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 Veteran
Posts: 226
 
Location: Middle Tennessee | Do you work your horse the day before a rodeo or do you give him a day off? If so, how/ what do you do? |
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 Expert
Posts: 2097
Location: Deep South | For me it really depends on the horse. Is it one that could use a little pent up energy for that extra fire? They get the day off. Or is it one that needs a couple miles of long-trotting to take the edge off? Maybe it's one that's been having a slight issue on the pattern (not rating, not finishing the turn, shouldering), I'll do some very light slow work and reiterate what I've been working on with them, end on a good note without getting them frazzled. |
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boon
Posts: 2
| For me personally it depends on the week, If I have been able to give my horse some good hard work and all went well I would probably give him/her the day before off. If we still have glitches to work on, I will probably ride the day before, but never ever would I practice on the barrels. I usually do some slow work and a variety of exercise to focus on the problem with out the barrels. I hope this helps a little! |
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 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9992
 
Location: Kansas | Yes I do to keep her soft, but it's usually a light work out
Edited by hoofs_in_motion 2014-02-13 1:26 PM
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 Expert
Posts: 1857
| We keep it as routine as possible. The day after is the rest day, the day before is slow work keeping them soft and supple. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 794
| Depends on the travel time to the show. If they are going to have to ride a long way and sleep in someone else's stall I don't. I save all the energy I can for the run. |
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 Am I really the Weirdo?
Posts: 11181
Location: Kansas | My older horses usually get the day before off, especially if they're going to be running several days in a row. My sorrel horse is one I'll take for a short trail ride just because he has a lot of energy already and he needs to do slow, easy things part of the time. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 902
Location: Qld Australia | Mostly it depends on travel. If they have a long haul I am more inclined to give them a rest. More than likely though I will still give them a work out concentrating on body parts. Moving every part of their body with the minimum of effort. Keeping a routine and their body conditioned is best. I agree with whoever said the day off is the day after the rodeo.
Look at athletes, they still exercise the day before a race/game etc but not as intensely. |
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 Off the Wall Wacky
Posts: 2981
Location: Louisiana | HA, HAHA, HAHAHAHAHAA!!!!
Ride, in this weather? AHHAHAHA!! I went to a rodeo on Jan 25th and it has been so nasty and rainy that it's been too wet to ride since. Next rodeo? This Saturday. Am I worried?
Maybe LOL. My poor boy has only been turned out a couple times for fear he'll do the splits in this mud, so I expect he'll be quite silly Saturday night. As far as my actual run, I trust he'll tune in for 15-16 seconds. I don't like running him when he's been laid up, but it's not just another barrel race. I'll just make sure he's warmed up really well.
To answer your question, typically I give him the day before OFF if I get to ride the rest of the week. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 422
Location: Fort Bragg North Carolina | Since I've been riding I have always given my barrel horses the day before a rodeo off AND the day after. I feel that they deserve it when u work hard all week I feel that giving those days off are earned I want them fresh. I also don't exbition unless there's a problem. I don't like it to be a habit. This has worked for me w a variety of horses (days off that is) :)) |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1131
| dashnlotti - 2014-02-14 1:14 AM
HA, HAHA, HAHAHAHAHAA!!!!
Ride, in this weather? AHHAHAHA!! I went to a rodeo on Jan 25th and it has been so nasty and rainy that it's been too wet to ride since. Next rodeo? This Saturday. Am I worried?
Maybe LOL. My poor boy has only been turned out a couple times for fear he'll do the splits in this mud, so I expect he'll be quite silly Saturday night. As far as my actual run, I trust he'll tune in for 15-16 seconds. I don't like running him when he's been laid up, but it's not just another barrel race. I'll just make sure he's warmed up really well.
To answer your question, typically I give him the day before OFF if I get to ride the rest of the week.
This was me this winter. The only times I was able to ride my mare at all was AT races! She was so fat I had to loosen her girth AND drop her bridle a hole (yes, her head grew apparently!).
On a normal day, I work her the day before lightly just to make sure she's not gonna be crazy fresh and mad she didn't get rode. haha she does get the day after off, though. |
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 You get what you give
Posts: 13030
Location: Texas | I like to get on them the day before even if its a light work out just to make sure they feel 100%. Nothing like giving them the day off before and showing up at the race and they are off somewhere.
Also, depending on the weather- I don't have a covered arena so if the weather hasn't cooperated, sometimes I have to ride the day before to get enough rides in during the week. If I know I've put enough rides in and they've felt good all week, I won't always ride the day before but I will make sure and watch them moving turned out. |
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Regular
Posts: 87
| Usually don't give them a day off, just won't work them as long or as hard as I would regularly (instead of trotting for 15 minutes maybe only 5) and pretty much always do slow work but only walking mostly. Not very often will they get the day off before a rodeo, especially in the summer, only if the weather won't allow it. But I also don't worry if I can't ride for a month before I ran somewhere, doesn't seem to affect my horse much. But I think it would depend on the horse too whether or not they get worked before a rodeo. |
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