|
|
 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 559
 
| I have a 6 yr old mare, been in the pattern for about 3 yrs now . I really like this mare but she really anticipates her turns on the second & 3 rd barrel . The second is the worst , she wants to turn too soon, so she slightly dumps on her front end blocking be out in her neck . She's super broke , soft as can be & runs beautifully at home .. Her nerves get the best of her in public & I know that's a lot of it .. She gets very tense , therefore during my run I loose a lot of the buttons I have at home .. I can't seem to get her to free up into her turns .. She starts too soon , then a lot of times she'll bring her head to coming out of the turn & pop off of it kinda wide .. Anybody have any advice ? She's such a nice horse & has so much talent .. I just can't seem to get her solid on her turns .. Is this a kind of horse you want to just keep square going into your turn until her hip is past , or one you want to pick up with your inside rein ? Just looking for opinions ! Thanks in advance ! | |
| | |
 Regular
Posts: 73
| You can try going the other way, for example, if you go to the right barrel first, you can go to the left, or vice versa. It takes a little reteaching, but it makes a world of difference. With horses that like to anticipate a lot, I like to go to a barrel race, and take them to the left one day, and then the right the next.
Another thing you can do is set up two cones around each barrel. One up the rail, about ten to fifteen feet from the barrel, closer to the gate, and another ten to fifteen feet in the opposite direction of the barrel, still on the rail. When you are moving up towards the first barrel, instead of letting them turn, pick up your horse, and move them away from the barrel, and up towards the top cone, and circle. Then take them down the rail, towards the gate, and circle that cone. When you have both of the cones, take them back into the barrel, and circle, before going on to second. Make sure that you circle both cones in the same direction as the barrel, or you might have your drop and get heavy on their front end. Good luck!
Edited by jmcanchaser 2016-06-26 8:03 PM
| |
| | |
 Take a Picture
Posts: 12841
  
| If the horse works great at home, why not slow her down and just do exhibitions until the horse gets more relaxed at barrel races? When I have. Problem I slow it down until we get it right. | |
| | |
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 559
| I've exhibitioned her for 2 years now .. She was working good in those too . Then I stopped exh bc I felt like she didn't need them anymore , but now obviously the pressure is getting to her . Do you think I need to go back to exh? Just slow & correct for a while ? | |
| | |
Take a Picture
Posts: 12841
| I have always found that backing off to a speed that the horse handled well worked best for my horses. | |
| | |
 Expert
Posts: 1343
Location: Oklahoma | Often a horse anticipates turning the second and third because a rider has "sat" and checked too early before the barrel. You can try counter arcs before each barrel without even turning them when working her, or you can try switching directions as mentioned above. | |
| | |
Expert
Posts: 1280
Location: Texas | Well my advice may seem a little counter intuitive, but it's free so here goes. I had a mare with this problem many years ago, & it was really a problem I made for myself. I could not get past the 2nd barrel. After some coaching from a friend & a bit change, the problem went away. Her advice: quit training WHILE you are trying to win. I was riding 2-handed between, picking up inside, move over with leg, yada yada yada. Too much going on. She convinced me to run in a stiff bit (no snaffle, no gag, just a real nice Mullen mouth med. shanked grazing bit) so that you can ride 1-handed (in the middle of your reins) to the barrel. She had me run straighter longer (till your horse's hip is past), then LET your horse work (turn). If your horse is really anticipating, he will be waiting for you to sit down & drop your hand slightly. Do not pull on your inside rein. That's how this thing got started. You need someone that will call you out on your hands & seat, because trust me, even the pros need a second set of eyes from time to time. If you are tempted to pick up on that inside rein just remember, you are queing your horse to turn (probably too early) & those stiff bits aren't made to be used with an inside direct rein. It will take some re-training on your hands. BTW that mare of mine was super light in the face & felt every time my butt clenched to sit down. She felt ME anticipating the turn. That was how we ran & stopped hitting barrels. These push style horses force us to be creative & gut-it-up & ride hard till you are past the barrel. Once you get your timing figured out & find a bit that your horse can't dump his shoulder thru, you will be winning & it will be fun again!
There it is. It's not for everybody, but it's what worked for me. | |
| | |
  Angel in a Sorrel Coat
Posts: 16030
Location: In a happy place | tracies - 2016-06-28 5:00 PM Well my advice may seem a little counter intuitive, but it's free so here goes. I had a mare with this problem many years ago, & it was really a problem I made for myself. I could not get past the 2nd barrel. After some coaching from a friend & a bit change, the problem went away. Her advice: quit training WHILE you are trying to win. I was riding 2-handed between, picking up inside, move over with leg, yada yada yada. Too much going on. She convinced me to run in a stiff bit (no snaffle, no gag, just a real nice Mullen mouth med. shanked grazing bit) so that you can ride 1-handed (in the middle of your reins) to the barrel. She had me run straighter longer (till your horse's hip is past), then LET your horse work (turn). If your horse is really anticipating, he will be waiting for you to sit down & drop your hand slightly. Do not pull on your inside rein. That's how this thing got started. You need someone that will call you out on your hands & seat, because trust me, even the pros need a second set of eyes from time to time. If you are tempted to pick up on that inside rein just remember, you are queing your horse to turn (probably too early) & those stiff bits aren't made to be used with an inside direct rein. It will take some re-training on your hands. BTW that mare of mine was super light in the face & felt every time my butt clenched to sit down. She felt ME anticipating the turn. That was how we ran & stopped hitting barrels. These push style horses force us to be creative & gut-it-up & ride hard till you are past the barrel. Once you get your timing figured out & find a bit that your horse can't dump his shoulder thru, you will be winning & it will be fun again! There it is. It's not for everybody, but it's what worked for me.
I think this would help you a lot.
| |
| | |
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 559
| tracies - 2016-06-28 5:00 PM
Well my advice may seem a little counter intuitive, but it's free so here goes. I had a mare with this problem many years ago, & it was really a problem I made for myself. I could not get past the 2nd barrel. After some coaching from a friend & a bit change, the problem went away. Her advice: quit training WHILE you are trying to win. I was riding 2-handed between, picking up inside, move over with leg, yada yada yada. Too much going on. She convinced me to run in a stiff bit (no snaffle, no gag, just a real nice Mullen mouth med. shanked grazing bit) so that you can ride 1-handed (in the middle of your reins) to the barrel. She had me run straighter longer (till your horse's hip is past), then LET your horse work (turn). If your horse is really anticipating, he will be waiting for you to sit down & drop your hand slightly. Do not pull on your inside rein. That's how this thing got started. You need someone that will call you out on your hands & seat, because trust me, even the pros need a second set of eyes from time to time. If you are tempted to pick up on that inside rein just remember, you are queing your horse to turn (probably too early) & those stiff bits aren't made to be used with an inside direct rein. It will take some re-training on your hands. BTW that mare of mine was super light in the face & felt every time my butt clenched to sit down. She felt ME anticipating the turn. That was how we ran & stopped hitting barrels. These push style horses force us to be creative & gut-it-up & ride hard till you are past the barrel. Once you get your timing figured out & find a bit that your horse can't dump his shoulder thru, you will be winning & it will be fun again!
There it is. It's not for everybody, but it's what worked for me.
Thanks! It makes since ! That's what I've been doing , trying to go straighter longer until her hip is past . I guess my biggest issue is when I really hustle her in there she will pop off the back side . She gets too rushed , instead of finishing the turn & even going again . She has ducked the second barrel one time .. She gets to thinking way too much in public.. Do I still stick to your advice? I will say , it has been working though pretty much all year on her .. I just need to to run straighter longer instead of shutting down too soon . But I'll take your advice & really ride up in there .. It very well could be 1/2 my problem too! She really wants to work.. I just have to get it all figured out ! | |
| | |
Expert
Posts: 1280
Location: Texas | It's definitely worth a try. You sound like your horse is not completely finishing the turn so that will give you something to work on with your drills & slow practice. Try not to disengage the hip while turning. Keep the forward motion! | |
| |
| |
Folks on-line