[free_sprtd]

I am so excited to be finally in a direction of a sport. I am working with a trainer to get me up to par to compete in barrels. I am so excited! There is so much I need to work on, but I suppose I can't expect it all to come together in 2 lessons . Anyone have any tips/suggestions, things to remember or watch out for? I am a tall girl and I know that can work against me, and at the moment I have octopus arms lol, I need to control 'em. Anywho, I'm stoked!

 

[smrobs]

That's awesome. Are you going to be doing it with Thunder or do you have a maybe.......faster........horse to work with? LOL. I love stangs but they aren't exactly the most fleet of foot.

 

[free_sprtd]

Right now I am working with a reigning finished QH, just working on my position and learning the skills, then we will be moving on to finishing a QH/TB gelding that's fast like nascar

 

[smrobs]

That's great. I don't have any tips cause I don't run barrels but I wish you luck. There is no doubt in my mind that you will be successful.

 

[free_sprtd]

thanks! I am just excited to have a goal. Riding western and learning reigning is so completely different than the dressage lessons I had last year! I have to change my habits from them! hehe

 

[Gidget]

Awesome!
I'm 5'5" tall and I was just practicing today.
Right now I'm working on figure eights and turning around the trash cans I set up(don't have barrels so I made do!).
I was able to keep my arms down and not bounce as much.
I plan on doing barrels,key hole,and poles eventually.

I'm excited as well!


Good Luck.
You'll do a good job. Just make sure you keep positive.

 

[free_sprtd]

I'm 5'9"!! Not working in my favor, but I need to learn to work my core and utilize it as opposed to having it work against me. We worked on hand position, leg cues, and transitioning before the turns today.

Good luck to you as well!

 

[SmoothTrails]

Good luck. I'm 5'3", so I have that for me, but I'm going from gaited to QHs doing barrels...lol. It is an interesting learning curve.

 

[free_sprtd]

Boy I can imagine!!

 

[SorrelHorse]

Awesome! Have fun with your training.

If you need any help feel free to ask. I've been running for many years now

The biggest tip I can give you is don't be all up in your horses mouth. Give him his head and make sure you sit down around the turns and use your legs to make him curve around the barrel as you're turning, but not so much that you slide out too far. If you slide out around every barrel I'll be able to walk faster than you.

It's great that you're going after this. Its a great sport for us cowgirls

 

[free_sprtd]

Thanks so much! that's a great tip! Right now I'm riding a reigning horse that is deadened by spurs so he really needs a lot of pressure to un-stick him. I did great with the distance from the barrel (ball in my case) clockwise, but counter clockwise he continues to run through his shoulder. We are just practicing right now at the walk/jog to have me focus on my position and controlling his body.

I have a tendency to hang on the mouth since I previously had taken dressage lessons. I need to break that now! hehe thanks again!

Oh I see you are in Oregon! Me too

 

[Gidget]

What part of Oregon are you from?
I live in a small city called Grants Pass,OR

 

[free_sprtd]

I know of Grants Pass! I am in the Canby, Oregon City, Portland area... I only say that because im in all 3 each day hehe

 

[Gidget]

that is sooo cool! 3 people who are from oregon!

I was working with my horse today and we did some walking through obstacles and sometimes a gallop but she seemed a bit sore today so we took it slow. How many times do you take lessons?

 

[free_sprtd]

I am on 2 lessons a week an hour to 1 1/2 each. We just started talking serious competing last week, so up until then it was just working on my 3 yr old.

Thats great that you had a good ride today besides the soreness . Im off to watch a movie get back to you soon!

 

[Gidget]

you're competing already?! wowww...thats awesome

 

[free_sprtd]

Oh heck no im not competing yet!! hehehe We're talking goals . I need a lot of practice.

 

[PaintsPwn]

free_sprtd ... I can't remember who said it.. and I'm kicking myself for it.. but he's a BNT in the barrel world, and someone asked him advice on getting better at barrels, and he said "Just get out there, and compete with people who are better than you." And, by your times, you can track how far you've come.

OH! And always bring extra pants O_O I ripped mine, and ended up running in my show slacks. Apparently it happens often because the lady next to us was like "LOL! I did that last week!!"

 

[xEquestrianx]

wow! i thought I was tall, and I'm 5'7". But anyways, I agree with the above advice. And really get your seat and position and get comfortable with the horse before you go. And also, like mentioned above, be really careful about being on the bit.

 

[MacabreMikolaj]

f "Just get out there, and compete with people who are better than you." And, by your times, you can track how far you've come.

Forgive me for being confused, but was that meant as a joke? :-| Or did I take it in the wrong context? Because that's possibly the worst advice I've ever heard in my life. I'm pretty sure it's doing that that creates the monstrosity of a barrel horse we see competeing nowdays - just hurl him at a pattern with no training and hope for the best!

I'm not calling you down, just whatever trainer said that either needs a kick in the pants or needs to learn how to re-word his statements!