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Relaxing drills

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Last activity 2022-07-11 8:44 AM
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CanCan
Reg. May 2004
Posted 2022-07-07 12:27 AM
Subject: Relaxing drills


Military family

Keeper of the King Snake


Posts: 7613
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Location: Dubach, LA

I need drills to slow feet and make the barrel a relaxing place to be. 

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WrapN3MN
Reg. Mar 2008
Posted 2022-07-07 12:12 PM
Subject: RE: Relaxing drills





1000500252525

https://www.trainingbarrelhorses.com/video-vault/barrel-horse-training/working-a-hot-horse

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r_beau
Reg. Apr 2010
Posted 2022-07-08 2:35 PM
Subject: RE: Relaxing drills



Born not Made


Posts: 2930
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Location: North Dakota

CanCan - 2022-07-07 12:27 AM


I need drills to slow feet and make the barrel a relaxing place to be. 


Go to a Paul Humphrey clinic.

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CanCan
Reg. May 2004
Posted 2022-07-08 5:19 PM
Subject: RE: Relaxing drills


Military family

Keeper of the King Snake


Posts: 7613
50002000500100
Location: Dubach, LA

r_beau - 2022-07-08 2:35 PM


CanCan - 2022-07-07 12:27 AM


I need drills to slow feet and make the barrel a relaxing place to be. 



Go to a Paul Humphrey clinic.


How is his different? I've done Michelle McLeod, Ed Wright, Talmadge Green, Danny Reinhardt. Nothing I learned at any of those helps this horse. I think I created this monster, so I want to fix her. I have had the guy that patterned her tune on her. She gets faster in her turns and I need her to relax. The longer we ride waiting on her to relax, the worse she gets. Treated for ulcers and is on Purina Outlast. Gets Omeprazole and guanabenz when we trailer. 

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lonely va barrelxr
Reg. Apr 2005
Posted 2022-07-08 9:42 PM
Subject: RE: Relaxing drills



Reaching for the stars....


Posts: 12704
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Stop doing drills. Work the horse well, work on foundation or just exercise. Walk the pattern as a cooldown, once only. Stop and be done with the ride. 

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r_beau
Reg. Apr 2010
Posted 2022-07-09 7:54 AM
Subject: RE: Relaxing drills



Born not Made


Posts: 2930
200050010010010010025
Location: North Dakota

CanCan - 2022-07-08 5:19 PM


r_beau - 2022-07-08 2:35 PM


CanCan - 2022-07-07 12:27 AM


I need drills to slow feet and make the barrel a relaxing place to be. 



Go to a Paul Humphrey clinic.



How is his different? I've done Michelle McLeod, Ed Wright, Talmadge Green, Danny Reinhardt. Nothing I learned at any of those helps this horse. I think I created this monster, so I want to fix her. I have had the guy that patterned her tune on her. She gets faster in her turns and I need her to relax. The longer we ride waiting on her to relax, the worse she gets. Treated for ulcers and is on Purina Outlast. Gets Omeprazole and guanabenz when we trailer. 


Because you don't just "do a drill". There's a reason behind every step. There's a purpose. And you are communicating and being connected to your horse the whole time. You are working on the horse's mind .... not just going through the motions of a mindless drill. That's the difference. It's not "turn the barrel". It's 2-hands on the reins to support your horse, use your inside leg to move the ribcage, use your weight on the outside seat bone to drive your horse's hocks under them, it's looking where you are going ..... all while you are just so happening to be making very specific and precise circles around the barrel. You are giving their mind something to think about. And giving the horse confidence in the process.

To control your horse, slow their feet down, and make the barrel a relaxing place to be, you need to gain control of their MIND. The drill is just the tool that you use to accomplish those things, but it's really not about the drill. 

It would also be helpful to get yourself to some generalized horsemanship clinics. Again, it's about the horse's mind. If you can get the mind to relax, then the body will follow. Without seeing you, obviously something is going on that the longer you ride, the worse she gets. Are you not releasing her cues when she does something correctly? Is she not understanding what you want? Are you riding with too much hands and not enough seat/legs?  Etc. Obviously just making guessing and assumptions there because haven't seen you ride or seen what happens.

Phil Haugen is fantastic, if you are anywhere near him. He does "barrel racing clinics" but it's not about the barrels. It's about the horse's mind. Even NFR horses lose their marbles sometimes and he's worked with lots of them to bring their minds back.

And realize, nothing is instant. You aren't going to magically go do a PH drill and your horse will be cured. It might take MONTHS. If this is very engrained, it takes time to retrain their thinking process from a fight/flight response back to the thinking side of their brain.

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CanCan
Reg. May 2004
Posted 2022-07-10 8:25 AM
Subject: RE: Relaxing drills


Military family

Keeper of the King Snake


Posts: 7613
50002000500100
Location: Dubach, LA

Thanks. This set of papers seems to come with a super reactive flight response and a tendency to be very forward and athletic as all get out. (I didn't know this was a n purchase) I've probably ruined this mare already. Can't seem to sell her either. I have so much nerve damage die to pernicious anemia, I don't think I'd ever be able to ride like what you described. I probably should make her an expensive trail horse, if I have to do all that to run barrels. 

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r_beau
Reg. Apr 2010
Posted 2022-07-11 8:44 AM
Subject: RE: Relaxing drills



Born not Made


Posts: 2930
200050010010010010025
Location: North Dakota

CanCan - 2022-07-10 8:25 AM


Thanks. This set of papers seems to come with a super reactive flight response and a tendency to be very forward and athletic as all get out. (I didn't know this was a n purchase) I've probably ruined this mare already. Can't seem to sell her either. I have so much nerve damage die to pernicious anemia, I don't think I'd ever be able to ride like what you described. I probably should make her an expensive trail horse, if I have to do all that to run barrels. 


I can't speak for your health - you know your limitations. I myself deal with pain daily - finally going to get my hip replacement this fall, so I am looking forward to that.

But when you say "if I have to do all that to run barrels" that ultimately shouldn't just apply to this horse in particular. You should strive to have all horses broke and soft, and focused. These drills and these horsemanship principles are good for ANY horse. You have to ride with your seat and legs to teach the horse to move correctly to the best of their ability.  Having that type of foundation on your horse prevents the majority of problems that barrel racers complain about.

Many barrel horses are bred to be athletic freaks of natures, and with that comes the reactive flight tendencies. Even MORE important for those horses to have a good mind between their ears.

Even "just a trail horse". It teaches them confidence to cross any obstacle, keep their mind when something scary comes along, etc etc. It's tools in the toolbox to help your horse, no matter what they do.

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