OhMax - 2016-08-15 8:08 AM

I rode with Chris Martin this weekend and I was really impressed overall with his approach and the results we saw with horses who were fading/blowing off or coming back over the top (mine). The cool part was we did 90% of it - he did ride every horse but not until the second day because we were all making really good progress.

Blowing out is a reaction to us picking up the shoulder - think about how most of us move a horse laterally - ex to move left we pick up the right rein, tip the nose and push over with the right leg. So you come into a barrel and pick up your right rein to turn and the horse has been taught that means move left - away from the barrel.

I saw a few videos on YouTube of him, including one about 24 minutes long filmed at a clinic, havent had a chance to watch it yet and I wouldn't do the explaination justice, see what you can find.

BARRELHORSE USA - 2016-08-15 5:12 AM

Watch videos of Cervi at the NFR and then get off of your horse and ride a broomstick to the first barrel at a dead run ... and look back at your footprints ... then go watch the Cervi NFR videos again ... you will quickly notice your footprints ran directly at the barrel which is a big mistake ... regardless of horse Cervi is riding her pattern and techniques are the same ..

Pay attention to the 40-50 feet sweet spot she runs to headed to first barrel ... she makes a 1/4 turn so her horse is facing the barrel and will turn it as a normal 360 turn instead of blowing by or trying not to get lost turning 1 1/4 turns around the barrel .... do not run to the barrel ...

Just keep in mind if you can't set yourself up to run to first riding a broomstick ... it ain't gonna happen when riding your horse ...