How long did it take?

So. Think it would be cool to know how long did it take you to teach your horse to consistently lope a pattern? It took my horse 4 months. Also what breed and feel free to share pics!(:
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Well we start them on the pattern in the early Spring, at the end of the year they are consistently loping the pattern usually (very smoothly and correct). Depending on the horse itself some might be going a faster lope if they are mentally mature enough to handle that much. When starting them we work the barrels at least 4-5 days a week (time varies on how well they are working), we also do a lot of different drills and exercises off the pattern as well. We also try and haul them to some of the races and exhibition them to get them used to the surroundings and environment.

It took us about two months. She was also already 9 years old and had been used on trails and things up until that point. I'd say that she was more than ready to start on the pattern and she has an "ooh! That was fun!! Let's do that again!!!" mindset. I love her. Unfortunately, I then got a finished barrel horse (at my father's request) and didn't have time for her so she went back to my aunt's house... I just barely got her back a couple of days ago and am going to finish her! Now I need to find out where she's going to pick back up again! *Fingers Crossed!*

Took mine a week or two (from when I started loping him on it to when he had it down well)
He was finished and an easy horse ride then, so it wasn't hard for him to catch on since we spent like a month on walking/trotting the pattern.

It took Selena about a week to lope...slowly. But she had a LOT of reining/reined cowhorse/performance background. She is not typical. It was the same with Jester when he was being ran before retirement.

Ruger is not yet loping, and he has been on barrels totally solid for a month. He has loped once, but it became obvious he needs to go back to basics and get some of his baby-horse things resolved before we begin that.

As for a horse that I would be involved with at the training barn, it would depend. If the horse was freshly started, never ridden two year old...It would take awhile. Probably abobut 90 days solid foundation and "Just be a horse" time, then the next 30-60 days would be wrking up to the lope and/or loping. I find that some horses pick up on it faster than others.

I took my horse about a month and a half. Just working him on drills and such, taking it slow. At first he was really frustrated because he didn't know what I was asking of him, but I started using the proper leg pressure and he went great! Started him this spring just working two days a week and now he is loping it consistently. I'm so proud! He has come a long way since I first got him :)
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