|
|
Veteran
Posts: 107
| How often do you work your barrel horse on the pattern or doing drills? What do you do/work on when you are not performing drills? |
|
| |
|
 Total Germophobe
Posts: 6443
  
Location: Montana | Prairie Rouge - 2017-04-23 11:41 AM How often do you work your barrel horse on the pattern or doing drills? What do you do/work on when you are not performing drills?
On my finished horse I maybe do pattern work once a month. If I'm running a lot and don't have any issues, I never do any, but if its spring and I'm just starting to get her going again, about once a month.
Now drills I view differently, because you can do all sorts of work and drills without barrels, and I do some of those exercises about every time I ride. Not always the same ones, but spirals or something of the sort. It builds her muscle and helps keep her going. |
|
| |
|
 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 595
Location: North Dakota | I don't have access to work a full pattern unless I haul somewhere. I can set up two barrels in our indoor arena so I can do a few drills that way. I mostly just ride in fields or down the road. While i go down the road or in fields, I will work on body control. Getting her feet moving, picking up her shoulder, and just generally keeping her listening and soft to the best of my abilities. Mostly her workouts are to get her into the best shape I can so she has the ability to perform. I know she is broke so not much tuning to do. |
|
| |
|
  Ms. Marine
Posts: 4641
Location: Texas | I don't. Both of my mares are ranch horses so they stay busy and mentally fresh. |
|
| |
|
 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | Prairie Rouge - 2017-04-23 12:41 PM How often do you work your barrel horse on the pattern or doing drills? What do you do/work on when you are not performing drills?
How long has your horse been running/on the pattern? |
|
| |
|
 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1079
Location: MN | My horse only requires lunging during the week but I usually like to ride at least 2 days out of the week. One day I'll pick a barrel, tire, or pole drill. Keeps him on his toes and listening. The next time I ride, Ill usually just hop on bareback with a halter and work on my core strength and his listening skills, mainly just at a walk. Just to remind him that the arena is also a relaxing place. Now...that is for a seasoned open horse.
Edited by Kay-DRacing. 2017-04-24 8:06 AM
|
|
| |
|
Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| I might do a little slow work on my rodeo horse once a week or so - usually if I'm working with my niece I'll use him to show her what I want her to do.
We try to do 2-3 days of conditioning in the pasture or down the road, I aim for at least 4 miles and use MapMyRun to track myself.
Other days we may work the pole pattern which he's green on, breakaway rope, or rope the hot heels. I really like roping on him as it keeps him freed up. |
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 107
| Southtxponygirl - 2017-04-23 2:23 PM
Prairie Rouge - 2017-04-23 12:41 PM How often do you work your barrel horse on the pattern or doing drills? What do you do/work on when you are not performing drills?
How long has your horse been running/on the pattern?
About a year. But the lady who "trained" her taught her to shoulder though so I'm trying to break her of all the bad habits she was trained to do. Its the hardest thing I've ever done with a horse... |
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 107
| OhMax - 2017-04-24 8:39 AM
I might do a little slow work on my rodeo horse once a week or so - usually if I'm working with my niece I'll use him to show her what I want her to do.
We try to do 2-3 days of conditioning in the pasture or down the road, I aim for at least 4 miles and use MapMyRun to track myself.
Other days we may work the pole pattern which he's green on, breakaway rope, or rope the hot heels. I really like roping on him as it keeps him freed up.
I really want to try roping but don't have access to steers. I could do some pasture roping on my own cattle but I have no clue how my horse or the cattle will react! I think roping would really teach her to use her butt, she was taught to be really front-endy, and I'm having a difficult time getting her to take power from her back end! |
|
| |
|
Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| Prairie Rouge - 2017-04-24 10:03 AM
OhMax - 2017-04-24 8:39 AM
I might do a little slow work on my rodeo horse once a week or so - usually if I'm working with my niece I'll use him to show her what I want her to do.
We try to do 2-3 days of conditioning in the pasture or down the road, I aim for at least 4 miles and use MapMyRun to track myself.
Other days we may work the pole pattern which he's green on, breakaway rope, or rope the hot heels. I really like roping on him as it keeps him freed up.
I really want to try roping but don't have access to steers. I could do some pasture roping on my own cattle but I have no clue how my horse or the cattle will react! I think roping would really teach her to use her butt, she was taught to be really front-endy, and I'm having a difficult time getting her to take power from her back end!
I'm pretty fortunate to be marrying into a roping family. I'm really loving the effects.
Not sure pasture roping would be the best way to go about it, but I think even just moving cattle helps mix things up. I try to stay out of the arena period for most regular rides anyway, either go down the road or to the pasture. |
|
| |
|
 Born not Made
Posts: 2937
Location: North Dakota | When I am getting them legged back up (my horses get the winter off in ND), I try to ride most every day and spend most of my time covering miles on the trail (usually do 4 to 6 miles, mostly trotting or loping), I let them breeze somewhere twice a week, and I like to do some sort of arena work at least once per week (or else twice) to get their muscles in shape for the barrel turn itself.
Once they are in shape and hauling (we usually haul every weekend), I try to breeze once a week (in the middle of the week), and I will only do arena work or drills if they need it. Otherwise, I just keep them legged up by riding on the trails. |
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 107
| r_beau - 2017-04-24 3:52 PM
When I am getting them legged back up (my horses get the winter off in ND), I try to ride most every day and spend most of my time covering miles on the trail (usually do 4 to 6 miles, mostly trotting or loping), I let them breeze somewhere twice a week, and I like to do some sort of arena work at least once per week (or else twice) to get their muscles in shape for the barrel turn itself.
Once they are in shape and hauling (we usually haul every weekend), I try to breeze once a week (in the middle of the week), and I will only do arena work or drills if they need it. Otherwise, I just keep them legged up by riding on the trails.
Great advice, thanks! |
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 107
| OhMax - 2017-04-24 1:49 PM
Prairie Rouge - 2017-04-24 10:03 AM
OhMax - 2017-04-24 8:39 AM
I might do a little slow work on my rodeo horse once a week or so - usually if I'm working with my niece I'll use him to show her what I want her to do.
We try to do 2-3 days of conditioning in the pasture or down the road, I aim for at least 4 miles and use MapMyRun to track myself.
Other days we may work the pole pattern which he's green on, breakaway rope, or rope the hot heels. I really like roping on him as it keeps him freed up.
I really want to try roping but don't have access to steers. I could do some pasture roping on my own cattle but I have no clue how my horse or the cattle will react! I think roping would really teach her to use her butt, she was taught to be really front-endy, and I'm having a difficult time getting her to take power from her back end!
I'm pretty fortunate to be marrying into a roping family. I'm really loving the effects.
Not sure pasture roping would be the best way to go about it, but I think even just moving cattle helps mix things up. I try to stay out of the arena period for most regular rides anyway, either go down the road or to the pasture.
Okay, I'll definitely try to get her moving cattle. She really seems to like that so I think it will help keep her more fresh. :) |
|
| |
|
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 489
| My older finished horses will see barrels 2-4 times per week. I don't have barrels set up in the arena - mine are in a corn field that is "over the river and through the woods" kinda deal. we may pas by the "barrel area' and walk/trot a couple and then go on to something else. Quiet slow work - occasionally I'll breeze a set to keep us both sharp if I'm not showing a lot. My guys get field/trail miles, check cows and anything else I can do to use them. I don't believe in drilling and pounding on them with barrels, but I feel that the slow quiet work on them is important to their minds. I'll also trot trainers at shows. |
|
| |
Folks on-line