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Veteran
Posts: 226
 
| I am having first barrel trouble...... my horse won't rate well going into first, so I have been trying to help him rate going into first and when I give him a "bump" to first he throws his head up. Do I have a bit problem? I am currently riding him in a medium shank, smooth, 3 piece with copper overlay and small gag. Do I need more gag on the bit?? I will attach the video from last night......
He is not sore, he has had injections and lameness, etc. He runs on lasix, he had every supplement you can think of and vibrated, chiro'd, massaged, iced, linoment, magnets, etc etc etc.
I don't beleive it is lameness unless someone can see something that I can't....
I will attach a video....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7jqwEZtrjI
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 807
Location: New Mexico | I don't think you're lacking rate. Looks more like positioning to me. Also, is the "bump" necessary? To me it doesn't look like he needs that and it may be counterproductive. He does appear a bit more stiff on that particular barrel but again, it may just be positioning. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 338
Location: NE TX | I don't think it's your bit since he turned the other two without his head up. I agree with crzystevielvr, is the bump necessary?? When you are letting him go running to the first, when you sit, do you feel him rate up under you or do you feel the bump is necessary?
Me personally I have one that doesn't like to be touched much and I have a friend that her mare doesn't like it and will throw her head and hop around if you pull on her even with an o-ring or a hack. We both try to get ours to where we can go whatever speed to the first, sit down at our rate spot and they start to collect up under us and if we pull on them it is to make them stop.
Again I say try cause I do tend to brain fart and like for example this past Saturday I did check mine and didn't need to and she didn't turn like I know she can.
Try trusting him and just run in there and sit and say woah and pick up to make your turn. He is a lot more stiff going to the right but that's why some are left first and others are right first, they turn their worst turn once.
Good luck, I know having struggles is NO fun! |
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Veteran
Posts: 226
| This is a video of me just letting him go. His right has always been not his best, and whoever trained him had him put his nose to the barrel when he turned instead of getting up under himself. I have tried to break him of that and it hasn't been successful so I try to deal with what he has.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EI3qMeRsT5E
I know I need to sit "harder" on him and i think that would help. Thank you both for pointing out the bit, I do like him in it but just thought that could be my problem, but you are right, he obviously doesn't mind it going to the left.
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Veteran
Posts: 226
| crzystevielvr - 2017-06-22 1:36 PM I don't think you're lacking rate. Looks more like positioning to me. Also, is the "bump" necessary? To me it doesn't look like he needs that and it may be counterproductive. He does appear a bit more stiff on that particular barrel but again, it may just be positioning.
When you say positioning like I need a larger pocket into the barrel? |
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 Expert
Posts: 1718
Location: Southeast Louisiana | He's throwing his head up because it hurts and possibly scares him a little. This might work better for you than bumping.
"At the point where you want this horse to gather (slow down enough to make a fast turn), you will sit yourself down, say "whooooaaaah" and check your horse. Remember to check your horse, which means to pull back on the reins enough to collect his stride. After you have checked your horse, you will release the reins and then pick them up the second time. This is called picking up "new mouth." If you pull back and never release, you will retard the checking process. The difference is this: In the check/release method, you have asked him to get ready to turn. In the check and pull hard method, you are trying to force him to turn."
It came from this article by Joyce Loomis-Kernek
http://www.loomis-kernek.com/Articles/article14.htm |
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Veteran
Posts: 226
| Thank you very much Nita! |
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 I'm Cooler Offline
Posts: 6387
Location: Pacific Northwest | I can't watch the video because I'm at work but I will say if I bump my mare going into her first she throws her head and pretty much gives me the finger. If I sit and don't touch her she will wrap it. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 807
Location: New Mexico | stjelde - 2017-06-22 2:50 PM
crzystevielvr - 2017-06-22 1:36 PM I don't think you're lacking rate. Looks more like positioning to me. Also, is the "bump" necessary? To me it doesn't look like he needs that and it may be counterproductive. He does appear a bit more stiff on that particular barrel but again, it may just be positioning.
When you say positioning like I need a larger pocket into the barrel?
I honestly think he's a little bit too much on his rear to be able to turn in that spot. I hesitate to say to move him out just a hair because sometimes doing that can lead to shouldering. I would try putting your inside leg on him when you get into your pocket. This will kick his hip out just a bit, allowing him to make that maneuver. I have an example of a horse who turns like him if you'd like to see it. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 534
Location: Ohio girl moved to PA | He's definitley rating because you can see him slowing down wayyy before your rate point, are you dropping that outside hand too soon? it kinda looks like hes bracing for the turn. This is just what i see, so he may possibly be hurting somewhere that you havent found yet. Maybe bit hitting a tooth the wrong way? other than that i can't see anything else that would be hurting. I would try not bumping, just sit a little harder since he's already rating and maybe give him a little more of a pocket. Ride em hard to your spot and sit deep. |
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 Born not Made
Posts: 2937
Location: North Dakota | I liked your first barrel better on the second video you posted, where you say that's what happens when you "let him go". The turn is perfect ... just too far past the barrel. So start your cueing a little bit sooner. I also wouldn't "bump" him. Just go for smooth with your rein cue.
You also need to "turn" with your body sooner on that first barrel. In that second video, you are well past your cue spot before you even start to turn your shoulders for the turn. Your body language is telling him "keep going foward" so he does. Your first video, you did better about your body language, but it's maybe the "bumping" that bothers him.
So I would combine a smooth rein cue (no bumps) with also "turning" with your body to cue him to start turning.
Another difference, on the first video where he tossed his head, your hand was aimed back toward your saddle horn (at first) and I felt he was very noodly in the turn with his neck. On the second video, you left your hand more "out" (not near your saddle horn) and he had a smoother turn. So watch your hand position as well.
You do well with your hand position on the 2nd and 3rd barrels so try to mimic that.
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