Hey,
I am starting my horse in barrels. He is a four year old quarter horse gelding. Last year we did western and english pleasure, but he is bred to do barrels and cows so that’s what were gonna try!
What are some good excersizes when starting a barrel horse?
Thanks!
i just want some excersizes to work my horse on before we move onto cantering the barrels.
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Some good exercises to get started with are:
1-Take one barrel and put it in the middle of your arena. Do lots of circles at walk/trot make sure he is always looking at the barrel. Once he stays a consistent circle around it then work on teaching him a "pocket". Your pocket should be at least a good 4 to 5 feet aways from the barrel. Its good to exaggerate your pocket now because as soon as you add speed your pocket will shrink. When you are doing this always make sure he has his nose tipped in. This will help him learn to "hunt" the barrels.
2. Take all three barrels and set them in the clover leaf pattern, but instead of doing to usual 1left 2 rights or the other way around do all 3 one way so when you go around the first barrel go around the second and third the same way so you will be doing 3 lefts or 3 rights. Again do this with his nose in (when at your pocket and turning barrel)
I wouldnt suggest loping the full pattern unless your footing is good and your arena is big. If you dont have good footing and a small arena and you decide to try the pattern fast there is a very high chance you could injure your horse. So while you are just practicing and getting him started keep it slow and consistent. Once you are ready to start picking up the speed I suggest getting a trainer to get the horse show ready and to reinforce the beginer training you will have already put on him.
=)
bathroom
its always best to get a trainer but if you wanna try some stuff on your own I’d watch people do it then study and learn..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_U_cXShdyc
Good luck. Turn and Burn.
Barrels is like track racing, it freaks the horses.If you want your horse to be wired 24/7 and ruien his conformation for when he gets older, go ahead and race. Barrels is fun, and needs very little skill from the horse and rider.
I wont say any more, but do what ever you want to do!
All the work allways starts off on foot. You need 2 lead your horse around them in the barrel pattern, that way he can get used to the barrels and gain confindence. Once the horse is totally relaxed around them its time 2 mount up. The you will walk the pattern till you and your horse are confident. Then you can slowly pick up speed.
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