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 Veteran
Posts: 287
 
| Ok but here's question....how many people do you actually see do this successfully. How many pro level people can do this or think it's a good idea for a horse to go in the gate or alley, get in the arena and wait? |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1131
| wickedstepmother - 2015-06-02 5:56 PM
Ok but here's question....how many people do you actually see do this successfully. How many pro level people can do this or think it's a good idea for a horse to go in the gate or alley, get in the arena and wait?
If more people did, there would be a lot less accidents. I have seen a horse run full speed into a gate that had accidentally swung open while the guy was hauling back trying to stop him. Could've ended the horse's career or life really quick. Accidents happen quick, and breaks are important to have. Luckily all the horse got was some cuts and some sore spots, and the rider was no worse for wear too (The gate wasn't as lucky).
Every rider should be able to stop their horse at ANY time in a reasonable amount of time. No horse should be crazy enough that they cannot stand in the arena. That is no longer being a partner, that is being a psycho.
My friend just bought a horse real cheap, because she can't even warm up in a pen that has barrels in it. She can't so much as see the barrels out of the corner of her eye or she is trying to take off, with or without her rider. That is crazy. No horse should get that stupid. The rider should be in control, NOT the horse. |
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 Saint Stacey
 
| wickedstepmother - 2015-06-02 3:56 PM
Ok but here's question....how many people do you actually see do this successfully. How many pro level people can do this or think it's a good idea for a horse to go in the gate or alley, get in the arena and wait?
You are comparing apples to oranges. But if you want an honest answer...probably 95% of pro horses can do this. I'm going off of slack last year at Cheyenne when the moved the barrel pattern 60 more feet down the pen. Most girls held those horses through the chute, gate and then 150' or so to the timer. Most simply walked that distance. No, they didn't stop. But most could have had the situation called for it. |
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| My daughter could hold her mare up,but it was not a "walk", she was bouncing. The 4H show officials told us that wasn't good enough, they wanted a flat footed walk almost to the timer. It was her senior year, we just chose not to go back. |
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 Born not Made
Posts: 2931
Location: North Dakota | wickedstepmother - 2015-06-02 4:56 PM Ok but here's question....how many people do you actually see do this successfully. How many pro level people can do this or think it's a good idea for a horse to go in the gate or alley, get in the arena and wait?
If I could not ask my horse to STOP at any time before, during, or after a barrel run, I would be doing some serious re-training with my horse.
To me, it's not a question. It is mandatory that my horses have the capability to do it. Whether or not I actually stop my horse before I start my run depends on 1) the rules of the arena 2) what my horse needs 3) the arena set up (long way to 1st barrel, side gate, etc).
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 Chicken Chick
Posts: 3562
Location: Texas | Back in the day (lol) my friend and I were at the top of our club events. Even though we weren't old enough to be in the adult group we would have the fastest times almost every time, unless we knocked or whatever. Even when our parents rode our horses we would beat them. My horse would walk in, granted he was a little wide eyed and high headed, when he knew what was happening... he would walk and I would never have a problem with him trying to take off without me wanting him to. Now my friend, it took an act of Congress to get her horse in the arena without killing himself or someone else. I'm not kidding a bit. He sent her dad to the hospital one night for flipping over on him when they were trying to get him close to the gate. Another time he ran smooth over someone, friend was just a passenger. Even as a fearless kid I thought that horse was flat out dangerous. The minute my horse would act like he wanted to ignore me once we got to the gate or wanted to act dumb my mom would have me working on the gate. It just wasn't an option with one of her horses. It didn't make him any slower, or make us win less... but she wouldn't have me on a horse she couldn't trust to listen to me. Had her drills or whatever not worked, I would have either gotten a new horse or stuck back on my sisters jug head of a horse. Which I did not want lol, that horse was like a bycicle. You stop peddling, he stops going. Now before someone goes off on me. Just because your horse doesn't walk through the gate doesn't mean he is a dink... just one of the things my mom was crazy about.I don't think it should be a problem especially if you knew about the rule. If your daughter can't make her horse do what they want, then I guess don't go to their events.ETA I don't know why this was turned into one big paragraph... sorry.
Edited by pinx05 2015-06-03 11:24 PM
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 The Worst Seller Ever
Posts: 4138
Location: Oklahoma | I don't think there is a right or wrong answer to this. There are different perceptions of right. Should a seasoned vetern barrel horse be able to walk in the arena and stand, sure they should, but how many times does everyone who has commented tell a newbie to keep the horse moving or move their feet ot to keep them from locking up.
I don't feel speed events should be held ot the same standards and starts as show events, 2 different concepts.
My horses can do both. Walk flat footed or go in at a fun. I have to rev them up to hit a run before the mouth of the alley, but they know the routine. Everyone has brakes, and enough bit to stop whenever.
I don't think children should have to think more about coming in the arena and "setting up" than they do about how to ride their horse through the pattern.
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| I can see it from both sides.
I understand what the OP is saying about starting bad habits and not wanting to hold a horse back but I can also see it from a safety issue and wanting the kids to be in control of their horses at all times. There is nothing worse than seeing a kid get run off with or one who cannot stop their horse if they needed to. Maybe this rule is in place to ensure that the kids are in control before they begin their run.
In my opinion 4H is really an educational type program and if you are seriously running barrels on a finished horse then you probably don't need to be running them there for ribbons anyway. I would simply go somewhere else or find something else to run at those shows. |
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