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Veteran
Posts: 238
 
| I love when people put up their vids for people to see and then to read the great input from the many varied backgrounds on here. So, I'd love CONSTRUCTIVE input on our runs. She's 9 and broke. Reining/cowhorse mostly over her life, but decided that we would try our hand at barrels this year. I haven't run consistently in several years, have had a baby, and have picked up some bad habits. She's truly only been working at this since the end of Dec. 99% of any issues, I know, are mine, so WHERE are my faults? (ps, you're better off without sound, really.)
Listed in order of runs, Jan through this past weekend:
http://youtu.be/2Cdm1TxVv_w
This one, she decided to run for the first time in her life and needless to say, I wasn't expecting it. The 2nd came up a lot quicker than I was anticipating. You may even see the look of shock on my face as I watch it go by.
http://youtu.be/c9G_XUs-6VY
http://youtu.be/zL3yWKel87c
http://youtu.be/_BYJNf4nWjs ... no, she did not have all 4 feet on the ground after the 2nd.
http://youtu.be/c-ZJuOn5LZM
We seem to struggle most with our 2nd. Or I do. I'm trying to be more conscious of setting her up for it, and riding right, but I suppose I'm failing.
Help? Tips? |
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 Experienced Mouse Trapper
Posts: 3106
 
Location: North Dakota | She is a very nice mare! I think you have done very good with her, personnally I don't see too much that you as a rider could improve, except your approach to the second. Right now it seems very inconsistant. I think I would work to the left, get some cones/tires/small children (just kidding) and place them even distance around the second and lope consistant smooth circles around until you have a great idea of where you're most comfortable approach is. Also a lot of the second barrel seems to feed directly from the departure of the first. i think she has a lot of rate but not a lot of collection, yes they need to know how to slow down at their rate point but they also need to collect their body up and use it like a rubber band to get themselves smoothly around the barrel. Whatever you are doing on the 3rd barrel is working! Good work! |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 602
| I agree with the above post. Lots of circles but while you do that I would transition from a faster speed to a slower speed. For example: Fast lope about 30 feet around the barrel, wait till she is comfortable and relaxed and then ask for a pocket and slow it down to a slower lope, circle the barrel. When you come out of that barrel ask for more speed and go back into the 30 ft range. This will help you and her on transitions and cues without either of you guys getting mad at each other. The only other thing that might need improvement would be your hands. When you turn right on the first keep your right elbow close to your body (ya might have to poke your ribs with your elbow till it becomes a habit). Pulling your hand straight out makes a horse go flat and raise their head because they are coming out of collection. make sense? |
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Veteran
Posts: 238
| Thank you both. I can def see that we are losing collection. I get what you are saying about my hand. Now to just remind myself to actually do it.
More circles, story of my riding life. We can do circles, I'll try to work on it this weekend if I can get my sick self and baby outside for a while.
Thank you for the input. |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| I agree with LMS, your horse is not rating and shaping for the turns.
What I like to do with my horses is at a walk when I do barrel work, I rate when their nose gets to the barrel, I stop let them relax, them ask for shape, then ask them for a walk around the barrel. I do this for all three.
When I speed up to a trot, I will first will trot up to the rate point then slow them down and get their shape at the rate point and have them walk around the turn. Once they can handle this, then I will extend my trot into the barrel, at the rate point I will collect/shorten their stride and shape them then turn then extend the stride again.
When I get to a lope I will break down to a trot around the barrel, then hand gallop into the barrel and shorten their stride around the barrel.
During a few of the runs I notice you are not looking at the pocket.
When I go to an arena I will look for a point about 3-4 feet up from the barrel, and this will be where I look when I am turning the barrel prior. This will help with the drifting out as well.
The other thing I noticed on a few of the runs, is half way to second your inside hip drops, this causes your horses shoulder to drop. I try and stay square in the saddle at all times. |
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  Angel in a Sorrel Coat
Posts: 16030
Location: In a happy place | You have done a wonderful job with this mare. I really do like her. You are riding sitting flat of your butt is what I see along with what everyone else has said. When she got high leaving the second barrel you butt hit the back of the cantle and this will cause one to climb when they leave a barrel. You just need to roll your pelvis forward and really pull hard on the saddle horn when you leave your barrels. Over all you are doing a really good job. |
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Veteran
Posts: 238
| Thank you everyone for your advice. I really tried to put it to practice when riding. I have a HORRIBLE habit of a chair seat, which is exacerbated by the saddle that I have been using, a 17" Billy Cook cutting saddle. It is what fit my mare. In the last vid I had a Charmayne James on her, but I'm not sure that fits her right. I'm playing with different saddles right now to find the right fit for her and myself both.
That said, I really put some thought into the 2nd barrel yesterday and realized that YES, the approach is the problem. If we are loping large circles to the left, or approach from the left, like running L,R,R, she is smooth and perfect, but coming straight in, from the first barrel, she struggles with the transition. I have tried to be diligent about setting her up for it, getting her arced, rating etc, but it is not the same as coming at it already rounded left. She has no problems with the 3rd, but then she is still holding that bend from the 2nd.
I've been doing slow work for myself, trying to get my muscle memory back to "get your butt out of the saddle" and "lift with your inside hand, don't pull."
Barrel race this weekend. Trying to get a couple of days of practice in before then. Thanks for the input. Keep the thoughts coming. |
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Experienced Mouse Trapper
Posts: 3106
Location: North Dakota | I know one of my biggest mistakes on my horse, is getting a really snappy first barrel and letting the horse drift to the right heading to the second. My horse doesn't hestiate or blow the barrel he will tip it every time (he "cows" a barrel) anyway, one of the last runs I made on him I rode him straight at the second, thus not allowing the wide swoop and had one of the nicest runs all summer. Sometimes straighter is faster. Good luck, wish mine was ready to go, I am! |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| SpottedT - 2014-03-25 8:01 AM
Thank you everyone for your advice. I really tried to put it to practice when riding. I have a HORRIBLE habit of a chair seat, which is exacerbated by the saddle that I have been using, a 17" Billy Cook cutting saddle. It is what fit my mare. In the last vid I had a Charmayne James on her, but I'm not sure that fits her right. I'm playing with different saddles right now to find the right fit for her and myself both.
That said, I really put some thought into the 2nd barrel yesterday and realized that YES, the approach is the problem. If we are loping large circles to the left, or approach from the left, like running L,R,R, she is smooth and perfect, but coming straight in, from the first barrel, she struggles with the transition. I have tried to be diligent about setting her up for it, getting her arced, rating etc, but it is not the same as coming at it already rounded left. She has no problems with the 3rd, but then she is still holding that bend from the 2nd.
I've been doing slow work for myself, trying to get my muscle memory back to "get your butt out of the saddle" and "lift with your inside hand, don't pull."
Barrel race this weekend. Trying to get a couple of days of practice in before then. Thanks for the input. Keep the thoughts coming.
I personally don't like my horses to hold the bend from 2-3 as they loose time. The only horse I seen successful in running this way was Martha.
I would try to straighten her up then rate her for third.
As someone also said, I think your pocket is too big, your horse has to take 2 extra strides to turn, and extra strides cost time. |
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 Too Skinny
Posts: 8009
Location: LA Lower Alabama | Most of this is "baby" stuff. Sometimes she almost re wraps the first causing a different approach to your second. You are heading the right direction so don't give up. |
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Veteran
Posts: 238
| I'm so excited! Our run today was fabulous! 290 entries. We were 141. I worked really hard on having a smooth first and leaving it straight so I could set her up for the 2nd. And well, fast time was a 15.000 and I just wanted to be a low 18. When I left I was leading the 4D with a 17.02! I couldn't have been happier with my horse or my run if I'd have won the whole dang thing! I really tried to ride right and she really tried to do what I asked. So this is like her 7th run or something like that.
http://youtu.be/efsoxmy-SZ4
Sorry if I'm rambling, but I'm very excited. :) |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| SpottedT - 2014-03-29 7:59 PM
I'm so excited! Our run today was fabulous! 290 entries. We were 141. I worked really hard on having a smooth first and leaving it straight so I could set her up for the 2nd. And well, fast time was a 15.000 and I just wanted to be a low 18. When I left I was leading the 4D with a 17.02! I couldn't have been happier with my horse or my run if I'd have won the whole dang thing! I really tried to ride right and she really tried to do what I asked. So this is like her 7th run or something like that.
http://youtu.be/efsoxmy-SZ4
Sorry if I'm rambling, but I'm very excited. : )
Congrats.
The only things I would suggest working on is not giving her as much pocket on second ( I did see she bocked a few strides before and you were able to correct it).
I would use more outside leg, (this is my style I ride my horses more on the leg then on the mouth)
Lastly when you left your second you pushed your front feet ahead putting you back on your pockets, I would suggest pulling yourself out of the saddle instead of sitting back.
Good job |
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Experienced Mouse Trapper
Posts: 3106
Location: North Dakota | Very nice! Much better ditto on Cheryl'S comments but greatly improved! $ is great! |
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 Off the Wall Wacky
Posts: 2981
Location: Louisiana | I just want to say you have a very nice mare on your hands! Just keep riding, and she is only going to improve. That last run was awesome!
I like how she WANTS to work for you.  |
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Angel in a Sorrel Coat
Posts: 16030
Location: In a happy place | That was nice! Greatly improved. Keep up the good work. |
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Veteran
Posts: 238
| Thanks all. I bred and raised this mare, so it's fun to do new things with her and have her succeed. I don't know why I can't seem to get my butt out of the saddle. I've even been practicing getting up better. |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| SpottedT - 2014-03-30 2:53 PM
Thanks all. I bred and raised this mare, so it's fun to do new things with her and have her succeed. I don't know why I can't seem to get my butt out of the saddle. I've even been practicing getting up better.
Try shortening the stirrups.
On first barrel you were up and out of the saddle riding aggressively over to second.
If you find the horse is too powerful and is blowing you back, I try and reach for mane as high up as possible to pull me out. |
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Angel in a Sorrel Coat
Posts: 16030
Location: In a happy place | This is not a fun suggestion. But you want to try exercises to strengthen your core and inside of your legs. Remember I said this wouldn't be fun.
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | Very nice  I liked that one video where the announcer was telling you Keep your feet on the ground, lol, that was funny. |
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Veteran
Posts: 238
| quoted the wrong one. figures. *edit*
Yeah, the mommy body is working on getting back into shape. I have managed to get into my "bigger" jeans comfortably, even loosely, but have a ways to go to be the toned, fit, body I once was.
Edited by SpottedT 2014-03-31 10:11 AM
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