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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 540
 
Location: My own little world :) | In a perfect hypothetical world on an average basis how long does it take to prepare a horse for futurities? If the colt has a good foundation in basic training and maneuvers but hasn't seen barrels a great deal how long would you anticipate for the colt to really catch on and run at a competitive speed.
Also, how many days a week do you ride your futurity colts when preparing them? Do you primarily work the barrels, work on conditioning, etc... | |
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Expert
Posts: 1611
 
| I've seen some get a 3yr old off the track in August and by January have it running with the big dogs. Then some people start slow and easy getting spending all winter, spring, and summer getting one ready. *Most* like to have them already wide open by August NOT cowboying and asking but controlled and correct pattern.
Annnd if your working a colt usually your tuning, the conditioning takes care of its self, but everyone has their own ways and methods. Most people would be very surprised at how little these colts are actually hammered and pounded on when it comes to barrels. Best thing to do is to find a buddy that plays the game every year and see how they do things, how their colts progress, and what shows closest you they hit. Most people jump into the futurity world entering OKC and then get a bad taste in their mouth because their colt looks like its never seen a barrel out there and there went all your hopes etc. Just start at a few small futurities and build up to going to larger ones. | |
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 Best of the Badlands
 
Location: You never know where I will show up...... | Depends on the horse, there is no timeline with futurity horses.
I've had some for only 5 months and had them running good and winning, and I've had others that took 1-2 years to get them ready to go. | |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1028
| rockinas - 2015-01-06 7:46 AM Depends on the horse, there is no timeline with futurity horses.
I've had some for only 5 months and had them running good and winning, and I've had others that took 1-2 years to get them ready to go.
This!^^ There are some that in just a few months really made me look like a trainer (ha!), and others... well, they're just late bloomers and we had to go slower. All depends on the colt. They may start strong, then revert back, like they've never seen a barrel before. You always have to keep it mind that they are babies. I agree with the poster that said to start out with a couple smaller futurities until you're comfortable, then hit the big ones. Good luck! | |
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  Whack and Roll
Posts: 6342
Location: NE Texas | rockinas - 2015-01-06 7:46 AM Depends on the horse, there is no timeline with futurity horses.
I've had some for only 5 months and had them running good and winning, and I've had others that took 1-2 years to get them ready to go.
What rockinas said....absolutely depends on the horse itself. It is possible to do it in 6 months or less on the right horse, and there are some that just aren't mentally or physically ready at that age.
PS, rockinas I saw your up and comers on youtube this weekend and you have them going so nicely! Great job, as always!!!! | |
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 Jr. Detective
Location: Beggs, OK | bowersk - 2015-01-06 8:06 AM rockinas - 2015-01-06 7:46 AM Depends on the horse, there is no timeline with futurity horses.
I've had some for only 5 months and had them running good and winning, and I've had others that took 1-2 years to get them ready to go. This!^^ There are some that in just a few months really made me look like a trainer (ha!), and others... well, they're just late bloomers and we had to go slower. All depends on the colt. They may start strong, then revert back, like they've never seen a barrel before. You always have to keep it mind that they are babies. I agree with the poster that said to start out with a couple smaller futurities until you're comfortable, then hit the big ones. Good luck!
What was your experience with the quicker vs slower maturing colts? Did they just clock right away and the others just didn't seem to be able to handle the pressure?
What are some of the futurities that you would recommend for someone starting out in this area? I have only lived here for about 7 years, but I don't think we've ever met, have we? | |
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Expert
Posts: 1611
| If they are well broke and do what you ask but aren't trying to turn for you once they have been on barrels a few weeks and you've ruled out pain as an issue, then your gonna have a late maturer and probably won't make it to early futurities with them. If you really believe in the horse and see talent sometimes then put em on the back burner for their 5 year old year. Most trainers will send them home if its been a month and they don't have any try about them once pain has been ruled out. | |
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 Pork Fat is my Favorite
Posts: 3791
Location: The Oklahoma plains. | rockinas - 2015-01-06 7:46 AM Depends on the horse, there is no timeline with futurity horses.
I've had some for only 5 months and had them running good and winning, and I've had others that took 1-2 years to get them ready to go.
Since I have watched you via the internet for years on this site- can you give specific names- to the horses that you are referring to just to make the story more interesting? I am guessing Lena May was an overnight success? As was Girlfriend? I just love horse stories, not gonna lie:) | |
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Pork Fat is my Favorite
Posts: 3791
Location: The Oklahoma plains. | rachellyn80 - 2015-01-06 8:36 AM bowersk - 2015-01-06 8:06 AM rockinas - 2015-01-06 7:46 AM Depends on the horse, there is no timeline with futurity horses.
I've had some for only 5 months and had them running good and winning, and I've had others that took 1-2 years to get them ready to go. This!^^ There are some that in just a few months really made me look like a trainer (ha!), and others... well, they're just late bloomers and we had to go slower. All depends on the colt. They may start strong, then revert back, like they've never seen a barrel before. You always have to keep it mind that they are babies. I agree with the poster that said to start out with a couple smaller futurities until you're comfortable, then hit the big ones. Good luck!
What are some of the futurities that you would recommend for someone starting out in this area? I have only lived here for about 7 years, but I don't think we've ever met, have we?
This ^^^^ I am less familiar with your futurity horses, forgive me, I have been stalking Rockinas ever since LM.  What were some of your cool horses/stories for example? Or Hebie? Dont want to leave anyone out- I find them all interesting. | |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1162
Location: White Mountains of AZ | Somebody post some video titles so I can go see these youngins! | |
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Whack and Roll
Posts: 6342
Location: NE Texas | My 5 YO is the first futurity horse i've had in several years and he is one of those that is a prodigy. The saying "there is a fine line between madness and genius" fits him to a T. I have owned him since he was a weanling and we didn't break him until he was a 3 YO due to him being a midget until then. He's still not a big horse, but as a weanling/yearling/2 YO this colt ran everywhere he went. He would do things in the pasture that should be physically impossible for a horse to do and run harder than I have ever seen a horse go in my life. He's a turd....like very mischievious and you have to be on your toes every second you're around him or riding him.
We sent him to total performance as a 3 YO to race training because he had my colt breaker scared and was really humpy. My colt breaker would just pull him up. We wanted him to get forward and in one day of race training all that humping was over as soon as he got his butt busted. He worked a pretty impressive time getting his gate card and then ran 2 ninths and then he came home. I started riding him in March of 2014 and in 45 days of very inconsistent rides he was cruising a nice pattern. I continued to ride him and exhibitioned him a few times until he handily tried to unseat me one day at home running home from the third barrel. Scared the crap out of me! I kept riding him for another 60 days or so but couldn't bring myself to make a run on him again for fear I couldn't sit in the middle of him if he did it a second time. I made the decision to send him to Gunnar Enlow when the time changed and told him the entire story. I felt like I was dropping off a gremlin with all of the instructions I left with him! HAHA But Gunnar has said several times that he's glad I did because Ricky can be a bit tricky! That being said, he's very talented and just wants to be a barrel horse. This past weekend he placed in the 2D at Cresson behind Carlee Pierce and Lolo, so we're pretty excited to see what the future holds for him! I'm very thankful to Gunnar for taking on this gremlin of a colt.....we should have definitely named him Spike! LOL
Here he is after 45 days of very inconsistent riding off the track:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzcW4Eyq9GU
Here he is at Cresson Sunday with Gunnar placing in the 2D behind Carlee and Lolo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0i_cp49gJ0o
Edited by Herbie 2015-01-06 9:25 AM
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Pork Fat is my Favorite
Posts: 3791
Location: The Oklahoma plains. | Cool story Herbie- thanks for sharing! | |
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Whack and Roll
Posts: 6342
Location: NE Texas | I have another filly that is a 4 YO this year (2015) that is a very nice filly, but I didn't get enough riding in on her through the summer to have her ready for the 2015 futurities. She is great minded and could have handled the pressure mentally, but I just didn't get to ride her as much as I needed to so she got put on the back burner. She just started loping through this fall and is now exhibitioning with Gunnar through the winter, as he's had some customers requestign something like her, and will be ready for either the late 2015 futurities or for sure the 2016 futurities if we still have her by then.
Here is me riding her this fall after about 60 days of riding off the track spread out over about 6 months. LOL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wI4CEk2P6E
And here is her first time away from home with Gunnar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hMNpWmDkFw
Edited by Herbie 2015-01-06 9:45 AM
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1028
| I'm a notorious homebody, and it's been years since I've actually taken one myself. I really enjoy the process of getting one on the pattern, seasoning them and getting them solid, then turning them over to someone else to jockey. Because of some health issues, I really can't get out and travel a lot, but kudos to those futurity riders that do! I wish I could!
I've got one good story, but no videos . I was 16 years old and was entrusted to get my aunt's off the track QH stud ready for Jud Little's futurity (I got him in January of that year). I had trained a couple horses by that point, but never had a deadline to work against. I was so nervous, I'm sure I did absolutely everything wrong. I pushed him too hard and dang near blew him up a couple months before the futurity. I had to spend a month just walking and trotting the pattern (along with a lot of outside riding) to get him back to normal. So in short, I had to start almost completely over. I learned a very valuable lesson with that horse, and I thank God he had a good enough mind to overcome my stupidity. We got to the futurity and he worked great, inspite of my ridiculous nerves.
Now I know better, and let every horse progress at their own pace, whether that means heading to a futurity or becoming a solid rodeo or jackpot horse.
Edited by bowersk 2015-01-06 9:41 AM
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Pork Fat is my Favorite
Posts: 3791
Location: The Oklahoma plains. | Herbie - 2015-01-06 9:37 AM I have another filly that is a 4 YO this year (2015) that is a very nice filly, but I didn't get enough riding in on her through the summer to have her ready for the 2015 futurities. She is great minded and could have handled the pressure mentally, but I just didn't get to ride her as much as I needed to so she got put on the back burner. She just started loping through this fall and is now exhibitioning with Gunnar through the winter, as he's had some customers requestign something like her, and will be ready for either the late 2015 futurities or for sure the 2016 futurities if we still have her by then.
Here is me riding her this fall after about 60 days of riding off the track spread out over about 6 months. LOL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wI4CEk2P6E
And here is her first time away from home with Gunnar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hMNpWmDkFw
Herbie, how is the first horse bred? Gunnar used to be close to us, I thought he moved home but if he was in Cresson, I guess he moved back to Tex?
I cant watch the other video you posted with him on the first away from home pattern? Anyhow, the first one looks talented. | |
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Pork Fat is my Favorite
Posts: 3791
Location: The Oklahoma plains. | bowersk - 2015-01-06 9:40 AM I'm a notorious homebody, and it's been years since I've actually taken one myself. I really enjoy the process of getting one on the pattern, seasoning them and getting them solid, then turning them over to someone else to jockey. Because of some health issues, I really can't get out and travel a lot, but kudos to those futurity riders that do! I wish I could!
I've got one good story, but no videos . I was 16 years old and was entrusted to get my aunt's off the track QH stud ready for Jud Little's futurity (I got him in January of that year). I had trained a couple horses by that point, but never had a deadline to work against. I was so nervous, I'm sure I did absolutely everything wrong. I pushed him too hard and dang near blew him up a couple months before the futurity. I had to spend a month just walking and trotting the pattern (along with a lot of outside riding) to get him back to normal. So in short, I had to start almost completely over. I learned a very valuable lesson with that horse, and I thank God he had a good enough mind to overcome my stupidity. We got to the futurity and he worked great, inspite of my ridiculous nerves.
Now I know better, and let every horse progress at their own pace, whether that means heading to a futurity or becoming a solid rodeo or jackpot horse.
How was the stud bred? Sounds like a good minded horse. Lucky you learned from it- so many still do not. Lord knows I have screwed a few up but only one in hopes of being a futurity horse. | |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1028
| TurnLane - 2015-01-06 9:50 AM bowersk - 2015-01-06 9:40 AM I'm a notorious homebody, and it's been years since I've actually taken one myself. I really enjoy the process of getting one on the pattern, seasoning them and getting them solid, then turning them over to someone else to jockey. Because of some health issues, I really can't get out and travel a lot, but kudos to those futurity riders that do! I wish I could!
I've got one good story, but no videos . I was 16 years old and was entrusted to get my aunt's off the track QH stud ready for Jud Little's futurity (I got him in January of that year). I had trained a couple horses by that point, but never had a deadline to work against. I was so nervous, I'm sure I did absolutely everything wrong. I pushed him too hard and dang near blew him up a couple months before the futurity. I had to spend a month just walking and trotting the pattern (along with a lot of outside riding) to get him back to normal. So in short, I had to start almost completely over. I learned a very valuable lesson with that horse, and I thank God he had a good enough mind to overcome my stupidity. We got to the futurity and he worked great, inspite of my ridiculous nerves.
Now I know better, and let every horse progress at their own pace, whether that means heading to a futurity or becoming a solid rodeo or jackpot horse. How was the stud bred? Sounds like a good minded horse. Lucky you learned from it- so many still do not. Lord knows I have screwed a few up but only one in hopes of being a futurity horse.
http://www.allbreedpedigree.com/draft+beer
He was truly a beautiful horse. Just one of those that you see playing in the pasture and you had to stop and watch him because he was such a pretty moving horse. We patterned him on poles after the futurity and used him at jr. rodeos and high school rodeos, where he was a consistent 21 sec pole horse. Us girls also used him as a rodeo queen horse (all the while still a stud), and he won I believe 7 horsemanship titles. Totally OT, but at one of the contests I had won the previous year, I had to go back to "set the pattern" for the girls running that year, and I did the whole reining pattern on this stud with no bridle, just a leather strap around his neck. That horse taught me more about how to get a horse REALLY broke and how a truly broke horse is supposed to ride.
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Best of the Badlands
Location: You never know where I will show up...... | rachellyn80 - 2015-01-06 8:36 AM What was your experience with the quicker vs slower maturing colts? Did they just clock right away and the others just didn't seem to be able to handle the pressure?
What are some of the futurities that you would recommend for someone starting out in this area? I have only lived here for about 7 years, but I don't think we've ever met, have we?
I can't really explain it, it's something you have to feel.
Lena May, Milliondollar Secret, Firewater Finale, Three And Out, and It's Complicated were all some of them that it literally only took a few months to "get it". They all had a snappy turning style and all just hunted it and wanted it from the start.
For example, I started Lena May on barrels in May of her 5 year old year, and she was winning by October of that year. Same deal with the others above.
I've had some others that I knew were just as athletic as the ones I listed above, but it took awhile longer to get it all put together with them.
Those horses that took longer ended up being just as nice, it just took longer for everything to fall into place with those horses.
Like I said it't not something I can really explain, it is just something I feel.
I usually know within the first 30 days what they will end up being like, but some fall back after that before going forward again, and some just keep moving forward. | |
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Whack and Roll
Posts: 6342
Location: NE Texas | TurnLane - 2015-01-06 9:48 AM Herbie - 2015-01-06 9:37 AM I have another filly that is a 4 YO this year (2015) that is a very nice filly, but I didn't get enough riding in on her through the summer to have her ready for the 2015 futurities. She is great minded and could have handled the pressure mentally, but I just didn't get to ride her as much as I needed to so she got put on the back burner. She just started loping through this fall and is now exhibitioning with Gunnar through the winter, as he's had some customers requestign something like her, and will be ready for either the late 2015 futurities or for sure the 2016 futurities if we still have her by then.
Here is me riding her this fall after about 60 days of riding off the track spread out over about 6 months. LOL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wI4CEk2P6E
And here is her first time away from home with Gunnar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hMNpWmDkFw
I cant watch the other video you posted with him on the first away from home pattern? Anyhow, the first one looks talented.
Thank you, TurnLane. I'm not sure why you couldn't view one of the videos....i'm terrible at posting links and what not on here. Seems they never work right. Gunnar is going back and forth between Sapulpa and down here right now. I think he will be back up there soon though.
The first colt is a gelding and his name is Actions Peak Louder, and I guess I should be careful what I name these colts because his name sure fits! LOL http://www.allbreedpedigree.com/actions+peak+louder
The second is a filly and her name is Ms Eldorado Pkwy. She is a sweetheart of a filly and very easy to ride and be around. Going to be a really fun horse to haul. http://www.allbreedpedigree.com/ms+eldorado+pkwy | |
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Whack and Roll
Posts: 6342
Location: NE Texas | bowersk - 2015-01-06 9:40 AM I'm a notorious homebody, and it's been years since I've actually taken one myself. I really enjoy the process of getting one on the pattern, seasoning them and getting them solid, then turning them over to someone else to jockey. Because of some health issues, I really can't get out and travel a lot, but kudos to those futurity riders that do! I wish I could!
I've got one good story, but no videos . I was 16 years old and was entrusted to get my aunt's off the track QH stud ready for Jud Little's futurity (I got him in January of that year). I had trained a couple horses by that point, but never had a deadline to work against. I was so nervous, I'm sure I did absolutely everything wrong. I pushed him too hard and dang near blew him up a couple months before the futurity. I had to spend a month just walking and trotting the pattern (along with a lot of outside riding) to get him back to normal. So in short, I had to start almost completely over. I learned a very valuable lesson with that horse, and I thank God he had a good enough mind to overcome my stupidity. We got to the futurity and he worked great, inspite of my ridiculous nerves.
Now I know better, and let every horse progress at their own pace, whether that means heading to a futurity or becoming a solid rodeo or jackpot horse.
Boy, haven't we all made this mistake when there is a time line! I think as you stated also, these are the ones that teach us the most! I think that is the hardest thing about training futurity horses is knowing you have a time line and it makes people feel the need to rush. This is the first futurity horse i've had in over 10 years simply because I work full time and am unable to take a full week off and go to the futurities, nor am I able to ride babies through the winter, so in the past my colts have always had the winter off for the most part. This is the first time i've ever sent anything i've trained out to be hauled or seasoned and it's hard not having the control, but i'm thankful to have found someone who I can trust to do things almost like I would do them. Gunnar will run my colt at D & D for sure and probably the BBR and we'll see where we are at that point. I would like to try to get a few runs on him so I can run him at the WPRA finals this fall. | |
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