streakysox - 2017-06-18 11:23 PM

I am seeing several things. The horse does not have a lot of rate on any of the barrels. In the first video you do not finish the second barrel so you are not setting the horse up for the third. The horse starts her turn just a little too soon but most of the problem is leaving the second barrel. In the second video you can see the lack of rate at the first. The horse started turning too soon. At the third, the horse is pretty stiff and not giving you its head at all. Just my personal opinion but I think if you will slow the horse back down and get it right and even make some slower controlled runs on the open you can fix this pretty easily.

clover girl - 2017-06-19 12:21 PM

Assuming you have checked everything (teeth, hocks, saddle, ect), make sure and remember to check her feet.  I do not know if she has shoes or not, but check those feet. :)

Are you set on running her in the headgear she is in?  I'd try something with more gag if she were mine.  She never stops forward motion which is really good, but she also never really finished the turn on any barrel.  By the time you get to 3 she is running the show, you are just there for looks. :)  I would do some roll backs to get her focused on finishing the turn, then see where you are.

She looks fun and easy.   

Three_Barrels_33 - 2017-06-18 9:49 PM hey all! I'm looking for some advice from an outside source on getting my mare to finish the third. she doesn't always do this, but sometimes she just roots her nose and throws herself around it, stepping way off of it. she has been doing great otherwise and clocking even with an ugly third, so I'm eager to get it fixed. I'm trying to stay two handed longer and give her plenty of room going in and on the back side. also, in slow work, she turns it correctly and gives her face and body. I would greatly appreciate any thoughts, whether it be drills to try, fundamentals to check up on, my position, her position, etc...thanks so much in advance! these videos show the best (well, worst, haha) examples of what she's done, from two different angles: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=e2d34s5a_lQ https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_JFihq-wuc

r_beau - 2017-06-19 1:05 PM

... On the first video, I agree she started the turn a bit too soon on the first barrel, which made her come out of it not ideal.  You also did not leave the second barrel nice and crisp which will set you up funny for the third. On the second video, you went in too deep on the first and could have left cleaner on the 2nd barrel. 

Overall, I like your horse and I don't know that rate is your problem (she appears she knows she needs to turn so I don't think rate is your problem). You also says she is good in slow work and gives her face and body ..... but what if you give her a QUICK and UNEXPECTED cue with only the direct rein randomly in the area? Does she resist? If she does, work on that. You do want them soft and broke when doing nice slow work and nice cues, but you have to be able to pick up suddenly and quickly and have the horse respond. NOW. I think that might be part of the issue. Teach her how to respond immediately even if you pick up suddenly and quickly, and I'll bet you find that that 3rd barrel problem goes away.

Do you do any work on counter-arcs? In general, that just helps make your horse more broke too.  Rollbacks? Honestly, I don't know that rollbacks help a barrel horse because no where in the barrel patten do you do one.      If you want to teach your horse more skills, go for it. But rollbacks aren't a skill a barrel horse needs to know.

What type of mouthpiece is on your bit? In general, anything with a rope nose combo does tend to make them more stiff. Have you tried something without a rope nose?

 

Sockittoemred - 2017-06-22 11:59 AM I think you have a super nice horse! I like her style and your style of riding fits her well. I wouldn't mess with your first or second barrel. I wouldn't go pulling on her head and checking either. It appears she rates well with your seat and follows your hand around the first two nicely. Concentrate on riding correctly to your rate points, sitting deeply, and guiding her around the backside. The first run the first barrel was super and the second run your second was super. To address the third, I would suggest going one stride straighter longer into it so she has clearance on the backside. It appears she is getting flat and dropping her shoulder early which is causing her to not get her rear up under her to snap. The way to fix that is to push her hind up under her and ride those shoulders square one step past the barrel, then let her follow your hand around it like she does the second. No tug o war needed. I would also look into the possibility of bleeding if this isn't an easy fix. Does she ever cough after a run? A lot of times when one dies off like that headed to the third it's because they can't get enough air and just want to be out of the area.