Getting that rate

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Getting that rate Moderators: luluwhit, gotothewhip, cindyt, crossspur, ForumAdmin Jump to page :	Last activity 2015-05-12 5:47 PM 5 replies, 2699 views View previous thread :: View next thread
General Discussion -> Barrel Talk


IowaCanChaser Reg. Dec 2014	Posted 2015-05-11 8:36 PM Subject: Getting that rate
Elite Veteran Posts: 725	I am in the process of patterning/seasoning a horse that used to be a roping horse, and I've transformed into a barrel horse. He has the slow work down, lopes through beautifully and I'm a perfectionist so it really IS beautiful, correct, and clean. Breezing him through at home is pretty good. At competitions he is all go, no rate, and he takes his first barrel really wide, I'm sure he's still waiting for that roping steer to run out and doesn't expect to have to turn, it was his second run so I have to give him credit. He has lots of speed, and turns well and his slow work is perfect. I have to give him credit, it was really muddy, and only his second run, and I was probably riding him like I ride my quick turning barrel horse. But we could have easily shed of 2-3 seconds with tighter turns. What should I do to fix our problem. I have another show this weekend and want to improve from our last run. I will post a video if you want me to, let me know if I need to.
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hammer_time Reg. Jul 2007	Posted 2015-05-11 10:10 PM Subject: RE: Getting that rate
Money Eating Baggage Owner Posts: 9586 Location: Phoenix	Video would help. I also turned a calf horse into a barrel horse and had the same problem. My best advice would be to take it slow and controlled to the first and then let him open up after your first is pretty. Don't let it become a bad habit. Mine would lose his mind until after we made it around the first somehow.
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KatieMac88 Reg. Apr 2012	Posted 2015-05-12 8:13 AM Subject: RE: Getting that rate
Elite Veteran Posts: 1035 Location: TN	My barrel horse used to be a heel horse and I had the same problem at. I improved it some over time by not letting him go all out to the first. I would take it easy to the first and then speed up after that. If I let him run all out we would go past it. Now he's to the point that I can let him fly to first and still rate down to turn it because he's hunting for those barrels. Working on my timing also helped with getting him to rate at the right time. Since going to the Molly Powell clinic I learned to work on slowing down at the "timer line" and then again beside the barrel. For example, start trotting then when you pass the imaginary timer line (use a cone or something to mark it) slow to a walk then stop beside the barrel. It has really helped me to get him gathered up and prepared for the first turn. It may just take some time and some runs to get your guy ready to step up in speed to the first.
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IowaCanChaser Reg. Dec 2014	Posted 2015-05-12 10:49 AM Subject: RE: Drills for Rate
Elite Veteran Posts: 725	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6vq_7MNkMw Skip to 0:30, it was our very first run in two years and his first actual run, a few years ago I just loped through pretty slow. I hate even watching this one! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQzrC7yRQTU second run of the year, you may want your volume down! There was about a foot and a half of deep wet sand, and it was pretty darn slick. Edited by IowaCanChaser 2015-05-12 11:55 AM
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cow pie Reg. Nov 2009	Posted 2015-05-12 1:05 PM Subject: RE: Getting that rate
Sock eating dog owner Posts: 4557 Location: Where the pavement ends and the West begins Utah	I get that he still wants to be a rope horse . Perhaps rating him 3-4 times before reaching the first barrel during practice will reinforce the rate. Such as gallop to lope to trot to walk to stop before getting to barrel. Also gear up and gear down along the arena wall at all speeds.
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IowaCanChaser Reg. Dec 2014	Posted 2015-05-12 5:47 PM Subject: RE: Getting that rate
Elite Veteran Posts: 725	Bump
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