|
|
 
| i was wanting to know what steps to take when starting one off the track for barrels. |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 4766
 
Location: Bandera, TX | Ride in the pature for about a month not doing any thing in particular just ride, let them come down off the carbs and vitamins that have had. Once he can ride around and check fences on a loose rein I bump them up into trotting on a loose rein and travel all over the place introducing indirect and direct rein pressure. I try to ride through moderate brush cover so that the brush "forces" our directional turns. You will be amazed at how much quicker your horse becomes broke in the pasture verses the arena. Once they rein steady then I will take them into an arena and get the fine tune fundementals they need prior to starting on the pattern. I will not breeze a race colt. As I'm teaching the pattern and stepping up my speed I always keep him under control. He must rate every single time I ask for downward transition. The alley has to remain as low pressure as possible. The "whoa" headed back into the alley must be crisp and refined by the time I will ask one to go back at "breezing" speed. I'm asked quite often to put a stop on race horses turned barrel horses and its the one time that I WILL use a gadget such as a Quick Stop, one the "resistent" horse. Usually don't have to use it for to long but when the riders safety is paramount I use it. I in fact, worked with two horses this year one ridden by a 79 yo grandmother (she still loves riding a 1-2 D horse) and a 8 and under rider on a top mount that began to take advantage of her. They both ran in a double bridle set up a few runs. They both ended up having very SAFE and successful years.
If you can work cattle on your horse it helps you to give them a focal point and purpose. With the price of calves I've gone to putting a goat in the roundpen and getting the same results.
Take your time, keep confusion out of his life and be a steady on taking your horse up the ladder to becoming a successful barrel horse. |
|
| |
|
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 410
| uno-dos-tres! - 2013-12-08 11:56 PM
Ride in the pature for about a month not doing any thing in particular just ride, let them come down off the carbs and vitamins that have had. Once he can ride around and check fences on a loose rein I bump them up into trotting on a loose rein and travel all over the place introducing indirect and direct rein pressure. I try to ride through moderate brush cover so that the brush "forces" our directional turns. You will be amazed at how much quicker your horse becomes broke in the pasture verses the arena. Once they rein steady then I will take them into an arena and get the fine tune fundementals they need prior to starting on the pattern. I will not breeze a race colt. As I'm teaching the pattern and stepping up my speed I always keep him under control. He must rate every single time I ask for downward transition. The alley has to remain as low pressure as possible. The "whoa" headed back into the alley must be crisp and refined by the time I will ask one to go back at "breezing" speed. I'm asked quite often to put a stop on race horses turned barrel horses and its the one time that I WILL use a gadget such as a Quick Stop, one the "resistent" horse. Usually don't have to use it for to long but when the riders safety is paramount I use it. I in fact, worked with two horses this year one ridden by a 79 yo grandmother (she still loves riding a 1-2 D horse) and a 8 and under rider on a top mount that began to take advantage of her. They both ran in a double bridle set up a few runs. They both ended up having very SAFE and successful years.
If you can work cattle on your horse it helps you to give them a focal point and purpose. With the price of calves I've gone to putting a goat in the roundpen and getting the same results.
Take your time, keep confusion out of his life and be a steady on taking your horse up the ladder to becoming a successful barrel horse.
Perfect advice! Also I will add put them on FORCO or Fasttrack something to help their gut you don't want ulcers to cause anxiety and pain that will just set you back. Also the big change of coming down from that you want to prevent colic from the stress. |
|
| |
|
 Arriving at the last minute!
Posts: 5148
Location: Kansas | I bought one Memorial Day and brought him home. I hadn't bought one straight off the track before that was supposed to run the day I bought. Its was quite the experience. He sweated like a stuck pig if I turned him out. He lost weight and bloom right off since I cut the feed back and alfalfa. I finally turned him in a pasture and he broke out in hives he had never been anything but a stall baby. I just taught basics and rode him he was always spooking and high as a kite. He is now riding quiet and I actually leave for the BFA in OKC and he will run in the Juvenile. He was pretty much start to finish on barrels in a little over 4 months. I have no expectations and its just fun seeing how this goes. He went from looking horrible still in laste Sept to a really filled out nice looking animal now. It just takes time. |
|
| |
|
Nut Case Expert
Posts: 9305
Location: Tulsa, Ok | Treat them like the individual they are and tailor your program to fit the horse.
Learn something about the trainer who has been handling the horse and how they start their babies. If at all possible observe their demeanor in the saddling paddock and the gates - it can give great insight into their mental status, work ethic and ability to handle pressure/stress.
There are a lot of horses that come off the track with decent handle on them, which makes it easy to transition them to a new career. Others not so muchh!!! |
|
| |
|
Cat Collector
Posts: 1430
| clinton anderson has a great series on off the track horses, its pretty basic but it works! |
|
| |
|
 Vodka for Lunch
Location: Lala Land | SC Wrangler - 2013-12-09 10:26 AM Treat them like the individual they are and tailor your program to fit the horse.
Learn something about the trainer who has been handling the horse and how they start their babies. If at all possible observe their demeanor in the saddling paddock and the gates - it can give great insight into their mental status, work ethic and ability to handle pressure/stress.
There are a lot of horses that come off the track with decent handle on them, which makes it easy to transition them to a new career. Others not so muchh!!!
 Mine was sooo soft in the face from day 1!! |
|
| |
|
 You get what you give
Posts: 13030
Location: Texas | Lovin Life - 2013-12-09 12:26 PM
SC Wrangler - 2013-12-09 10:26 AM Treat them like the individual they are and tailor your program to fit the horse.
Learn something about the trainer who has been handling the horse and how they start their babies. If at all possible observe their demeanor in the saddling paddock and the gates - it can give great insight into their mental status, work ethic and ability to handle pressure/stress.
There are a lot of horses that come off the track with decent handle on them, which makes it easy to transition them to a new career. Others not so muchh!!!
Mine was sooo soft in the face from day 1!!Â
I never did anything super special with mine. mine had already been pulled from the track so they weren't all ramped up, but they hadn't had any training other than the track.
I bought them and got to work. Basically I just treat them like an unbroke 2YO and let them tell me where they are in their training and what they need. I don't do anything "special" because they came off the track. I just go off of what they tell me they need help with.
one of mine is so light and supple she still rides in an O ring.
My second one was stiff to one direction and catching the right lead was hard. it took 3 weeks to get her giving to her right side and catching right lead. funny how her BEST barrel is her right barrel.
The third was just in race training, no starts, and she was started really well. Whoever broke her broke her to have a job after racing because she knows both sides to her body and is very light and responsive.
I had one who was an idiot and sold her pretty fast. but i bought her cheap knowing she was an idiot. and i think she only had 2 starts so she was an idiot from day one, not the track. LOL |
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 104
| I have a fly Jess fly 4 year old OTT, and so far he's been great. What I've done are a lot of basics. I'm a freak about having horses soft, supple, and being able to work off my legs. With a nice stop. I think it's probably a case by case scenario, but with any horse a good foundation is a must. I love this guy so far and have high hopes for him. |
|
| |
Folks on-line