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Veteran
Posts: 233
 
| I live just a few miles from Add Waddell, and he says he'll do lessons if I trailer in. Although I'm new to barrel horses, I rode 4th level dressage and was schooling some upper level movements and jumped 4'6" courses back in the day, so I'm no stranger to putting some basic training on a horse.
My horse is an 11 year old mare who had been sitting out in a pasture for at least 3 years, although at one point she had allegedly been lightly hauled. The last few weeks we've been working on general tune up stuff, with an emphasis on bending since she tries to motorcycle around turns.
Where should I be to get the most bang for the buck on lessons? I figure nice clean transitions w/t/l, backing up softly, responsive to leg and hand. . . Is there anything in missing because I just don't know enough to ask? How fit should she be? Right now she gets tired after 20 minutes of trot work. | |
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 Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
 
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | I've had lessons last anywhere from 1-4 hours, but there was downtime in there as needed. I like to do a few lessons when I first start a colt on the pattern, then wait until they're confidently cruising to do more. I hate being critiqued when I first start loping because it causes me to pressure them too much. Since you're learning the sport, I would go ahead and go now. You're miles ahead of most beginners on horsemanship, but I think it would be useful for you to see how it applies to barrel racing. | |
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Regular
Posts: 81
| I would highly suggest a Paul Humphrey clinic. His clinics are 99% fundamentals and 1% the actual pattern. You will learn everything from hand, body, head, and direction of eye sight for yourself and then movements to actually understand the pattern versus just run around it. I have been to two clinics and will go to any I can get my hands on. No two clinics are the same as he has many many many drills that all serve an individual purpose. He really is very very good. | |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 929
| I am also interested in this as I have started my own colt who is now learning the pattern and have a similar background with higher level hunters/jumpers, but no real barrel racing training other than a bit of coaching from the girls in my office. | |
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getting the most out of lessons