Posted 2016-08-01 11:00 PM Subject: expectations from a 5yr old??
Veteran
Posts: 155
I have someone one barrel racing my 5 year old. The goal was to do some futurities this year. she has been doing jackpots and some rodeos(for the atmosphere experience). We want to do some futurities this last half of the year...
My question is.... How long does it take to get a horse consistent on the pattern? (I know every horse can be different) She has been working with him for the last 5-6 months.. She has had some good runs, but nothing very consistent on him, and has only won one check in the 3d. Has ran a couple 2d times..
What should I be expecting? are my expectation too high on a 5 year old? This is the first younger horse I've had someone run and train. how often should she be working him, etc??? Help :-)
Posted 2016-08-02 12:59 AM Subject: RE: expectations from a 5yr old??
Don't Wanna Make This Awkward
Posts: 3106 Location: Texas
I would probably switch trainers and see how it goes? Maybe they just don't mesh well. There is also a very strict schedule when getting horses ready for futurities and not all can handle the hard timing for it. The horse may bloow at 6 or 7.
Posted 2016-08-02 8:48 AM Subject: RE: expectations from a 5yr old??
Elite Veteran
Posts: 878 Location: "...way down south in the Everglades..."
Your question is hard to answer as there really are so many variables as to when one really gets consistent. However, IMO I don't think your 5 year old is ready for futurities from what you are describing. Not that you can't go for the experience, but if you're hoping to pull a nice check it doesn't sound like he's ready yet.
Things I'd ask...what was his background and experiences before she started running him the last 5-6 months? Most horses on the futurity path are exposed to plenty of sights and sounds long before their futurity year. They are being hauled along as 2 year olds and even yearlings to get used to things long before their careers start.
Also, does your trainer/jockey have experience in the futurity world? It's a different ballgame and not for everyone. And that's okay...but if it's someone that hasn't done much with futurities they may not have him in the same training program that an experienced futurity rider/trainer would and hence not as far along.
It could just be he's not ready. Maturity wise, experience wise...and again, could make one jam up horse at 7 or 8...but it may take that long.
And sometimes it's as simple as either him or the trainer are not right for each other, or perhaps not right for the futurity world at this point in time.
Depending on his whole background depends on whether your expectations are too high. But personally, I'd want more than one 3-D check in my pocket before I pulled out the check book to run futurities in the fall.
Do you have a video (as the other poster suggested)?
expectations from a 5yr old??
