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Cleaning up my Barrel racing turns?
I was wondering if I could have some tips on how to smooth my turns out, if you dont mind. My horse is very high in the front through turns, and then she stops, then runs. It puts seconds onto my time.. It was like this before.. she used to pick up her shoulder and perform a rollback through the turn. I dont know what changed, but I didnt train the horse, so I really need to know some ways to teach a horse to clean up thier turn. It may also be due to my bit being too harsh.. I am getting a lighter bit soon. I will be running with this:http://www.horsetown.com/store/files/images/small/t_13273.jpg
IDK what you mean by "rollback" through the turn, because I've never seen a barrel horse do that. Do you mean move her hind quarters around, then her front??
So I'll try to answer the question best as I can, but I am no expert... Is she changing leads to be on the correct lead to go around the barrel? IDK how to fix that, but if she goes around the first barrel good, but not the last two or vice versa, pay attention to what lead she does it on... She might have a pulled tendon or hurt her suspendatory ligament, which makes it painful to go on a certain lead, so she will "counter canter" on the barrels requiring the lead that hurts to go on. You might wanna have a vet check it out...
Also, teach your horse to neck rein!! I would say that you are being too rough with her mouth, so you are throwing her off balance and FORCING her to stop. She might be scared of falling. My mare WILL stumble and knock a barrel if I'm too rough. You should always neck rein through the turns, in my opinion. Teach your horse to neck rein by turning consistantly with direct rein PLUS indirect rein, meaning laying the outside rein across the horse's neck. Do this every turn, every time, barrel racing or just out on the trails or just riding. Pretty soon, you won't even need a bit! Well, at least not through turns. Then switch to one hand and see if it works. If not, just keep laying the rein across her neck and decreasing the amount of direct rein you use. Also, “leaning” into the turns can make your horse go off balance and not want to turn for you. So can looking down at the barrel instead of around it.
Here’s how I do my turns to give you a good idea of ONE good way to do it: I run (or rather canter, since I’m used to showing and getting used to the speed still) to the barrel and start to slow down or “rate” by sitting deep and saying “whoa” if I have to. Then I switch to one hand and sit up straight and deep with my hand on the saddle horn, fingers pointed away like I’m looking at my nails. (This helps me sit up straight and not use my legs so much to stay in the saddle, so I don’t rush my horse through the turn.) Then I go wide (like 5+ ft away) and wait to turn until my knee has passed the barrel. Then I use my outside leg to close my horse closer into the barrel as we turn and exit about 3ft or less from it. Then I pop up and run home or to the next barrel:)
Also, your horse could be going to fast. Does she know how to rate? Do this going to a place where you’d normally ask your horse to run barrels. Canter to the barrel then stop 10 or 15 feet away from it. Back your horse 5 steps or wait 5 seconds. Then walk or trot around the barrel, checking to make sure you’re doing it correctly and go around it JUST like you would while barrel racing (same posture, same everything). It also helps to circle twice if your horse has a problem with exiting prematurely.
Anywho, hope this helps.
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