Zanadoo88 - 2015-03-27 1:35 PM Hello all! Thank you for all of your responses. I have made an appointment for my mare for next Tuesday to get all checked out. I thought I would continue light riding and working on getting on shape but no small circles or anything super strenuous or taxing until I get the ok from the vet. Does that sound like a plan???

Zanadoo88 - 2015-03-27 4:50 PM So if she isn't very broke what should I do? Should I stop barrel work?

Zanadoo88 - 2015-03-27 4:50 PM So if she isn't very broke what should I do? Should I stop barrel work?

geronabean - 2015-03-29 3:50 PM

I think there is some good and could be improved going on here.
First I do think she is broke enough to be doing what you are asking of her. She's broke in the poll, switching leads, good body position, going where you put her, etc.

I train a bit different than you however, so my could be improved(s) come from that.
I am not a fan of hand riding them thru 100% of the time. I like to show them how to turn off the pattern then let their heads alone on the pattern unless I am helping them at a certain point. It makes for a much more confident barrel horse. You hand ride the entire ride, keep her collected up and are making all the decisions. Her tail wring at #2 and head shake at #3 could certainly be from being held so long/much. I have a mare that doesnt respond well to this either. If you hold one the entire time, then need to help them, how do they know the difference in your hands? You (anyone) pulls harder on an already hand held horse and the horse has no release but to wring a tail or shake a head.

I think your "pockets" are much too wide which can eventually teach them to not collect in a turn, drop their shoulders, flatten on the back, exit wide... lots of "**** rolls down hill" type stuff can happen with speed when you train one to enter too wide.

I dont think she wants to use her hind end because she is collected up and in hand so much that she cant really use her body properly in the turn. But I kinda like my horses to "follow their nose" thru a turn in a more natural manner and "give back" to me in their face only when I ask.

I dont think its as rough as you think though. She is doing EXACTLY what you are asking of her which is a super nice quality for sure! You aren't letting her really TURN a barrel, you are more like loping a circle around a barrel.

I think I would work on building her confidence. Don't micromanage her. Let her try and help her instead of managing her. Perfect practice IS NOT PERFECT! It often makes unconfident horses that when you add speed have been too overridden to do their part of the job.

So thats what I see... good luck with your horse, she looks nice.

Timber Creek - 2015-03-30 10:07 AM

I like your horse too.  I would get the soreness checked out but really liked geronabean's advice.  I hope you don't mind Geronabean but I printed it out, lol!  I couldn't figure out why my horse, who was normally really quick to learn stuff, couldn't get the barrels.  I was micromanaging him so much that he wasn't learning.  I was too worried about trying to get a perfect pattern loping.  Our slow work didn't look as nice as yours Zanadoo88.  I gave him to my daughter who would just go out there and expect him to do it and pretty soon he did.

horseshorseshorses - 2015-03-29 5:01 PM




^^^ This! I was thinking the same.. Possibly some soreness to go along with it, but most definitely the above as well. Good luck! I like her!

banjomia - 2015-03-30 12:51 PM

This horse is cross firing...doesn't necessarily mean her hocks are sore either. My guess is if she has had time off due to an injury her hocks are weak. She cross fires to compensate. Turning a tight barrel is incredibly hard for horses and they need to be strong in the hocks and in the topline. Some horses are tail ringers when they run....see it all the time. If its not normal for her then yes, it could be she is in pain...or it could be that she's is irritated because she doesn't want to work....

This could all be something that is fixed with regular exercise and getting the blood flowing through those joints. Getting her fit before asking her to lope through the barrels......

Sometimes we complicate things...........

geronabean - 2015-03-29 3:50 PM

I think there is some good and could be improved going on here.
First I do think she is broke enough to be doing what you are asking of her. She's broke in the poll, switching leads, good body position, going where you put her, etc.

I train a bit different than you however, so my could be improved(s) come from that.
I am not a fan of hand riding them thru 100% of the time. I like to show them how to turn off the pattern then let their heads alone on the pattern unless I am helping them at a certain point. It makes for a much more confident barrel horse. You hand ride the entire ride, keep her collected up and are making all the decisions. Her tail wring at #2 and head shake at #3 could certainly be from being held so long/much. I have a mare that doesnt respond well to this either. If you hold one the entire time, then need to help them, how do they know the difference in your hands? You (anyone) pulls harder on an already hand held horse and the horse has no release but to wring a tail or shake a head.

I think your "pockets" are much too wide which can eventually teach them to not collect in a turn, drop their shoulders, flatten on the back, exit wide... lots of "**** rolls down hill" type stuff can happen with speed when you train one to enter too wide.

I dont think she wants to use her hind end because she is collected up and in hand so much that she cant really use her body properly in the turn. But I kinda like my horses to "follow their nose" thru a turn in a more natural manner and "give back" to me in their face only when I ask.

I dont think its as rough as you think though. She is doing EXACTLY what you are asking of her which is a super nice quality for sure! You aren't letting her really TURN a barrel, you are more like loping a circle around a barrel.

I think I would work on building her confidence. Don't micromanage her. Let her try and help her instead of managing her. Perfect practice IS NOT PERFECT! It often makes unconfident horses that when you add speed have been too overridden to do their part of the job.

So thats what I see... good luck with your horse, she looks nice.