|
|
Veteran
Posts: 120
| I started barrel racing competitively in November of last year when I bought a horse with about 6 months of barrel training. Lately he has been getting more confident and finding more speed which is causing him to go by the barrels if I don't really check him up. At the race today I tried checking him and he completely ignored me, grabbed the bit, and ran all the way to the fence on first and second. I will be going back to the basics with slow work, but I'm curious as to what a good competition bit would be that gives me more control when going fast. Any advice would be helpful! I am currently running him in a Cervi short shank twisted wire dog bone. Thanks!! |
|
| |
|
 Take a Picture
Posts: 12841
   
| This really is not a bit issue but a training issue. Do not go any faster than you can control the horse. I don't care how fast the horse wants to go, make him go the speed that you want to go. keep it slower and speed up very slowly when he has it down |
|
| |
|
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 477
Location: Lost in the swamps | ^^^^^^this. He has to learn to rate and prepare for the turn. Throttle him back down to a slower speed where you can control him. And until you can feel him rate almost on his own. Reitterate rate with your butt, and your posture,and your voice. A low toned whoa or easy,( don't scream at him.) not just checking with your hands. And a lot of slow work at home at a relaxed pace shaping and having him hunt those barrels. |
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 120
| I'll definitely be going back and teaching rate because it appears that he was never taught that early in his training because we are sort of falling apart with him finding his speed. One day we will have a beautiful run and the next its a mess! haha I just feel that having a slightly stronger bit would be helpful for instances if I do need to pick up on him during a run. |
|
| |
|
Elite Veteran
Posts: 629
| My favorite exercise for teaching rate to get to where you can add speed is straight lines, I think some people call them sprints. We make the arena more narrow by bringing in our long sides. We lope around down two long sides, then I will kiss and give them their head on the 3rd run down, when we reach the end (or however long you think it will take to bring him back), sit down, pick up your reins, and bring him back to a lope. Lope 2 more lines, then let him go. You can go more or less than 2, to change it up so they don't start anticipating the 3rd line running. I've also done it straight across fields when I know I've got brakes, but to reiterate it later on. Start off loping, let them go, then bringing them back, then let go.
I love the bit I've found for my mare, and its an O-ring combo. Not a lot of shank, but she prefers me to stay out of her mouth, but really listens to the nose band. I like how it helps me take a hold of her face without having to stay in her mouth because it's sharing the pressure between her nose and the bit. |
|
| |
|
| nicole.b - 2015-07-12 11:15 PM
I'll definitely be going back and teaching rate because it appears that he was never taught that early in his training because we are sort of falling apart with him finding his speed. One day we will have a beautiful run and the next its a mess! haha I just feel that having a slightly stronger bit would be helpful for instances if I do need to pick up on him during a run.
Your bit is plenty strong |
|
| |
Folks on-line