[montana and me3]

i've come to a decision that I will not show monty in English for about 3 or 4 more years, and by that time i might out grow him so im thinking about teaching him barrel racing or reining and get a big warm blood mare for english that is already trained to jump. my question is how do you help him balance on those tight turns... ive seen your guys pics and your horses are like practically lying on there side! lol.... i dont know much about these events but i will talk to my aunt who barrel raced all her life....... montanas only 3 years oldand 14 hands and was bought kind of as a "barrel prospect"

[SunBun]

Loping circles and teaching her to rate and get her butt up under her before she goes into the turn. Also try and teach her a 'four wheel drive' turn where she's using all four legs, not just primarily pulling herself around with her front end or just pushing from behind. There's been a few good threads about this, i'll see if I can find them. Don't worry-just because they lean doesn't mean they'll fall over lol

[Blistering Winds]

It just COMES. It takes time, and a smart horse.

Since your horse is only 3, you can begin the process, but keep the speed down utnil 4 or 5 yrs of age.

Make sure your horse is SOLID on stop, walk, trot, canter. Turn Left, right, and can neck rein and allow contact.

Work on circling down into SMALL circle, and back BIG again, both at a trot and a canter. Work on lateral movements. Move the hips, the shoulders (independantly), if your horse will spin, DO it. Work on bending, flexing, roll backs, work off leg and not face, face is for refinement in the barrel racing world......the rest is off of leg (on the big runners).

Then after THESE are solid, begin the pattern. Just walk the pattern.....trot the pattern. STOP at every barrel.

Get you a book/video. Martha Josey is excellent, Connie Combs, The "WRIGHT" way...etc. There will be pattern practices, refinement training, etc all in those books.

Train your horse right the first time adn you will spend less time fighting them and more time having fun.

ALSO, once you begin pattern work, do other things as well, such as quiet trail rides, western pleasure, etc. Keep your horse QUIET! don't make a hot head....as hot heads do not win. They blow the barrels, knock them over, and OCCASIONALLY have a clean pattern. Clean patterns and a rider who is still alive is the MOST important!!

[*BaRrEL_BaBE*]

Did you see that picture of my Appy in the other thread? I'm going to find some turning pictures and show you that they usually stay up. Horses do fall over in their turns, but it's not often.

[montana and me3]

a couple weeks ago i started to walk him towards the wall and pretty close to the wall i would make a sharp turn forceing him to turn with most of his weight on his back feet... i seen it at an auction and they cantered and as soon as they touched the rein to his neck he turned with what looked like a lot of weight on his back feet also.... is this a good thing or should i stop... i no longer have to walk him toward a wall just neck rein him and touch my heel to his side...

[Blistering Winds]

Get you a reining book. it will explain roll backs much better.

Also, if you can, take some lessons from a trainer.

[montana and me3]

bump.........................

[cowgurly02]

It just takes time. Your horse will do it automatically, they don't want to fall over either. Just make sure you add the speed slowly. And as BW said, lots of roll backs to teach them to turn on their hind. That gives them the best speed and balance around a barrel.

[montana and me3]

Originally Posted by montana and me3

a couple weeks ago i started to walk him towards the wall and pretty close to the wall i would make a sharp turn forceing him to turn with most of his weight on his back feet... i seen it at an auction and they cantered and as soon as they touched the rein to his neck he turned with what looked like a lot of weight on his back feet also.... is this a good thing or should i stop... i no longer have to walk him toward a wall just neck rein him and touch my heel to his side...

^^^^^
Is this a roll back?

[Paints4me]

Originally Posted by montana and me3

^^^^^
Is this a roll back?

Yes thats a roll back. I do them on all my horses, you can teach them in an arena or along a fence. Just trot or canter your horse up the side, check them back a little, and turn into the fence. Leave a little room between you and the fence so your horse doesn't run into it. It will get a horse turning ob his hindquarters like he needs to. Its a very good excersize and it does put a pretty good turn on a horse.