Training my horse to barrel race???

[Dakota Sunrise]

Ok, I want to train my horse Dakota to barrel race, or pole bend, whatever. Just to be a game horse. His old owners (not the ones I bought him from, but the onse who had him like 6 years ago) used to game him but he didn't win so they sold him to get something faster. Plus, I've done walk/trot barrels with him twice, and yesterday I took him to this small-town game show and tried to run him. He only placed once out of 8 classes (I know, pretty pathetic:o) because he doesn't really get that he has to RUN in the ring. I know he's fast because he can beat my best friend's 8 year old Appy and Dakota is ten years older and he can RUN.

A little info: He's a Quarter Horse/Saddlebred, and like the best trail horse in the world:D. Nothing scares him. He's 18, but in great shape. We go on 6 hour trail rides and doing a lot of running all the time. He does have to whear boots because when he trots, canters, or gallops he criss crosses his back legs and clips himself.

How can I teach him to RUN barrels??? I know he's fast enough, I just have to get him to go all out. I do have a place to practice, all the ring isn't huge.
PLEASE HELP?!?!?!

[Elana55]

Teaching work at speed first requires a foundation of flat work that is not at speed. Lots and lots of trotting circles (30 meter circles) and teaching the horse to bend and work off his hind quarters are in order.

When you trot in a circle the horse needs to be engaged and bending. You should be able to see the bend from the saddle. He shoule willingly bend around your inside leg (on the girth) and keep his hind quarters tracked up on the circle (you hold them there with your outside leg behind the girth).

Tecah the horse to do a turn on the forehand (front feet stay in one place, rear feet circle around). This teaches him to move away from your leg behind the girth. You can start the lesson by having him face a fence.

Work on figure 8's. This is two circles that touch in the center, not an 8 with an "X" in the center. When you get to the center have him take 2-3 strides straight and then bend him the other way. Start with 30 meter circles and reduce the size to 20 meters (60 feet). Keep the circles round (put a cone or other marker on the ground and ride around it.. looking at it and keeping your distance even.

Work on transitions. Extensions and collections. Going from a stand still right to a trot and from a walk to a trot and from a trot to a walk or trot to a stand still are great. You learn to collect your horse before asking for a transition up or down.

These things are like calesthenics for your hourse and for you. They build balance, control and muscles critical to the changes you encounter in gaming.

Eventually (after a few weeks at the trot getting him to bend and to shift his weight off his forehand to his hind quarters) you can introduce a slow lope. Don't ask for flying changes.. ask for simple changes of lead (two or three trot steps before asking for the different lead. Work gradually into flying changes on the figure 8.

Start with a 30 meter circle and spiral in towards the center and then back out again.

As the horse develops physically you can ask for speed.

Work all the things above on the trail as well as on a level spot at home. Trot him up hills if you have any to trot up. These build the horse's stomach muscles which are essential for the qyuick slow down at a barrel and then the fast transition up to speed after rounding the barrel.

Barrel racing is all about transitions and balanced turns. A horse who can transition down and keep his weight off his forehand.. and do the same thing back UP to speed is the horse that will win. He is efficient.

Running fast on a straight away racing with a friend may prove your horse HAS speed but barrel racing or gaming is about controlling that speed thru balance and agility and transistions.

Watch those winning horses on TV or at a show. the extend to run fast between barrels and then transition to collect and turn the barrel and then extend again to run to the next barrel.. where again they collect and turn.

Your horse can do it too, but it requires a lot of time on the flat teaching him how first. I would suggest 6 months of the above flat work before trying to game him above the trot. If you do all of this you will make a winner out of him.

Gaming is about speed but there are a lot of fast horses who never win because no one has taken the time to teach them how to balance, collect, extend and be efficient.

When working on transitions you need a marker to spot where exactly the transition will take place. When your leg is at the marker, the horse is in the transition. For instance, if there is a fence post and you are going from a walk to a trot, the horse takes his first trot step when your leg is oppostie that post. This teaches you accuracy and you will learn how far ahead of that mark you need to prepare the horse for the transition.

When you can choose any marker, anywhere, in a ring, home or on the trail, and ask for a transition and have the horse do it at that mark you will be far and away ahead of a LOT of people out there who ride and train horses. When you can have your horse stop and stand quietly and then, from a standstill, move forward in a nice, balanced lope, you will have accomplished something really good for your skills and for the horse's physical well being.

BTW all those funny letters around a dressage ring are used for the same thing.