I need help

barrelracer08 · 10-16-2009, 08:26 PM

Now that winter as came around the corner, I would like to work tamber for next summer because I will be hualing her next summer.
I would like to On barrel racing with out the barrels,
1. Make better and simpler turns
2. Going faster between barrels.

I would like to start on the poles, but don't know how to.
I would like to work on lowering the head at the lope.

If some one can give me any advice on this would be good.

Blue_rose2001 · 10-17-2009, 08:58 PM

Poles.

#1, Get you some poles, buckets or cones.
#2, Walk the pattern. Start a good distance away and "Aim" to be about a car width from the poles. That is the best way for me to judge it. Too close and your end turn will be off.
#3 Weave between the poles. Your hands should be slightly elevated to "give lift" to the shoulders and encourage lead changes later. Your upper body should not be stiff and should move as "if" you were swaying at a lope. Over exaggerate now so it will be habitual for you when you go faster. Kind of like your hands making a V if that makes sense.
#4- Stopping for your turns- this will take a lot of practice to find out how much WHOA you need to ask for. Different for every horse and rider. I need to ask at the next to end pole on the 1st turn and at the other end I need to slow him down just before it. We are going wide around that end for our return.

Haul butt out! The best way you know how. I hope this helps you get started. I am by no means an expert, but I just completed me and my horses first season barrel racing and pole bending. We started out with about a 30 in poles and have gotten down to a 23 and a 28 in barrels to a 17. Thats pretty good for 2 beginners in my opinion!

I am so proud of my boy!

Gutter_Doll · 10-18-2009, 02:02 AM

Lowering the head - why?
Collection is the reason horses have pretty head carraiges.

JBandRio · 10-18-2009, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gutter_Doll

Lowering the head - why?
Collection is the reason horses have pretty head carraiges.

If his head is in the air, lowering would be a good thing

But this brings up the point - where is the horse's head *now* that you want it lowered?

Gutter_Doll · 10-18-2009, 03:19 PM

If the horses head is stuck in the air, there's only three reasons I've seen that they do this.

Evading (behavior *such as not WANTING to look where they're going* or) the bit or back pain.
They're BUILT that way.
Or they're strung out, back hollow.

None of which have anything to do with 'getting the head lower', all which have to do with either collection, rebuilding, or retraining to give to pressure.

JBandRio · 10-18-2009, 04:36 PM

When someone asks "how do I get my horse's head lower because it's in my face all the time", for example, the answers have everything to do with lowering the head. But, the question is answered indirectly in several ways.

There doesn't even have to be a single ounce of contact for the horse to relax and just lower his head out of relaxation, well-fitting tack, a quiet rider, a bit that is comfortable, etc.

Until you have those things, you can't work on the contact in order to work on even baby collection

xlilxonex · 10-18-2009, 04:57 PM

As far as turns, you need to start slow and work your way up? How adjustable is your mare? Does she collect easily? Does she bend right? If not, you need to work on that first before you can get proper circles done, which will then in turn help with your turns.

barrelracer08 · 10-18-2009, 06:17 PM

she bend pretty well. collecting I would say she does fine but could use more work.

Question for the rider:
How do you relax? MY neighbor said that when I start in a lope in tense up or something and it causes her to tense up.

10-18-2009, 03:19 PM	#5
Gutter_Doll Senior Member+ Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Central West, Australia. Posts: 1,431 Images: 36	If the horses head is stuck in the air, there's only three reasons I've seen that they do this. Evading (behavior such as not WANTING to look where they're going or) the bit or back pain. They're BUILT that way. Or they're strung out, back hollow. None of which have anything to do with 'getting the head lower', all which have to do with either collection, rebuilding, or retraining to give to pressure. __________________ photography new site. "Orana Quest" - tricks (bow, lay down, kneel, smile, sit, count, pick up a saddle pad) and in reining training.

10-18-2009, 04:36 PM	#6
JBandRio Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: NC Posts: 32,004 Images: 196 Blog Entries: 12	When someone asks "how do I get my horse's head lower because it's in my face all the time", for example, the answers have everything to do with lowering the head. But, the question is answered indirectly in several ways. There doesn't even have to be a single ounce of contact for the horse to relax and just lower his head out of relaxation, well-fitting tack, a quiet rider, a bit that is comfortable, etc. Until you have those things, you can't work on the contact in order to work on even baby collection __________________ - JB Acres, owned and operated by Dynamite animals. - It's a wonder horses as a whole don't just kill us all and be done with their misery. - Keep your voice soothing and low - even when things get western (buck1173)

10-18-2009, 04:57 PM	#7
xlilxonex Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 3,326 Images: 24 Blog Entries: 1	As far as turns, you need to start slow and work your way up? How adjustable is your mare? Does she collect easily? Does she bend right? If not, you need to work on that first before you can get proper circles done, which will then in turn help with your turns. __________________ I <3 My Curly http://bbspinnaker.webs.com/

10-18-2009, 06:17 PM	#8
barrelracer08 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: I live in cowboy state: oklahoma Posts: 1,252 Images: 463	she bend pretty well. collecting I would say she does fine but could use more work. Question for the rider: How do you relax? MY neighbor said that when I start in a lope in tense up or something and it causes her to tense up. __________________ If it doesn't involve ropin', ridin', or saddles, count me out.

10-16-2009, 08:26 PM	#1
barrelracer08 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: I live in cowboy state: oklahoma Posts: 1,252 Images: 463	I need help Now that winter as came around the corner, I would like to work tamber for next summer because I will be hualing her next summer. I would like to On barrel racing with out the barrels, 1. Make better and simpler turns 2. Going faster between barrels. I would like to start on the poles, but don't know how to. I would like to work on lowering the head at the lope. If some one can give me any advice on this would be good. __________________ If it doesn't involve ropin', ridin', or saddles, count me out.

10-17-2009, 08:58 PM	#2
Blue_rose2001 Full Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Big Creek, MS Posts: 195 Images: 3	Poles. #1, Get you some poles, buckets or cones. #2, Walk the pattern. Start a good distance away and "Aim" to be about a car width from the poles. That is the best way for me to judge it. Too close and your end turn will be off. #3 Weave between the poles. Your hands should be slightly elevated to "give lift" to the shoulders and encourage lead changes later. Your upper body should not be stiff and should move as "if" you were swaying at a lope. Over exaggerate now so it will be habitual for you when you go faster. Kind of like your hands making a V if that makes sense. #4- Stopping for your turns- this will take a lot of practice to find out how much WHOA you need to ask for. Different for every horse and rider. I need to ask at the next to end pole on the 1st turn and at the other end I need to slow him down just before it. We are going wide around that end for our return. Haul butt out! The best way you know how. I hope this helps you get started. I am by no means an expert, but I just completed me and my horses first season barrel racing and pole bending. We started out with about a 30 in poles and have gotten down to a 23 and a 28 in barrels to a 17. Thats pretty good for 2 beginners in my opinion! I am so proud of my boy!

10-18-2009, 02:02 AM	#3
Gutter_Doll Senior Member+ Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Central West, Australia. Posts: 1,431 Images: 36	Lowering the head - why? Collection is the reason horses have pretty head carraiges. __________________ photography new site. "Orana Quest" - tricks (bow, lay down, kneel, smile, sit, count, pick up a saddle pad) and in reining training.

**I need help**

I need help