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How do you manage/maintain your barrel horses?

11K views 10 replies 8 participants last post by  BarrelRacingLvr 
#1 ·
I am always curious how others care and manage their horses over the season to keep them running strong and sound. So what do you guys do with your horses over the season?

First I make sure my horses are in shape and fit they get lots of long trotting while riding and little loping. Because if my horses are not in shape how do I expect them to go and run their hardest for me when they are huffing and puffing after a few exercise laps? It isn't fair to the horse.....so they are on a strict exercise routine throughout the year. They are also ridden 6-7 days a week.

When we are hauling they get their legs wrapped with No-Bows and Standing Wraps in the trailer and while stalling, along with Soft Rides. My main barrel horse has his Magnetic Blanket (Switching him over to his new BOT Mesh Sheet) while stalled. After runs I hose legs for 5-10 minutes depending, after hosing he gets his BOT Quick Wraps on for 30 minutes then I put some liniment or Cool Green Jelly on his legs and put the No-Bows on. He also gets his Magnetic (Switching him over to his new BOT Mesh Sheet) put back on.

For feed he gets his proper supplements, a Grass/Alfalfa mix hay 2 times a day along with Ultium and Rice bran.

So that is pretty much it....I am sure I am forgetting something since I am thinking lol.

What about you guys?
 
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#2 ·
Nothing near as strict here.
My horses get used for ranch work, team roping and barrels.
If I could, I would put all of them on a riding almost every day schedule, but with school and work, I can't.

But this is what my barrel-horse in training gets:

Feed:
Grazing 24/7
Some grass/alfalfa hay in the morning (but when the grass takes off, that will stop)
Mineral tub for an hour almost every day
Oats after a ride, sometimes with apple cider vinegar

Leg protection:
Pro Choice SMX splint boots if I'm riding in the arena, and then gets her legs hosed off after.
Bell boots if I'm going to be doing anything with barrels

Training wise:
Lately I've been doing a lot of trotting in the alfalfa field, working on giving to the bit and stretching out and getting some good impulsion going.
Pulling a rail-road tie around the yard w/t and backing up. We're going to be dragging calves today, and a few times later this week.
ALL of my horses are comfortable around a rope and with pulling/holding something on the end of it.

My horses are pretty low maitnenance :)
 
#3 ·
My horse gets run every weekend and worked almost every day during the week. To maintain him he gets 2lbs of whole oats once a day with joint supplement, hoof supplement, vitamins, and electrolytes. He is on pasture 25/7 and gets about 5lbs of hay once a day. When we are working he has boots on all 4s. We do a lot of slow work, flexing, etc. Also he gets trail ridden about once a week.
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#4 ·
well mines starting out this year, i lost my first barrel horse then the year i was going to start my next he passed, and now i have 2! and im starting my moms horse with lots of trotting on the longe line and undersaddle/bareback. Hay 24/7 with 5 hour let out for grass it will be longer when the grass comes up. and sweet feed everynight. my horse will be getting into the program when hes better. but ill be adding more when they get a bit fitter.
 
#7 ·
My horse gets ridden twice a week if possible. He gets grain (13% I believe) and grass in the pasture. As for an exercise routine I just go on long trail rides. He doesn't see a barrel pattern until we're actually at the run, I know that sounds weird but if I work on the pattern at all during the week he'll just shut down at a run. When we trailer the horses we just throw them in the trailer and away we go.
 
#8 ·
I am always curious how others care and manage their horses over the season to keep them running strong and sound. So what do you guys do with your horses over the season?

First I make sure my horses are in shape and fit they get lots of long trotting while riding and little loping. Because if my horses are not in shape how do I expect them to go and run their hardest for me when they are huffing and puffing after a few exercise laps? It isn't fair to the horse.....so they are on a strict exercise routine throughout the year. They are also ridden 6-7 days a week.

When we are hauling they get their legs wrapped with No-Bows and Standing Wraps in the trailer and while stalling, along with Soft Rides. My main barrel horse has his Magnetic Blanket (Switching him over to his new BOT Mesh Sheet) while stalled. After runs I hose legs for 5-10 minutes depending, after hosing he gets his BOT Quick Wraps on for 30 minutes then I put some liniment or Cool Green Jelly on his legs and put the No-Bows on. He also gets his Magnetic (Switching him over to his new BOT Mesh Sheet) put back on.

For feed he gets his proper supplements, a Grass/Alfalfa mix hay 2 times a day along with Ultium and Rice bran.

So that is pretty much it....I am sure I am forgetting something since I am thinking lol.

What about you guys?

Can I be your horse????? I wish I was treated like that. lol.
 
#9 ·
Bumping this up again, because I am curious on what a few others on here do for their exercise regimen.

Right now, Red is on pasture 24/7 although he does (and should) start getting locked up during the daytime to cut down on grazing time. He's kind of chubby. But during the heat, they usually stand in the corral anyway and "lock themselves up"!

Per day, he gets fed 1 scoop (little tomato sauce can) of Purina Molene 200 and 1/2 scoop of Equine Saver. Next year I will probably add some Silver Lining Herbs or something of that nature, when he starts to be hauled on a somewhat regular basis. And he gets lots of carrots from me as a treat before and after a ride.

He gets ridden a minimum of 3 times per week. I usually try for 4 or 5. We usually go about 4 miles each ride, mostly trotting or galloping at various paces.

When we work on the barrel pattern or reining work, he has his boots on all 4 legs.

I just bought some No Bow wraps so he will be getting those whenever he is trailered.
 
#10 ·
During the season, Jack goes 8-10 miles one day and 4-5 the next. He gets ridden 5-6 days a week, and never sees the pattern unless we're tuning.up for a big show. His exercise is long trotting and loping. He gets a warmup followed by stretching, and after, he gets more stretching and a cool down. He gets hosed down afterwards, with a lot of attention to his legs.

No bows and standing wraps in the trailer, sometimes with soft rides. He wears soft rides at our national show because the stall floors are asphalt. He also gets wrapped with Ice Tight every night at the show.

He eats free choice hay, Tindle Trails, and a half bottle of Guiness.
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