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![](<a href="http://s1033.photobucket.com/user/andersmk5/media/horse/20141010_173339-1_zpsv5eadqyj.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1033.photob) Regular
Posts: 76
| My mare is 9 years old. Shes the type of horse that once you do something a few times she thinks she knows what to do and starts doing it herself. She likes to move. Shes only seen the pattern a few times but I can already tell shes going to be a free runner.
Ive only ever ridden push style so this is new for me. Ive tried taking it slow but its to the point where its a struggle to get her just to trot the pattern shes always breaking into a lope. And once we finish turning a barrel she jumps and takes off to the next one.
Curious as to whether there are any differences in training a push style compared to a free runner? Should I be trying to slow her down, like to be able to walk the pattern calmly? She has good turns for only doing them a few times but sometimes will try and duck out | |
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 Veteran
Posts: 193
Location: USA | It sounds to me like she's anticipating to much. If you do the same thing with her (Or any horse for that matter) over and over again There going to start thinking like that. And then soon she might start shouldering in, instead of working off her butt. You might need to go in a pasture or on a trail and work on turning, cantering, Backing. Just a lot of suppleness exercises. And drills that get her working off her hind quarters. That always seems to help me and personally I love a good, deep stop. No matter what horse I'm riding and a good soft face and where their sensitive to my leg pressure. But I ask for them to move over from my seat first then my leg. But I want a horse completely soft and supple before I even think about bringing them to barrels. Where I can ride them brideless just about.
I LOVE free runners and they seem to take 3 months longer to train (Average) My push styles only take 5-6 months where as my free running mares take 7-9 months to really get a going like my push styles. But I believe once you get free running horses going and they have good rate and control their going to be hard to beat. Because by then they can get down and turn and take off towards the next stretched out and actually running without much kicking from the rider. Where as push styles you have to keep pushing and kicking to get them going through and around the barrels. I have better luck with my push styles on poles than I do on barrels, Lol :D
But I'd actually like to see a video of her doing barrels to see exactly what your mare is doing and then again, it might be that she's sore. What do you ride her in? | |
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Regular
Posts: 76
| Thank you! I will try to get a video. Shes works with a dressage trainer. And has literally only seen the pattern maybe 10 times in the past 6 months. Right now shes ridden in a snaffle, I know she doesn't like the single jointed so ive been looking for a french link. Also planning on trying out a jr cowhorse with the roller since she likes to chew the bit.
Shes a smart horse and has a lot of thoroughbred in her
Edited by Elsa5 2014-09-24 4:52 PM
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Veteran
Posts: 193
Location: USA | I really like working them in a D-Ring Snaffle when I'm working on my stops they just seem to have a lot better stops. And be sure when your about to stop or even slow down that you sit down in your seat a little before you pull back on her mouth. You'd already be giving her a cue to slow down before you even touch the reins and before you know it. She'd be stopping by just your seat cues :D But nothing happens over night so it might take awhile :)
As for the Jr.Cowhorse I also like those bits. It seems to work well on all of my horses and I have never had a problem with those bits but mine is a single jointed sweet iron bit with copper lines on the bit. It works really well even if they do chew the bit they still are really soft in the face and adds just enough lift. But if she seems a little harder in the face and your really having to pull her, I'd just go back down to a D-Ring Bit and work at a walk and then slowly build back up to a trot then eventually to a canter. Or just go back to where you were making the most progress and start over. And knowing when to quit and end on a good note is also important.
But don't ever think a bit is going to solve all your problems, cause it won't. Working them and training them in a D-Ring snaffle I believe is the best way to go. Because it's not that strong or intimidating of a bit. It keeps them soft and you don't want to use just bit pressure. Ryan Lovendahl uses outside rein first. then Outside Leg then finally the inside rein. You'd be giving your horse plenty of time and cues to move off your rein, then your leg and finally the bit and soon they'd be going just off of your outside rein. That is how I train mine. I Like to use a LOT of body cues than I do rein or bit cues.
And I really like how Ryan Lovendahl trains and Clinton Anderson trains but you can go to different clinics and see what suits you and your horse best :) I also LOVE Martha Josey Clinics, I believe you get a lot of riding time at her clinics but that's just me :) | |
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Veteran
Posts: 193
Location: USA | Sorry for my novels, but I can't explain it all in a short little sentence, Lol :D | |
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Regular
Posts: 76
| Thats fine I appreciate it! I know a bit wont change anything. Right now shes in a d ring snaffle but I dont think she likes the nut cracker affect. my trainer recommended trying out a french link.
I cant determine whether she was ran on barrels before sometimes it seems like she has but then again shes that type of horse that acts like she knows exactly what we are doing all the time. Sometimes she does have gate issues but I think thats more due to entering the arena alone than the barrels themself. And when she sees them set up she gets hot.
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 415
| My dad trains cutting horses, so I grew up running barrels on those genetics. Once I was in high school and college, I started to buy some horse with marketable barrel horse genetics, and I learned a lot by making a lot of mistakes on those free wheeling horses. Here are some things I wish someone would have told me about training free running horses:
1. LET THEM be fast, don't make them be fast.
2. SPEED CONTROL. I use a have ring snaffle and running martingale and get a lot of collection at all speeds by sitting down and getting them to tuck their back ends and gather at the poll. Keep it light. Start small. Start at a walk and sit down and say whoa and get them to take a few steps back and break at the poll.
3. USE YOUR FEET. This goes with letting them be fast and not making them. If you can get them to reach that back hind up underneath them while their shoulder is still free and they are soft in the face, go with it. Keep your hands light. It hurts my eyes to watch someone on a free runner trying to "set" them and yanking at their face to rate at a barrel. Most of the free runners I have been on do not require a whole lot of rate at speed to turn. Yes you instill the rate in the practice pen at slow speeds, but when you enter, trust your training, use your feet and don't let the free running speed intimidate you into getting on their faces in your turn.
4. Sometimes, tie downs, head setters, bonnets, and martingales are your friend. Not all cases, but if they in fact do help your horse to get under themselves in their turn, USE one. Don't be ashamed if your horse has solid training and needs a little help with some equipment.
So, to go back to your post. Yes, you should be able to slow her down. SPEED CONTROL. Get it off the pattern first. Use your seat. Use your feet. You can slow lope up to your rate spot and sit down and she should break down to what I described in #2. Hip/inside leg up under her, soft face and free shoulder.
Hope that helps. | |
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 Expert
Posts: 2457
| CheckItOut - 2014-09-25 10:11 AM
My dad trains cutting horses, so I grew up running barrels on those genetics. Once I was in high school and college, I started to buy some horse with marketable barrel horse genetics, and I learned a lot by making a lot of mistakes on those free wheeling horses. Here are some things I wish someone would have told me about training free running horses:
1. LET THEM be fast, don't make them be fast.
2. SPEED CONTROL. I use a have ring snaffle and running martingale and get a lot of collection at all speeds by sitting down and getting them to tuck their back ends and gather at the poll. Keep it light. Start small. Start at a walk and sit down and say whoa and get them to take a few steps back and break at the poll.
3. USE YOUR FEET. This goes with letting them be fast and not making them. If you can get them to reach that back hind up underneath them while their shoulder is still free and they are soft in the face, go with it. Keep your hands light. It hurts my eyes to watch someone on a free runner trying to "set" them and yanking at their face to rate at a barrel. Most of the free runners I have been on do not require a whole lot of rate at speed to turn. Yes you instill the rate in the practice pen at slow speeds, but when you enter, trust your training, use your feet and don't let the free running speed intimidate you into getting on their faces in your turn.
4. Sometimes, tie downs, head setters, bonnets, and martingales are your friend. Not all cases, but if they in fact do help your horse to get under themselves in their turn, USE one. Don't be ashamed if your horse has solid training and needs a little help with some equipment.
So, to go back to your post. Yes, you should be able to slow her down. SPEED CONTROL. Get it off the pattern first. Use your seat. Use your feet. You can slow lope up to your rate spot and sit down and she should break down to what I described in #2. Hip/inside leg up under her, soft face and free shoulder.
Hope that helps.
Much better said than I could've put together ... You have lots of good advice right here ^^^ | |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 415
| I can probably sum up all of that babbling that I did above with... get your horse very broke... get her using herself correctly and listening to your BODY. Then LET her work. I love free runners, but they do best for me with a very solid foundation, and then you just don't mess with them too much when you run. Trust your training and be confident. Don't let the free wheeling speed make you get grabby. If she is broke and using herself correctly, when you get to that point you just LET her work. | |
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Regular
Posts: 76
| To get her going I just have to give her a bit more rein and shes off :) my dressage trainer hates it but ive always loved free runners. I am very light handed but sometimes ive gotten in the habit of bracing against her when I ride so ive been trying hard not to. I board at a gaming barn but unfortunately I dont believe in the training techniques most of the gamers there use | |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 415
| Elsa5 - 2014-09-25 1:48 PM
To get her going I just have to give her a bit more rein and shes off :) my dressage trainer hates it but ive always loved free runners. I am very light handed but sometimes ive gotten in the habit of bracing against her when I ride so ive been trying hard not to. I board at a gaming barn but unfortunately I dont believe in the training techniques most of the gamers there use
In my opinion, this is something you would need to fix in order to have a successful free running style barrel horse. Granted, to each there own, but it is SO much easier to train a free runner if you can get one really broke down and listening to your body (not using your rein or hands as a go or stop que). Mine can slow work on a loose rein and lope up to the barrel and if I sit deep and put weight in my stirrups they rate down and melt to a stop. This is ideal (for me).
Edited to add: A free running STYLE horse does not mean a runaway or just a horse that likes to run. It is a horse that requires little rate to turn and stays "free" through their turns... does not need to be pushed by or pulled on.
Edited by CheckItOut 2014-09-25 3:21 PM
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Regular
Posts: 76
| Shes not a run away it just takes very little to get her going. Which I much prefer compared to some horses I ride | |
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  Angel in a Sorrel Coat
Posts: 16030
 
Location: In a happy place | CheckItOut - 2014-09-25 10:11 AM My dad trains cutting horses, so I grew up running barrels on those genetics. Once I was in high school and college, I started to buy some horse with marketable barrel horse genetics, and I learned a lot by making a lot of mistakes on those free wheeling horses. Here are some things I wish someone would have told me about training free running horses: 1. LET THEM be fast, don't make them be fast. 2. SPEED CONTROL. I use a have ring snaffle and running martingale and get a lot of collection at all speeds by sitting down and getting them to tuck their back ends and gather at the poll. Keep it light. Start small. Start at a walk and sit down and say whoa and get them to take a few steps back and break at the poll. 3. USE YOUR FEET. This goes with letting them be fast and not making them. If you can get them to reach that back hind up underneath them while their shoulder is still free and they are soft in the face, go with it. Keep your hands light. It hurts my eyes to watch someone on a free runner trying to "set" them and yanking at their face to rate at a barrel. Most of the free runners I have been on do not require a whole lot of rate at speed to turn. Yes you instill the rate in the practice pen at slow speeds, but when you enter, trust your training, use your feet and don't let the free running speed intimidate you into getting on their faces in your turn. 4. Sometimes, tie downs, head setters, bonnets, and martingales are your friend. Not all cases, but if they in fact do help your horse to get under themselves in their turn, USE one. Don't be ashamed if your horse has solid training and needs a little help with some equipment. So, to go back to your post. Yes, you should be able to slow her down. SPEED CONTROL. Get it off the pattern first. Use your seat. Use your feet. You can slow lope up to your rate spot and sit down and she should break down to what I described in #2. Hip/inside leg up under her, soft face and free shoulder. Hope that helps.
Great advice. Love it! | |
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