Posted 2018-06-15 11:51 AM Subject: RE: Going to the left
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 489
I am majorly more dominate right handed than left - sometimes I think my left is possessed. I feel like I have better feel in my hands around the 2nd and 3rd when I'm running a lefty. Having a horse that can switch up comes in handy when you get into a funky arena set up. Some pens favor a right or left handed horse.
Posted 2018-06-15 4:07 PM Subject: RE: Going to the left
Elite Veteran
Posts: 915 Location: SE KS
When I started my colt, I hadn't been to many barrel races & I was running another horse to the left!!! I didn't figure "I" could remember the pattern well enough to run one left & one right, so I made them both go to the left!!!!!
(Both horses can run either way, there rider is/was their issue!!!!!)
Posted 2018-06-15 4:28 PM Subject: RE: Going to the left
Expert
Posts: 5290
All of my horses get exposed both directions. You never know when an arena will have an off center gate giving an advantage to run either direction. It will also free up a horse and make them listen to you.
Posted 2018-06-15 4:50 PM Subject: RE: Going to the left
Peecans
Im personally much more confident going left and have way better muscle memory going that way.
I also feel like even in deep bottom of the rodeo ground I could stay out of ruts better jist a different enough path in to rate and out to push he didn't get bogged down as bad and could stand up better.
I also found most the off set track entrances to be nicer for leftys bit that's so hit and miss what end of the arena they use lol so I wouldn't train one because of that.
Really though im just a better rider that way and my mind tells me its because of all the other things like some stuff above lol.
Posted 2018-06-15 5:38 PM Subject: RE: Going to the left
Balance Beam and more...
Posts: 11493 Location: 31 lengths farms
My gelding got hurt @13 years ago, ever since he has tipped his nose slightly to the outside of left hand turns so instead of fighting the tip on two barrels, we changed and went left barrel first and one and done. My little mare I started right barrel first but at a clinic headed over to the 2nd barrel two dogs playing with each other came running under the fence barking and having a great time. Scared the h*LL out of her and then spent 2 months trying to get her to go across the pen, and if you did get her across she'd dive on the backside and bail out . I hate "bandaids" more than anyone but decided her brain needed one, tried left barrel first to see if we could get her over the anxiety of it. Worked like a champ and she's been a lefty every since.
Going to the left
