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Member
Posts: 42
| I am looking at purchasing a barrel horse. I am an experienced rider but i want to be clear what everyone's views are between free runner and push style horse. The difference's. Thanks |
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Red Bull Agressive
Posts: 5981
  
Location: North Dakota | Well to me a free runner is a horse that just GOES and probably requires a little more rate/guidance at a barrel. Not always though. A push style is like the barrel horse I have, who goes whatever speed you want. You can push him and he'll place in the 2D or for beginners he'll run in the 4D and he requires no effort to turn. Just sit and look and he'll turn it tight every time. One is not better than the other, it just depends what works for you.
Edited by cavyrunsbarrels 2015-10-14 9:20 AM
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 Not Afraid to Work
Posts: 4717
| I consider a free-runner one that needs rate and guidance, doesnt really slow down much in the turns. You dont need to hustle these horses.
Push-style to me is something that you hustle into each turn, drive with your seat around each barrel. |
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| "Free Runner" doesn't necessarily mean "doesn't turn barrels" and "Push Style" doesn't necessarily mean "no gas in the tank"
To me a free runner is a horse you don't have to ride aggressively across the pen - a horse that will move out and run without any extra encouragement. One of my mares is this way, and she still turns plenty fine, although she is young and inconsistent :)
I have a push style gelding who I have to ask him to run, and usually carry a whip with me and kick him all the way across the pen. He can run 2D, but if I didn't kick or carry a whip he would probably run 7D ;)
Edited by WrapN3MN 2015-10-13 12:27 PM
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 Expert
Posts: 1525
| Here is my push style at the Pecos PRCA...I love him in the big outdoor pens. Just kick all the way...never runs by...
https://www.facebook.com/courtneymae.taylor/videos/vob.100000960399944/726939447348062/?type=2&theater
but when I get him indoor I have to work my butt off like this in Levelland...He ran in the top 15 with over 200 entries and big room for improvement
https://www.facebook.com/courtneymae.taylor/videos/vob.100000960399944/904838016224870/?type=2&theater
My free runner can really run indoor or outdoor but I don't have to work near as hard...and you wont see me pulling on his face either...HE WANTS TO RATE AND TURN but I don't have to ask him across the pen
This is him outdoor
https://www.facebook.com/courtneymae.taylor/videos/vb.100000960399944/752034684838538/?type=2&theater
and him indoor
https://www.facebook.com/courtneymae.taylor/videos/vb.100000960399944/868830113158994/?type=2&theater
I enjoy running both of them very much. Because they are so different and because I don't hit as many barrels and have to work hard on my free runner I try to run him indoors and he has been off for the majority of the summer and fall but I will get on him in November when there isn't much more outdoors to go to. I love running my big horse that is push style...he is just so honest...but its a headache to try and make three clean runs in a row indoors on him. So I use him during the Spring and Summer and try to get on Holly for late Fall and Winter.
If you can find a free runner that will rate himself I say that is the funnest kind to have. |
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Regular
Posts: 98
| i don't think either style is right or wrong. i believe it is all personal preference |
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 The BHW Book Worm
Posts: 1768
| im finding a free runner you don't push up into the turn as much as they will do it on there own and range from having to help them rate to just sitting a few feet infront of the barrel being enough
push style in my world seem to hunt the barrel a little more. you don't have to remind them to rate or sit at the barrel but they can fire just as hard off as a free runner..
I always thought I rode free runners and until I started selling some finished horses did I realize I had a more aggressive ridding style and much prefer push style horse. I have a mare right now that is a free runner and I always forget to rate her and if I don't she leaves her hind end behind (she is also green on the pattern) |
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 Professional Amateur
Posts: 6750
Location: Oklahoma | My Free Runners will leave my butt in the alley they volunteer so much run. I do not have to rate them down. They are free runners with turn. They hunt barrels.
My hustle style horses need motivation to give the run and I love their style at a rodeo because the rodeo crowd will motivate them and I don't have to work so hard.
When choosing the style that you prefer - I ask people what type of personality they have. Some people have an "electric butt" and can take that free runner and make it even hotter and it's not a good fit. Then there are people who are so laid back. .they don't want to kick a lot or motivate - they fit a free runner great. I ride both, but with age .. I'm getting lazy! I want to enjoy the ride with one that volunteers some speed.
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 342
Location: Alabama | IMO: It all depends on the jockey. I ride 5 horses, 2 what I consider push style 2 what I consider free runners, 1 is a very lovely happy medium.
my push style horses: one if you do not ride her all the way into the hole, she will hit everything. you do not have to turn or q her to turn, she's really hunting and looking to turn, you got to get her to run to a point where she gets buy it. my push style gelding is not a barrel hitter. he is cutting bred so he will spin and suck the paint off one. you have to ask him to run and stay out of his way in the turns and use your inside foot to keep him from rolling back over the barrel. he too will NOT run by one.
My free runners: both need checking and help guiding in there turn. you have to keep your hands on them, by that I mean you cant throw the reigns between their ears and let them go or you will NEVER get around the 1st close enough to get anything done. lost of slow work and stopping is required for them.
my happy medium: he's the best, he will hit a barrel if you sit early, he will hit a barrel if you pick him up or don't ride off in the hole, BUT he's going to run with out you asking; wide open. I don't have to q his turn, more just stay out of the way and stay up
SOME Jockeys can not ride one or the other, my preference other than my happy medium, is a push style. |
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 You get what you give
Posts: 13030
Location: Texas | I think free runners are those who I don't have to worry about them getting across the pen, I just need to worry about a check at the barrel.
Push types to me are horses that you need to drive and hustle all the way across the pen- the "whip and spur" type.
I am a quiet rider who prefers one that I just have to worry about a check at the barrel or just holding on and staying with them. My sister is more aggressive and can hustle a horse better than me. She likes the ones that you send from the alley all the way to the first.. I like ones that go their own speed to the first or that can cruise to it. |
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