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re-training a jumper for barrel racing

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Richellehardy
Reg. Apr 2014
Posted 2014-04-23 12:30 PM
Subject: re-training a jumper for barrel racing



boon


Posts: 2
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I have a question for all who can help me out, as I have recently retired my 'A' circuit jumper and have decided to completely jump ship with him and move to western riding- particularly barrel racing (as if that wasn't obvious!), so here goes:
I have been working on the transition from the jumpers to western with my 14 year old OTTB gelding, and so far it has been going well. He has been slightly confused with the transition, as instead of having him elevate his top line and move up from behind, I had been trying to get him to do the exact opposite- this has really been our most difficult challenge at this point. Pirate (my horse) is VERY responsive to the leg and hand due to the many years in the higher end jumper rings we have competed in- however, I find him having a little bit of a difficult time- even at the trot- bending as close as possible to barrels and standards that we use for practice. I have been looking on forums and discussions that are conducted on western websites between barrel racers, and have read several times that once you are able to open the horses ribs around the barrel, then you will be able to achieve tighter turns. I have also been watching videos with top barrel racers, and it seems like they turn through the hand more than anything, with very little leg to support the inside of the rib-cage so the horse will turns faster around the barrels. My question is this: is there a particular way I should be training Pirate to get the quicker turns? 19 years of english riding and working with professional hunter & jumper trainers makes me feel like I should be using my inside leg to bend the ribs and shoulders around the barrel, and my outside leg to bring the haunches in to almost "wrap" around the barrel for the tighter turns. After watching the pro barrel racers, I've been under the impression that they just pull the horse around the barrel through the bridle- but that could be because they've done extensive training through the leg so the horse naturally now knows how to respond? I feel like a bit of a fool for asking this, but input would be great, as I really would like to get on the right track with teaching Pirate the best way to maneuver around the barrels.
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OhMax
Reg. Feb 2013
Posted 2014-04-23 12:53 PM
Subject: RE: re-training a jumper for barrel racing


Married to a Louie Lover


Posts: 3303
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I rode h/j for many years before just recently in the past few moving to barrel racing.

One you still want him moving up from behind. His rear is his motor to power around barrels and you want him to be pushing him around them not on his front end pulling himself around them. Lateral work is also very important as he needs to be responsive. Once you get up to running at speed he'll need to move off of your leg quite a bit.

Legs are important for sure. Remember when you're watching the pros you're watching very solid finished horses who are fully patterned and would run some rendition of a barrel pattern with a monkey on their back most likely. If you watch less seasoned horses run you'll see a lot more leg action on the part of the rider. You want to shape the horse by applying inside leg at the rate point and keep that shape around the barrel, turning with the outside leg, and looking at your next barrel so your shoulders and hips are cuing the turn as well. Make sure you are finishing your turns and not cheating them.

"As close as possible" to the barrels is IMO a dangerous prospective Attucks point in training. You should be working on keep forward motion, body shape, and even distance the whole way around the barrel. I prefer 2-4' away depending on the horse. You'll risk tipping too much when you start running at speed if the horse is use to being glued right to the barrel rather than learning to go around.

If you don't have someone locally who can help you out I like Sharon Camarillo's books and DVD's as I feel they walk through the pattern better than some others out there.

Oh! And welcome to the dark side, enjoy and have fun!
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