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 Don't Wanna Make This Awkward
Posts: 3106
  
Location: Texas | I always admire those 1D horses that make flawless runs and the rider never has more than 1 hand on the reins, the other is always on the horn. Do horses like this usually get trained this way or is this something you can teach them to accept? Mine is pretty automatic and I think he would do good with this style, plus it might help me stay out of his way more |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 788
 
| If a horse is properly broke you should be able to do anything one handed. So, running is no different and if they know the barrel pattern and are seasoned, they shouldn't require much help. If you think it would help you, then what's holding you back? |
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 Take a Picture
Posts: 12838
| First of all the horse needs to be broke enough that it understands what you are asking when riding wit one hand and steers well enough with one hand. (that goes back to being broke). First of all I have always trained my own horses from breaking to finished barrel horses but I really like what my trainer does and being able to get on and go. Through the years I have picked up some bad habits so when I work slow, I practice doing things right just as I would in a run. to get straight to the point, I walk or trot and turn the barrel just exactly like I want to turn it at a run. Weight in outside stirrup, push back on the horn and pick up on the inside rein. You do want the horse to go where you are directing so if you get out there and just pleasure ride around the barrels, you are not accomplishing anything. I do drills the same way. |
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Expert
Posts: 2531
Location: WI | Just start riding 1 handed everyday. I like to make sure I ride both left and right handed, so it is comfortable. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1631
Location: Somewhere around here | With horse that aren't automatic and easy on the pattern I stay two handed in-between barrels, just in case anything happens or they need my help. Once they start going to more events and become reliable I gradually start using just one hand to the horses favorite barrel or to the barrels where they don't really need any help on. I've done this to a few horses and it seems to work pretty well. And just eventually start using one hand going to two barrels and so forth. I'm currently debating if my horse is ready for only one hand going to the third lol. |
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| streakysox - 2016-08-16 11:13 AM
First of all the horse needs to be broke enough that it understands what you are asking when riding wit one hand and steers well enough with one hand. (that goes back to being broke). First of all I have always trained my own horses from breaking to finished barrel horses but I really like what my trainer does and being able to get on and go. Through the years I have picked up some bad habits so when I work slow, I practice doing things right just as I would in a run. to get straight to the point, I walk or trot and turn the barrel just exactly like I want to turn it at a run. Weight in outside stirrup, push back on the horn and pick up on the inside rein. You do want the horse to go where you are directing so if you get out there and just pleasure ride around the barrels, you are not accomplishing anything. I do drills the same way.
I do this! I practice my turns at walk and trot, hand down on my horn pushing my butt into the seat and one handed. The habit has been formed and now sometimes I forget to ride two handed In between barrels on my young one! |
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Expert
Posts: 1531
Location: Oklahoma | Practise at a walk, trot and lope exactly as you wish to run with hands and in the same tracks w 3 barrels. Do not vary from the pattern with drills. Do one barrel alone or 5 in a circle or 3 in a line for practising turn problems instead. Practise your sit, hands, look, pull up , change hands routine etc sitting in living room . You can have someone hold a bridle or (put it on your foot) hold reins.
If one hand loose reins is not enough support , do a loop ( steer wrestling/roper style) where you hold reins in barrel hand looped , other hand on horn, drop outside rein w 2 fingers for turn , slide and reloop after turn. Sensitive types really like it as no reins flopping or accidental grabs. Good for beginners and kids too , who need horn support. ( Us seniors too ) |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1034
| Call me crazy, but I think you should go back to two hands between barrels no matter the horse. It's too easy to create a slicing in problem or not be in position to help. |
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 Owner of a ratting catting machine
Posts: 2258
| HorseMommyFiveO - 2016-08-16 7:37 PM
Call me crazy, but I think you should go back to two hands between barrels no matter the horse. It's too easy to create a slicing in problem or not be in position to help.
Exactly. Sometimes I end up one handed to third, but it's because I'm late in my timing. Horses usually handle it okay, but if someone anticipates, there's no way to keep them picked up off the barrel. If you've got them two handed, you can keep them straight and strong until you get to the turn, and not lose that hip. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 618
| I ride two handed to the first and between save when/if I get behind him in between the 2nd and 3rd. It's not bc he isn't broke but he's more comfortable that way. He's off the track and so I always just attributed it to being ridden two handed down the stretch. I can ride him one handed, walking, trotting or loping. When I'm making a run he knows when I drop to one hand we are about to make a turn. He's very sensitive to my body/hands. In five years he's hit 3-4 barrel and it's always been the 3rd where I didn't jockey two handed |
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 Balance Beam and more...
Posts: 11493
Location: 31 lengths farms | HorseMommyFiveO - 2016-08-17 5:37 PM
Call me crazy, but I think you should go back to two hands between barrels no matter the horse. It's too easy to create a slicing in problem or not be in position to help.
Being one handed too long from the first to the 2nd on my gelding was my first butt chewing from Ed Wright, LOL!!! Then to get the point clearly thru my head he made me learn to make a run staying 2 handed in the 2nd barrel and put my inside foot back near his flank to keep my gelding from coming across himself at point 2.5...or maybe Ed was just trying to kill me, LOL!!! But I will say we were a little over 5 tenths faster at our next race and picked up our first 2D check. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 378
Location: Saskatchewan | I like going to two hands between barrels, personally. I feel like I'm being less of a passenger, could just be a personal preference thing. |
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