Log in to my account Barrel Horse World
Come on in Folks on-line

Today is

You are logged in as a guest. Logon or register an account to access more features.


Over doing competition?

Jump to page :
Last activity 2019-10-14 1:19 PM
19 replies, 13732 views

View previous thread :: View next thread
   General Discussion -> Barrel Talk
Refresh
 
allaboutme2
Reg. Aug 2014
Posted 2019-10-06 8:31 PM
Subject: Over doing competition?


Veteran


Posts: 110
100

Since this is a forum to gather opinions, I’d like to hear everyone’s thoughts about how much competition is too much? Is 6-8 runs a week, every week, at a high level too much?  These can be 2/3 a day fri-sun.  I think it’s too much but curious what others think. 



Edited by allaboutme2 2019-10-06 9:20 PM
↑ Top ↓ Bottom
streakysox
Reg. Jul 2008
Posted 2019-10-06 9:49 PM
Subject: RE: Over doing competition?



Take a Picture


Posts: 12837
50005000200050010010010025

 

 

My horses do not run more than three times in a weekend. That is Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. There are a lot of three day shows around here. That is only once in awhile. Most weekends it is one run. Sometimes one run during the week. I pay a lot of money for someone to ride my horses and we pretty well save them for larger events. I will say this, if you run your horse in a three day show and they get better every ru, you know they are sound and healthy and your program is working well. If they get a little slower or make turns that are not top notch then it is time for a check up. 

I do know a lot of people whose horses are winning so they go from show to show. One used to be a 1D horse and now runs consistently at the bottom of the 2D. I really think horses have so many good runs in them. 

↑ Top ↓ Bottom
MOGirl07
Reg. Feb 2012
Posted 2019-10-07 10:21 AM
Subject: RE: Over doing competition?



Expert


Posts: 1395
1000100100100252525
Location: Missouri

I don't have any horses near that level where I'd even think about competing on them that much. If there were two 3 day races in one weekend, I would most definitely pick one and made one run a day. 

↑ Top ↓ Bottom
OhMax
Reg. Feb 2013
Posted 2019-10-07 10:46 AM
Subject: RE: Over doing competition?


Married to a Louie Lover


Posts: 3303
20001000100100100

Every week like this or a couple times a year?

Every week, too much.

But around here if you amateur rodeo there are a couple weekends in July where you can pretty easy string 6-8 runs together Thursday-Sunday.  If you REALLY wanted to, I’m pretty sure you could hit a rodeo every night starting the last week of June through the first week of August.

Just because you can doesn’t mean you should, but plenty do.

↑ Top ↓ Bottom
FLITASTIC
Reg. Jun 2012
Posted 2019-10-07 10:57 AM
Subject: RE: Over doing competition?



Expert


Posts: 5290
5000100100252525

MOGirl07 - 2019-10-07 8:21 AM


I don't have any horses near that level where I'd even think about competing on them that much. If there were two 3 day races in one weekend, I would most definitely pick one and made one run a day. 


Totally agree! Horses only have so many runs PERIOD. THink of having 500 one dollar bills in your pocket and every time you make a run, you pay a dollar. If you want to spend all 500 in two years, have at it. My good horses ( I don't ride bad ones, so ALL my horses) only run maybe 1-2X a MONTH.... I will only go where the ground is excellent and with enough money added to make it financially worth spending one of those dollar bills on them. On another note, running barrels to a horse is probably boring. Same old thing over and over and over..... SO keeps them fresh if you don't run their legs off. The amount of runs original poster asked about in a week is about how many runs my horses make in 6 mos. 

↑ Top ↓ Bottom
star1218
Reg. Jan 2011
Posted 2019-10-07 10:59 AM
Subject: RE: Over doing competition?


Elite Veteran


Posts: 1079
1000252525

Personally, I would not do it.  I would think girls competeing at that intense level are A. pros making a career of it and B.  Have a string of good horses to minimize their amount of back to back to back runs.

↑ Top ↓ Bottom
Nateracer
Reg. Feb 2008
Posted 2019-10-07 11:20 AM
Subject: RE: Over doing competition?



Miss Laundry Misshap


Posts: 5271
50001001002525

Interesting topic.  

If you are taking Appaloosa breed shows for example, 6-8-10 runs a day in various classes is typical.  Take match poles for example. 

If you are a typical NBHA goer, 2 runs (possibly 4, IE Open and Sr) is the norm for most weekends. One per day.  People gasp at having double shows around her at 9am and 4pm. 

If you're a rodeo goer, maybe one per day, once in awhile 2, but hauling comes into play here. 

 

I rode one POA pony in every event under the sun from age 6 until I was 18.  Started with halter/showmanship in the morning, went to English with jumping, she pulled a cart, western pleasure, and game events.  We'd do 15-20 classes a day I'd say.

 My current barrel horse runs once a day on  a weekend about 25 times a year.  

Overdoing it is in the eye of the beholder. 



Edited by Nateracer 2019-10-07 11:25 AM
↑ Top ↓ Bottom
BS Hauler
Reg. Jan 2012
Posted 2019-10-07 2:03 PM
Subject: RE: Over doing competition?


Expert


Posts: 1314
1000100100100
Location: North Central Iowa Land of white frozen grass

Its a good thing you people don't have to do any ranch work with your horses if they can't do any more than a couple 17 second runs in a weekend.  Its no wonder they are not in shape.



Edited by BS Hauler 2019-10-07 2:04 PM
↑ Top ↓ Bottom
JLazyT_perf_horses
Reg. Dec 2010
Posted 2019-10-07 2:03 PM
Subject: RE: Over doing competition?



Expert


Posts: 1511
1000500
Location: Illinois

I've always capped it off at 4 a week if they're younger, 3 once they get like 15-20, and I do 2 at 20 or older. IMO 6-8 runs a week, week after week isn't going to end well for the horse either mentally or physcially, maybe both. 

↑ Top ↓ Bottom
Pocob
Reg. Oct 2003
Posted 2019-10-07 2:35 PM
Subject: RE: Over doing competition?



Professional Amateur


Posts: 6750
500010005001001002525
Location: Oklahoma

I don't like to run mine that much.  

When I hit a 3 day added money show (Friday / Saturday / Sunday)  . .running 3 different horses which translates to my body making 9 runs. . that kicks my a$$. I wouldn't to it to a horse.

↑ Top ↓ Bottom
MOGirl07
Reg. Feb 2012
Posted 2019-10-07 2:42 PM
Subject: RE: Over doing competition?



Expert


Posts: 1395
1000100100100252525
Location: Missouri

BS Hauler - 2019-10-07 2:03 PM

Its a good thing you people don't have to do any ranch work with your horses if they can't do any more than a couple 17 second runs in a weekend.  Its no wonder they are not in shape.

I don't have ranch work, but I kind of feel like this is comparing apples to oranges. My horses can trail ride at a nice clip...brisk long trotting, loping, some breezing them out, for 10 ish miles in about an hr over various terrian. I'd do that multiple times a week before putting 6 runs one one in a week. Again, I don't do ranch work so I won't even pretned to know what it entails, but I think most of us DO work our horses, we just don't expect them to make a competition run every danged day of the week. 



Edited by MOGirl07 2019-10-07 2:44 PM
↑ Top ↓ Bottom
OhMax
Reg. Feb 2013
Posted 2019-10-07 2:49 PM
Subject: RE: Over doing competition?


Married to a Louie Lover


Posts: 3303
20001000100100100

BS Hauler - 2019-10-07 2:03 PM


Its a good thing you people don't have to do any ranch work with your horses if they can't do any more than a couple 17 second runs in a weekend.  Its no wonder they are not in shape.


I agree with this - but it also brings up something else I was told by a clinician.

 

a girl at the clinic had a horse who was on the lazier side and dull.  Her significant other had been checking pastures and day working on her to get her legged back up.

the cliniian’s response was that they learn how to conserve energy when being asked to go all day long and then have trouble when they’re asking to expend it in the arena.  

 

Just interesting.  Mine all have more than 1 job and if they’re fit and healthy (as someone else said, staying consistent or getting faster over a weekend) I don’t have a problem with running them more frequently.

↑ Top ↓ Bottom
vjls
Reg. Mar 2005
Posted 2019-10-07 3:04 PM
Subject: RE: Over doing competition?


Miracle in the Making


Posts: 4013
20002000

i think it depends on the horse  we had a mare she ran hard sunday than friday i rodeo on her friday  my son run her 3 or 4 times sat 

 

 2 barrel classes 2 arena race classes and again on sunday    most  all ours did but then jetta   did not  nor speedy as  their brAINS  COULD not handle it

just depends to me on the horse.s brains

 

↑ Top ↓ Bottom
JLazyT_perf_horses
Reg. Dec 2010
Posted 2019-10-07 3:26 PM
Subject: RE: Over doing competition?



Expert


Posts: 1511
1000500
Location: Illinois

BS Hauler - 2019-10-07 2:03 PM


Its a good thing you people don't have to do any ranch work with your horses if they can't do any more than a couple 17 second runs in a weekend.  Its no wonder they are not in shape.


For me it doesn't have anything to do with fitness level. My horse could go check pastures, move cattle, brand, etc all day long just fine. Or go ride 30 miles of trails on a weekend camping trip. He's fit enough to also go make 6 runs in a weekend if I wanted him to. It's the torque you're putting on the joints/tendons that I limit it for. Having lost use of some from tendon injuries while running, I've learned not to make so many runs. The stress on the leg structures in repeated runs like that is greater than what is generally done on a day working on the ranch. I had the ground give out on mine at the 2nd barrel Saturday & he went down & is done for awhile because he's injured. His rear swept to the side when the sand gave out & at one point his back legs ended up strung behind him in a position they most certainly don't naturally go. Kind of like how some aussies lay with their back legs straight out behind them. That was his second fall in a month, he may be retired now. Horse's are like a pack of cigarettes, you only get so many runs in a pack. Add in the trailering, standing on concrete stalls at a lot of places for 2-5 days when they're used to 24/7 turnout, and the stress of hauling in general....it's a lot. A lot more than a day on the ranch in my opinion. 

↑ Top ↓ Bottom
LIVE2RUN
Reg. Oct 2005
Posted 2019-10-07 5:25 PM
Subject: RE: Over doing competition?



The best bad guy on the internet


Posts: 3519
20001000500
Location: Arizona

If you have money to burn and a string of horses, then I guess you can run that much. I usually do 2-4 races a month depending...

↑ Top ↓ Bottom
streakysox
Reg. Jul 2008
Posted 2019-10-07 6:26 PM
Subject: RE: Over doing competition?



Take a Picture


Posts: 12837
50005000200050010010010025

MOGirl07 - 2019-10-07 2:42 PM



BS Hauler - 2019-10-07 2:03 PM


Its a good thing you people don't have to do any ranch work with your horses if they can't do any more than a couple 17 second runs in a weekend.  Its no wonder they are not in shape.



I don't have ranch work, but I kind of feel like this is comparing apples to oranges. My horses can trail ride at a nice clip...brisk long trotting, loping, some breezing them out, for 10 ish miles in about an hr over various terrian. I'd do that multiple times a week before putting 6 runs one one in a week. Again, I don't do ranch work so I won't even pretned to know what it entails, but I think most of us DO work our horses, we just don't expect them to make a competition run every danged day of the week. 


I grew up on a ranch. We worked cattle with our horses. Many times in the hot summer we worked cows all day. Yes all day. We rode our horses 4 miles down to the riding club, beat the socks off everyone then rode home. Yes my horses had to run a little working cows but not as hard as they ran in the arena. Big difference. My horses got ridden EVERY afternoon she was on better shape then any horse around. I rode in my dress when I got home for school. (I had to wear dresses to school, everyone did back then)

↑ Top ↓ Bottom
scwebster
Reg. Mar 2013
Posted 2019-10-08 8:54 AM
Subject: RE: Over doing competition?



Expert


Posts: 2128
200010025

I see kids at jackpots that run their horses in the pewee barrels, open barrels, and poles (3 runs in one night) and do this 2-4 times a week. 

↑ Top ↓ Bottom
Dinero10
Reg. Mar 2004
Posted 2019-10-08 9:21 AM
Subject: RE: Over doing competition?



Go Your Own Way


Posts: 4947
2000200050010010010010025
Location: SE KS

They only have so many runs in them... when they are done they are done.

Every day - I wouldn't -

2-3 times a week in my view is enough.

I also ride my in the pasture - gather cattle, ranch work, check fences, we go 2-3 miles a day,   so they are in good shape, and when I get to a barrel race they have the edge off of them, since they have been rode thru the week. 

We don't have to do endless amount of circles when at a barrel race.

 

↑ Top ↓ Bottom
della
Reg. Apr 2011
Posted 2019-10-08 10:51 AM
Subject: RE: Over doing competition?



Peecans


2000100050010010010010025

streakysox - 2019-10-07 5:26 PM


MOGirl07 - 2019-10-07 2:42 PM



BS Hauler - 2019-10-07 2:03 PM


Its a good thing you people don't have to do any ranch work with your horses if they can't do any more than a couple 17 second runs in a weekend.  Its no wonder they are not in shape.



I don't have ranch work, but I kind of feel like this is comparing apples to oranges. My horses can trail ride at a nice clip...brisk long trotting, loping, some breezing them out, for 10 ish miles in about an hr over various terrian. I'd do that multiple times a week before putting 6 runs one one in a week. Again, I don't do ranch work so I won't even pretned to know what it entails, but I think most of us DO work our horses, we just don't expect them to make a competition run every danged day of the week. 



I grew up on a ranch. We worked cattle with our horses. Many times in the hot summer we worked cows all day. Yes all day. We rode our horses 4 miles down to the riding club, beat the socks off everyone then rode home. Yes my horses had to run a little working cows but not as hard as they ran in the arena. Big difference. My horses got ridden EVERY afternoon she was on better shape then any horse around. I rode in my dress when I got home for school. (I had to wear dresses to school, everyone did back then)


At the end of the day ranch work is at home, I find the hardest part of competing on the horse is the trailer ride, standing on crappy ground like gravel tied half the day and the stress of it all, when I warm up and run my horse hardly gets a work out to be honest. I warm them up, stretch and run, they are not sweated up and lathered. Its everything else that's hard on them. 

There are some ranch jobs my horses absoultly needs the day off after, days belly deep in the feedlot, days truging through spring run off trying to sort pairs, days after being hit and charged my an ignorant cow. But nice days and just checking cows are no that taxing really. I really dont feel like you can compare the 2 to be honest.... so diffrent and such a diffrent group of muscles and mental capacity. 

↑ Top ↓ Bottom
cowgalsissy
Reg. Dec 2008
Posted 2019-10-14 1:19 PM
Subject: RE: Over doing competition?



Too Skinny


Posts: 8009
500020001000
Location: LA Lower Alabama

I believe most of the pros who ran at Pendleton practiced large patterns before entering.They were preparing their minds and bodies for the difference in length. Most of those horses could run a pattern everyday and probably do pretty close to that but their bodies were not prepped for that length without a little extra help.

 

I too used to run 4 events a day at a full run once a month but we also used to practice all 4 events multiple days a week. I can't say whether it wore any of mine down because that was before xrays and exams were so common. 

↑ Top ↓ Bottom
Jump to page :
Jump to forum :
Search this forum
Printer friendly version
E-mail a link to this thread
 

© Copyright 2002- BarrelHorseWorld.com All rights reserved including digital rights

Support - Contact / Log in to my account


Working Truck World Working Horse World Cargo Trailer World Horse Trailer World Roping Horse World
'
Registered to: Barrel Horse World
(Delete all cookies set by this site)
Running MegaBBS ASP Forum Software
© 2002-2025 PD9 Software