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Member
Posts: 27
| hello so here is my story, i have been riding my hole life my back ground is mostly hunter jumpers and team sorting, i was started English so my riding style really leans that direction i recently bought my first barrel horse and he is more horse then what should have got for my first but we are dealing with it and im learning pretty quick after changing up a lot of things including bits and tie downs i can now say i can make it all the way around the pattern!!! but here is where my newest problem lies..... the gate!!!!! it makes me nervous! witch of course makes my horse act up! he never refuses to go actually its the opposite! i have to hold him back going in and it makes him upset. so if he goes to the first one too fast he will blow the turn so recently trying to focus on my turns and not my speed iv been holding him back to first. but now he has learned that if he does this like little half rear/ set on my but and launch myself forward to run in it makes me unbalanced and i let go of his mouth by the time i can get him pulled up we are already at the first barrel so im just trying to stay in the saddle by that point. it got to the point where this last week i hand walked him in and got on in the pen and loped a little circle before going to the pattern.it made my times drop by a hole second but my turns were great! but it also made people talk and made me less confident in my situation. so how do i calm my own nerves? and how do i learn to rate my speed going to the first? any tips or helpful hints are appreciated!
thanks so much! | |
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Expert
Posts: 1611
  
| Get lessons from someone in your area.
Heres some tips though:
Your horse needs to be calm in the gate. When they drag take him to the gate and park him there, throw the reins away and let him rest there. You work everywhere else and rest in the gate. Stay out of his mouth in the gate. Most ppl back the mistake of getting ready too soon. They get a hold of the horse and the horse gets up and ready...learn not to get ready until your in the alley. Focus on being calm cool and act like nothing is going on.
Another thing ppl do is "hide" them from the gate. Your creating a horse that is a bear to get in and is dangerous. Exhibitions are a good time to practice this slow work. Exhibitions are not for run run run its to work on slow calm cool and relaxed. Keeps their mind sane and sound when your not hy-oh slivering it 24/7! | |
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 Husband Spoiler
Posts: 4151
Location: North Dakota | astreakinchic - 2015-05-14 1:11 PM Get lessons from someone in your area. Heres some tips though: Your horse needs to be calm in the gate. When they drag take him to the gate and park him there, throw the reins away and let him rest there. You work everywhere else and rest in the gate. Stay out of his mouth in the gate. Most ppl back the mistake of getting ready too soon. They get a hold of the horse and the horse gets up and ready...learn not to get ready until your in the alley. Focus on being calm cool and act like nothing is going on. Another thing ppl do is "hide" them from the gate. Your creating a horse that is a bear to get in and is dangerous. Exhibitions are a good time to practice this slow work. Exhibitions are not for run run run its to work on slow calm cool and relaxed. Keeps their mind sane and sound when your not hy-oh slivering it 24/7!
^This! Also be sure that when you ask your horse to "go" you don't then hold them back and confuse them. I see this a lot. Rider is up and asking the horse to go but when the horse gets set to take off the rider holds them back with the reins but yet kicks them forward. When you are ready to send your horse BE READY for the take off and let that horse go! Don't give them mixed signals.
Also once you have run head back to the gate/alley when they are dragging, get off, loosen your cinch, and pet your horse. | |
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Husband Spoiler
Posts: 4151
Location: North Dakota | Some relaxation tips...
Relax your tongue.
Relax your feet.
Breath in through the nose and out though the mouth. Deep breaths.
Concentrate on what YOU need to do not on your horse, not on what could happen, not on the people watching, not on anything but what your job is. Just thinking about where you need to look, where to put your hands, etc. Do not worry about anything you cannot control and only on what you can which is your riding. | |
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 Veteran
Posts: 232
Location: Winging It in KY | Just Bring It - 2015-05-14 2:26 PM astreakinchic - 2015-05-14 1:11 PM Get lessons from someone in your area. Heres some tips though: Your horse needs to be calm in the gate. When they drag take him to the gate and park him there, throw the reins away and let him rest there. You work everywhere else and rest in the gate. Stay out of his mouth in the gate. Most ppl back the mistake of getting ready too soon. They get a hold of the horse and the horse gets up and ready...learn not to get ready until your in the alley. Focus on being calm cool and act like nothing is going on. Another thing ppl do is "hide" them from the gate. Your creating a horse that is a bear to get in and is dangerous. Exhibitions are a good time to practice this slow work. Exhibitions are not for run run run its to work on slow calm cool and relaxed. Keeps their mind sane and sound when your not hy-oh slivering it 24/7! ^This! Also be sure that when you ask your horse to "go" you don't then hold them back and confuse them. I see this a lot. Rider is up and asking the horse to go but when the horse gets set to take off the rider holds them back with the reins but yet kicks them forward. When you are ready to send your horse BE READY for the take off and let that horse go! Don't give them mixed signals.
Also once you have run head back to the gate/alley when they are dragging, get off, loosen your cinch, and pet your horse.
I agree with both posters. You should really seek help from someone that is knowledgeable about barrel horses. They can help you both through this issue.
Secondly, you have to make the alleyway "A Happy Place" for both horse and rider. If you are nervous and tense, your horse will be the same. I agree with Just Bring It. Go back to the alley after your run, during the drag and take a breath, dismount, loosen your saddle, pet your horse, then walk back to the trailer. | |
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Rad Dork
Posts: 5218
Location: Oklahoma | Try walking with one hand on the rein. This makes the biggest difference on my gelding. Two handed and he's ready to rock and roll... if I switch to just one hand he calms way down. | |
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  Shipwrecked and Flat Out Zapped
Posts: 16390
Location: DUMPING CATS AND PIGS IN TEXAS :) | I raced for the first time in 20 years two weekends ago.....and, my previous race experience was limited, untrained...didn't know anything. Anyhow, I knew there was no chance to win or even come close. I knew people would probably laugh at me because I ran so slow and I almost let that bother me....but, then, I asked myself, "how bad to you want to do this?" And, my answer was that I really, really wanted to and I wanted to have fun with my family. And, just like that, I didn't care what anyone else thought or if we plowed down all three barrels. I glued a big smile on my face and said, "I'm about to run the barrels!!"
Take the pressure off of yourself. It's barrel racing, not brain surgery. It's supposed to be fun and exciting. Relax. Drink a beer if you have to. Lord knows, I do. Walk in the alley before the whole thing starts and mentally envision the path you will take when you come in there. Pick your turning spots. Heck, walk them, if you have to. And, just try to do better everytime. Relax....smile and have FUN! | |
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