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 Am I really the Weirdo?
Posts: 11181
   
Location: Kansas | Doesn't bother me, but I've had several leftys and can ride just as well going left vs going right. I take mine both ways during their training and all 3 of my finished horses can run either direction. It might make a difference to some people, but not everyone will shy away from a lefty. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1034
| I shy away. It makes me wonder what the problem was that couldn't be fixed any other way. |
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 Tough Patooty
Posts: 2615
 
Location: Sperry, OK | I don't understand why a person would automatically assume a lefty had issues to the right. Horses are "handed" just like people are. Horses are more comfortable/agile/balanced to one direction vs the other. With constant and continuous work you can get them to be more equal, but the still have a better natural ability to one direction than the other. Granted most horses seem to be left handed (go to the right barrel first) but there are a large number of right handed horses and common sense says they would go to the left barrel first in order to have one okay/good turn and 2 great ones vs 1 great one and 2 not as good. |
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 There Could Be Aliens Out There
Posts: 1393
Location: North Central Kansas | Doesn't bother me at all. We have two young ones now that are just much more natural going to the left than to the right. It does not mean that they have "problems". There have been many great NFR horses that run to the left. |
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 Expert
Posts: 2097
Location: Deep South | I'm surprised so many people assume that lefty's only run that way because there was something wrong with them. What an unfortunate misconception. My 4yo is running left, because his second barrel is much snappier that way. That's the only reason. Not that it was a terrible second barrel before, just that it's better now.
OP this is Kelly Allen's status update about her young lefty from this past weekend:
"Charge My Corona winning RESERVE at the CC5D!!! I'm so happy I can't stand it. Running a 15.019 right behind the one and only Jackie Ganter and Baby J. Won first and second in the futurity, winning 1st and 5th in adult incentive, and second in 1D day money. She also won the Hubbard UPRA Rodeo by over 3/10 for around $3500 this weekend. I love this mare!"
I bet Kelly isn't willing to part with her for any less just because she's a lefty.... |
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 Chasin my Dream
Posts: 13651
Location: Alberta | Doesn't bother me either and I agree a leftiy isn't due to bad things...my mare is a lefty cause her right turns are way better! I'm almost worried about training my colt to the right, only cause I'm worried I won't do it right, he's definitely a righty.... |
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  Angel in a Sorrel Coat
Posts: 16030
Location: In a happy place | BamaCanChaser - 2014-05-29 11:54 AM I'm surprised so many people assume that lefty's only run that way because there was something wrong with them. What an unfortunate misconception. My 4yo is running left, because his second barrel is much snappier that way. That's the only reason. Not that it was a terrible second barrel before, just that it's better now. OP this is Kelly Allen's status update about her young lefty from this past weekend: "Charge My Corona winning RESERVE at the CC5D!!! I'm so happy I can't stand it. Running a 15.019 right behind the one and only Jackie Ganter and Baby J. Won first and second in the futurity, winning 1st and 5th in adult incentive, and second in 1D day money. She also won the Hubbard UPRA Rodeo by over 3/10 for around $3500 this weekend. I love this mare!" I bet Kelly isn't willing to part with her for any less just because she's a lefty....
Not to steal the thread but I didn't know this about Kelly! Way to go girl!!!!! Sure proud of you. And this is what I said in my earlier post about Lindsey and Martha but it has been long enough most on here have probably forgotten who Martha and Lindsey are. |
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Am I really the Weirdo?
Posts: 11181
Location: Kansas | ACEINTHEHOLE - 2014-05-29 11:29 AM I don't understand why a person would automatically assume a lefty had issues to the right. Horses are "handed" just like people are. Horses are more comfortable/agile/balanced to one direction vs the other. With constant and continuous work you can get them to be more equal, but the still have a better natural ability to one direction than the other. Granted most horses seem to be left handed (go to the right barrel first) but there are a large number of right handed horses and common sense says they would go to the left barrel first in order to have one okay/good turn and 2 great ones vs 1 great one and 2 not as good.
Ditto to that. |
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 Pork Fat is my Favorite
Posts: 3791
Location: The Oklahoma plains. | ACEINTHEHOLE - 2014-05-29 11:29 AM I don't understand why a person would automatically assume a lefty had issues to the right. Horses are "handed" just like people are. Horses are more comfortable/agile/balanced to one direction vs the other. With constant and continuous work you can get them to be more equal, but the still have a better natural ability to one direction than the other. Granted most horses seem to be left handed (go to the right barrel first) but there are a large number of right handed horses and common sense says they would go to the left barrel first in order to have one okay/good turn and 2 great ones vs 1 great one and 2 not as good.
I agree but the fact is as you stated- most (I would guess 90%) of people train them to the right so when it differs from that- people question why. And I would say more than half were switched due to a problem on the pattern. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1718
Location: Southeast Louisiana | TurnLane - 2014-05-30 2:02 PM
ACEINTHEHOLE - 2014-05-29 11:29 AM I don't understand why a person would automatically assume a lefty had issues to the right. Â Horses are "handed" just like people are. Â Horses are more comfortable/agile/balanced to one direction vs the other. With constant and continuous work you can get them to be more equal, but the still have a better natural ability to one direction than the other. Â Granted most horses seem to be left handed (go to the right barrel first) but there are a large number of right handed horses and common sense says they would go to the left barrel first in order to have one okay/good turn and 2 great ones vs 1 great one and 2 not as good. Â Â
I agree but the fact is as you stated- most (I would guess 90%) of people train them to the right so when it differs from that- people question why. And I would say more than half were switched due to a problem on the pattern. Â
And it's no big deal to me, if I was buying a lefty. I'd just say be prepared to possibly get asked that question. Also, for the OP's original question, I did have someone get turned off when they found out the one I had for sale went left. They didn't ask why, just said they'd rather not have a lefty.
Maybe most horses are right handed, like the majority of people are right handed. Anyway, I don't think it would affect the sale of a Martha, or any pro-caliber or 1D horse. But, it might for a prospect or any other average barrel horse. If they're proven 1D, people will put up almost anything.
Edited by Nita 2014-05-30 2:35 PM
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BHW's Simon Cowell
Location: The Saudia Arabia of Wind Energy, Western Oklahoma | I would rather have a horse that runs to the right and would rather buy a prospect that runs to the right. I think a left running horse is a a disadvantage because they have to run over tracks left by the majority of horses which run to the right. And I also think some people have more trouble getting their pocket right on left handed horses. It would definetly be a disadvantage to me. I do always start my colts going either way just in case there comes a time when they need to go the other direction becauase of physical limitations or just to change things up. |
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BHW's Simon Cowell
Location: The Saudia Arabia of Wind Energy, Western Oklahoma | TurnLane - 2014-05-30 2:02 PM ACEINTHEHOLE - 2014-05-29 11:29 AM I don't understand why a person would automatically assume a lefty had issues to the right. Horses are "handed" just like people are. Horses are more comfortable/agile/balanced to one direction vs the other. With constant and continuous work you can get them to be more equal, but the still have a better natural ability to one direction than the other. Granted most horses seem to be left handed (go to the right barrel first) but there are a large number of right handed horses and common sense says they would go to the left barrel first in order to have one okay/good turn and 2 great ones vs 1 great one and 2 not as good. I agree but the fact is as you stated- most (I would guess 90%) of people train them to the right so when it differs from that- people question why. And I would say more than half were switched due to a problem on the pattern.
Totally agree with this. |
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 I hate cooking and cleaning
Posts: 3314
Location: Jersey Girl | Nope. Makes no difference to me. |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| Personally I run better to the right and I am a lefty. My weakness as a rider is finding the perfect rate point going to the left at a full out run. I can find my rate point going to the right in my sleep.
I train all my horses to the right and try to keep them that way unless it is not working.
For the person who said left horses always have better ground, I have to disagree, as these horses have to compensate against all the dirt and holes the rightys leave behind, these horses are working against the rut rather then working in the rut.
If I was purchasing a finished barrel horse and everything was the same except on which barrel they take first, I would pick the right horse |
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Expert
Posts: 1718
Location: Southeast Louisiana | I run better to the right, too. My biggest weakness is ME... and fighting years of muscle memory.
When I run my lefty, I still struggle with reminding myself to look at the third when I come off of the 2nd barrel instead of wanting to head back across the pen. And my secret fear is that I'm going to try and make a left turn around that third barrel one day in front of everyone!
But, I'd make myself run sitting backwards in the saddle if that's the way my horse ran best and I thought it might get me in the 1D someday. |
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