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Riding ex Reiner's as barrel horses

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Last activity 2017-06-30 11:33 AM
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stef73433
Reg. Jun 2005
Posted 2017-06-25 8:18 AM
Subject: Riding ex Reiner's as barrel horses


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Anyone have an ex Reiner? Pros and cons to putting them on the barrels? Or maybe tips and tricks would be more appropriate..
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FLITASTIC
Reg. Jun 2012
Posted 2017-06-25 9:18 AM
Subject: RE: Riding ex Reiner's as barrel horses



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I've had a few. They are extremely broke and learn the pattern extremely quick. The BIGGEST thing I notice about them is they listen to every tiny tiny body move you make and every little thing you do with your hands !!! Lol they are not very forgiving. Lol but if your used to riding super broke horses your good! I personally like a broke horse but I do not want to have to worry about every tiny little thing. During a run. lol I like former cutters better.
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bccanchaser16
Reg. Jan 2007
Posted 2017-06-25 12:15 PM
Subject: RE: Riding ex Reiner's as barrel horses



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FLITASTIC - 2017-06-25 7:18 AM I've had a few. They are extremely broke and learn the pattern extremely quick. The BIGGEST thing I notice about them is they listen to every tiny tiny body move you make and every little thing you do with your hands !!! Lol they are not very forgiving. Lol but if your used to riding super broke horses your good! I personally like a broke horse but I do not want to have to worry about every tiny little thing. During a run. lol I like former cutters better.

 I'd have to agree with this. Mine is a finished reiner. Next time I'll go for a cutter reject before going to an ex-reiner to start on the pattern.
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jbhoot
Reg. Jan 2010
Posted 2017-06-25 12:47 PM
Subject: RE: Riding ex Reiner's as barrel horses



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If you can ride with legs and not with hands the transition will be much easier.
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livexlovexrodeo
Reg. Oct 2009
Posted 2017-06-25 1:29 PM
Subject: RE: Riding ex Reiner's as barrel horses



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Sometimes they can be hard to get to really move out.

Another thing when looking at them as a prospect is sometimes people mistake their agility and responsiveness as being fast. Being able to spin and rollback doesn't always equate to having actual speed.
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shaunar
Reg. Oct 2003
Posted 2017-06-25 4:16 PM
Subject: RE: Riding ex Reiner's as barrel horses



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jbhoot - 2017-06-25 12:47 PM If you can ride with legs and not with hands the transition will be much easier.

This exactly.  I am struggling with my ex-reiner's "brokeness."  If I could only handcuff my hands to the saddle (which I won't do), she would work extremely well off my legs alone. But, she is showing promise and hopefully I will get with her program, too.
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hammer_time
Reg. Jul 2007
Posted 2017-06-25 4:50 PM
Subject: RE: Riding ex Reiner's as barrel horses



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bccanchaser16 - 2017-06-25 10:15 AM
FLITASTIC - 2017-06-25 7:18 AM I've had a few. They are extremely broke and learn the pattern extremely quick. The BIGGEST thing I notice about them is they listen to every tiny tiny body move you make and every little thing you do with your hands !!! Lol they are not very forgiving. Lol but if your used to riding super broke horses your good! I personally like a broke horse but I do not want to have to worry about every tiny little thing. During a run. lol I like former cutters better.
 I'd have to agree with this. Mine is a finished reiner. Next time I'll go for a cutter reject before going to an ex-reiner to start on the pattern.

 Same.  You ride more with your body and stay off the face.  I'd like to try the cutter reject next. But I will say mine was wicked athletic and had snappy turns.  He could also haul @ss.  
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flyingcolors
Reg. Aug 2005
Posted 2017-06-26 12:19 PM
Subject: RE: Riding ex Reiner's as barrel horses



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I have had a couple of them and LOVE them.  They know how to move off your legs and seat.
Usually they have the hock set to get up under themselves and are very handy. 
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stef73433
Reg. Jun 2005
Posted 2017-06-26 1:04 PM
Subject: RE: Riding ex Reiner's as barrel horses


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A friend has one that he's asked me to start on barrels. I have nothing to lose by trying it and I made no promises. I would not normally pick a horse so broke because I do think you need to be precise when riding them, but I know some that make jam up barrel horses.

Do you move them right from reining pen to barrels or do you give them general ride time to adjust to new cues and demands of barrel horses. In other words to you need to undo or redo and training to make them understand barrel racing cures better if that makes sense.

I do know a couple people who may be able to help me and walk through this process better, but you guys are always helpful too!
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jbhoot
Reg. Jan 2010
Posted 2017-06-26 7:22 PM
Subject: RE: Riding ex Reiner's as barrel horses



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stef73433 - 2017-06-26 1:04 PM

A friend has one that he's asked me to start on barrels. I have nothing to lose by trying it and I made no promises. I would not normally pick a horse so broke because I do think you need to be precise when riding them, but I know some that make jam up barrel horses.

Do you move them right from reining pen to barrels or do you give them general ride time to adjust to new cues and demands of barrel horses. In other words to you need to undo or redo and training to make them understand barrel racing cures better if that makes sense.

I do know a couple people who may be able to help me and walk through this process better, but you guys are always helpful too!

I raised and showed reiner's for 25 years and have changed a bunch over to barrel racers. I am not saying I know everything about this but I will relay what I did. Here are some things to keep in mind. reiner's come in all different sizes and skill levels. If the horse is a pro level open horse and you are not able to ride that level don't even try to convert it will end badly. Must people can ride a non pro horse and they are easier to covert because they are a little more forgiving. Reiner rejects are a lot easier because they know the basic's but never reached the level of a true reiner for what ever reason. I always go back to a o ring and a training fork and split reins and ride them two handed. This is how most reiner's are stated and it is going back to basic's for them. Most are pretty easy to start on the pattern because they will go anywhere that you put them. You can have them trotting a nice pattern in a few days. The next stage going to the lope on pattern will be the hardest for most people because unless you can kept your legs quite and your butt still you will be sending all kinds of mixed signals to the horse. A reiner is trained to move away from pressure from your legs. So when you approach a barrel have your leading foot and your café ahead of your chinch keep your off leg still and just behind the chinch. As you set up to turn a barrel set down and put more pressure in your sturups pick up your inside rein a plow rein the horse around the can. Point your hands at the next can and push with legs with equal pressure. After about 30 days you should be loping a pretty good set. At this point you should be able to change your head gear and go back to riding one handed. The rest is just like any other barrel horse speed comes from time in the saddle. Good luck I hope this helped.
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BrightEyes
Reg. Aug 2015
Posted 2017-06-27 12:49 AM
Subject: RE: Riding ex Reiner's as barrel horses


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Most of them are too sensitive and not forgiving enough for me.
And the ones I have ridden tend to be a little stiffer in the turn than I like.
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shaunar
Reg. Oct 2003
Posted 2017-06-27 7:48 AM
Subject: RE: Riding ex Reiner's as barrel horses



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Not trying to hijack this thread, but I have an off and on problem with my ex-reiner on the second barrel. She will go into the turn great, then about 3/4 of the way around she will start pulling away from my direct rein and go sideways.  I am wondering what I am doing - maybe pushing with my inside foot, but I don't think so.

I am also wondering if it is just because she is not changing leads sometimes between the first and second barrel unless I actually cue her to change leads.  I have to pay more attention and see if she is actually on the left lead at the second barrel or not.  I know I have to get off her head in the turn, but I am really stumped about why she goes sideways when I pull.  This is with different bits and with less pulling, more of my outside foot, etc., etc.  She has done this turn correctly several times even in competition and her third barrel turn is always very good.  Don't have a video, unfortunately.
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r_beau
Reg. Apr 2010
Posted 2017-06-27 2:08 PM
Subject: RE: Riding ex Reiner's as barrel horses



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I've been sending my horses to the reining trainer for 30 days every spring. I love it. They are not full-blown reining horses but they stay so much more broke. And then we go ride with him here and there throughout the summer. Just got my younger horse going on flying lead changes for the first time; my other horse is getting pretty darn solid on them. Both can do a nice spin but I don't ask (nor want) the speed a real reiner has.

Only exception on my guys is I have NOT taught them a sliding stop. I run my older horse in rim shoes. You don't exactly want them to try to slide in those .......

I love having my horses so broke, so I'd probably jump at the chance to try a reining horse through the barrels! But agreed -- you have to be able to ride them.



 
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Nobody
Reg. Sep 2005
Posted 2017-06-27 2:44 PM
Subject: RE: Riding ex Reiner's as barrel horses


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My ex-reining horse is retired now, but he was so fun to run barrels on. As someone above stated - quickness does not equate to speed and he was not fast but would run the prettiest pattern. Oddly enough, it took him until he was about age 10 to really lock on to the first barrel. He was push button on 2nd and 3rd, but was known to run to the wall on the first.  Finally had to put a tie down on him and that is when he started working the first (don't let anyone tell you a horse is not broke if he has to use a tie down!!). Now I have a cutting reject and am struggling with over rating.  
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flyingcolors
Reg. Aug 2005
Posted 2017-06-28 5:21 PM
Subject: RE: Riding ex Reiner's as barrel horses



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I took them out and started with cork screws, counter bends and rating when you sit; not stopping.  From there it depends on the horse. 
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wishingforsun
Reg. Apr 2012
Posted 2017-06-28 6:25 PM
Subject: RE: Riding ex Reiner's as barrel horses




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shaunar - 2017-06-27 5:48 AM Not trying to hijack this thread, but I have an off and on problem with my ex-reiner on the second barrel. She will go into the turn great, then about 3/4 of the way around she will start pulling away from my direct rein and go sideways.  I am wondering what I am doing - maybe pushing with my inside foot, but I don't think so.



I am also wondering if it is just because she is not changing leads sometimes between the first and second barrel unless I actually cue her to change leads.  I have to pay more attention and see if she is actually on the left lead at the second barrel or not.  I know I have to get off her head in the turn, but I am really stumped about why she goes sideways when I pull.  This is with different bits and with less pulling, more of my outside foot, etc., etc.  She has done this turn correctly several times even in competition and her third barrel turn is always very good.  Don't have a video, unfortunately.

 Are you dropping your hip?  That is what is sounds like to me.

I love reiners and have ridden with a reining/cowhorse trainer for most of my life.  Years ago, I had a mare that I got just too sensitive/broke - I ended up spending a couple weeks de-sensitizing her to my movements and it made a huge difference. Not sure if that would work on a more finished reiner but it really helped that mare.
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shaunar
Reg. Oct 2003
Posted 2017-06-28 9:14 PM
Subject: RE: Riding ex Reiner's as barrel horses



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wishingforsun - 2017-06-28 6:25 PM
shaunar - 2017-06-27 5:48 AM Not trying to hijack this thread, but I have an off and on problem with my ex-reiner on the second barrel. She will go into the turn great, then about 3/4 of the way around she will start pulling away from my direct rein and go sideways.  I am wondering what I am doing - maybe pushing with my inside foot, but I don't think so.



I am also wondering if it is just because she is not changing leads sometimes between the first and second barrel unless I actually cue her to change leads.  I have to pay more attention and see if she is actually on the left lead at the second barrel or not.  I know I have to get off her head in the turn, but I am really stumped about why she goes sideways when I pull.  This is with different bits and with less pulling, more of my outside foot, etc., etc.  She has done this turn correctly several times even in competition and her third barrel turn is always very good.  Don't have a video, unfortunately.
 Are you dropping your hip?  That is what is sounds like to me.



I love reiners and have ridden with a reining/cowhorse trainer for most of my life.  Years ago, I had a mare that I got just too sensitive/broke - I ended up spending a couple weeks de-sensitizing her to my movements and it made a huge difference. Not sure if that would work on a more finished reiner but it really helped that mare.

Hmmm, it's possible that I'm dropping my hip, not sure.  I will have to pay attention and see.  Just worked on single barrels lined up in a row, turning mostly lefts and a few rights.  The right turns were great but the left was the same sideways pull.  We did check her after I rode her and she is VERY sore in her left lumbar area and SI.  I'm thinking chiropractor tomorrow or as soon as possible and go from there, but I really will see if I am dropping my hip.  Thank you.
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hammer_time
Reg. Jul 2007
Posted 2017-06-29 3:21 PM
Subject: RE: Riding ex Reiner's as barrel horses



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Nobody - 2017-06-27 12:44 PM

My ex-reining horse is retired now, but he was so fun to run barrels on. As someone above stated - quickness does not equate to speed and he was not fast but would run the prettiest pattern. Oddly enough, it took him until he was about age 10 to really lock on to the first barrel. He was push button on 2nd and 3rd, but was known to run to the wall on the first.  Finally had to put a tie down on him and that is when he started working the first (don't let anyone tell you a horse is not broke if he has to use a tie down!!). Now I have a cutting reject and am struggling with over rating.  

That's how mine was. He'd inhale the first at home and blow by at races. I chalked it up to him hating it and hurting somewhere. He never was lame so I continued to rope calves on him and he liked that much better. Lo and behold about seven years after I pull him off the barrels and he's had 3 easy years of doing nothing he's showing a chip in the right knee which would maybe explain to him not want to turn the first all those years...or could have happened recently....I'll never know!
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epoh
Reg. Dec 2007
Posted 2017-06-30 11:03 AM
Subject: RE: Riding ex Reiner's as barrel horses



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I'd consider myself a decent rider and they are hard to ride. They listen to even the slightest movement of your body, hand placement, and legs. I've had a lot of trouble with mine (and have seen others with this issue) of hitting barrels. If you can get a clean pattern they are super good.
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2H~QH
Reg. Jul 2014
Posted 2017-06-30 11:33 AM
Subject: RE: Riding ex Reiner's as barrel horses



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r_beau - 2017-06-27 1:08 PM I've been sending my horses to the reining trainer for 30 days every spring. I love it. They are not full-blown reining horses but they stay so much more broke. And then we go ride with him here and there throughout the summer. Just got my younger horse going on flying lead changes for the first time; my other horse is getting pretty darn solid on them. Both can do a nice spin but I don't ask (nor want) the speed a real reiner has.



Only exception on my guys is I have NOT taught them a sliding stop. I run my older horse in rim shoes. You don't exactly want them to try to slide in those .......



I love having my horses so broke, so I'd probably jump at the chance to try a reining horse through the barrels! But agreed -- you have to be able to ride them.






 

Agree with most of the posters above that a show horse will likely not be the best bet.....they can do it but it will take a long long longgggg time to get the slow and pretty out of them. Even a non-pro show horse I would really hesitate to. And keep in mind that even a non-pro show horse will be bred to move like a show horse not a barrel racer.

That said, I am having lot of luck with the ones that were never showed. It still takes a lot of time to get them used to moving out and forward rather than round and slow all the time. My husband and I train and show both reiners and barrel horses so I that is usually what I have to pick from LOL.

I quoted this post because all my barrel horses also were trained to stop properly (i.e. sliding stop as highlighted above) but I've actually had good success with them coming into a barrel like this. Of course they don't slide 10 ft into the barrel but I find it is so much easier to get them rating, and then that hock is already way up underneath their belly for that first "dig in" stride to start heading to the next barrel. You are right, you don't want a rim shoe on the back though!! I have had good luck with a shoe called an "Improved extra" that has a wider, almost plate like design that allows that back foot to float on the dirt a little bit so they can slide a little, but it has a nice inner edge that also allows them to grab the dirt for that first stride out.

 
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