How often to work a horse on the pattern

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How often to work a horse on the pattern Moderators: luluwhit, gotothewhip, cindyt, crossspur, ForumAdmin Jump to page :	Last activity 2015-11-07 7:36 PM 6 replies, 2838 views View previous thread :: View next thread
General Discussion -> Barrel Talk


RunninOnARooster Reg. Nov 2006	Posted 2015-11-07 9:01 AM Subject: How often to work a horse on the pattern
Expert Posts: 1410 Location: Peach State	I have a young horse who has 60 days with trainer on him. I have area where I can cruise him through at home (I wouldn't say the ground is deep enough to push a horse) but he was being rode 5days a week and I can usually ride 3/4 days a week. I want him to continue to progress over the year and get seasoned. I ride in the pasture now a good bit on my finished horse he hardly ever sees the pattern at home. Just looking for some good ideas to balance out time on the pattern so he doesn't get burned out.
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SKM Reg. Dec 2003	Posted 2015-11-07 9:13 AM Subject: RE: How often to work a horse on the pattern
Saint Stacey	You can accomplish more by simply walking the pattern than anything else. It gets them consistent and you don't get the burn out. It's nothing for us to walk a pattern 20+ times in a session. For every 1 time through fast, we walk 20 or more depending on the horse. It also creates muscle memory in the rider too. On a young horse we do this about every other day. We also pasture ride them.
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luvropin Reg. Jan 2011	Posted 2015-11-07 6:57 PM Subject: RE: How often to work a horse on the pattern
Elite Veteran Posts: 1100 Location: Southeastern Idaho	This is a great question. As a roper I know nothing about how often to work a barrel horse on the pattern either. We have a high school girl borrowing one of our horses to run barrels and poles. She is doing very well so far but I have wondered how often do we work the pattern on an older horse? No real issues other than finishing that second barrel, rider wants to two hand her out of it and gets thrown back and checks the mare up. What would be suggested for how to work her and keep her fresh between rodeos?
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streakysox Reg. Jul 2008	Posted 2015-11-07 7:23 PM Subject: RE: How often to work a horse on the pattern
Take a Picture Posts: 12841	luvropin - 2015-11-07 6:57 PM This is a great question. As a roper I know nothing about how often to work a barrel horse on the pattern either. We have a high school girl borrowing one of our horses to run barrels and poles. She is doing very well so far but I have wondered how often do we work the pattern on an older horse? No real issues other than finishing that second barrel, rider wants to two hand her out of it and gets thrown back and checks the mare up. What would be suggested for how to work her and keep her fresh between rodeos? Tell the rider to get one hand on the saddle horn to pull herself toward so she is not lugging on the horse's head. A finished horse does not need a lot of work on the barrels. The biggest help would be for the young rider to go to a clinic. Best way to keep a young rider from developing bad habits.
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streakysox Reg. Jul 2008	Posted 2015-11-07 7:26 PM Subject: RE: How often to work a horse on the pattern
Take a Picture Posts: 12841	RunninOnARooster - 2015-11-07 9:01 AM I have a young horse who has 60 days with trainer on him. I have area where I can cruise him through at home (I wouldn't say the ground is deep enough to push a horse) but he was being rode 5days a week and I can usually ride 3/4 days a week. I want him to continue to progress over the year and get seasoned. I ride in the pasture now a good bit on my finished horse he hardly ever sees the pattern at home. Just looking for some good ideas to balance out time on the pattern so he doesn't get burned out. My trainer lopes big circles around the arena then big circles around the barrels. Excellent way to teach lead changes.
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luvropin Reg. Jan 2011	Posted 2015-11-07 7:32 PM Subject: RE: How often to work a horse on the pattern
Elite Veteran Posts: 1100 Location: Southeastern Idaho	Thank you, I will keep trying to get her to hang onto that horn the whole way. A clinic is a great idea, I will start looking to see what is in our area. This little gal really wants to learn and is clicking with our mare. Fun to watch them. I was thinking the mare didn't need much pattern work, just riding to stay in shape. Thanks for sharing!
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Southtxponygirl Reg. Nov 2006	Posted 2015-11-07 7:36 PM Subject: RE: How often to work a horse on the pattern
A Somebody to Everybody Posts: 41354 Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas	streakysox - 2015-11-07 7:26 PM RunninOnARooster - 2015-11-07 9:01 AM I have a young horse who has 60 days with trainer on him. I have area where I can cruise him through at home (I wouldn't say the ground is deep enough to push a horse) but he was being rode 5days a week and I can usually ride 3/4 days a week. I want him to continue to progress over the year and get seasoned. I ride in the pasture now a good bit on my finished horse he hardly ever sees the pattern at home. Just looking for some good ideas to balance out time on the pattern so he doesn't get burned out. My trainer lopes big circles around the arena then big circles around the barrels. Excellent way to teach lead changes. Hummm, I like this, going to have to try this on my slow learner
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