him. I have area where I can cruise him through at home (I wouldn't say the ground is deep enough to push a horse) but he was being rode 5days a week and I can usually ride 3/4 days a week. I want him to continue to progress over the year and get seasoned. I ride in the pasture now a good bit on my finished horse he hardly ever sees the pattern at home. Just looking for some good ideas to balance out time on the pattern so he doesn't get burned out.
My trainer lopes big circles around the arena then big circles around the barrels. Excellent way to teach lead changes.
Posted 2015-11-07 7:32 PM Subject: RE: How often to work a horse on the pattern
Elite Veteran
Posts: 1100 Location: Southeastern Idaho
Thank you, I will keep trying to get her to hang onto that horn the whole way. A clinic is a great idea, I will start looking to see what is in our area. This little gal really wants to learn and is clicking with our mare. Fun to watch them. I was thinking the mare didn't need much pattern work, just riding to stay in shape. Thanks for sharing!
Posted 2015-11-07 7:36 PM Subject: RE: How often to work a horse on the pattern
A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354 Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas
streakysox - 2015-11-07 7:26 PM
RunninOnARooster - 2015-11-07 9:01 AM I have a young horse who has 60 days with trainer on him. I have area where I can cruise him through at home (I wouldn't say the ground is deep enough to push a horse) but he was being rode 5days a week and I can usually ride 3/4 days a week. I want him to continue to progress over the year and get seasoned. I ride in the pasture now a good bit on my finished horse he hardly ever sees the pattern at home. Just looking for some good ideas to balance out time on the pattern so he doesn't get burned out.
My trainer lopes big circles around the arena then big circles around the barrels. Excellent way to teach lead changes.
Hummm, I like this, going to have to try this on my slow learner
How often to work a horse on the pattern
