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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 702
 
Location: MN | Running home to a closed gate....is it best to stop straight or turn and stop?? Opinions? I've seen some horses slip when they turn, I've seen riders come off in a turn and I've seen some rough straight stops also.
Edited by Neros Winning Chick 2018-07-15 10:12 PM
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 Take a Picture
Posts: 12838
  
| I think it depends on the arena set up. With that being said, do what is comfortable for you. |
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| I think it's personal preference. I've seen some horses crash straight into the gate and break the bones in their sinuses because they weren't stopping when the rider asked them to (straight just before the gate). Some horses try to turn early (like right at the eye), so it might make sense to push them straighter longer, which may mean stopping straight. I've also seen girls fall off when their horses run straight home and turn at the last minute. I'm not sure if there's one "correct" way to stop.
ETA: I also know some rodeos will fine barrel racers if they turn and then make a circle after their run, so that causes riders to pull up sooner than they might find ideal.
Edited by madredepeanut 2018-07-15 10:41 PM
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 883
Location: Southern Indiana | With a closed gate I always circle. Its hard on a horse to stop that quick. Plus you can drive them through the timer harder if you circle. They are running and turning the barrels on the same ground...so how is circling to stop dangerous? |
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 Peecans
| TheDutchMan01 - 2018-07-16 7:24 AM
With a closed gate I always circle. Its hard on a horse to stop that quick. Plus you can drive them through the timer harder if you circle. They are running and turning the barrels on the same ground...so how is circling to stop dangerous?
Because that ground is often unworked, rutted and packed hard from foot traffic all day. |
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 Cute Little Imp
Posts: 2747
Location: N Texas | I started out at playdays that were all in closed arenas, so circling is the norm for me. Of course I don't do that when there's an open alley, but closed arenas are no big deal for me. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 754
Location: Arkansas | I stop, but in the corner. I try to keep mine straight until we break the timer, then will let him "veer" off to the corner so he has longer to stop, but still stops instead of circling. Mine will all wipe their hineys like a calf horse if I ask, but I try not to pull the e-break unless I have to use it. I know it's not good on stifles/hocks to use it every time. |
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Peecans
| Really at the end of the day, do you.
I've seen really nasty wrecks both ways, and a lot of horses go down turning at the end. My horses stop really well so I stop straight, I don't trust the ground to turn at the end and I trust my horse to not run into the gate.
I feel strongly stoping straight is the best choice for ME and MY horse but not something I give two shakes of salt what other people do. There's pros and cons that vary by horse and rider to both. |
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 Sexy Bee Yacht
Posts: 5849
Location: WA | I turn off on mine. Not close enough to fence that if we slip they will go into/under fence. I just feel it is easier on their body. Where we race the ground isn't hard at the end, it gets worked about every 25-50 . |
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