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Regular
Posts: 57
Location: Wishing I was riding | I'm just wondering hat everyone else does from start to finish with their barrel horses. I send mine off to a great trainer in my area who has also become a friend. When they're sent off, they are completely, 100% broke, and my trainer does the rest, my last horse was on the pattern for about 4 months with her, then I got him back and my trainer and I hauled together to season him, before I got bucked off another horse and had to get out of riding for the time being because if a brain injury. She takes them slow, she works on a lot of other things with them too. He was desensitized to everything! He had lots of trailer work done with him, he would haul like an angel, and she did a lot of lessons wit me on him to make me a better barrel racer. So back to my question, what is your training program like? How long Are they on the pattern at a walk/trot/lope? what other thing do you do while in training with them? What do you do to keep them in shape for winter? Sorry, just some questions from the amateur in here :) |
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Expert
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  Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | I may send them off, I may start them myself. Pattern work depends on the horse. Some are loping it in a month, some may take 6 months. |
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Expert
Posts: 4766
 
Location: Bandera, TX | Get them broke, every bell and whistle with the exception of a reiner spin. They can all turn around pretty nicely but I couldn't do a drop dead spin on one of mine. They have to have a quick catty roll back with a reaching front quarters. Once they are broke I put them on the pattern. I had my first two year old go on the pattern just a few weeks back. I can carry a flag on him, swing a rope and drag a log with him. He will probably breakaway calves in the spring. I've trotted/walked the pattern maybe 20 times when I smooched to him the other day leaving first he picked up the correct lead going to second and I just let him ease into second and broke him back down to trot at the rate point. He pretty much did so when my body language told him to slow. He is the exception and not the rule. My rule has become take them at their speed not your predestined calendar! I will do more pole work than barrel work on him this coming spring. I will probably run this colt on the poles his three year old year. He shows me lots of promise in dry work to be a nice pole horse. I've said from the start 'this horse is rodeo material,' he has the mind and the moves. Time will tell if he has grit and heart. That I can't put into them. In the spring I will check baby goats and calves on my young horses. We moved off the ranch and I tell you I hate it! My horses get so stressed with the arena and over and over dry work. To them its meaningless. Put a calf in front of them and they spark to life.
Last year I started his older brother on barrels ran him less than 25 times made a few ammy rodeos (he actually won 2nd at his first rodeo and won several others and a few he gave me the hoove for running him on such *&^*%^ ground) and will start seasoning him at Odessa next week.
I too, will go ride with an experienced eye to help me along. Last year Marlene McRae helped me with some pointers and I mean "me". She had me switch from trainer mode to jockey mode. My friend GoMistyGo on our board here will point anything out that she sees in me or my horse to nip it in the bud. I love riding with an experienced eye around me! I get asked to give lessons quite a bit-I give them a few options other than me. I'm inconsistent due to my job. I really believe you need a consistent critical eye to help you along if your a novice or intermediate rider.
I believe in giving a horse time off. In the winter I ride in the hills to keep the muscle on and the wind in them and their minds at ease. If I give one three weeks off of no riding I take three weeks getting them sharp again for a run. Not making a lot of training runs but doing dry work or skills that will build them to handle the run. In the summer and winter they get worked in the extremes to prep them to run in those extremes. After I wean my colts and they are not stressed I start hauling them with my older colts. I want them standing like a horse by the trailer when they are yearlings. They go to the store, the county arena, the vet. This really helps them get confidence and eases them into their complicated second year.
Take care of yourself and your noggin' I hope that you will wear a helmet since you have suffered a head injury. Subsequent head injuries are normally much worse. |
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Regular
Posts: 57
Location: Wishing I was riding | uno-dos-tres! - 2013-12-28 10:10 PM
Get them broke, every bell and whistle with the exception of a reiner spin. They can all turn around pretty nicely but I couldn't do a drop dead spin on one of mine. They have to have a quick catty roll back with a reaching front quarters. Once they are broke I put them on the pattern. I had my first two year old go on the pattern just a few weeks back. I can carry a flag on him, swing a rope and drag a log with him. He will probably breakaway calves in the spring. I've trotted/walked the pattern maybe 20 times when I smooched to him the other day leaving first he picked up the correct lead going to second and I just let him ease into second and broke him back down to trot at the rate point. He pretty much did so when my body language told him to slow. He is the exception and not the rule. My rule has become take them at their speed not your predestined calendar! I will do more pole work than barrel work on him this coming spring. I will probably run this colt on the poles his three year old year. He shows me lots of promise in dry work to be a nice pole horse. I've said from the start 'this horse is rodeo material,' he has the mind and the moves. Time will tell if he has grit and heart. That I can't put into them. In the spring I will check baby goats and calves on my young horses. We moved off the ranch and I tell you I hate it! My horses get so stressed with the arena and over and over dry work. To them its meaningless. Put a calf in front of them and they spark to life.
Last year I started his older brother on barrels ran him less than 25 times made a few ammy rodeos (he actually won 2nd at his first rodeo and won several others and a few he gave me the hoove for running him on such *&^*%^ ground) and will start seasoning him at Odessa next week.
I too, will go ride with an experienced eye to help me along. Last year Marlene McRae helped me with some pointers and I mean "me". She had me switch from trainer mode to jockey mode. My friend GoMistyGo on our board here will point anything out that she sees in me or my horse to nip it in the bud. I love riding with an experienced eye around me! I get asked to give lessons quite a bit-I give them a few options other than me. I'm inconsistent due to my job. I really believe you need a consistent critical eye to help you along if your a novice or intermediate rider.
I believe in giving a horse time off. In the winter I ride in the hills to keep the muscle on and the wind in them and their minds at ease. If I give one three weeks off of no riding I take three weeks getting them sharp again for a run. Not making a lot of training runs but doing dry work or skills that will build them to handle the run. In the summer and winter they get worked in the extremes to prep them to run in those extremes. After I wean my colts and they are not stressed I start hauling them with my older colts. I want them standing like a horse by the trailer when they are yearlings. They go to the store, the county arena, the vet. This really helps them get confidence and eases them into their complicated second year.
Take care of yourself and your noggin' I hope that you will wear a helmet since you have suffered a head injury. Subsequent head injuries are normally much worse.
Thanks for your awesome reply. You really gave me some more ideas on what I can do with my next horse on his off days. I live in a beautiful area for trail riding, and I did that quite often with my last horse.
I've always worn a helmet when I ride, this is my 3rd bad concussion from riding within the last 6 years. |
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Regular
Posts: 57
Location: Wishing I was riding | uno-dos-tres! - 2013-12-28 10:10 PM
Get them broke, every bell and whistle with the exception of a reiner spin. They can all turn around pretty nicely but I couldn't do a drop dead spin on one of mine. They have to have a quick catty roll back with a reaching front quarters. Once they are broke I put them on the pattern. I had my first two year old go on the pattern just a few weeks back. I can carry a flag on him, swing a rope and drag a log with him. He will probably breakaway calves in the spring. I've trotted/walked the pattern maybe 20 times when I smooched to him the other day leaving first he picked up the correct lead going to second and I just let him ease into second and broke him back down to trot at the rate point. He pretty much did so when my body language told him to slow. He is the exception and not the rule. My rule has become take them at their speed not your predestined calendar! I will do more pole work than barrel work on him this coming spring. I will probably run this colt on the poles his three year old year. He shows me lots of promise in dry work to be a nice pole horse. I've said from the start 'this horse is rodeo material,' he has the mind and the moves. Time will tell if he has grit and heart. That I can't put into them. In the spring I will check baby goats and calves on my young horses. We moved off the ranch and I tell you I hate it! My horses get so stressed with the arena and over and over dry work. To them its meaningless. Put a calf in front of them and they spark to life.
Last year I started his older brother on barrels ran him less than 25 times made a few ammy rodeos (he actually won 2nd at his first rodeo and won several others and a few he gave me the hoove for running him on such *&^*%^ ground) and will start seasoning him at Odessa next week.
I too, will go ride with an experienced eye to help me along. Last year Marlene McRae helped me with some pointers and I mean "me". She had me switch from trainer mode to jockey mode. My friend GoMistyGo on our board here will point anything out that she sees in me or my horse to nip it in the bud. I love riding with an experienced eye around me! I get asked to give lessons quite a bit-I give them a few options other than me. I'm inconsistent due to my job. I really believe you need a consistent critical eye to help you along if your a novice or intermediate rider.
I believe in giving a horse time off. In the winter I ride in the hills to keep the muscle on and the wind in them and their minds at ease. If I give one three weeks off of no riding I take three weeks getting them sharp again for a run. Not making a lot of training runs but doing dry work or skills that will build them to handle the run. In the summer and winter they get worked in the extremes to prep them to run in those extremes. After I wean my colts and they are not stressed I start hauling them with my older colts. I want them standing like a horse by the trailer when they are yearlings. They go to the store, the county arena, the vet. This really helps them get confidence and eases them into their complicated second year.
Take care of yourself and your noggin' I hope that you will wear a helmet since you have suffered a head injury. Subsequent head injuries are normally much worse.
Thanks for your awesome reply. You really gave me some more ideas on what I can do with my next horse on his off days. I live in a beautiful area for trail riding, and I did that quite often with my last horse.
I've always worn a helmet when I ride, this is my 3rd bad concussion from riding within the last 6 years. |
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 Chasin my Dream
Posts: 13651
Location: Alberta | I agree with having them broke....the buttons I want may be different then another persons, but I incorporate a bit of English training to get them familiar with using their body.
My "seasoned" horse I trained her from day 1 and we were learning together thru it all......had never owned or trained a barrel horse before!...so I feel she might not be the best example 
My prospect I sent away for his first 30 days and will always do that now going forward cause I don't think I'm good enough to get a good work ethic foundation (lesson learned) although I can do ground work on a horse till the cows come home.....
I think each horse varies on time spent on pattern....
During the winter months I do a lot more dry work, not necessarily barrels, but patterns...kinda reining mixed with dressage, good way to describe it! This winter I've taken up ranch roping with both my horses and it's fun and a challenge for all of us! |
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Expert
Posts: 1561
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Not being rude...
Why would you break your horse then send them off to be patterned? It seems backwards to me, but maybe Im the backwards one. |
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Regular
Posts: 57
Location: Wishing I was riding | Itsme - 2013-12-29 12:28 PM
Not being rude...
Why would you break your horse then send them off to be patterned? It seems backwards to me, but maybe Im the backwards one.
My last horse was already broke when I bought him. I'm not a good enough rider to even attempt to start a colt. |
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 How freakish is that?
Posts: 3927
Location: Oregon | Itsme - 2013-12-29 10:28 AM
Not being rude...
Why would you break your horse then send them off to be patterned? It seems backwards to me, but maybe Im the backwards one.
Because patterning a horse wrong ruins your chance of having a great barrel horse? |
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