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boon
Posts: 3
| Okay I need some help! So I just bought a young barrel horse that has been on the pattern for two years. I had a barrel up in my arena and I didn't think anything of it. It was off alone in the spot where the third barrel normally is. As I walked past it, he tried to turn it but I pulled him off of it. Was that a big mistake? How long does it take for them to no longer track a barrel? I don't want to screw up any of his training! I want him to track the barrels. Any help or info would be really appreciated. Thanks!
Edited by mnbarrelracer26 2017-11-17 12:00 PM
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 Miss Laundry Misshap
Posts: 5271
 
| Why would you want them to stop finding barrels?
If you didn't want him to turn there, it's fine to say no and pull them straight. Your body should tell the horse when and where to turn during a run.
I'd say find a trainer to help you if you don't have a clue about what's right or wrong for a young horse. |
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boon
Posts: 3
| No, I do NOT want him to stop tracking. I want him to track it but I was wondering if pulling him off the barrel like I did would cause him to no longer track them. |
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boon
Posts: 3
| Also, I do have a trainer and she told me that doing that will mess up his training. I am just curious as to other opinions on it. Its not like my trainer is there every single time I ride. |
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Miss Laundry Misshap
Posts: 5271
| If you were specifically working on the pattern and did it multiple times....it would Probably would get them to stop.
My horses go by barrels 1000s of times (general riding around with barrels set up) but know when I'm asking them to turn on or off the pattern. That is the key thing, making sure they know if you are asking them to turn or not.
You need to make sure you are communicating with your body (mostly body) and hands when you want them to turn. If you don't know how to do that, find a trainer, because it's not just about running up to a barrel and yanking them around it.
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 Hugs to You
Posts: 7549
 
Location: In The Land of Cotton | There are a lot of good videos by top trainers on the internet.
That being said, watch a few. When riding in an arena and just randomly tell your horse where to go by body and leg language. They know the barrel is there obviously, but should not turn unless cued to by you. If you feel you need to, take the barrels to the side while warming up and put them back for drills and actual barrel runs.
If you feel your trainer is not advanced enough to guide you , find another one. Visit a clinic.
Good luck. |
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 Expert
Posts: 2128
| I leave the barrels up on purpose lots of times and warm my horse up or exercise. Of course I want him to work but mainly I want him to listen to me. I dont want him getting anxious if he sees a barrel. Now he will on occasion turn his nose toward a barrel that we are loping past but I just put my foot against him and tell him "no sir". Now, If I were to sit down in my seat and drop my outside rein he would def turn it lol. Its not a bad thing that you pulled him away. He will learn to listen to you for his instructions on what to do. |
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 Straight Shooter
Posts: 5725
Location: SW North Dakota | You'll want your horse to go where you point him. Walking past a single barrel while you're just riding around won't ruin his training, even if you do it a hundred times a day. Now, if you're walking the pattern, intending to turn and pull him off a hundred times, that's a different story.
What I mean to say is- your horse should be going where you'd like him to go. I like a horse to hunt a barrel, but if I'm trotting through the parking lot and that bugger ducks out to turn a garbage can, I won't be very happy! (that was meant to be a joke, kind of).
You might enjoy the "six barrel drill." Set up six barrels in a circle (size of your choice- I like 60-80 feet, but there are lots of opinions, and none are really wrong). Trot around the outside (or inside) and just randomly set your horse up to turn. Keeps them focused on what you're asking, while not anticpating too badly. Plus, it's a good brain puzzle for them off the cloverleaf. If you're worried, maybe your trainer can help show you how to set your horse up for a nice, balanced turn- then you can work the drill a little as "homework."
Good luck and have fun. I hope that first part made sense. If not, I am sure there are plenty of BBs that will be happy to correct me! 
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 Expert
Posts: 1511
Location: Illinois | I did mine way differently than most. I have the barrels up 24/7, I board so others use the arena and I just learn to work around whatever is there. My horse gets sick of the pattern so I just always leave them out so he knows that just because they're there doesn't mean we acknowledge them. He doesn't ever try to turn one. He will when I let him have the reins cooling out though if he walks by one. He'll turn it and look for the next if its there. When I patterned him I taught him how to turn a barrel without doing the actual pattern. Just go at random barrels or any object that you can use as a reference point. Then I started doing the pattern in the dark with black barrels. He learned quickly to turn when he was asked and was always searching for the point. He'll never go by a barrel now, he can run from the back 40 and he gets 10 feet from the 1st and starts to rock back on his hind end to get that turn & I don't have to do anything but sit deep. It's worked pretty well on 2 others too. I will add that I've never done the whole in the dark thing unless I'm home where I know the ground well and my horses know the ground. The lights on the building keep it from being pitch black and I can see the barrels well enough and I'm sure he can too. But they're not obvious to sight by quick glance. I've never let one in training just turn it on their own accord without instruction & wouldn't ever. My horses know to turn when I say turn, not before not after just because the barrel is there. |
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 Saint Stacey
| It’s a youngster. Make clear cut lines. One time isn’t going to hurt. It sounds like your horse wants to work. While I do agree with others that the horse needs to listen.... I also believe that a barrel is meant to be turned. When I’m riding in an arena, I stay far enough away from my barrels that the horse doesn’t question if they should be turning it. If I’m so close that they think it should be turned, then that’s my fault for putting them there. Again, clear cut lines. |
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 Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| SKM - 2017-11-18 2:58 AM It’s a youngster. Make clear cut lines. One time isn’t going to hurt. It sounds like your horse wants to work. While I do agree with others that the horse needs to listen.... I also believe that a barrel is meant to be turned. When I’m riding in an arena, I stay far enough away from my barrels that the horse doesn’t question if they should be turning it. If I’m so close that they think it should be turned, then that’s my fault for putting them there. Again, clear cut lines.
Ditto, I have one that if you get close enough he will turn that barrel even if it is sitting out in the middle of nowhere and and I am ponying two horses. This is the reason I bought him, he wants to do his job. I take the barrels down or keep my distance. |
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