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 Expert
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Location: Mississippi | It seems that I am stuck in a barrel hitting rut. I am doing it on both of my horses so I do believe the problem is myself. I slow work at home practicing muscle memory (not going to my horn or sitting too early, looking past the barrel, etc) but when I make a run everything seems to fall apart. I "believe" what is happening is that I am looking at the barrels and just not thinking during a run. Not to mention I have it in my head that I am most likely going to hit a barrel since I am so used to doing it and I know that isn't helping matters. The horse I have been riding the longest is very push style and I don't feel that he is cheating me, I think he is just doing what I am not meaning to tell him to do.
Any advice or tips to help me in practice. I think my horses are getting sick of all the slow work but I don't know how else to make myself learn. |
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 Take a Picture
Posts: 12842
  
| I know that Joseys has clinics in Mississippi so sign up for one of them and listen to Mark's talk on the turns. Best money you can spend. I would venture to say that you are leaning in the turns. On computer at work and do not have pictures of someone sitting up in the turns but the picture in my avatar looks like I am in line with the horse. I am and that is LEANING. |
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Expert
Posts: 1286
Location: Mississippi | I have been to numerous Josey clinics (here and at the ranch) and agree they are very helpful but I just can't seem to break out of this. The last 15 runs I have made on my main horse, I have maybe had 2 clean. I am sure I am leaning but how do I train myself to do it right? I really focus on trying to practice perfect but something just doesn't seem to be clicking :(
Edited by turtleaut 2016-10-10 2:46 PM
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 Expert
Posts: 2128
| Are you able to make a 3/4 speed run at home? Maybe make a run at home and really concentrate on not hitting so that you gain a little confidence back.. |
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Take a Picture
Posts: 12842
| turtleaut - 2016-10-10 2:34 PM
I have been to numerous Josey clinics (here and at the ranch) and agree they are very helpful but I just can't seem to break out of this. The last 15 runs I have made on my main horse, I have maybe had 2 clean. I am sure I am leaning but how do I train myself to do it right? I really focus on trying to practice perfect but something just doesn't seem to be clicking :(
This is what I have done. At a walk, I two hand the horse til my knee is at the barrel, drop the outside rein, push back on the horn and put my weight in the outside stirrup. If you do that it is hard to lean. When you master this at a walk. Go to a trot the a slow lope. Remember to drive the horse up into a spot past the barrel. Sure has helped me |
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| I am so right there with you!
I haven't 100% figured it out, I suspect that I am leaning as well as not riding as far past as I think I am.
It's hard when a time is on the line to remember to slow it down in your mind and complete each step of your process. I think I'm on the right path but my frequency of runs is slowing down with the season coming to an end, hoping to make my last few runs clean and go into winter happy.
I have an awful habit when i rope of jerking my slack and only catching 1 foot or puling my loop clean out. I remember the first time I mentally slowed it down and let my loop sit for that split second. It was like a slo mo video.
It is very much mind over matter and mastering the adrenaline rush. |
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 Saint Stacey
| Where are you hitting them? Going in? Backside? Leaving? How you fix it depends on where you hit. |
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Expert
Posts: 1286
Location: Mississippi | Most often, it's on the backside, occassionally it's going in (and if that happens it's going to be on the 3rd). I think if I could just get an extra stride in we would be ok but for the life of me I can't seem to get past it. I don't have that great of ground where I practice so I usually keep the pattern work at a walk and trot. Sometimes I do feel my horse start the turn before I ask when we are trotting through so I will take him past it, counter arc and go on to the next barrel. But I really think the main issue here is me and not him. |
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Saint Stacey
| I'd get cones and set them going in and on the backside. When you practice, force yourself to look at the ground where you need to be. Looking at the fence rarely works. The reason is because you then have to drop your eyes to someplace else. You honestly need to focus on the spots the feet need to hit. You want to focus to the point you can remember what the ground looks like when you are at a run. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 883
Location: Southern Indiana | In all honesty the solution really is not that hard, getting it in your head and your body to response correctly is.
First off when you do your slow work at home keep the barrel at your horses hip and keep his body bent and moving around the barrel. You can do this a foot away or 6 feet away, but his hip must stay at the barrel and feet moving forward and around. Over exaggerate the size of your turn and give him plenty of room to keep the feet moving forward.
For you, before you run do not think about hitting or not hitting barrels. Close your eyes and imagine your perfect run. Make your run in head remember two hands and drive all the way. Think only about driving past and keeping your hands forward.
In all honesty try to just relax and have a positive mind set. Maybe even not work on barrels so much. Get away and just ride. I had a barrel hit streak early this summer...I think 11 runs and suddenly it just stopped! It happens to all of us. |
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 I hate cooking and cleaning
Posts: 3314
Location: Jersey Girl | Are you knocking coming into or leaving the barrel? Maybe you need to push past the barrel then drop your hand. Or maybe you are dropping your had too soon. A vid would prob help. |
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