Barrel Race Training Gone Wrong

[cedarlake]

@Kinda Kooky

Awful and yet unsurprising. Ignorance seems to be a common trait shared in barrel racing. After being given more than a few brain fried barrel horses I have no tolerance for the supposed sport.

It seems like such a silly thing to make into a competition. Running fast and turning thrice does not a horsemen make.

Those type of competitions had a shuvanistic feel to it I picked up on as a young child. No thanks.

Never met a horse I thought truly enjoyed the so called sport, but I have met quite a few who would try hard no matter the job. Per usual, poor horses.

I really think it’s unfair to clump all of us together, because yes I do barrel race. I love it, and so does my mare.

The issue comes from the foundation. In the end, it is not hard at a casual level to run a horse around 3 barrels, but becoming elite does take skill and timing.

i was blessed to ride jumpers, reiners, dressage, and cutters, which I bring to the table every time I mount my horse. Horsemanship is of utmost priority. I have placed in the 1D but was still upset with my performance because I noticed my hands were a bit too quick for my liking and not quiet enough for my standards. My mare runs in a hack but I can also ride her in a port or snaffle. I know the mechanics of all and I can compensate for each.

To say my horse, or others, don’t like their job is incredibly unfair and could be said for many sports. My mare is a dragon at the alley because she puts her all into it. She loves it. But coming out is easy to handle and walk about and has a calm, quiet eye. Even when she’s juiced up she is still relaxed. If she isn’t, then I really pick apart why. Was it me? Is she sore? Did I give her enough warm up time? Was she prepared for the run today?

you can speak your dislike on a sport, that’s fine, but it seems you are basing it off of kids that need more horsemanship lessons than they do competitions.

There are now many top trainers pleading with beginners to get horsemanship experience first. To try other disciplines. I myself try to ensure that the people I help understand their horse comes first. I don’t believe in bigger bits and I don’t believe in short cuts like this girl shows.

Hope this shed some light on the sport I truly enjoy, but would love to see changes happen

[Marshfield]

WTH would you get on a horse with a history of issues who has just bolted and not have on at least a helmet, if not a crash vest???

[trubandloki]

@Bluey

If we look around, there are nice people and crazy ones in all we do in life, in all we do with horses.

Don’t like barrel racing, motoring around a ring gaiting, jumping higher and higher, running as fast as you can run your horse, chasing a ball with a mallet or running a cow down?

Well, don’t do what you don’t care for, but understand others may and it is ok.
It is not for the rest of us to judge, lest we too get considered less than.

A friend lifelong barrel racer bought a two year old, competed and won with it for decades, finally put him to sleep a few years ago … at 42 years old and she is not the only barrel racer with that story.

We need to quit demanding others drop their choices.

What no one wants is any abuse, no matter what we do.

Abuse as that in question here is what is objectionable, not that they are barrel racers.

Great post Bluey!

[aregard]

I can’t even figure out the rationale. Horse won’t go forward in specific circumstance, somehow they are supposed to link what feels like a burr under the saddle to a leg aid? Where does it say in any book by any great trainer: “Irritate the shit out of a horse and it will magically know what you want!”

[Kinda_Kooky]

Bluey, I do understand what you are saying and do agree to an extent.

But from my own experiences over 35+ years of working with horses in a dusty west Texas town, my words are what I have found to be true.

I don’t consider it a sport but I certainly am not preventing anyone from their liberty of choice.

My experience is my own and sharing it is not a rally to prevent others from doing as they please.

I DO wish for the horses sake, there was greater education sought. A little more consideration for the horse’s mental state is something I would like to see.

[Bluey]

@Kinda Kooky

Bluey, I do understand what you are saying and do agree to an extent.

But from my own experiences over 35+ years of working with horses in a dusty west Texas town, my words are what I have found to be true.

I don’t consider it a sport but I certainly am not preventing anyone from their liberty of choice.

My experience is my own and sharing it is not a rally to prevent others from doing as they please.

I DO wish for the horses sake, there was greater education sought. A little more consideration for the horse’s mental state is something I would like to see.

My guess, also living now almost half a century in a little dusty West Texas area, no matter what those there do with their horses, if there is some lacking is general horsemanship, don’t blame the discipline.

Before coming here, I would say some riding centers were abysmally run in the East, with unsuitable and very poorly trained and managed horses and clueless students, but I don’t blame it on being English riding, or what passed for jumping, etc.?

That was my point.

[TMares]

@Kinda Kooky

Bluey, I do understand what you are saying and do agree to an extent.

But from my own experiences over 35+ years of working with horses in a dusty west Texas town, my words are what I have found to be true.

I don’t consider it a sport but I certainly am not preventing anyone from their liberty of choice.

My experience is my own and sharing it is not a rally to prevent others from doing as they please.

I DO wish for the horses sake, there was greater education sought. A little more consideration for the horse’s mental state is something I would like to see.

[B]Isn’t that true of the full spectrum of horses and riders?

What ‘discipline’ has good horsemanship down pat, across the board?[/B]

[Kinda_Kooky]

Cedarlake, as I stated prior I am speaking from my experiences just as you are. I mean no offense to the barrel people, and none should be taken when someone has experiences different to others.

There is certainly a lack of horsemanship in this area when it comes to western speed events. That does not mean it is you or your friends I am talking about directly, just in this area that is factual statement.

I have worked with quite a few speed event horses that were given up on, so I do speak from that end of the spectrum with confidence. I do also recognize life has few absolutes.

As to the video, that is something you should never do, no matter the discipline.

[Bluey]

@TMares

[B]Isn’t that true of the full spectrum of horses and riders?

What ‘discipline’ has good horsemanship down pat, across the board?[/B]

Riding is looking for those moments where everything clicks and we have those wonderful moments it does.

There are so, so many other times we just keep doing our best, preparing and aiming for those wonderful best moments, no matter what we do with our horses.

Last night they had on TV some top level indoor jumping with top riders.
Even every round was not without horse and rider trying their best, but not always getting it all just right, at times even embarrassingly bad.

I agree at lower levels you see way too much bad, the more you know how it should be.
We tend to forget that we too at one time were that one that didn’t know any better.
I do think today everyone, trainers horses and riders are slowly getting better, some more than others, but in general better, as it should be.
Maybe not fast enough for what we would like, but better.

[cedarlake]

@Kinda Kooky

Cedarlake, as I stated prior I am speaking from my experiences just as you are. I mean no offense to the barrel people, and none should be taken when someone has experiences different to others.

There is certainly a lack of horsemanship in this area when it comes to western speed events. That does not mean it is you or your friends I am talking about directly, just in this area that is factual statement.

I have worked with quite a few speed event horses that were given up on, so I do speak from that end of the spectrum with confidence. I do also recognize life has few absolutes.

As to the video, that is something you should never do, no matter the discipline.

I’m by no means offended. Quite frankly I’m tired of seeing posts as the one you posted before, although that’s not your fault or anyone else’s.

I, too, agree that horsemanship is in dire need in the industry as is a need to not just allow anything on the face or in the vein if you want to be real. While I do appreciate some lax guidelines, as we are able to run with CBD oil and other medications (with vet approval), things are way out of control in the industry.

I also understand you have other experiences than my own, although I have not been so shielded from you have experienced. I worked with trainers that believes collection was evil and not to be done. I purely believe one colt was diagnosed with KS due to her constantly forcing the horse to ride around with his head and neck elevated because she believed that’s how he should travel. This cause his back to be consistently hollow and he was built like a HUS horse. They also believed high head meant a lifted shoulder. I also saw them forbid me to collect a colt while stating they needed to put a tie down on him so he’d collect around barrels.

while I barrel race I am not blind to the horrific things many of them do to their horses. Rather it be willful ignorance or a need to win.

[Kinda_Kooky]

Certainly all disciplines would prosper with more education and greater concern for the horse’s mental state, bolded letters.

I may not like barrel racing but again, I don’t want to stop anyone from doing so. Sharing my perspective should not be so upsetting to others. It isn’t a personal attack, and my experience is my own.

”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹If you treat your horses well, and are successful at running barrels, good for you and the horse.

And, not to forget to apply the seemingly mandatory broad spectrum blanket, that goes for any discipline.

I will leave you to your discussion as my contributions seem unsatisfactory. There are horses and ponies out back that share my opinion on the subject, so I will just go talk to them. :lol:

[TMares]

No one’s upset or taking your comments personally.

[Bluey]

@Kinda Kooky

Certainly all disciplines would prosper with more education and greater concern for the horse’s mental state, bolded letters.

I may not like barrel racing but again, I don’t want to stop anyone from doing so. Sharing my perspective should not be so upsetting to others. It isn’t a personal attack, and my experience is my own.

”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹If you treat your horses well, and are successful at running barrels, good for you and the horse.

And, not to forget to apply the seemingly mandatory broad spectrum blanket, that goes for any discipline.

I will leave you to your discussion as my contributions seem unsatisfactory. There are horses and ponies out back that share my opinion on the subject, so I will just go talk to them. :lol:

I also don’t care for barrel racing and some others do with their horses.
I would not presume to tell them how bad I may think what they do is, or any other than “is not for me”, which it is not.

I am sure many barrel racers are grimacing and upset at that video, just as the rest of us are, maybe even more, as they know themselves as barrel racers, not just horse people, how wrong that is.

[Kinda_Kooky]

Thanks TMares, don’t want to be misunderstood or misinterpreted.

I do hope there is a positive outcome for the horse in the video, preferably a new home.

It’s hard to watch a situation like that happen and not whisk the horse away from it.

[DinkyDonk]

@candyappy

Is that why she keeps reaching behind her ? Looks like a beautiful , intelligent horse who is soured now. I had to laugh as she decimated the arena fence. I hope she didn’t hurt herself kicking though.

I wish she had dumped her rider. Just punishment.

and stomped on her…

[Belowthesalt]

@CHT

Yes, it is common enough (I see it happen to about a 1/3 of the horses when I am judging speed events, although not to this degree). Some deal with it by backing into the ring. The saddest part is when the horse walks willingly into the ring, sees the barrels, and tries to leave.

You are only thinking of the run part and forgetting about the way some ride the pattern with constant kicking and then harsh yank around the turns. If you look at “barrel racing bits” online, they can be quite brutal. Some very successful riders are quiet and just use snaffles, or use curbs but quietly: those horses don’t seem to develop the same anxiety.

My recollection is that PRCA champion Bozo (horse’s name is memorable, can’t remember the rider) was ridden in a pencil bosal, no bit. And while Scamper was ridden in some sort of western curb, who can forget when the bridle broke and she finished the pattern just neck reining.

[RoughOut]

@aregard

I can’t even figure out the rationale. Horse won’t go forward in specific circumstance, somehow they are supposed to link what feels like a burr under the saddle to a leg aid? Where does it say in any book by any great trainer: “Irritate the shit out of a horse and it will magically know what you want!”

Yea I really dont get it either?! Like how did we think shock collar under the saddle = horse going forward down the alley. No rationale there.

Thanks again for the background Cedarlake. You could see girls run by the camera and I wondered what that was about but that might have been the first fight.

Golly, someone’s fun game night turned into internet viral mayhem.

[Bluey]

Something doesn’t make sense if that is a dog shock collar.
Those are operated with a remote control, nothing on the collar to push or click to shock the dog, I don’t think?
If she is reaching back there to activate it, as it seems, it must be something else there?

Someone said horse was acting up with the daughter, why the mother got on the horse.
Maybe they were shocking the horse with the kid on it, why it was acting up?

Crazy all around.

[Marshfield]

@cedarlake

I love it, and so does my mare.

Knowing the love of the game developed in many agility dogs (some are genetically blessed with the right attributes, too) I’m not surprised that there are horses who love the game of barrel racing. Which probably traces back to foundation skills. The first “game” I taught my baby corgi was chase the momma. The rest all grows from there

[cedarlake]

@Marshfield

Knowing the love of the game developed in many agility dogs (some are genetically blessed with the right attributes, too) I’m not surprised that there are horses who love the game of barrel racing. Which probably traces back to foundation skills. The first “game” I taught my baby corgi was chase the momma. The rest all grows from there

It really is genetic and heart. My mare was bred to be a cutter but didn’t make, but as soon as she saw the barrel pattern… the rest was history. My horse would run it 3 legged lame which has caused us some issues when I was trying to find out exactly where she was sore😂 (but all is good now! Just needed some rest for a sore back muscle).

I had her off the pattern for 5 months at one point and she was grateful for the break, but when she knew she was heading to a race her whole demeanor changed. She lit up like a Christmas tree!