If you have a colt you are going to futurity as a 5 y/o, when do you typically start them on the barrel pattern? Just curious about everyone's programs!

I don't futurity but one of my friends is one of the top trainers that goes to all the big futurities and wins/places at most on multiple horses. I asked her this same question once. SHe has them broke as 2 year olds and sends them all to the same guy usually who puts the handle on them that she likes. Loads all her buttons as I call it. lol She starts the pattern as an early 3 year old then turns them out or no barrels the last few months of their 3 year old year. Beginning of 4 year old year she really starts hauling them, seasoning etc... She wants them exibitioning in the 1D by end of summer of their 4 year old year so they are ready to compete Dec 1 of the 4 year old year. I'm sure there are exceptions but thats the general plan she told me. 

I have one right now that was started on the pattern as a 3 yr old. She was started at 2 under saddle, but was only at the trainer for 30 days as she just took to everything so well. Then she took a break. Then she went back for barrel training. She is 4 & exhibitioning. I prefer waiting until they are older. Everyone is different. 

Colt starter 30/60 days end of summer 2 yr old yr. Depends on how that goes before I proceed. If I like her maturity level, if she handles training, then I put on my foundation till Spring of 3 yr old yr. It only takes a day or two to have her loping thru.

She will be loping thru early her 3 yr old yr, seeing the sites, exhibitioning some, gaining confidence. I ride a few months then turn them out a few months thru the 3 yr old year.

At 4 we will be adding speed and aiming to peak by Dec.

It's been a while since I futuritied but I have a 2 yr old now that will go as a 5 yr old.

Mine is 4 and I may have walked the pattern on her a couple of times last year.... 

If it would ever dry out we would start working her again.

My two year old is just at the colt starter...he so far has been the easiest colt to start, and I was planning on giving most of the rest of the year off to grow up, but maybe put some more buttons on him next spring and then start him on barrels. 

Mine is 4. He was started and loping a very correct pattern last fall.  He's been turned out all winter, now I'm breeding some mares to him and he will go back to riding and barrel training in a couple of months. He's not running until next year.  

Starting them at age 2, patterning and running age 3?  Great for veterinarians and supplement sales persons.  Might be interesting to connect the dots, heh?

As usual you must not have actually read or comprehended any of the responses. Not one person said they are patterned at 2 and running at 3. Not one person.  My horse didn't go for riding until December of his 2 year old year. So he was 2 years and 7 months. He was ranch ridden for 8 months. Lightly started on the pattern in the last couple of months of riding. He came home in August, rested, then was sent out to a different trainer for some more patterning for 30 days.  He came home October 31 and has been turned out all winter.  He won't go back for more riding until June. He's on target for the March/April futurities 2020. That's not a tough schedule.  Yes he's had some tough days out in the hills following cattle. A lot of walking, climbing and descending hills, some trotting and loping when the terrain allows. But that is what makes a good horse and it's not too tough for a 3 year old. 

Backspace and Delete buttons are my FRIENDS.

I am by no means a guru at this but I wanted to keep mine eligible. I also prefer to start them a little later. I broke mine out April of her 3 year old year. Just rode all summer and started working on more fancy work end in fall. Winter she was off. 4 year old year we refreshed on the fancier motions and I started her on barrels fall of her 4 year old year (exhibitioned a couple times). She is 5 this spring and I am starting to compete on her.

my good mare had a filly and she is a yearling.............and If I don't sell her I am going this route.......I'm going to start her when she is 3.............Her mom was easy and she acts just like her momma............now I haven't decided the rest............ha

Mine I was planning on starting to haul with my main horse this year just to see the sights and sounds, ride around a little. But am trying to find a "schedule" that works with Montana's lovely winter weather, makes sure he grows and matures healthily, and still have him ready to go, so I appreciate all the advice!

I assume Montana's winter will sure put a slow down on you. I would start now and give a nice break for winter. Those breaks on most colts do wonders. They all usually come back ready to roll and never miss a beat.

I'm in FL so I ride all yr long.

I've started all mine at 2, slow loping at 3 and actually have never had to inject a single horse. They all have gone on to make long lived open horses. So don't let responsible riding at 2/3 scare you.

The trainer really likes this colt, and I think he'll be an easy one. Maybe before winter I'll introduce him to the pattern or some drills, not hard work, see how he's maturing and what he can handle. Winter here sucks, I was really lucky to be off my main horse only about 2 months this past winter. 

Has anybody ever started thier 4 year olds on the pattern and ran them in some 5 year old futurities and had success? One of mine got a late start! Still questioning if she will be ready for next year...

This is my plan.  My 4 year old has maybe seen the pattern 5 times and that was last year.  I am hoping to have her ready for Spring futurities next year, she will not be ready anytime sooner than that.

I send them off to get broke late spring/early summer of 2YO year. Then When they come back I start to play with the pattern slow. I'll have them loping the pattern by December of their 2YO year. I feel like if I slowly do things on their own pace I don't have to play catch up later and push them. I can give them a month here, month there, spread out over longer. My plan is for them to run as 4YOs though, so I guess if you are wanting 5YO you can push it even later. 

This is what my trainers are doing & I agree with them. Abbie has been on the pattern this year & exh. Her first fut will be the bfa in nov. Then she will be hauled to the 5 yr old fut. 

Xena went to the barrel trainer in March of her 3yo year. She was only track broke, but never raced. She was entered in the Dec 1 futurity that year.

Demon is headed to her trainer tomorrow as a 2yo. Although Demon might learn the pattern at a walk/trot sometime this year she won't be up to a lope until next year. If her Demon brain can take the pressure by then I have let the trainer know I would consider some of the 4yo futurities with her. I have also told him that if she can't handle the speed by 4yo then I'm fine with that too.  

I wish the 4yo futurites would change to 5yo futurities. But here on the east coast there are only 4yo futurities. Some horses are ok for this. It's too much for others. 

I've seen horses started on the pattern as 8yo's that had heavy maintenance issues. And I've seen horses that ran in the futurities be sound with only normal maintenance through their teen years, with maybe one break after their futurity year.