[FloraDanicaHR]

I have a gelding who has potential to do really well in both disciplines, well not really well, but good enough for a decent competitive career.

I was just wondering if anyone else has done two completely different disciplines with the same horse? Or is it a bad idea?

[CJnBucksMom]

It all depends on the horse BUT it is entirely possible! One of my geldings who I owned from the time he was two until he was six, and recently purchased back as a 10 year old is trained and has been shown (or will be shown soon) in the following: Showmanship, Ranch Riding/Pleasure (at a local level, he will never lope really slow lol), barrels, poles, first level dressage, hunter o/f, reined cow horse, started cutting, started with some basics in reining and is a heck of a trail horse. Some things he is better at obviously (barrels, poles, cow work, trail riding, jumping) but other things he is competent at and enough to have some fun at a low level on (dressage, reining, etc). So yes, it can be done. And IMO, it keeps them from getting sour and bored.

[IIIBarsV]

All my barrel horses are schooled level 2/3 in Dressage... so....

[FloraDanicaHR]

Awesome! Thanks! How do you guys deal with leg movements, aren't they opposite in western? So I was told, I have never done it but just asking.

[CJnBucksMom]

Everything the horse works off of, mine anyway, are the same basic principles. Moving away from pressure, into the bit, working off the hind end and since all western horses are started with direct reining in a snaffle you don't have to worry about teaching them that ; ) Dressage and barrel racing actually have a lot of the same important principles. You have circle work in both which is very important. Rating and being able to go through different paces at each gait is another similarity. English and western, in general, really aren't that different as far as leg cues go. Reins, in both, are just an 'aide' so to speak. The horse should move in and out etc based on your leg. I think I'm babbling now, it's late LOL But what I'm getting at is that all the principles are the same, just different tasks ; )

[FloraDanicaHR]

THanks CJn! That was really helpful and gave me a boost of confidence.

Now one more question, should I learn these two at different times, like start dressage then a couple months later go to barrel racing, or is it pretty okay to do both at the same time. My guy is very smart, I just dont want to confuse him. lol

[CJnBucksMom]

IMO, you are right to want to start with dressage. All of the work you do there will only make your barrel training easier. It depends what level of training (in general) your guy is at right now. There are a bunch of things you want him to be really solid on before running him BUT that being said it never hurts to pattern him a little bit at the jog and the lope in the mean time and at the very least it breaks up monotonous ring work. Tell me a little bit more about his current training to this point and I can give a better answer ; )

[FloraDanicaHR]

Well basically, I am thinking for the future. He is green, very green. He is 3 years old and hasn't been fully started, lots of ground work and been sat on. This spring I am starting with a dressage coach, and within the next year or two I was thinking of incorporating barrel racing. But in the mean time just walking the pattern with him more so he knows it well.

[CJnBucksMom]

That sounds like a good plan. I'm by no means a 'pro' at barrels and someone else could probably give better advanced advice than me BUT just a list of a few things you'll want him to be able to do before you really push him on the barrels or start serious patterning etc. And also things that will help in dressage. Have a SOLID walk, the walk is so often overlooked BUT it is very important. Everything should be started at the walk. Learning to have him work into the bit (this of course will be a process but starts with a good walk), turning, bending, giving, etc all at the walk. Be able to extend and collect your walk. Get your circles good at the walk. Then do all of it over again at the trot until he is really learning to balance and use himself. Circles, bending, working into the bit etc. Working trot, collected trot, medium trot etc. You get the point LOL Walking the pattern will not hurt him at all in the mean time. IMO, the more used to it they are the better, and again also another exercise to break up the monotony. Just remember not to wear him out on them but you sound like you have all of your ducks in a row. Also, it's wonderful to hear that your horse is three and has been brought along slowly instead of being pushed hard as a young two year old. IMO, you'll find you have a horse that stays more sound, mentally and physically, than one who is pushed hard at a young age. Kudos on waiting. = ) Let me know if there's anything specific you have ?'s about and I'll try my best to answer.

[IIIBarsV]

Well, no, I use exactly the same cues when I'm riding english as I do when training barrels. Outside leg for impulsion and push, inside leg for balance and bend, etc etc. Both legs create impulsion and are part of speed control.

I like my barrel horses to have these minimum requirements before we start doing much more than a walk on the pattern:

Minimum age before I start actually training the pattern is 4, and lightly. Other people start earlier if they have a futurity horse, but if you're not going to futurity as a 4 or 5 yr old, then you don't really have to rush and risk an injury or a blown mind. Futurity horses aren't exactly known for having a good basic training set on them.

- Speed control (fast, medium, slow).
- Basic collection/ half halt and staying on a long frame easily.
- straight-line bend: walking or trotting and bending to one side or another without coming off that straight line.
- Lifting shoulders on circles and serpentines.
- Pivot, haunches and forehand
- Lateral leg yeild, with good engagement and leading from the hind end.
- Counter-bend circle (spiral in)
- Snappy transitions- when I say "lope please", they lope, be it from a walk or trot. This is the same for downwards- when I say "trot please", they trot, even if they're in a fast canter.
- Light in the mouth- you don't want to be pulling on them all the time and waiting 10 minutes before they respond.
-basic idea of neckreining (two-handed, moving off the outside rein).
- Half-pass or pirouette at the walk. This is how you loosen up shoulders and keep them from dropping on circles.

So yeah, I like my horses to have all of that at least 75% solid at the walk, trot, and canter before I will go faster than a walk/jog on the pattern. It just makes life easier when you can put the horse's body wherever you want him, and prevents the formation of bad habits. (Aka, Power steering).