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Regular
Posts: 59
| So recently my trainer found me a push style mare to start running on. Something solid, seasoned, and to have fun on. And she definitely found the perfect mare for me who definitely takes care of me everyone run! All the horses I've owned in the past were free runners and majority of them have broken my confidence as the last one I owner was blind in one eye (found out after I purchased him) and would blow the first barrel and hit the fence when pushing. So when it comes to pushing on the pattern I definitely struggle on it. My new mare is a MAJOR push style. Like if your don't push (kids and kick) to the first she will never give that next gear after the first. She knows her job and her last owner and her were placing nicely at many tough shows. So I know she can do her job correctly. She's definitely super ratey but isn't a barrel hitter. My only issue is I want to start adding speed and get more aggressive to ride her harder. Kicking is super hard because she's so darn wide and i have short legs. Would bumper spurs maybe help me out on this? And any advice for someone who's a beginner at wanting to become more aggressive when running? Any advice is appreciated! |
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
 
| I don't believe spurs make the horse run harder, looks like they shorten their stride instead. Train her to run when you stand up/ get your butt out of the saddle. After learning horses skin maybe more sensitive than our own, I hesitate to use spurs or whips anymore. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 964
Location: Minnesota | I found it extremely hard to become a more aggressive rider. I sold my push style horse and bought something to fit my style (a lot more free running). I find the more confidence I gain on my free running horse the more confident I am riding anything else now. |
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 I hate cooking and cleaning
Posts: 3310
Location: Jersey Girl | Its hard, at least IMO, to go from a free runner to a push style. I had one for a couple of years and ended up selling for more of a free runner. I feel like you are either agressive or you aren't. Can you learn to be a little more aggressive? Probably. With that said aggressive doesn't necessarily mean kicking and screaming the whole way. A lot of times its just correct body position and well placed kicks. |
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 IMA No Hair Style Gal
Posts: 2594
|  Flip side, I did work really hard on suggestions everyone gave me, so this is the progress we have made in the past year. :) So thanks everyone for the former input.
Trying to attach a pic.
Edited by magic gunsmoke 2019-11-18 8:49 PM
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | magic gunsmoke - 2019-11-18 8:48 PM
Flip side, I did work really hard on suggestions everyone gave me, so this is the progress we have made in the past year. :) So thanks everyone for the former input.
Trying to attach a pic.
Looking good!!!!  |
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 My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
Location: Arkansas | magic gunsmoke - 2019-11-18 8:48 PM
Flip side, I did work really hard on suggestions everyone gave me, so this is the progress we have made in the past year. :) So thanks everyone for the former input.
Trying to attach a pic.
Fantastic progress! You go girl |
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Expert
Posts: 2121
Location: The Great Northwest | r_beau - 2019-11-18 7:07 AM
kmgkmg2002 - 2019-11-17 5:53 AM
So recently my trainer found me a push style mare to start running on. Something solid, seasoned, and to have fun on. And she definitely found the perfect mare for me who definitely takes care of me everyone run! All the horses I've owned in the past were free runners and majority of them have broken my confidence as the last one I owner was blind in one eye (found out after I purchased him) and would blow the first barrel and hit the fence when pushing. So when it comes to pushing on the pattern I definitely struggle on it. My new mare is a MAJOR push style. Like if your don't push (kids and kick) to the first she will never give that next gear after the first. She knows her job and her last owner and her were placing nicely at many tough shows. So I know she can do her job correctly. She's definitely super ratey but isn't a barrel hitter. My only issue is I want to start adding speed and get more aggressive to ride her harder. Kicking is super hard because she's so darn wide and i have short legs. Would bumper spurs maybe help me out on this? And any advice for someone who's a beginner at wanting to become more aggressive when running? Any advice is appreciated!
If you aren't using your legs and body to PUSH the horse, whether you have bumper spurs on or not, it will not make a difference.
Push style means you need to ACTIVELY ride. your. horse. every. step. It's not really about kicking the horse. It's more about your body language and seat.
It's best to take a video of yourself and then watch yourself in slow motion. Then you can really see what you are doing and when you "give up" pushing your horse. I apologize to the person in this screen shot but I think it's a great learning picture. She had posted a video critique, similar to what you are asking. See how she is "sitting back" on the horse? This is NOT actively riding the horse. This is just sitting there along for the ride. Might work on a free runner. Won't work on a push style because they feel you telling them to go slow with this type of body language. So that is why I say it can be very valuable to watch your videos and see what you are doing, then actively think about what you have to do to change it. CHanging your muscle memory takes time and effort.
Compare the body language example above, to this body language of Lisa Lockhart. See the difference?
She is riding to the finish line. Going to a barrel may want to go two hands to point of turning the barrel.
The bottom photo is of Lisa riding to the finish line. You may want to get two hands on the reins going to a barrel and possible all the way to the barrel turning point. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 599
| It’s taken me over two years on my push style horses. I used to hold them back, then I let them find their own pace. Now I’m dying to be out of the 3D so I’m riding aggressive (and they aren’t giving me anymore). So my answer would be - it takes time?!?! |
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 Born not Made
Posts: 2930
Location: North Dakota | As I stated above, I had no ill intent with posting the picture Magic Gunsmoke (and I honestly had no idea which BB it was), but I chose to post it for education and informational purposes because I genuinely thought it would help the OP. I have removed the photo from my post per your private message request but everyone who has quoted me will need to remove it from their posts. Great update picture, BTW gunsmoke. You and your horse look great! |
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IMA No Hair Style Gal
Posts: 2594
| r_beau - 2019-11-19 10:52 AM
As I stated above, I had no ill intent with posting the picture Magic Gunsmoke (and I honestly had no idea which BB it was), but I chose to post it for education and informational purposes because I genuinely thought it would help the OP. I have removed the photo from my post per your private message request but everyone who has quoted me will need to remove it from their posts.
Great update picture, BTW gunsmoke. You and your horse look great!
Thank you! Much appreciated. :) |
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