AboutMars Expertise I can answer questions about horse rodeo, like barrel racing, training behavior, starting young colts and fillies, "problem horses". Also I can help with your riding skills.
Experience I have trained a few horses with different problems, ex: not taking bit, rearing, bucking, and more.
Education/Credentials Over 4 years of being around horses, and learning about them. I'm also in the MBRA( Manitoba Barrel Racing Association)
Expert: Mars Date: 2/13/2008 Subject: Training for barrels
Question Hi there! I've owned and cared for horses my entire life, but I only got into riding a couple years ago.
I'm getting a new appaloosa mare in the Spring. I'm interested in teaching her (and myself, really) to start barrels & poles, because there's nothing I love better than going off in a full-on gallop, I'm sure you know what I mean!
I'd like to get some tips & tricks -and some advice of course- to help me out. I've found some good websites that explain in details how to train for barrels, but I'd like to hear it from an expert. I haven't found anything on poles though, which I'm very interested in, could you help me with that as well? Maybe you know some good websites?
My mare is trained Western, and a lady who used to use her for lessons said that she couldn't use her that much because she has a bit of an "attitude". Hopefully that won't be much of a problem. "Del" is 14 y/o, would you say that she's too old? Would "You can't teach an old mare new tricks" apply in this situation?... I hope not!
Also, could you tell me what kind of tack/equipment would be good to have for my mare & myself?
Thanks so much!
- P.S. There are no "trainers" around of any sort to teach me & my mare to run barrels & poles.
Answer Hi, first of all, fourteen years old is not to old to teach your mare new experiences. It would have been easier if she was younger, but fourteen years old shouldn't be a problem. :) It would be helpful if you had someone to help you teach you and your mare to start with, for any websites can't explain it as good as a trainer can. But i will try to help you as best as i can. :) Good tack to use for your mare would be a tie down if your mare throws her head up high all the time, or if when you go around a barrel and she puts her head up, that will slow her down, but only use it if ABSOLUTELY necessary. Socks and boots for a horse is VERY important! Especially when you are going faster. IF you forget to put on boots for a practice or a real run, and your horse over reaches itself, you might have just lost your horse right there. Make sure your bit is not to hard on the mouth and use something that is gentle, because out of habit, some people might yank their mouth, and you don't want anything to distract her from her turns. The simpler it is, the better. And check her saddle to see if it fits her. You must wear a breast collar, keep it tight enough for it to come in use, but loose enough for your horses shoulder to be free to switch leads. You may need a whip, but it would be a lot better if you didn't need one or use one at all. The tips that i know would be, start off slow at first. Make sure your mare is comfortable with what she is doing. Walk around the course for a couple of weeks. Use alot of leg on your mare when turning her around a barrel. ALWAYS come into the first barrel at an arch, like a banana, because you need to give her a lot of pocket to turn. ALWAYS rate her, even if she becomes really really good at barrels, every practice, you SHOULD rate her. Rating is when you walk/jog/lope towards a barrel and right before you reach it, you stop your horse with a "whoa" and just sit there and then take a step backwards and then continue around the barrel. Do this at all three barrels. This is a must :) When your 'exiting' a barrel, 'release' your horse. This means to lean forward and slack your rein and just urge your horse on. This takes place during the gallop though. When your practicing at the walk, just lean forward, as if you were galloping, and by doing this, you are helping to correct and learn proper body position while barrel racing, because proper body position DOES make a difference in your time. Also, sit down straight when your turning the barrels. NEVER lean forward around the turn, as this puts your horse off balance and may cause it to drop it's shoulder. Always talk to your horse when your running the course, as it does improve your time also :) Make sure you don't practice your horse to much and too long on the pattern, as it may cause your horse to turn sour, and you certainly don't want that! Just do about 2-3 times a week, and about 4-5 runs per those days.
For pole bending, take the pattern at a walk and gradually build up faster over the weeks. Take it easy and this one is a tricky pattern for horses to learn. When your loping, give the horse lots of room to switch leads, and then gradually come closer to the poles. The horse SHOULD automatically switch leads going around the poles, and if it needs it, remind them to switch leads. It doesn't matter much in the beginning if they forget to switch a lead now and then. The faster you go, the faster they'll switch leads, but it comes with time :) Remember to take it slow tho, as it is frustrating, especially the end poles .:)
Some good websites I look of barrel racing are.. http://www.ultimatehorsesite.com/articles/mcnamara_startingbarrels.html
http://www.equisearch.com/horses_riding_training/Western/barrel_racing/ http://www.themanestreet.com/authors/billiemcnamara/problemsolving2.htm
And some pole bending websites... http://www.horsechannel.com/western-horse-training/pole-results-19039.aspx
http://www.horsechannel.com/western-horse-training/default.aspx
Well, I hope this helps and please message me back if you have any questions! Good luck and have fun!
