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Hungarian Midget Woman
  
Location: Midwest | At what age (on average) do you start running your colts which you do not plan on futurity-ing (these would be future open horses)? This is me just being curious.I'm not talking breaking, I'm talking exhibitions/entering and asking for speed on the pattern. All opinions are welcome. :)
Edited because apparently my space bar only works sometimes. :-/
Edited by barrelracr131 2015-08-17 11:34 AM
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 Jr. Detective
 
Location: Beggs, OK | I think most people wait until that magic December 1 date at least before they start entering their coming four year olds. Mine are always older because they either come from a ranch, or have been used as cutters first. |
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Common Sense and then some
Location: So. California | Depends on what part of the country you are in, your short/long term goals and time availability. 5 seems to be the magic age... |
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Sparklin Cowgirl
Posts: 4379
| Well currently I am just starting trotting the pattern on my 3 year old because my finished horse is out of it and I have nothing else to do. I wasn't planning on doing much with him untill next year. |
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Hungarian Midget Woman
Location: Midwest | I plan on breaking mine at 2 or 3, then riding and possibly trotting the barrels until 4, then expoing for a bit and seeing how we do. I like to hear everyone's plans as well. :) I may hit a futurity if we are doing well enough, but my main plans would be to have an open horse. I'm not one to rush them.
I still have quite a few years to plan for mine, too. Haha |
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 Born not Made
Posts: 2937
Location: North Dakota | Mine I started entering him when he was 4-years-old this year. He wasn't far enough along to ever hit the 4D for a while, but I was hauling my other horse anyway, and I didn't care. I wanted to start seasoning him so I figured what the heck. He was quiet enough and could handle it no problem.
So I think it is just personal preferance.
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Jr. Detective
Location: Beggs, OK | I think every "barrel racer" I know that owns a horse under the age of five refers to it as their "futurity horse" whether it ever enters one or not, lol
My new boy is a 3 yr old and he's cruising around the pattern. I don't enter any of mine until they can clock a second off though. He might not get entered until next summer and he might get entered at Christmas. Mine dictate their own timeline....and if they don't take to it they get to go rope steers. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 754
Location: Arkansas | The horse I am running now didn't see a barrel until he was a 6 yr old (wasn't broke until 4). I would rather them be 4/5 before I start them, and be able to bring them on a little faster. His first race he placed 2nd in the 3D with around 125 horses entered. He is a solid 2D/rodeo horse now. I just don't have the patience for a baby-baby, horse or human!! lol |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| Depends on the horse, when I get them, and their level of training.
Two years ago I had two horses I was loping the pattern at 3, by the age of 5 they still weren't ready for futurities (we run majority 5 yr olds up here)
Last year I had one I was loping the pattern and exhibitioning as a 4 yr old, first jackpot she would have been in the 3d, never futuritied due to my own surgery.
Have a 4 yr old who is too scrawny he is behind on everything, hoping to have him running by 7, he won't be turning a barrel till 5
Have a 7 yr old who hopefully will be put on barrels later this fall, his mind was too immature, and if I would have pushed him he would blow up mind wise.
Have a 3 yr old I will be picking up from the trainers in September and will be starting to pattern as soon as she comes home, she is a futurity hopeful. |
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 You get what you give
Posts: 13030
Location: Texas | It depends on when I get them...
Ideally, if I have had them long enough, I enter at 4.
But if they are older when we get them.. then, they just enter whenever they are ready.
Honestly, they all get entered when they are ready.. if i can get them ready by 4, then great. if not, then its whenever. |
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 Owner of a ratting catting machine
Posts: 2258
| I just leave mine alone until they're four. Then I get a handle put on them, then as a long four year old start trotting the pattern a bit if they're ready. Then as a five year old, I bring them on, and I hope to have them running harder by October or November.
I just really don't like riding babies. They're just not there. |
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The Resident Destroyer of Liberal Logic
Location: PNW | rachellyn80 - 2015-08-17 12:10 PM
I think every "barrel racer" I know that owns a horse under the age of five refers to it as their "futurity horse" whether it ever enters one or not, lol
My new boy is a 3 yr old and he's cruising around the pattern. I don't enter any of mine until they can clock a second off though. He might not get entered until next summer and he might get entered at Christmas. Mine dictate their own timeline....and if they don't take to it they get to go rope steers.
LOL Your first sentence is spot on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
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Hungarian Midget Woman
Location: Midwest | I will be picking up my weanling in a month. So. Stinkin. Excited.
Having him for enough time won't be an issue. Honestly I am in no rush with him, but I can't wait to start playing with him.  |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 629
| I didn't start my mare until she was almost 3. I hauled her at 3, and exhibitioned her at 4. I didn't start asking for speed until she was 5.
My situation may be different than others though. Where I was boarding when she was young had an arena, but it was not nearly big/deep enough to do much pattern work. So I hauled her to an arena near by, and to the open shows they hosted there. That was my only opportunity to really see if our work at home was coming together and if she was ready for the next steps.
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 490
| Started mine as a late 2 yr old. Just rode her and hauled her to races until she was 4. Started exhibitioning her on and off until her 6 yr old year. It wasnt until she was 6 that she was mentally ready to compete. We bounced from the 2d-5d for several years. At 9, we are FINALLY laying down consistent 2D times.
I wasnt able to haul consistently because of time and money until about 2 years ago. I think we would have been farther along if I had been able to haul more. Oh well... Shes been fun and frustrating all at the same time. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 629
| Jazz's Girl - 2015-08-18 2:02 PM
At 9, we are FINALLY laying down consistent 2D times.
I wasnt able to haul consistently because of time and money until about 2 years ago. I think we would have been farther along if I had been able to haul more. Oh well... Shes been fun and frustrating all at the same time.
This is exactly like me. When I first got her, I was working 2 part time jobs and going to school, so while very busy, my hours were much more flexible and I could ride in the mornings before work, or I had at least 2 afternoon/evenings off/week to ride and get her broke. Then, I graduated college, got married and got a 9-5 and it all changed. Then my dad got sick, and all my free time was taken up dealing with that. So, now that everything is "calmed down" - she's 9 and finally getting consistently faster. |
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 Party Girl
Posts: 12293
Location: Buffalo, Wyoming | I have an 8 year old mare that just went to her 2nd and 3rd barrel races this weekend. She got put on the back burner for a few years but I don't think he mind could have handled being a futurity horse. |
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Hungarian Midget Woman
Location: Midwest | My last horse I didn't pattern until I got him, and he was 5 at the time. I knew less than I do now, (I hope anyway lol), so I am looking forward to the journey.
Mostly, with this thread, I wished to just see what everyone else was doing. I had my suspicions, which turned out to be pretty close to the answers here.
PS, thanks to everyone who took the time to answer or comment 
Edited by barrelracr131 2015-08-18 2:26 PM
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