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| Changing to LEFT barrel first: How long does it take on average to get a righty going to the left. Or what’s a reasonable time frame to expect. Any advice on the process is appreciated. Thanks in advance. |
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 Expert
Posts: 5290
| If they are a seasoned horse should not take any time at all. Just lope them through that direction a few times. I always pattern my horses both directions anyway. This way I can run them either way if there is an advantage to do so at an arena. |
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| I've done it often, as most of my horses run to the left.
It's really as simple as just letting them cruise through a handful of times. You'll know pretty quick if its the adjustment you need to make. I usually will work on it 2 or 3 days before making the change at a race, if they are mostly finished. |
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| Thank you. He is finished but our first barrel is his worst; I thought changing to the left might remedy that. I’m used to my horses having the first as their best and I just haven’t accomplished that with him...gotta do something different. Thanks again. |
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Location: Not Where I Want to Be | runs4fun - 2019-01-02 9:59 AM Thank you. He is finished but our first barrel is his worst; I thought changing to the left might remedy that. I’m used to my horses having the first as their best and I just haven’t accomplished that with him...gotta do something different. Thanks again.
if turning right is his worst barrel what do you hope to acomplish by making him turn right two times instead of one?
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| 1DSoon - 2019-01-02 10:44 AM runs4fun - 2019-01-02 9:59 AM Thank you. He is finished but our first barrel is his worst; I thought changing to the left might remedy that. I’m used to my horses having the first as their best and I just haven’t accomplished that with him...gotta do something different. Thanks again. if turning right is his worst barrel what do you hope to acomplish by making him turn right two times instead of one?
Because he runs at it too hard and I’m thinking If he has to slowdown to find out which direction we’re going he’ll “think” rather than just run hard. All of his barrels are good, actually, when he slows down enough for his first...blowing by it is his problem....anxiety, I think, from first owner sending him too hard too soon. And long-story-short, I’ve tried everything else and what could it hurt. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 396
Location: Iowa | I think Ashley Schafer has a good video on this on trainingbarrelhorses.com! |
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 Born not Made
Posts: 2930
Location: North Dakota | With mine, I don't think he even noticed.
....and I may have ran the wrong way one time, LOL. I started my Shotgun to the left, because at the time, that is what worked better for him. I went to a couple barrel racing clinics and actually went the wrong way (right barrel first) when we made our "real run" at the end of the clinic. I kinda got caught up in all the drills and watching everyone else go, I just plumb spaced it out. And my horse didn't skip a beat. Ran him the rest of the year to the right barrel first.
Then this year, I switched him back to the left barrel mid-way through the season. And he's doing better that way.
But I think he could really care less which way we go. LOL
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 Am I really the Weirdo?
Posts: 11181
Location: Kansas | I don't think it takes too long to switch a seasoned finished horse.
My 26 year old ran to the right with me, but occasionally I'd send him left to switch things up and get him running more freely. He never got a tuning run or cruise through to the left....I just pointed him that way and rolled with it!
At the start of 2017, he joined the youth ranks with a timid 11 year old. She was used to going left with her pony, and one day walking the pattern, she headed left with Joker. Her mom started to stop her, and I thought, No, let's see if that works for them. It ended up being a great fix for her because he had to think about hunting first instead of just running, and they had some successful runs to start the season. In about July, they switched him back to the right and the girl was able to ride him more effectively going his normal direction. I still believe that horse would run to the left if she pointed him that way. |
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 Reaching for the stars....
Posts: 12704
| My rocket mare had to switch due to a ducking issue casued by a stifle issue. I think it was under 60 days and she was back in competition. We had only 1 faster run to the right than to the left! |
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