Problem Solving

Are You Trotting On The Wrong “Lead”?

October 31, 2012

Trotting on the wrong diagonal is like loping on the wrong lead. What is a diagonal?  When a horse trots, it has a 2 beat, diagonal gait.   As the right front moves forward, the left hind (diagonally across) moves forward at the same time.  As the left front moves, the right hind moves forward.   When [...]

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Feel With Your Eyes

September 17, 2012

Take a moment and imagine you are astride your favorite horse standing with this scene stretching before you.  Sun shining.  Breeze blowing.  A 70 degree day. Can you see yourself galloping up that hill?   Which path with you choose?  Will you go fast or slow? Mmmmmmmm.  See where you will go. Perhaps in the past [...]

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Are You Consistent?

August 6, 2012

Can you think of a barrel racer that rides the same way every trip? Do you recognize how confident and solid their horse is?  Our horse can only be as confident as we are, and part of our own confidence is having a plan.  Know exactly where you want your horses’ feet to land and [...]

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Circle Tires for Smooth Runs and Fast Times

May 9, 2012

Whether training, maintaining or problem solving with your barrel horse you will be using different tools to reach your goal. Keeping an open mind, we are able to add more tools and resources to our toolbox. My training toolbox is full of drills and exercises that target the moves we need to execute a barrel [...]

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Is Your Barrel Horse Talking To You?

March 7, 2012

Horses can talk, they just don’t use words. They have their own language of communication and it is our job as a rider to learn their “speak”. The more in tune we can be with our horses the greater our chance of understanding their concerns. However, sometimes the closer we are, the harder it is [...]

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Lead Change Between First and Second

February 15, 2012

When do I change? Where do I change and why do I change there?   I’ve been to quite a few barrel racing clinics and these are common questions.   How do you train your horse to change leads out of first barrel (or between first and second barrel)? I’ve heard a variety of answers all [...]

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Alleyway problems with Ty Mitchell from the Josey Ranch

December 1, 2011

This is an excellent video from Ty Mitchell from the Josey Ranch Team of trainers. He talks about some of the things we can do as riders to prevent alleyway anxiety in our horses. He will demonstrate how to be prepared for different setups and still be successful. Prevention really is the key and he [...]

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Sue Smith Barrel Racing Exercise

November 5, 2011

Here is a great drill that Sue Smith (NFR Qualifier and Futurity Trainer) shared on her Spur UP – Sue Smith Facebook page. The purpose of the drill is to get control of the horses shoulders. Sometimes a horse will “float” or drift in a turn where their shoulders are not following the inside rein [...]

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Dena Kirkpatrick talks about Stopping

May 30, 2011

Professional barrel racer and trainer Dena Kirkpatrick demonstrates how to get a great stop on a barrel horse.  She will start at a walk first, she will sit,  say whoa, make contact and have them take step back.  Dena emphasizes that you stop your horse in a straight line and to get out of their mouth [...]

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Barrel Racing Tips for Horses That Shoulder with Fallon Taylor

February 15, 2011

Fallon Taylor offers several great free barrel racing videos with tips on YouTube. Here is one of her helpful videos that talks about how to deal with a barrel horse that has a tendency to shoulder the barrels. In the video she focuses on the second barrel. The second barrel is the hardest turn because [...]

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