|
|
Elite Veteran
Posts: 1034
 
| I'll be looking at a finished horse next week. I've never had one - always just did it myself. But now with four kids and a full time career reality is hitting. What kind if questions do you ask, and what do you look for when trying them out? We are meeting at a third party arena so I'll get to see her load/unload and be somewhere away from the comfort of home.
Any wisdom? :-)
| |
| | |
 Lady Di
Posts: 21556
 
Location: Oklahoma | Are you trying the horse at a jackpot or just an arena away from home? I would look for a horse that I "click" with almost immediately. That's not saying that the run should be perfect, but the horse should fit your riding style. If you're having to remember to do lots of things differently than you do when you usually run, then it's probably not a fit for you. Barrel racing is like dancing....you both have to "mesh" for it to be pretty (and fast). Also, temperament must match as well....like if nervous horses make you nervous, then you need one that's calm and laid back. If nervous horses get you on your game and make you really want to go in there and run, then you need a more nervous type horse....Don't try to MAKE yourself like the horse. You either will or you won't. I can usually tell in one ride if the horse is going to fit me or not, but if you do really like it, I would try to later try it in a competition environment to see if it acts any differently than it did at a quiet arena. Just don't expect to clock like someone that's been riding it forever. It will take time to get your timing and positioning down to make those really fast times that the horse is capable of. Also, make sure you ask what kind of maintenance is required to keep the horse going. Most finished, competitive horses need some kind of maintenance due to the wear and tear that running barrels puts on their bodies. Good luck and have fun! | |
| | |
 Expert
Posts: 1526
Location: Texas | Only deal with trustworthy people with a reputation that proceeds them. | |
| | |
 Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| mollibtexan - 2014-10-15 11:04 PM Only deal with trustworthy people with a reputation that proceeds them.
This and I goggle any info I can find on the horse and rider, research, research, research. | |
| | |
  Angel in a Sorrel Coat
Posts: 16030
Location: In a happy place | dianeguinn - 2014-10-15 10:52 PM Are you trying the horse at a jackpot or just an arena away from home? I would look for a horse that I "click" with almost immediately. That's not saying that the run should be perfect, but the horse should fit your riding style. If you're having to remember to do lots of things differently than you do when you usually run, then it's probably not a fit for you. Barrel racing is like dancing....you both have to "mesh" for it to be pretty (and fast). Also, temperament must match as well....like if nervous horses make you nervous, then you need one that's calm and laid back. If nervous horses get you on your game and make you really want to go in there and run, then you need a more nervous type horse....Don't try to MAKE yourself like the horse. You either will or you won't. I can usually tell in one ride if the horse is going to fit me or not, but if you do really like it, I would try to later try it in a competition environment to see if it acts any differently than it did at a quiet arena. Just don't expect to clock like someone that's been riding it forever. It will take time to get your timing and positioning down to make those really fast times that the horse is capable of. Also, make sure you ask what kind of maintenance is required to keep the horse going. Most finished, competitive horses need some kind of maintenance due to the wear and tear that running barrels puts on their bodies. Good luck and have fun!
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Really good advice. | |
| | |
Elite Veteran
Posts: 1034
| dianeguinn - 2014-10-15 10:52 PM
Are you trying the horse at a jackpot or just an arena away from home? I would look for a horse that I "click" with almost immediately. That's not saying that the run should be perfect, but the horse should fit your riding style. If you're having to remember to do lots of things differently than you do when you usually run, then it's probably not a fit for you. Barrel racing is like dancing....you both have to "mesh" for it to be pretty (and fast). Also, temperament must match as well....like if nervous horses make you nervous, then you need one that's calm and laid back. If nervous horses get you on your game and make you really want to go in there and run, then you need a more nervous type horse....Don't try to MAKE yourself like the horse. You either will or you won't. I can usually tell in one ride if the horse is going to fit me or not, but if you do really like it, I would try to later try it in a competition environment to see if it acts any differently than it did at a quiet arena. Just don't expect to clock like someone that's been riding it forever. It will take time to get your timing and positioning down to make those really fast times that the horse is capable of. Also, make sure you ask what kind of maintenance is required to keep the horse going. Most finished, competitive horses need some kind of maintenance due to the wear and tear that running barrels puts on their bodies. Good luck and have fun!
Thank you! I always love seeing your advice. My career being what it is (law enforcement) I can keep my nerves down and stay calm on just about any horse, but I don't enjoy hot ones. My days are exciting enough, I like to relax when I ride at home lol! And I'm old enough now I know what I like and don't like.
| |
| | |
Member
Posts: 47
| I suggest to try several before making up your mind. Also everything that was stated above and definetley try the horse at a jackpot to make sure they act the same. Preferrably try to run at a jackpot where the people you will be competing with will be so you can judge how you clock. If possible if the person is on Facebook try looking for any mutual friends and ask around about the horse and seller if it is someone you do not know. You have the advantage of a better time of year than when I was looking last December/January so it seemed nothing was legged up and ready to go. Good Luck Shopping!!! | |
| | |
 Owner of a ratting catting machine
Posts: 2258
| Don't buy anything you're pretty sure you can ride. Pretty sure, or "I can learn to ride him", just don't work when you're talking expensive horses. That's a recipe for failure, plus it's hard to convince someone else that you haven't done damage to the horse trying to figure him out if you can never get good video, good times, or the horse is coming unraveled through frustration or panic. Despite lots of outside riding, time spent, sometimes styles and thought processes are just too different. I'm not saying that it can't be done, but what is the point of starting all over with a finished horse?
Sometimes, you buy something you know you can ride, and then personalities just don't jive under pressure. You practice well together, you do lots of riding out, working cows, hanging out at the barn, everything right. You can go to little jackpots and run in the 1D, clocking well within the range of the big shows top runs. Go to a big show, organized rodeo, etc, and you just can't clock for anything. When that happens, the horse hasn't been messed up, and you can still recoup the value of the purchase with a sale.
Don't buy anything that you "think" you can ride, because you'll stop looking for that special horse and waste a bunch of time questioning your life, thinking that you're the worst rider in the world. Be fair to yourself!
If I can't jive with a horse I know I can ride in 6 months, really get that connection under pressure, then I allow that horse to go to another performance home. Some have gone on to do really awesome things! I don't mind, because I know that the connection just wasn't there for me, and fighting it or striving for it can be frustrating, financially expensive, confidence killing, and damaging to the horse's value in the long run.
Then there's that horse, that fits you beautifully. That one that you swing a leg over, run down the alley, bobble a bit at first, but still clock like crazy. There's that horse out there for each of us, that when we put it all together, it's crazy fun, it's natural, and we can't wait to do it again. There's improvement each time. You know something is physically wrong when you lose 3/10s of a second. That horse can be a bit of a White Elephant, but I promise that they're out there. Let us know what you get! | |
| |
| |
Folks on-line