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Veteran
Posts: 217
| This is going to be lengthy, but my brain has been on overdrive lol.
I haven't really been working my gelding this year besides trail rides and a couple shows, and he's firing a lot harder. I can't ride too much right now (sprained ankle) so I keep thinking about things we can try because our runs aren't to the point where it's not broke don't fix it. I believe we're lacking somewhere in our communication.
I know I've posted about him before but...Background. Teeth and Chiro were done this Spring. Injected June 20th (fusing hocks). Gets THE Performance Gluchon/Bleeder every day. Runs his best on JailBreak. He's 11 years old, Peppy/Sunfrost bred.
Last rodeo we were a second off the time, which was amazing, but I didn't think we were going to get over in time for second. It's hard to see in videos and I don't have any really showing it, no one could see it standing by the "alleyway", it was a track rodeo arena. Our last barrel show I rode with my injury and it turned into a really bad idea besides him finishing second better and poles getting smoother. It's my right foot and he's a lefty, so I couldn't assist on the outside real well.
Since I got him though, he tends to stiffen up and pick up his head where he should be rating at first, and then seems to be hurried to get out of it. What I mean by hurried is, no matter how hard you try to get him to ease out of the barrel in a controlled style, he's trying to take you for a ride like his life depends on it, no matter how slow you lope into it (and he could be a pleasure horse in his slowest lope). After you get him aligned to second, you can let him loose and he really sweeps around second and third with his butt in the dirt, and just pick him up on the backside. It feels like he was schooled pretty hard on his left turns at one point, and is waiting for the bit to bump him at his rate point. I'll say Tuck and bend him/pick up the inside rein at this point instead of bumping, but it's not changing his reaction. If I run him to first with his nose tilted, it makes matters worse. I'm sure he needs chiro'd again to boot.
I'd really love to try a hackamore on him again. I've dug through the hackamore threads, and can't find quite what I'm looking for. Tucker is a tall, powerful guy, but he's a really sensitive flower with some bully type tendencies, which is where we run into issues. I've ran him with a little S hack and had all the control around the barrels and had a relaxed horse the one time I used it, but I had to use a log pile to stop us and I'd much rather have brakes. He gets insulted whenever he's trying to figure out something but you have to reinforce move something a little faster other times he needs reminded he can't dictate when he can and can't side pass or that he has to stop immediately at a walk or trot.
Why I'm considering a hack...He's picky about his bits, I had to get one made for him (pic attached) because he prefers a longer purchase vs a longer shank, no gag, and rather it be a sweet iron. I got it in a twist because once we hit full tilt, brakes and rate tend to get a little fuzzy some days. If the shank is longer he just gapes his mouth non-stop. He had been ran in a Start To Finish chain mouth, but he can push through that one pretty easily at a run. I'd hope a hack would help him relax at his rate point, instead of stiffening him up.
Now would his preference in a longer purchase translate to having one on a hackamore? Is there one already made that has a longer purchase or at least an even split between purchase and shank? What do you recommend that'll get his attention to whoa at the end of a run?
We do slow work perfectly, we get in a hurry when we do lope practice. Which is what we'll be working on. Lots of transitions, practice lead changes, maintaining body shape, lots of left circles when he tries to race, making him wait on my cue, and making this gait seem like its not special enough to go crazy over. How often do you lope circles? Do you mix it up any by lunging them instead of riding circles to help build their strength? Anything else that helps them think in a lope?
Second part to this - probably should be second thread but I prefer to be efficient .
What do you work on to better your seat? My previous saddle threw me forward really bad, and now I'm having to work on staying deeper in my seat and breaking that habit.
I remember at my rate point, but not so much at halfway around the barrel. I anticipate him wanting to launch and lean forward and make it worse. How do you remind yourself to be patient in pushing out of the barrel and keep your butt planted? I'm not being thrown forward, either. Other people's tricks seem to stick better in my head vs coming up with my own.
Brag part - I'm finally not getting grabby on the backside of the barrel! If I can break that habit I can do anything 
Edited by mgander 2018-07-20 9:27 AM
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 966
 
Location: Loco,Ok | Go to Clampitt Ranch on FB videos and pictures. I make several different lengths and weights. | |
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Regular
Posts: 81
| It sounds like this would be a good time for you to find a coach and go ride with her/him for a couple of hours. I don't know where you live, but around here we have several pros and clinicians who will let you come ride at their place for a reasonable fee. They ride with the guest, ride the horse, try out their favorite bits/ aids, and offer insight and suggestions about any and all issues that they see or feel. I consider it a private clinic/lesson and it has saved me a ton of time trying to figure out things for myself in the limited time I have after work and on weekends. They're pros; I'm a weekend warrior.
Good luck!
Edited by twoseater 2018-07-21 8:10 AM
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  Sock eating dog owner
Posts: 4553
Location: Where the pavement ends and the West begins Utah | you should look at L and W bits a combination may be in you favor. they also do customs. | |
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 Peecans
| I would be concerned that hedstall and bit are catching on the tiedown. I'm a tiedown user so not saying to take it off but I might change my tiedown and headstall around with that combo.
As for the seat I at a walk all the time go through the steps without a barrel just walking, I shape my horse sit and go to the horn, really get that muscle memory helps me a ton. | |
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 Hog Tie My Mojo
Posts: 4847
Location: Opelousas, LA | Could you put the tiedown one hole lower and put the curb chain above the tiedown? I think the longer purchase is making the tiedown interfere with the curb chain. | |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | I dont like that setup either, Try putting the tiedown over the headstall, or get a different nose band a thinner one that will fit over the headstall easily. | |
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Veteran
Posts: 217
| THANK YOU GUYS! Gah, I feel so dumb now for not seeing it. I’ll try the dropping it and moving the curb.
And lots of walking in my future | |
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Folks on-line