The Horse Forum banner
Status
Not open for further replies.

Breezing your Barrel Horse

19K views 72 replies 23 participants last post by  BarrelRacing4Christ 
#1 ·
Do any of you, on your time off of the pattern or whatever, go to a field and run your barrel horse? And what are your opinions on this?

I, personally, think that it would be a good idea to go out in a field, let the horse run, and focus on bringing the horse back to a lope, then stretching out a bit, and bringing the horse back, asking for a sprint....ect. is a good thing for seasoned horses and horses in training.

Your thoughts?
 
#2 ·
I do it. I just make sure the field is long enough because my horse can go a long ways. I don't find anything wrong with it and my horses love doing it. But I don't do it often. My favorite thing to do is go out in the field (after all the crops are down) and lope up and down hills. Do trot work, walk when they get tired and do more hill work. It's great conditioning.

I don't practice the barrel pattern much at home anymore. All my racers are well trained on it. No need to have them get sour.
 
#3 ·
Nope, not at all...It makes my horses too "hot" and then not focus on what we're doing. Plus I'm very paranoid while doing things like this because..you're loping or running along and bam! there's a hole in the ground and you have a horse with a broken leg. Possibly has to be PTS or months and months out of the game plus a big vet bill....If I'm trail riding and I know the area well I'll let my horse lope for a little ways but nothing more than that. My horses are run enough at shows, at home they know it's a good bit of steady slow work, different exercises, and a lot of trail riding around the house...I never run my horses on the pattern at home either. If they are doing really well practicing and feeling good I'll let them "fast" lope it once, or at the most twice, but never let them run at home...I'm just picky about things like that.
 
#4 ·
I don't go to a field. There is a nice, long dirt road (not gravelled for those of you who are concerned) that is very flat and goes on for quite a long ways with few turns. I breeze my horses here. The footing is excellent. This is also a really good way to know exactly what kinda speed your horse is capable of.

If I had the option I would till up my own dirt track in my hay pasture, lol but of course we need that hay.

 
  • Like
Reactions: CLaPorte432
#6 ·
I think this is personal preference and very much so depends on the level and abilities of both the horse and the rider. Some horses that a jug heads and just wont open up at all in the pen could use some benefit with this exercise. I have breezed out my old high school rodeo mare at a local race track because she was a lazy turd in the pen and it really helped her learn to open up and get those large strides. But the mare I currently have I would never breeze her out, she would blow a cork and be as hot as could possibly be. Lastly, you see Fallon on the video, she is a pro girl who I KNOW has taken the time to make sure the area that she was breezing in was 120% safe for Nick Nack. That is the most important of it all. So overall unless you are a very experienced rider, there is so much that could go wrong i would suggest against breezing out like this.
 
#7 ·
Where I live is just solid farmland, so it's not hard to find a good flat field with no holes in it. I like to take my horses out for a rip. My horses aren't fragile. Chasing cows has more risk of injury than going for a run in the field. Sometimes the "runners" get out of control and I have to open my horse up across pasture land, which includes holes, brush, blowouts, who knows what, to stop them. My horses watch the ground for holes and obstacles, and I do as well, I've never had a horse step in a hole yet.

My horses are on 24/7 turnout and only run around if there's a storm coming in.

I also like to know what my horse is capable of, as SorrelHorse said. I've taken 3 and 4 year olds that are having issues moving forward or something and let them run.
 
#10 ·
i breezed my mare occasionally especially after a long season, she would get really wound up in the arena so wed take them all out to the wash and i would let her run in the wash, its nice deep sand so shes having to work but its also soft enough that theres no risk of her hurting herself.

we also liked to breeze my moms gelding in the wash. hes a hot TB type so when he was being a little to fresh for her i took him out there, let him run and he would be the perfect gentleman on the way back and would be good from then on.

the wash is a really good place to get your horse in shape. its nice and deep so its extra work for trotting and loping but it also goes on like forever and its a great place to run.
 
#14 ·
When I go on trail rides, a lot of the places have dirt roads for the trails. On the straight part I really like to open Sassy up, she never gets to go fast and it helps me build confidence while I am on her. And it's fun. Sassy never acts like she is going to blow up after it, she's just a little more awake and wants to carry on at a nice trot.

There was one field I was able to let Rosie open up in, it was just sold short grass, no holes sticks nothing. It was awesome!:D Nothing like having a 21 year old out shine the younger horses;)
 
#17 ·
LOL...well the desert is strange...I think I read somewhere that more people drown in Az. than anywhere else because of the "washes" that flood during a rain storm or a monsoon. Everyone rides horses, fourwheelers..whatever in the "washes" and they flash flood.
 
#19 ·
Yes. I breeze all my horses.

I think it is especially important for young horses in training to learn HOW to stretch out and run. Much easier to teach that in a wide open space, than an arena with fences.

My barrel horse LOVES to run. I only let him do it once or twice a week, and he is only allowed to take off when I say so. If he's going to get antsy about it, we don't run until he is listening completely to me first.

I have lots of dug-up farmland available to breeze in. Or else a "new" alfalfa field or hay field that hasn't had the time to sit there and fill up with mole holes. However, no area is 100% hole free. And I expect my horses to pay attention. Plus, I've raced across much worse ground chasing after a stray cow when moving cattle. I expect my horses to know where their feet are and get the job done no matter what the footing is. They race around the holes and rocks in the pasture at their own accord, so they can do the same with me on their back.

So far in 25 years of riding, I've never had a horse fall on account of hitting a hole while running. Had one slip on the grass once. Had one trip over her own feet once. And had one just plain fall to her knees on the gravel road for no reason. Yea, there's been trips and stumbles here and there. But never had one fall for hitting a hole while running. Not saying it can't happen, but I trust in my horses to carry me.

I am 100% PRO-breezing.

Plus, I think it's a blast. One of the best things about riding a horse.
 
#21 ·
Another pro-breezer here. Our property is divided into 3 pastures, each being between 10-20 acres. My husband has tilled me a 200'x300' space with his tractor in one field and I call this my "arena" even though its just a space for my barrels and then on the field next to my arena field he has tilled me a nice big oval track. It stretches the entire inside perimeter of our 20 acre field about 50' off the fence. And that's where I let my barrel mare blow off some steam. I usually lope her up one side and then about half way around the top of the turn, I turn her loose and she's ready for it and takes off. I absolutely love it and she expects it. She has just as much fun. I let her go full force down the back side of the track and back around the bottom turn and then just let her jog it out about half way back up like you would a race horse. Then we usually turn around and walk the track one more time to cool off. I think this has helped her open up on her home stretch runs and it definitely helps condition her. And like Beau said, dang it's a blast! :D
 
#24 ·
****, im in the market for one of those cowboys you read in romance novels. If anyone knows of one, send em to Michigan. Lol!
Posted via Mobile Device
 
#25 · (Edited)
Dang you sorrelhorse I looked for that video for about 30 minutes and then I scrolled down to make my comment and see you have beat me to it! TURD HEAD! haha


anyways.....

I would not recommend running in a feild but on a breeze way would be fine. Like Fallon says in her video, it is a very effective tool that some people use.

I use this method because I want my barrel horses to know how to respond to my body language and what I am telling them with my hands and feet in all speeds. I also want them to be able to stay in control and respond to me in all speeds, I do not like hot nutty horses. I will not and can not deal with horses that act like fruit cakes, a little antsy pantsy does not bother me. Prancing or what not but I will not deal with the lungers or the buckers that react that way because you are trying to hold them back or what not. I HAVE NOT and I WILL NOT owned a horse like that.

I do want to add though that this should not be a constant thing, you do not want to burn them out, but some horses do not even realize how much speed they have in them until they are "let go".


Even though this video has been posted before I really love everything she is saying so I am posting it again! (other then her preference of polos and no bell boots)

 
#28 ·
I don't do the "breezing" thing.
I did this once on a crop duster runway. Way soft sad like. My barrel horse and I were having so much fun. The runway was coming to an end. I tried to slow him. I noticed I had half a bit in my hand. His bit snapped in half. CRAP!!!!! We jumped a ditch, went threw a hot wire, and were chasing a herd of cattle. This was the only day that left his halter on, underneath his bridle. I grabbed that and pulled his head to my knee.
I don't think it's a good idea for barrel horses. I feel that barrel horses need the oposite. Walking, trails, goofin around bareback. Any horse can run, it's how controlled and saine they are. I only do the barrel pattern when in training. When they know it, it's one barrel maybe two.
Now me on the other hand have always dreamed of breezing my horse full out on the prarie. No saddle. No reins. Ya, too crazy. I'm too scared. lol
 
#30 ·
I don't do the "breezing" thing.
I did this once on a crop duster runway. Way soft sad like. My barrel horse and I were having so much fun. The runway was coming to an end. I tried to slow him. I noticed I had half a bit in my hand. His bit snapped in half. CRAP!!!!! We jumped a ditch, went threw a hot wire, and were chasing a herd of cattle. This was the only day that left his halter on, underneath his bridle. I grabbed that and pulled his head to my knee.
I don't think it's a good idea for barrel horses. I feel that barrel horses need the oposite. Walking, trails, goofin around bareback. Any horse can run, it's how controlled and saine they are. I only do the barrel pattern when in training. When they know it, it's one barrel maybe two.
Now me on the other hand have always dreamed of breezing my horse full out on the prarie. No saddle. No reins. Ya, too crazy. I'm too scared. lol

On the contrary....A lot of horses really do benefit from the breezing. I know my mare is only ever fully happy when she's running, and you train them right you will always have a calm horse no matter what you do. If you always go slow, your horse will never know how to go fast. And if you only practice slow, when you try and push faster you won't get a steering wheel or a gas pedal. Sometimes you don't even get a brake pedal. I'd rather learn on a breezeway how my brakes work when I run than in the middle of competition, flying down the rodeo alleyway heading straight for the gate and the horse not stopping.

Now I'm not saying that hot horses should be breezed continuously, but I would even breeze a hot horse once in awhile. You just don't breeze them a million times a week.
 
#34 · (Edited)
She wants to run and gets herself excited after I even lope her..if I breeze her, when I ask her to slow down and come back to a trot then a walk she is worse crowhopping, rearing, and lunging forward.. Slow work and loping she knows is acceptable and ok if she gets a little excited, acting like she does after running at home is not acceptable. I've seen many horses who have been breezed a few times a week and that's all they know 'someone sits on my I can run!' Mine won't ever think like that.

Have you ever ridden a hot barrel horse? Dealt with one being so excited they are running you into gates and almost flipping over on you over and over again? I have, and it's not fun. Those horses need to stopping running and learn to go S-l-o-w and the crazy behavior is not acceptable and not going to be allowed, but that's a manmade problem, people running their horse constantly caused that behavior.
 
#35 ·
idk, i havent barrel raced a whole lot- so im no barrel expert, but any horse i ride i want to be able to gallop and then stop and stand quietly, no matter what. i think its a problem that your horse cant even lope with out prancing and crow hopping. so your argument that you wont breeze your horse because you dont want it to misbehave doesnt make sense.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
You have insufficient privileges to reply here.
Top