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Elite Veteran
Posts: 762
  
Location: NC | 15 yr old gelding. 1st year hes really running. Not sure on his backround since bought from dealer. I have had him about 3 yrs but never really ran him till this year. Hes been doing great although a bit slow plus we have been working with a trainer. Last weekend i ran him in a diff saddle then usual after taking a lesson in it, in which he worked great. He ran straight into the 2nd at the show. 1st and 3rd were great and he clocked really well. Thought maybe saddle was bothering him. Switched back to original saddle this weekend. Ran last night and we knocked the 2nd leaving and he was almost a second slower then weekend before. The issue is in the original saddle he doesnt feel like hes striding out but we have turns. In the new saddle he feels free-r but his 2nd wasnt like him. Wanted to take a lesson last week but my truck decided my bank account was feeling good and lost the TCM.
What does everyone see please? Will post runs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZjQ5i9KNpw last weekend
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPiQr8ynUps this weekend
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgDyMRQRD38 lesson from about 2 weeks ago |
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 Veteran
Posts: 110
| I'm not sure about the saddle fit. Maybe attach pics? As for your runs, the way he moves sort of jerkily and doesn't quite "commit" all the way to the turns, I think he looks kind of uncertain about what you're asking of him. I think you need to ride him more decisively. For example, in your second video, first barrel, you are not riding like it's a turn. I think it would help him if you gathered him up and rolled your hips a little more. You rode your third barrel much better. You found your seat, picked him up, and positioned him nicely. I think you should practice going through the barrels slowly, and just focus on your timing and positioning. I like his style and you are a good rider, just a few things to work out  |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
 
| The few things I would change would be ...
On the second video first barrel you gave him too much pocket, I would only give him a 2 foot pocket.
The third video, you started turning too soon, and his shoulder got in the way of leaving first nicely. I wouldn't start turning him until my leg was by the barrel.
For the second barrel
The first video he did something funny between 1 and 2 and this caused him to not be in the correct position. I almost think a smaller shank may benefit this horse.
The second video you cut of your back side pocket which made him have to bow out. Try and google a 3 point barrel turn this will help describe it.
The third video you asked him to turn too soon on the second as well. I don't lift my horses on the face to keep them out, I drive them with my legs, and bum to keep them in the correct position. I would work on driving him into the turns a little more, and using more leg to keep the shape. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 762
Location: NC | Thank you both!
He currently runs in a jr cow bit and a tie down. Still did make an appt with a lameness vet for monday just to check him over |
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 Born not Made
Posts: 2937
Location: North Dakota | Never hurts to check them over with the vet, but I think it's more training. On your first two videos, he's really unsure coming to the first barrel and you are inconsistent on where you place him. On one run you came in really wide and the next you way over-turned it coming out. To me, it looks like he's trying.
Second barrel looks like he is anticipating. He's coming in with that shoulder and you're trying to stop him by taking his nose to the outside, which just makes it worse. Work on using your legs to control him, teach him to counter-arc, and make him wait to start that turn. If he starts the turn too soon he's either going to hit it going in, or hit it coming out.
Your 3rd barrel wasn't too bad on the one run, and the other looked like he wasn't ready for it.
So to me, just looks like he's learning and you have a couple holes to fix. He looks nice-- just needs the jockey to fix it. ;-)
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 516
| I will second what Cheryl said about driving with your legs more. It will make a world of difference! |
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 Saint Stacey
| I only really watched the first video. You need to watch it and pause frame by frame so you can see what you are doing wrong.
On first, you are already at the horn and letting the horse turn before you barely cross the timer. You have basically put him on auto pilot and have no control over where he goes. Your pocket was too big due to this and he sliced over the top of the barrel. When leaving the barrel, you are still pulling his head right and you have your left leg in him so he keeps going where you are telling him. So you are half way across the pen before you get him lined out.
On second, you sit down. But instead of being centered, you have your weight to the inside. He's following that weight so you tip his nose to the right which drives his shoulder even harder towards that barrel. You then look down at the barrel and he goes right where you look. Whenever you hit a barrel going in, it's ALWAYS jockey error.
On third, you finally get serious and ride two handed into your turn. He gets by it a stride simply because your timing was off. That's an easy fix.
On first, focus on where you need to be and ride two handed. Your pocket should be 8'-10' on the line between one and two. Yours was closer to 20' I'd guess. Round the top of your turn so that on the topside of the barrel, you are about 6' away. Then you end up right next to it on your departure so you have a straight line. Get two handed ASAP and make sure you are square in your saddle, not to the inside.
On second, if anything be slightly outside. I like a 3 stride second barrel so we hold our horses straight until their shoulder is even with the barrel and then let them turn. Don't look down at the barrel and don't tip the nose outside. Tip the nose inside and hold off with your weight slightly in the outside stirrup and use your inside leg to get him by. Then let off the inside and finish the turn with the outside. Think of it as closing one door and opening another so the horse has a place to go.
On third, you just needed to check and sit maybe half a stride earlier. |
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Saint Stacey
| I watched the other two. You simply need to ride him at a show like you did in your lesson. You were square in the saddle, you weren't leaning, you had nice pockets, you weren't slicing first, you drove him straight up into second, etc. Watch your lesson video over and over, copying what you do in that video with your weight and hands as you watch it. Set a saddle up in front of the TV and train your muscle memory. Sounds corny, but it works. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 762
Location: NC | Just wanted to update. Took him to vet today and vet found his hocks to be hurting. Injected them and well go from there. Thank you to everyone for advice! |
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