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Saturday, May 09, 2009
Barrel pattern problems in competition, help?
"Ask Tina" Question:
I purchased a 13 yr old mare, (she can be seen on pg 4 of "open horses" at Floridabarrelhorse.com"). She is cutting/cow bred. She is 14.2-3, fast and a hard runner. The prev owner said he bumped at first barrel , shaped, and shaped at 2 and 3. He said she made her own pocket, and was very rear-endy in her turns.... no alley issues, or soundness issues. I have had her 7 wks, and she balks at alley, when you get her in, she balks and will not go. I have had her teeth done, vet checked, had magnetic therapy, started on joint supplement for maintanance, trail rode, etc. but she is not making progress. Is this typical of a horse with an ulcer? I was told she was alpha mare, but doesn't fit that either. She ran through my short shank chain gag, (her running bit per owner) , so another trainer suggested a LW med shank, setback curb, dogbone. She braces up to that, as she is sensitive, and blows out the back end of the barrels with that... sometimes even crossing the finish line before I can get her stopped and turned. She is perfect in slow work and is broke, broke, broke. I just took her off the alfalfa and put her on timothy hay.... any suggestions? I put the video of our first run... the best one I am sad to say, on youtube.com - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIPePmSIHx4 Any imput would be great. Thanks Nancy
"Ask Tina" Answer:
I watched your video on Utube. I really liked your 2nd barrel. Give yourself time to get with her, to get to know her. It appears on first and third barrels, you should look & ride to a pocket or spot you want next to the barrel in lieu of "letting her pick" she also lacked her own rate on those two barrels. I think you will need to establish a rate cue; your body sitting back more where the tracks cross or before, a 2 hand bump/release and voice cue if possible. I would also establish a pocket that works for her. Walk the pattern at home using only eyes, body and voice to guide her, don't use your reins or legs, unless she makes a big mistake. Then walk the pattern and let HER show you what she thinks her job is! She should show you what size pocket or space going into the barrel turn she likes, she will show you if she is use to someone rating her and finishing her turns for her, or if she does it on her own. You will feel the rate by when you sit, she shortens her stride, you will know if she finishes her turns or steps off, if previous rider did more work then she did.
As far as ulcers go, speak to a regular vet about Ulcer Guard or other products out there, or a holistic practitioner about Dan Qui or mare herbs. The less grain you feed and the more hay is better for horses with ulcers. For sure a grass mix or straight grass will be better than alfalfa for a nervous horse, less protein. It sounds like you have tried to look into her health, and you looked good on her, just give yourself some time, change one thing at a time and see what is working and is not.
As far as a bit; I am glad you feel she is broke, broke, broke. Ask the owner how he trained during the week, slow work, pattern work if any, rate work? A correction bit is something you could train her in, like a port leverage bit and compete on her in the short or medium shank chain or 3-piece, that he suggested. I really think horses are smart enough to learn to push through any bit or tie down, when upset. I would not suggest a bigger bit, except for tuning as you can use pinky & ring finger light cues in a bit with more bite or leverage! That can bite you in the booty in competition though, if you get in her face and she doesn't rate of body and voice, she is already high headed and if she gets scared that may go up further in the air and cause your turns to get worse!
If she is baulking, it may be she is worried about the runs you have made together. I would slow things down, gate her, do a couple slow exhibitions at each show, working on trot to the barrel, walk around the barrel, lope to the barrel, walk around the barrel and only compete with goal of run to barrel, but about3 or 4 strides, slow to a lope and make a collected, proper form, turn. Remember, speed is the easiest thing to get, rate and great turns are the hardest! Slow down until you get your cues established with her, and she is calm in the alley.
In the alley, you will need to see what works best to get her in, just a tap on hind end with an over and under, make her do leg laterals as you approach the alley, one rein stop and disengage hind end several times if she baulks. You want to make the wrong thing hard and the right thing easy, while building her confidence not tearing it down.
Please don't get discouraged with her, she looks like a nice mare. Realize that no two riders ride exactly the same, and she needs time to adjust to your cues. I often remember a story I heard about a dolphin trainer, that called in sick. The other trainers wanted the dolphins to come out of water and go backwards on their tails for the ending of the shows. They asked the sick trainer how to cue for it, he said, "I just lift my two hands in the air, they come out of water and go backwards swimming off the tail fin." In the first show of the day the other trainers tried that, but the dolphins came out of water and just sunk back down! Frustrated as the whole day, 5 shows, they couldn't get the Dolphins to perform that correctly. The next day the trainer came back, he said, "I can't believe you guys couldn't get it watch!" To all the trainers amazement, they realized the "sick trainer" didn't just use his hands, he also took ONE huge step forward as he put his two arms up towards the sky at the Dolphin pool! The Dolphins perfectly executed the act. All the trainers laughed in shock and amazement how the Dolphins knew more than they did! So realize that you did not train this mare, but horses learned right or wrong every time we ride them! So ask the old owner to show you his cues, or start with slow work and teach her NEW ones, she is SMART as all horses are and she will learn your ways. Be patient, speed is only your enemy when working kinks out.
An exercise to use at home with her would be to slow down one speed where the tracks cross (trot to walk around) then circle barrel with 3 to 5 feet pocket, 2 or 3 times, getting her to think more about rate and turns then run. I would also work on your WHOA cue by doing transitions on the rail like long trot posting 10 to 15 posts then sit, say whoa and stop completely. You can lope 1 large circle, stop, roll back to the inside of the circle lope off and repeat, keep WHOA/rate on her mind during the week.
I hope my answer has helped, if not, please come see me! Often I can ride a horse and give you some specific cues that she likes and help you build from there.
Tina Spangler
www.tlcbarrelhorsetraining.com
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