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 Born not Made
Posts: 2937
   
Location: North Dakota | I figured this might give me some good "reminders" for me as I am trying to remember how to ride my horses again after a break!
A little background on Red. He's 11 this year and he had all of last year off (2016) becuase I had a baby. We also quit the 2015 season early because he cut his back leg to the bone. This was our first barrel race of the year. So I'm just trying to remember all the things I need to do correctly during a run as a jockey! Our first run was not that good ... and my video'er only got half of it so I won't even post it. It was just a hot mess, haha. But we came back for the second run much better. I did intentionally push him deep into the 2nd barrel, because on our first run, he came in just a bit too soon so that we caught the barrel leaving it (or should I say my KNEE did .... ouch!). We fell into the bottom of the 3D with this run which was slower than I wanted .... but I always set my expectations high for myself; I really can't complain for our first run of the year and him getting back into running shape.
https://youtu.be/Q4JITh8Mleg
I'll also post my young one, Shotgun. He is 6 this year and he pretty much hasn't been ran for 2 full years. He got injured early in 2015 and then also had 2016 off (due to baby). We did a Ryan Lovendahl clinic the other weekend and I'm really excited to continue seasoning him. He still doesn't know we are running barrels, haha. It has not "clicked" yet but that's okay; it'll come. He really works hard for me and tries to please.
I used to run him to the left barrel first, but now, he doesn't seem to have preference either way so I switched him to the right barrel first. Ryan also didn't think it mattered which way I took him so we'll try this for a while! I was too "hands off" for our first run and allowed him to run in too wide and too deep, which bit me in the butt on his 3rd when he over-worked and over-turned on the backside. I was trying to be a nice momma and let him figure it out but lesson learned! I tried to set him up better on our second run and I was pretty pleased with how he worked. On that run, he ended just out of the money on the 4D. I was really happy with that, for him coming back from a 2 year break and not knowing what he is doing, LOL. The second run was also better (I believe) because he wasn't as looky-looky. He definately needs seasoning because he was scared of the white on the barrels when we did our time slot. Stinker.... He got over it.
First run
https://youtu.be/jUnrAbqh9wU
Second run
https://youtu.be/8YcqdFmWMSA
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  Ms. Marine
Posts: 4641
Location: Texas | I love that you ride quietly. I thought your second run looked great, he will get better and better the more you run him. He's gorgeous. |
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 Not Afraid to Work
Posts: 4717
| You are such a quiet rider!!!! Your second barrel on your first run on the gray looked awesome, the angle might have captured it better but it just was nice.
The one thing I noticed and you ride very square which is fantastic but I would try looking to your next barrel a little sooner. It seems like when they take that stride past your aren't looking until they are actually turned around to go to the next where I try to look sooner which opens my hand sooner and closes it a bit faster. That gray is adorable and looks to be built so nice.
Edited by stayceem 2017-05-16 10:38 AM
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Born not Made
Posts: 2937
Location: North Dakota | Thank you for kind comments. I sometimes think I need to be doing more during my runs, but I also want my horses to learn to do it themselves with little help from me.
I agree I could look sooner -- especially leaving the second barrel. I will have to try to remember that.
I am so excited for my grey horse. He has such a pleasant personality and he tries so hard. I am very surprised at how QUICK he is for his size (thick bones and about 15.3 hands), when we are doing drills and whatnot. I've had him since he was 6 months old and I am just so pleased with the horse he is becoming. I can't wait until the light bulb comes on and he realizes what we are doing!
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 The Original Cyber Bartender
Location: Washington | Your simply not making these horses come to your hand, because you are releasing them in your turns, and it's why your not finishing them. I really like Red, he is waiting on you for his cue on the second, and you were late, then you rated him behind the turn, and he stalled and put in two studder steps to get out of it.
Both horses do not look in shape, so work on that and your hands, and I think you going to have a very fun summer with your guys!
Also your horse Red responds quickly to that outside rein touching his neck, another reason to get your hand set in your turns.
Your doing a very good job.
Edited by fatchance 2017-05-16 12:45 PM
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 Take a Picture
Posts: 12841
| I am seeing a hind end issue that the gray horse has Watch the slo mo video of the second run and see him sticking in the left turns |
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Born not Made
Posts: 2937
Location: North Dakota | FatChance: Red sure does keep me on my toes because I've put the work into him to make him so broke. So if my timing is off, it shows! We also do reining with spins and flying lead changes, so he is broke to death. So if I understand you correctly, I am letting go of that inside rein too soon in my turns? I can agree with that.
As far as being in shape..... both of my horses are very much quarter horses; especially Red. They aren't going to look like TBs. It's just the way they are built. Yes, they do need to get their air back for actually RUNNING the pattern, but that is going to come as we continue to haul. I'm not worried about it. This isn't the first time my horses have been called fat over the internet. Trust me - they're good! Thanks though.
Streakysox: Honestly, I think it's either me not keeping him together, or the fact that he is still learning. I think he just misstepped on the 2nd barrel in the 2nd video, if that is what you are referring to.
I do happen to have a vet appointment for both horses next week as part of their wellness package I do with my vet (which includes lameness evals). I normally do one at the start of the season and in the middle (and as needed) to keep watch for any problems. If anything, Red is the one that is going to need something, but he's a walking vet bill. I am not expecting the vet to find anything with Shotgun.
Edited by r_beau 2017-05-16 12:55 PM
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The Original Cyber Bartender
Location: Washington | You need to be more open when you ask for critiques, your responding like you want to debate/fight.
Re visit what I typed...Never called your horses fat and I know the difference in horses in shape and out of shape, regardless of breed. Your response of needing more air confirms my thoughts.
Man is this a reminder to me or what! LOL
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 672
| fatchance - 2017-05-16 11:45 AM
Your simply not making these horses come to your hand, because you are releasing them in your turns, and it's why your not finishing them. I really like Red, he is waiting on you for his cue on the second, and you were late, then you rated him behind the turn, and he stalled and put in two studder steps to get out of it.
Both horses do not look in shape, so work on that and your hands, and I think you going to have a very fun summer with your guys!
Also your horse Red responds quickly to that outside rein touching his neck, another reason to get your hand set in your turns.
Your doing a very good job.
I agree with all the above. You're throwing your reins away and letting the horses figure out the turns. With more support and guidance shaping/rating/turning they'll get quicker and snappier in their turns. I'd shorten up the reins a bit too. |
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Born not Made
Posts: 2937
Location: North Dakota | fatchance - 2017-05-16 1:08 PM You need to be more open when you ask for critiques, your responding like you want to debate/fight.
Re visit what I typed...Never called your horses fat and I know the difference in horses in shape and out of shape, regardless of breed. Your response of needing more air confirms my thoughts.
Man is this a reminder to me or what! LOL
??? I am not looking to start a debate or a fight. I thanked you for your particular feedback and moved on with the thread. |
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 It's not my fault I'm perfect
Posts: 13739
Location: Where the long tails flow, ND | They look a little stiff to me, in the neck. Having them shaped a little more will help you finish your turns instead of shooting them in a straight line to each barrel - if that makes sense?
And I agree on the 'in shape' both look like they need a little more 'fire', as in air, like that poster mentioned. Do you do any sprints or quick feet drills?
You are doing a good job, I know it's hard to come back from a break :) |
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 Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| Nice start back after being off for so long! |
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 Saint Stacey
| I agree with fatchance. I see a lot of good in your runs. But you would be better if you helped the red horse out more instead of just being a passenger. Hold him up in the turn, even with something as small as a little bump in the turn. It's like he's waiting on you to tell him what to do, you don't so he finally just does his own thing. I can appreciate you staying off his face. But he needs help in the turns.
My pet peeve...people yelling PUSH PUSH HUSTLE HUSTLE when the rider is on a green colt. Too many times the rider actually listens and completely ruins any confidence a green colt has. At this point you need to get the turns perfect and raise his confidence. Pushing is just a bad idea at this point. Also, when for starting to haul a colt, you really need to go one speed slower at a race than you do at home. If you are just slow loping at home, at a race you probably need to trot. Confidence is key. Destroy the confidence by pushing and you have a mess to fix.
Edited by SKM 2017-05-16 5:06 PM
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Born not Made
Posts: 2937
Location: North Dakota | SmokinGirlie: I for sure agree that Shotgun is stiff. We're working on it. I had a reining trainer work on him for 30 days (who commented that he was real stiff), I've had the chiro out, and we just did a Ryan Lovendahl clinic who also commented on that. So it should continue to improve.
I agree with you and veintiocho that I am asking both of them to come into the turn very straight. I'll have to work on that, and asking for some shape before. I always worry that I am going to cue them to turn too soon, probably mostly with Red because he is ratey and wants to turn, so I think that's why I take the easy way out and let them go in straight.
Sprints, yes. I try to breeze them once or twice a week depending on our schedule for the weekend. Shotgun is still learning how to run ... he doesn't quite "get it" yet that he can just run as fast as he can, haha. He for sure has not hit top speed yet, while breezing. Red, on the other hand, oh lordy, he's like a kid in a candy shop when I let him run.
I learned some new drills at the Ryan clinic that we're working on. Shotgun does phenomenal at his drill where you make them come around and "blast out" as if you were powering out of a turn. I've only done it once on Red and I ended up working more on making sure he didn't dive or anticipate. Once in a while, I'll do the spin-move on the backside of the barrel (I don't know if it has an official name) to encouarge quick feet in the turn.
I also work the both of them on pole bending too.
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Born not Made
Posts: 2937
Location: North Dakota | SKM: I always laugh when I listen to the video of my runs, because I'll hear all the things people are shouting and I never hear a word of it when I am actually running. I get "in the zone" I guess!
That will be hard for me to be more "handsy" with Red but I will try. I can see how that will help him and it makes a lot of sense. He is a good boy and tries to do what I ask.
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Saint Stacey
| r_beau - 2017-05-16 3:55 PM
SKM: I always laugh when I listen to the video of my runs, because I'll hear all the things people are shouting and I never hear a word of it when I am actually running. I get "in the zone" I guess!
That will be hard for me to be more "handsy" with Red but I will try. I can see how that will help him and it makes a lot of sense. He is a good boy and tries to do what I ask.
I'm not talking a lot. Just a slight lift. You don't need to rip his face off. Just give him some guidance is all. Instead of throwing your hands to him, just lift in the turn. That's it. Maybe a small bump on the backside. You can still be light in the hands and give guidance too. |
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 Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | SKM - 2017-05-16 5:09 PM r_beau - 2017-05-16 3:55 PM SKM: I always laugh when I listen to the video of my runs, because I'll hear all the things people are shouting and I never hear a word of it when I am actually running. I get "in the zone" I guess!
That will be hard for me to be more "handsy" with Red but I will try. I can see how that will help him and it makes a lot of sense. He is a good boy and tries to do what I ask.
I'm not talking a lot. Just a slight lift. You don't need to rip his face off. Just give him some guidance is all. Instead of throwing your hands to him, just lift in the turn. That's it. Maybe a small bump on the backside. You can still be light in the hands and give guidance too.
As my mentor used to tell me, don't pull, "feel your shank". You don't want to have weight in your hand, and a lot of times all it takes is a very light feel and flick your fingers to tell them where to turn. Some want you to support them a little and some had rather you follow their nose with your hand and stay out of the way, you kinda have to figure that out through trial and error, but either way you don't want to throw the reins at them in the turn. |
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Born not Made
Posts: 2937
Location: North Dakota | So we did some practicing last night! I tried to take everyone suggestions with guiding more throughout the whole turn. We did some slow work on a drill first, and then I set the barrels up and make a run-through with each horse (well, cruise-through on Shotgun).
Red did really great on his first and second and I felt like I did a better job of asking for shape coming into the turn, keeping the contact in the turn, and making sure I did not release too soon. He finished both barrels nicely and seemed to snap out nice. Third barrel for whatever reason didn't work as well. I'm not exactly sure what I did. He just got hung up on the backside before he could get freed up and make his move. So we did a little slow work on the 3rd barrel to clean it up, and finish.
When I worked Shotgun, he stalled coming out of each barrel which really stumped me. He has zero power leaving the turn. I felt like I was helping him have nice shape coming into it and I certainly wasn't letting go too soon (I made sure of that). While he caught his breath, I walked him through the pattern and I did the little "spin" drill on the backside -- thinking he needed to have quicker feet? Then we tried it again and I think I figured something out.
He needs about zero pocket.
I've had this horse since he was a baby and I never ever thought he was going to be the quick type. He's about 15.3 hands (maybe 16 hands; I haven't actually measured him) and he has got awesome thick bone structure in his legs. I kind of imagine him as a clunky Clydesdale ... okay, maybe that's an exaggeration but I just never thought he'd be quick with his size. I am just blown away; It is so surprising to me!
Anywho, I took him tight to all 3 barrels with lots of shape coming in and there was absolutely no stalling on the backside and he was around them in a jiffy. (Maybe imagine Martha style and/or Bling style?) I think he stalled on the first run through because I was giving him too much room, even though it was pretty "normal" to me. He just wants to wrap them instead!
So it was a nice little light bulb moment I had last night with him. We may just figure each other out yet!
Would have been cool if I had my video camera set up .... maybe next time.
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Born not Made
Posts: 2937
Location: North Dakota | Oh just thought I would update, since I *think* I put the advice to good use! Red and I had a great race on Saturday, winning 3rd in the 3D in the first heat (71 runners) and won the 2D in the second heat (41 runners). I did not get our second run on video, but here is the first.
https://youtu.be/zTALVt0goDY
He was really full of himself before our run that day; such a stinker. He was ready to come flying from the parking lot! He sure loves to run barrels.
On the first barrel, he just barely tripped coming up to the barrel. I knew something had happened when we made the run, but I thought he just had ground trouble, and now I finally saw the trip re-watching the video now! So I suppose that's why he got so deep on the backside of the first and was trying his darndest to get around it fast -- can't fault him for that. I feel like my arm looks really awkward coming into the turn but I was just trying to get myself to remember to keep contact on the bit and shape him before the turn. I'll have to try to hold it more "normal" next time. I also tried to remember to hold that inside rein a little longer to finish our turns (which I think I did). And LOOK to my next barrel a little sooner.
Loved his second barrel! He turned it so nice. We got just a smidge past the 3rd barrel. Not sure if I didn't shape him enough or what exactly I did.
But I was extremely pleased with a 3D run despite getting past the 1st barrel, and the mistake on the 3rd.
Our second run, I didn't have my right stirrup for any of my run except the 3rd barrel  oh well. I must have done okay because we won the 2D! And cleaned up the 1st and 3rd barrel. He does not normally clock well on a larger-ish pattern so I was just absolutely tickled to win the 2D. He was just raring to go that day. Maybe he was feeling better as I got his coffin joints injected over a week ago, and started him on Adequan (again).
With Shotgun, I decided to slow him down a little bit so I could focus on getting him set up for his turns correctly. I wish I would have brought him in a little closer on the first barrel - I let him have too much pocket. He doesn't need that much. For the second, he was eyeballing the crow's nest like he did during exhibitions. He's a good boy but he's always looking around -- that will come. Little stumble on the third barrel, but overally I am very happy with how he worked because he listened so well ... even to scoot on home when I asked!
https://youtu.be/iIS_6a9Cgu0
Since there was some comments about Shotgun, I will tell you with his vet visit that he flexed off on the right front foot but we could not find anything wrong via x-rays or ultrasound. Vet does think he has thin soles so he is getting shoes put on today with pads and we'll see how he does with that. And I started him on Pentosan. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 602
| On Red, your leads were incorrect going to the first and second. I think thats the reason why he went past the second, He wasnt ready for it. If you want a little snappier in the turns, he needs to soften up in the ribs a little. He seems stiff in that part of his body. I liked the run but those are the flaws I see. JMO. Im not perfect but from an outsider looking in. :) |
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