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 Georgia Peach
Posts: 8338
    
Location: Georgia | How many of you have switched your seasoned barrel horses to the left with good results?
I've never rode a lefty but my mare has a killer right first barrel and the other two are mediocre at best. I've tried everything possible to make those turns better and nothing seems to hold. So I'm thinking of making a more drastic change. Yes, she has been vetted. We have covered all other bases. I've been thinking about doing this for 3 years but I've been a chicken. I have a big show coming up the second week of October. Wondering if switch her now, if a month will be long enough for her to adjust and lay down a few solid runs.
Edited by Runninbay 2016-09-06 5:18 PM
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 Saint Stacey
| We've done it a few times. It really isn't very hard. You just do a lot of walking and be very consistent with where you put them. If they are finished, you already have the basics in place. A lot of times we'll do slow work left but still run right at a show. It just gets the horse more focused. Two weeks is on average how long it takes to get them high loping the opposite direction. Or that's been out experience. |
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 Reaching for the stars....
Posts: 12708
| I switched my mare years ago. She does have a stifle issue (lots of $$'s spent and all any vet could tell me is that there is a little inflammation) and the right turns don't aggravate it as bad. This mare is a very, very hard running mare and I was terrified of trying to run her to the left. But once I did it it was nbd. I actually have a better eye for the first barrel entrance as a lefty than to the right. She ran me a lot of $$'s as a lefty. Maybe a tad slower than as a righty - but consistently in the 2D money as a lefty where she dipped into the 1D as a righty, when she didn't duck the 2nd barrel. |
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 Veteran
Posts: 242
Location: Tennessee | I swtiched my gelding at age 11 to the left. He had foot problems we didn't know about and always stepped off the third barrel a little. Even after we had his feet fixed and the pain gone, he still did it. Switching him was the best decision ever, he doesn't step off the third anymore.
I started my mare to the right and ended up switching her as well. I wanted to start her to the left, but everyone told me it was difficult to ride a righty and a lefty so I didn't. I had taken her that way a few times before. I made the decision to switch her at a rodeo. It was a stupid decision, but she had no issues with the switch and we never ran to the right first again.
In general running to the left takes more time for you to adjust to the angle than I think it takes the horse to get used to it. It seemed so strange to me, but now I have two lefties and it seems totally normal.
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Member
Posts: 41
| I switched mine to the left in March ran at a Regional Barrel Bash in April few out of placing in the 2d with a major mistake. She is much much more free. Inside she would not fire as hard as she does outside. Slow working her to the right was a joke she hated it and would generally end up in a fight. Switched her to the left and she is so fun. And I ride her harder. We found out in June she has feet issues and after many many trips to Oakridge telling me that she is sore in her back end not her front and me getting sick of their BS and going somewhere else and he found it! So I am thinking that probably has something to do with it. But if they are broke it is easy! And if they really need switched (like mine) it will be easy. I tried after getting her front end headed in right direction to run her back to the right and I could hardly push her past the barrels!
Edited by smak 2016-09-07 8:19 AM
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 Serious Snap Trapper
Posts: 4275
Location: In The Snow, AZ | If a horse is well broke, they shouldn't have much of an issue switching.
My mare was green broke when we picked her up. Got her broke and running a nice pattern, but she started anticipating her first barrel. Went to a race and her time only just felt icky. So when it was time to run I just ran her left instead and it was quite flawless. I switch back and forth every now and then just to keep her mind on me and waiting for my cues. |
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 Porta Potty Pants
Posts: 2600
| I've done it ... as others have said, if the horse is broke it should be easier. I had a lefty mare that would anticipate ... so I started working her to the right. She had to really focus and think about what she was doing. Worked for her. I had another mare that wasn't as broke and tried it, but it just made her nervous. I have one now that I'm thinking I should switch from the right to the left. |
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Expert
Posts: 1611
| I'm in your boat. He's seasoned but his first barrel is the best and the only turn that I feel he really digs and comes around with his front end quick. I'm thinking about making the switch too. |
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I AM being nice
Posts: 4396
Location: MD | I've switched a fair amount of finished horses through the years, both for myself and clients. Some of them (the ones who really should be swapped) get it on Day one. Some may take a week, or two. I've never had one not figure it out. I have had a few though where I felt like it just wasn't the answer that we had been hoping that it would be. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 788
| It is perfectly ligit to switch if the horse is physically capable of turning to the right better. UM most people are right handed, but there are left handed people. Its not any different. I have had like 4 lefties, and I always decide a few months into loping if they really just cant get it together or if I notice from the beginning they are not as flexible or have less snap one direction. If they are already going good on the pattern, it really only takes a couple weeks. But the first couple runs you make need to be just a little slower so you have time to correct any mistakes. I am riding a mare now that I swapped a couple months ago and it took like 2 high lopes at a race to get her where she knew where to go but she still tries to go on the wrong side of the 2nd barrel every now and again. I just have to make sure I am ready for it and pick her up a little early to scoot her over. |
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 BHW New Catch of the Day
Posts: 9884
Location: Missouri | I posted about hitting barrels (see my I'm so conflicted post) and I have thought about switching my mare as my answer to my barrel hitting problems. I was told that it might be a temporary fix for clean runs, but it's my riding habit that is the problem, so I wouldn't really be fixing anything.
I'm interested in following this thread to see what others say. From your post your horse just isn't turning as well as they should? And that is your reason for wanting to make a change. Mine turns because I'm asking her at the wrong time. |
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| Read through this contemplating switching a horse to the left. It's interesting the reasons why a switch can help. Thanks, BHW. Gonna try it! |
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 Ms. Marine
Posts: 4641
Location: Texas | I've done it with the mare in my avatar and had good success with it. She handled it like a champ. Was having an issue in a certain arena at a three day barrel race so on the last day I decided, why the heck not? Sent her in to the left and she did amazing. No issues at all. I believe that if a horse has a proper foundation and mind, they should be able to run to either barrel first and still be successful. Should only run into issues with that if their training has been rushed, or they simply don't know what they're doing. |
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 Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| My girls switched 2 for the same reason, they wanted 2 rights because they were wicked, it also, improved the left since it was a different angle and they were focused on the first barrel. It did not take long and both horses went on to win lots of big 1D checks. |
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| If they are broke and trained well then it should be easy!
I had a mare I switched left that week then went to the jackpot and won it with her first time to the left. So really depends on the horse. She would turn anything if you sat down and dropped. |
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 Owner of a ratting catting machine
Posts: 2258
| WrapSnap - 2016-09-08 9:08 AM
I've switched a fair amount of finished horses through the years, both for myself and clients. Some of them (the ones who really should be swapped) get it on Day one. Some may take a week, or two. I've never had one not figure it out. I have had a few though where I felt like it just wasn't the answer that we had been hoping that it would be.
Yep! Mine was instant. It was kind of like he was saying, "Finally!! You listened!"
I didn't have to do any slow work for him to get it, and he'd never been run left ever. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1079
Location: MN | I'd do it! I've switched one to left and have ridden several to the left. I actually prefer going to the 2nd barrel first! It wasnt hard at all. Some walking and trotting to begin with and make sure you put her where you want her every time. Couple of cruise throughs and you should be good! |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 507
Location: Lost in the corn of Iowa. | I did it 2 years ago with an older more finished mare. And I'd say that within a month it was like she'd been doing it the whole time. She actually fires harder coming in and has a better more consistent first barrel now than she has ever had. I'd do it again in an instant if I thought it would help one. And besides, I'm a lefty by nature so to me going left first is very natural for me. I prefer to find horses that are lefties. |
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Impressive!!
Posts: 1954
Location: Idaho | I had a really successful mare running left. We started to barely get around the second barrel and so after 3 years of running left I switched her to the right first. My first race back after switching her to the right, I won it by .2 of a second and won a buckle on her. I continued to run her to the right first and placed in the 1D everywhere I took her. It was a really good switch for us. It was pretty easy, she is super broke and very seasoned, she knows her job. Did some slow work to the right and its been great. |
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Georgia Peach
Posts: 8338
Location: Georgia |
I will update you guys since this thread popped back up. I switched my mare right after I started this thread. She is doing GREAT as a lefty. She has taken at least half a second off on most runs and her runs are so much smoother. It has really given the both of us a huge confidence boost. It was a great decision! |
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 Born not Made
Posts: 2937
Location: North Dakota | Switch them. They adapt just fine. |
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 Angel in a Sorrel Coat
Posts: 16030
Location: In a happy place | When I was younger I practically lived at Wanda Bush's house. I had a brown gelding that had a few minor issues. I had been at Wanda's a couple of days with her helping me. I went home, took about 2 1/2 hour trip. This may come as a shock but there was a time we didn't have cell phones. When I got everything put up I went in the house and Wanda was calling...land line. LOL She told me to go back out and work him to the left. I had a rodeo the next day and was trying to make all the excuses I could to not switch him in a day. Those of you that knew Wanda she told me to just do it it would be fine. Went the next day his first barrel race to the left and placed second. It really doesn't take that much to do it. |
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Switching to the left?