|
|
boon
Posts: 3
| I've been running barrels for many years and have always been thrown on pretty automatic horses so this really hasn't ever been a big concern for me. But, I have a young one I am patterning and I have run into a delay recently.
He runs to the right and I am having a problem with him automatically catching that left lead coming out of the first barrel. What I have been doing is loping in the right lead around the first, slowing him to a trot then sending him off in the left lead to finish. We have been doing that for some time now and he gets its fine, I'm just wondering will he ever catch on his own or do I need to do some different drills and stuff with him?
I'll test him sometimes and not break him down and he still isn't catching that lead. He switches in the pocket of the second barrel. I've heard the many different teachings of "he will eventually understand" or "you need to work flying lead changes" so I am just curious of y'all's thoughts on this. All comments are accepted!
Thanks so much! :) |
|
| |
|
 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1062
Location: Probably On the Road to the Next Barrel Race! | Excellent question, I'd like the trainers to speak up here... |
|
| |
|
 Elite Veteran
Posts: 805
 
Location: Montana | i like to wait to they are to they are at their rate point then break down to a trot and immediately ask them to pick it up. This will help with rate into second and will also get them switching leads. Sometimes you just have to lope them through several times and they will figure out where it is comfortable for them to switch. I had a gelding that no matter how many times I broke him down to trot them pick up the lope again he would go into the second barrel on the wrong lead. he finally got it together then I had issues with him wanting to change before he finished the first. |
|
| |
|
Elite Veteran
Posts: 1062
Location: Probably On the Road to the Next Barrel Race! | P |
|
| |
|
Elite Veteran
Posts: 1062
Location: Probably On the Road to the Next Barrel Race! | Bump |
|
| |
|
With God all things are possible
Posts: 3917
| Get him to OVER turn first barrel , then he will switch leads to second leaving first. Do it a few times , go around the first a 1/4 turn more , instead of leaving right as ur turn the first. |
|
| |
|
 Take a Picture
Posts: 12841
| Step one---Make sure the horse is broke. Horse should be able to pick up correct lead when cued where ever it is. Should be able to pick up correct lead from a standstill actually. Hours of loping circles and starting and stopping will get you there.
Step two---Approach first barrel on the correct lead at a slow lope. position yourself correctly in the turn. Leave the barrel and break down to a trot. Signal the horse to pick up the other lead and move on to the second at a slow lope.
|
|
| |
|
 Born not Made
Posts: 2937
Location: North Dakota | I swear Red took forever to learn how to switch leads. In the early stages, I would break him down to a trot and switch him over. Then I just got to a point where I said "okay horse, figure it out!". And he eventually did.
Whereas my Shotgun could do it from day 1. He seemed to be a natural at switching leads.
Every horse is different.
|
|
| |
|
 Veteran
Posts: 239
| I am not a trainer by any means, but I've patterned a lot of "non-barrel horses".
I will set up 2 barrels at either end of the arena and practice doing lead changes between them - just approach one barrel like you normally do your first and change between. I don't change right as I'm leaving the first barrel, I change probably 1/2 - 3/4 way to the 2nd. I find having more time to change on this "longer" pattern, it's less stressful for both of us.
Once they have perfected this on this "longer" pattern go back to a regular size pattern.
And despite me changing them halfway, I still find that when you make a run, they will change closer to 2nd anyway.
|
|
| |
|
boon
Posts: 3
| BUMP
Thanks to all who have responded and for all the tips, please keep them coming! I'm very open minded to this subject. |
|
| |
|
| You might like this drill: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1Ot-tq9mwg&t=7s
I use it for getting their rib and the feel I like to encourage a lead change right out of first. |
|
| |
|
 Expert
Posts: 2097
Location: Deep South | ladyjockey - 2017-03-06 7:55 AM
Get him to OVER turn first barrel , then he will switch leads to second leaving first. Do it a few times , go around the first a 1/4 turn more , instead of leaving right as ur turn the first.
Danyelle Campbell recently posted a video of a colt for sale that demonstrates this perfectly if you want to check it out. |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 1280
Location: Texas | I really don't have any great words of wisdom, but you are getting some good responses, and the drill above is definitely one that I used (and still do). I had this same issue last summer and fall. One trainer reminded me that "you can teach them to do a flying lead change, or you can teach them to run barrels, but don't try to teach them at the same time." I sort of agree with that, but I will say, I could get a left lead almost anytime if I was off pattern, but almost never between 1st & 2nd. One day I finally got fed up, and just decided to push him faster, and it did click. Instead of "cueing" for a lead change, I just let him figure it out. And he did. All of my frustration was for nothing really. He stumbled a few times when he was going slow, but the faster I went, the better he was about switching as soon as he left 1st barrel. We are still not going super fast, but we are past that issue for the most part. |
|
| |
|
Regular
Posts: 59
| My guy struggled with lead changes too leaving the first. I'd over turn the first, break him down with my outside rein and do a figure 8 - lope around the barrel, break down/switch lead, lope a circle in front of the barrel, break down/switch lead, lope back around barrel. I did this for a bit and he started catching his lead immediately coming off the first barrel. |
|
| |
|
Take a Picture
Posts: 12841
|
Note this horse knows the cues for picking up leads and rider knows immediately when the horse is in the wrong lead.
|
|
| |
|
Take a Picture
Posts: 12841
| Here is a video of what I was saying. Again, note that horse knows the cues for picking up leads immediately.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JubG-PdDtlU
This is my horse and a sale video we made. She is NOT for sale now |
|
| |
|
  Sock eating dog owner
Posts: 4557
Location: Where the pavement ends and the West begins Utah | You are asking to soon.Finish the first barrel, at half way point break to trot pick up correct lead. Keep it simple he will get it. Soon he will try to change on his own. position of the horses body will determine how and when the transition will take place. |
|
| |
|
 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 415
| I'll see if I can get this picture to load, this is what Ed Wright taught me. As you leave the first barrel, have a cone set up about 6 or so feet from the barrel and a little "higher" up towards the 3rd barrel and do figure 8's around that as you leave the barrel. this will teach them to imediately switch leads and save you time!
 (drill.PNG)
Attachments
----------------
 drill.PNG (18KB - 247 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Worlds Greatest Laugh
Location: North Dakota | "over turn" the first barrel or try the drill in the above diagram (which is basically overturning the first barrel LOL). Whatever you do, dont jam it or make a big deal out of it.
Edited by Runnincat 2017-03-06 9:21 PM
|
|
| |
|
 Balance Beam and more...
Posts: 11511
Location: 31 lengths farms | Spinner, Cheeka, and RunninCat (sorry if I spelled the names incorrectly!) ...great drills and very helpful!
Helps them find their own lead change leaving the barrel when they are still collected up.
|
|
| |
Folks on-line