Start barrel training (vs) start Cross country training first?

tightpaycheck · 01-11-2007, 05:43 AM

Hmmm...ok, I'm not too sure from your original post I thought she was already fairly well broke to ride and jumping. In this last post I got the impression that she has neve been actually ridden, just pony rides. It doesn't really change what you can do with her, but I would expect to put at least 6 months of basic riding on a horse before I would even consider jumping or barrels.

ArabGirl · 01-11-2007, 06:04 AM

Another somewhat stupid comment from that trainer I had. I was leading Roxy one day and she didn't stop when I "whoad" her, she just plowed on. So I pulled the leadrope to the side and made her do circles for a minute, then I asked again. This time she stopped. I make Roxy do circles when she doesn't do what I ask, and, contrary to the trainer's belief that I'm "teaching her a bad habit.", she usually listens afterwords. This is how my sister told me to correct her gelding while i was riding him, always worked too. I stopped to think, and, long behold, I couldn't squeeze even a tiny inkling of a problem with turning circles. I use it as "If you don't do it when I ask it, you can have more work" type training. (I'm VERY carefulnot to take this to the extreme. ) Also, my (Ahem.) redneck bro-in-law told me that I was teaching her to go through gates wrong. I KNOW that I was doing it right, it was in a book that I bought, with very discriptive diagrams on the pages. I would lead her to the gate by the intsruction, stand aside the other side of the gate, and ask her to walk through and turn to face me. Once again, (But even more stupid) the gelding /can/does do it too. I had a teensy bit of trouble, but that stopped when I started ushering her through if she didn't cooperate.(Slapping the end of the lead rope on her bum.)
THAT is mhy I am so afraid of making mistakes with Roxy, I'v got some pretty dumb people telling me what to do.(Even though I ignore them.)

ArabGirl · 01-13-2007, 08:17 AM

I discussed, well, maybe, more like, mentioned this post to my dad. He says that I should start on barrels. (He doesn't know much about horses.) I told him that part about doing the pleasure stuff before starting out on barrels, but he didn't say much. We can't set up even a fourth of a standard size barrel course in either of the pastures(1/3 acre pasture with dead trees down the middle. I say "Cut 'em down!" but sissy says, "They act like a windbreak." HA! They don't seem to stop anything but LAZY PEOPLE!), and can't afford to trailer off to a local arena. I can, however, set up a series of either ground poles for the basics of crossc, or buy a set of pole bases and do pole bending. I am so tired of procrastinating Roxanne's training, but I can't even do that! (In the fresh foot of snow on frozen mud and hidden ice puddles that fell yesterday while I was in school.) So, once again, precious training time is being wasted.

cowgurly02 · 01-13-2007, 11:27 AM

You need to get a good foundation on her before even looking at a barrel. I'd say it is probably the same with jumping. You need to have the tools to correct the problems that will arise.

Flying lead changes, working off her hind end, roll backs, bending at the poll, leg pressure are all some of the things she should be consistant with before ever pointing her at a barrel.

ArabGirl · 01-13-2007, 03:31 PM

Okay, today, I got the bit in her mouth and we did some work. She moves off a squeeze with my legs. She needs more work on turning left and right. She stops within two steps of command. I even got her to do some backing up. Now, when I tell you this, you aren't going to believe me. It isn't like her at all to let me ride bareback. (She musta either learned something, or be in Lah Lah Land.)

Now, when we bought her, the girl said she could be ridden bareback, but Roxanne shied almost EVERY time i tried to get on. Today, I got brave and pulled out my plastic steps. I had a leg by her side and she took a few steps. My instinct is, when this happens, to jump up. (My sister's gelding does this.)

I paused, kinda hanging off her side, waiting for the ride to start.

Nothing. I scoot up and get firmly seated, waiting for her to disagree with something. Nothing. I squoze with my legs, being very cautious, and I feel her........

start to walk.

(I had ya goin', didn't I?

) About half an hour of big oblong circles and really crooked lines and I turned her out.

BornToRide · 01-13-2007, 03:44 PM

Before you even think about training your horse for that sort of activity you need to make sure they know the basics down pat or you are going to get yourself in trouble further on down the line.

ArabGirl · 01-13-2007, 03:50 PM

I'm looking to plan next year's possible training, instead of waiting till it comes. That way, I can get the appropriate trainer to help.

01-13-2007, 08:17 AM	#13
ArabGirl Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 653 Images: 143 Blog Entries: 37	Stuck between a horse and a hard spot. I discussed, well, maybe, more like, mentioned this post to my dad. He says that I should start on barrels. (He doesn't know much about horses.) I told him that part about doing the pleasure stuff before starting out on barrels, but he didn't say much. We can't set up even a fourth of a standard size barrel course in either of the pastures(1/3 acre pasture with dead trees down the middle. I say "Cut 'em down!" but sissy says, "They act like a windbreak." HA! They don't seem to stop anything but LAZY PEOPLE!), and can't afford to trailer off to a local arena. I can, however, set up a series of either ground poles for the basics of crossc, or buy a set of pole bases and do pole bending. I am so tired of procrastinating Roxanne's training, but I can't even do that! (In the fresh foot of snow on frozen mud and hidden ice puddles that fell yesterday while I was in school.) So, once again, precious training time is being wasted.

01-13-2007, 11:27 AM	#14
cowgurly02 Senior Member+ Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 9,883 Images: 237 Blog Entries: 400	You need to get a good foundation on her before even looking at a barrel. I'd say it is probably the same with jumping. You need to have the tools to correct the problems that will arise. Flying lead changes, working off her hind end, roll backs, bending at the poll, leg pressure are all some of the things she should be consistant with before ever pointing her at a barrel. __________________ "We elves try to stick to the four main food groups:candy,candy canes,candy corns & syrup."-Elf http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFjYrioa7Bw I have been NOEL’ed and Blessed In His Name I've Been Snowball'd

01-13-2007, 03:31 PM	#15
ArabGirl Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 653 Images: 143 Blog Entries: 37	Okay, today, I got the bit in her mouth and we did some work. She moves off a squeeze with my legs. She needs more work on turning left and right. She stops within two steps of command. I even got her to do some backing up. Now, when I tell you this, you aren't going to believe me. It isn't like her at all to let me ride bareback. (She musta either learned something, or be in Lah Lah Land.) Now, when we bought her, the girl said she could be ridden bareback, but Roxanne shied almost EVERY time i tried to get on. Today, I got brave and pulled out my plastic steps. I had a leg by her side and she took a few steps. My instinct is, when this happens, to jump up. (My sister's gelding does this.) I paused, kinda hanging off her side, waiting for the ride to start. Nothing. I scoot up and get firmly seated, waiting for her to disagree with something. Nothing. I squoze with my legs, being very cautious, and I feel her........ start to walk. (I had ya goin', didn't I?) About half an hour of big oblong circles and really crooked lines and I turned her out.

01-13-2007, 03:44 PM	#16
BornToRide Senior Member+ Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 4,009 Images: 192	Before you even think about training your horse for that sort of activity you need to make sure they know the basics down pat or you are going to get yourself in trouble further on down the line. __________________ There are times when you can trust a horse, times when you can't and times when you have to. got to get the bagel with the cream cheeze oh the creamy creamy cheeze eh Blistering Winds? lmao

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01-11-2007, 05:43 AM	#11
tightpaycheck Senior Member+ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: NE PA Posts: 1,808 Images: 2	Hmmm...ok, I'm not too sure from your original post I thought she was already fairly well broke to ride and jumping. In this last post I got the impression that she has neve been actually ridden, just pony rides. It doesn't really change what you can do with her, but I would expect to put at least 6 months of basic riding on a horse before I would even consider jumping or barrels.

01-11-2007, 06:04 AM	#12
ArabGirl Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 653 Images: 143 Blog Entries: 37	Another somewhat stupid comment from that trainer I had. I was leading Roxy one day and she didn't stop when I "whoad" her, she just plowed on. So I pulled the leadrope to the side and made her do circles for a minute, then I asked again. This time she stopped. I make Roxy do circles when she doesn't do what I ask, and, contrary to the trainer's belief that I'm "teaching her a bad habit.", she usually listens afterwords. This is how my sister told me to correct her gelding while i was riding him, always worked too. I stopped to think, and, long behold, I couldn't squeeze even a tiny inkling of a problem with turning circles. I use it as "If you don't do it when I ask it, you can have more work" type training. (I'm VERY carefulnot to take this to the extreme. ) Also, my (Ahem.) redneck bro-in-law told me that I was teaching her to go through gates wrong. I KNOW that I was doing it right, it was in a book that I bought, with very discriptive diagrams on the pages. I would lead her to the gate by the intsruction, stand aside the other side of the gate, and ask her to walk through and turn to face me. Once again, (But even more stupid) the gelding /can/does do it too. I had a teensy bit of trouble, but that stopped when I started ushering her through if she didn't cooperate.(Slapping the end of the lead rope on her bum.) THAT is mhy I am so afraid of making mistakes with Roxy, I'v got some pretty dumb people telling me what to do.(Even though I ignore them.)

01-13-2007, 03:50 PM	#17
ArabGirl Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 653 Images: 143 Blog Entries: 37	I'm looking to plan next year's possible training, instead of waiting till it comes. That way, I can get the appropriate trainer to help.