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Barrel Racing

3K views 11 replies 8 participants last post by  dixiegirl 
#1 ·
Okay, I have a 4 week old filly that i am wanting to eventually barrel race with. She is a pretty big filly. So what i was wondering was.... is there anything i should do with her now? Should i have barrels set up and just walk her around them to get used to the pattern? What desensitizing things should i do so she will be ready for rodeo life? Flashing lights, flags and all that stuff.
Thanks!! Dixiegirl
 
#2 ·
what id do is just get her used to eerything just like a normal horse would be used to.tarps,lights,flags,wave some plastic bags around her,you could get her to walk around the barrels just make sure she isnt bored with it,make it fun for her,if she is bored with barrels then she will never be as good as she would if she really enjoyed them and thought they were some kind of game.i only start my horses barrel racing 1-2 times a week then i do other things with them to make sure they arent bored like doing some trailer work or working on groundmanners.be sure to take it slow on her because shes still maturing.other than that just enjoy the time with her being little becase it sure as hell dont last long enough!!!
 
#3 ·
Nothing special for a barrel horse. I would just start hauling her to shows and let her stand at the trailer all day. Bring her by the arena and tie her...let her get used to other horses running, music, banging, blah blah... By the time she's ready to start, all you have to do is teach her the pattern. She'll already be used to the atmosphere of a barrel race.
 
#5 ·
i cant comment on this as im from the UK and ride english only.

but i have been to an american rodeo when in the states and i just wanna say how much i admire you barrel racing types!! the skill and control you have is amazing..... the best us english can do is race on a racecourse! let alone tight turns around barrels
 
#8 ·
Horses must have respect for their owners. You want to love and pamper them but at the same time they have to show respect. You take a baby and pamper her she learns you are only a friend, not a boss and they can walk all over you. They learn not to fear you in any way so they take advantage of you. I find the best made horses are actually those that ran almost wild for 3 or 4 years and then were introduced to discipline.
I am not advocating leaving a horse like this but that is the ones I try and buy since they haven't been spoiled by being a pet and they seemed to respect me more since they suddenly find themselves handled by someone that clearly makes them behave.
Start too young, start being their best friend and you end up with alot of problems.
Teach the basics, like tie, leading and having their legs/feet handled but don't spend too much time trying to be a friend.
 
#9 ·
Horses must have respect for their owners. You want to love and pamper them but at the same time they have to show respect.

Teach the basics, like tie, leading and having their legs/feet handled but don't spend too much time trying to be a friend.
Yes - please.

I have a boarder with a two year old S N O T of a filly. They play with her instead of working with her. She has no respect and one of these days WILL hurt someone. She was so naughty for them to pick up her back feet, they could not get a farrier to trim her. ONE - O N E session with my husband and I simply not letting her have her feet back and not bashing me with her head and she is 100% different for the farrier.

No beatings, no nasty attitude towards the filly. We simply let her know what was expected of her.

Your filly is four weeks old. Her attention span is about 10 minutes. Brush her, pick up her feet. Other than that - let her grow up.
 
#10 · (Edited)
Most pro barrel racers don't even look at a pattern until well into the third year or later. Everything prior is building blocks. Your horse needs to be BROKE before patterning.

Mine are imprinted at birth - my goal being to desensitize all of the body, teach to give to pressure (AKA don't or quit pulling and I will release), introduce sounds and sensations - such as brushing, clipping, etc...
I handle daily for the first 2 months and try to make sure that they are also able to interact with other foals and horses. Nothing teaches the concept of respect better than being in a herd environment.
I give them a break and let them be a horse for the most part. I do try to handle and go through my handling regime about once a week.

I do lots of Clinton Anderson ground work.....don't over do it, just slowly build.

By coming 2 my guys are respectful on the ground, stand tied, stand for bath, farrier, clipping, give laterally on both side, will lower head for haltering, MOST important for me - just from light contact and body cues **disengage hindquarters, stop in hand as soon as I stop, back up, trot and side pass in hand**. I will also line drive them with either a surcingle or light saddle and reins hooked to a halter (NO BIT). I have also hauled them and ponied them at show grounds, trail rides, paddocked them in high traffic/noise areas, and introduced them to everything scary I can find. My goal being that they learn to take cues from me on what is scary.

First year under saddle is short and sweet give and flex sessions. Build to walk, trot; with emphasis on whoa, one rein stop with hindquarter disengagement. They learn to feel your body cues and stay light on the mouth. Once that is solid move up to canter. Again emphasis on transitions not speed. Don't worry about speed AT ALL until well into third or fourth year (and that even depends on if you are going to futurity. Futurity are never raced 4 and 5 yr olds.

Second year under saddle, build on your foundation. Get more flex, quicker whoa and go ---not talking haul butt, just get the transition quicker. Control is key in racing. You have to have that horse so tuned and broke that you can pick you pocket and rate him, get him under himself, then push out of the pocket all from your seat and light hands. He has to be broke and tuned for this, not just wild, gung ho and fast. Fast isn't worth squat if he blows past your pocket and isn't taught to listen to your cues or even taught hues. Pushing cattle or playing soccer are good too.

Third year, build on your handle. Set up some horsemanship pattens and fine tune your handle. Use cones to begin with. Late into third year switch the cones with barrels and work on turning barrels - - don't do cloverleaf. All you want is for him to learn how to hunt and turn a barrel. Practice slow work for rate: fast walk between, slow walk around with emphasis on speeding back up to fast walk as soon as you clear the barrel. Work up to trot, walk, trot. Then up to canter, trot, canter. After that, switch them up and keep him honest. The transition should start at your rate point.
THEN introduce the cloverleaf. Get the above slow work down pat.
Depending on whether you are going futurity or not, start with just doing exhibition at the shows. Let him build up his speed at this point. Get use to different ground, the sight and sounds.
IF you are futurity, then several months before you are due to show start pushing a little and see what he's got in the exhibitions. Let him get a taste of it. Slow work at home. Do several exhibs, with nice and easy loping and then a couple faster, then one with lots of encouragement - then depending on your horse maybe one controlled lope to remind him to stay focused.

So, for now, work on hands on desensitizing, respect and introducing new things. Research foundation ground work and riding. Introduce new elements of these as she matures. Haul her around too once she is weaned. Next year, get the in-hand stuff down, then introduce long lining. Pony her if you can.
Research slow work in prep for barrel racing....that will help you see what your foundation ground work and eventual riding is going to do. Make some goals. This month learn this, next month build to this if we are solid.....
 
#11 ·
Here is an article about what I consider basic handling Groundwork for the Horse Exercises
Watch out on circling young horses....I usually do just enough to get the response I am looking for. Circling too hard and for too long in one direction and/or too often can damage the legs.

Feed you young horse properly too.
My guys are on either a high quality diet for foals or Ultium. They get dac Bloom and dac Colt Grower. Good quality hay with as much turn-out and pasture as I can provide. I do the Colt Grower for the first 4 yrs, then switch to Total Performance if they are working or dac Bloom and dac Orange if they aren't pushed.
 
#12 ·
Thank you so much for all of your replies!! It has been very helpful! :)
I use Clinton Anderson stuff a lot too, Barrelracer. So I have done a good amount of ground work. But since you said i should take it slow and set goals I am slowing down and going to really work on the things she knows now. :)
So far she yields her hindquarters and her front. She is starting to lead with a rope around her neck and she is pretty desensitized to a lot of stuff. (still desensitizing a ton though :)
I thought I would work with all that for the next month. Does that sound okay for a 1 month old?
Thanks!!! And if anybody else has anything else to add I am taking all i can get!! lol :)

Dixiegirl
 
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