Teaching a horse the barrek pattern*step by step please*?

Question

ok i need to know how to teach a horse the barrel pattern.i want somebody with horse experience to answer please.stupid answers not welcome. :)

Answer 1

Ok im asuming your horse is already broke???

1. set up the patern and walk the horse around the patern do this untillthe horse is comforitable with the patern some times it will take a week or more I know it ill get boring but it is the BEST way to train a barrel horse

2. once the horse gets comforitable at a walk you can start troting the patern

3. when you get to the first barrel STOP and make the horse do a GOOD slow turn around the barrel continue to do this at all 3 barrels

4.If you keep this up for around a solid month and a half your horse will know the patern and be ready to LOPE slow around the patern but slow down at each barrel still. you do not have to stop but do slow down and make your horse do a GOOD tight turn around the barrel

5. After about 2 weeks of loping it run your horse on the patern but not very often just test him run him and if he does good dont do it any more this is how you get the crazy running off barrel horses once your horse knows the patern you shouldn't run him unless you are competing

The most important thing is to not run your horse too much it will cause him to dread the patern!!!

GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR HORSE AND GETTING IT TRAINED FOR BARRELS!!!!

Answer 2

Definately start slow. Set up the pattern somewhere, and start at a walk. Do this until the horse is familiar with the pattern, then trot the pattern for a while. Exaggerate your cues. Lean back when you turn, and forward when you would be running. Make sure you use your legs! It may take a few weeks, to a few months before you should start loping the pattern. Slowly, of course. I don't know if you do gymkhanas, or barrel races, but if you do, take the horse there for two reasons. 1. Get them used to the environment. 2. They will probably have a time for practice/time only runs, where you can slowly lope the pattern, then build up speed, once the horse is used to the turns.

Going around the barrel, you should probably leave a pocket for your horse. In other words, go just a little bit wide, then turn the barrel.

Keep the horse flexible, and able to bend.

Take some time off every so often, and trail ride. =]

Another tip to help with turning, is take the horse out somewhere, and practice turning around bushes or trees. Find 2 bushes and trot/lope in a figure 8 around them.

Running wise, if you have access to a wash or some stretch of land with soft ground, just take your horse there and let it go. Run for a bit, just so the horse can open its lungs.

Hope this helps. Good luck.