Barrel Racing and Gates.

[HorseDayz11]

So, during the speed classes at my shows, we have to run in and out of the back gate of the arena. She does quite well in speed classes, but now everytime she passes the gate in either pleasure classes or training outside of shows, she speeds up and acts up by the gate. I have tried everything to get her to slow. Sit deeper in the saddle, tighten the reins when she acts up, etc. Now I am about to lose my temper, which just makes it worse. Help me.

[Wild Horsefeathers]

hmmm that's a tough one. I'm thinking maybe whenever she speeds up by the gate making her work by trotting in circles, backing, rollbacks, etc. And then letting her rest near the gate, and then try going through it again, and making her work if she speeds up. Good luck!

[StarGirl]

This may sound incredibly stupid, but do you ride with a breast collar? If so, do you use it for both events?

I've noticed horses act differently if trained with different tack.

Maybe, and this is an idea/theory, maybe if you could ride pleasure and things with a breast collar, and speed without one, the horse may recognize the difference and know how to act...again, just a theory...

But I've noticed several horses trained English and Western act differently with the different tack (i.e, fast trot with english, slow trot with western)...without having to be asked or checked, and thats in my experience, so thats why I suggested it...made me think they get a light bulb in their head and almost say "okay, I'm supposed to do this with this..."

Like I said, I know this may sound stupid, but it's an idea....

[HorseDayz11]

Horsefeathers - I'll try that, but I do one rein stop her everytime, it doesn't help too much, but again, I'll try. Also, what are rollbacks?

Stargirl - No, I use the same tack, but different everything. If that makes sense. lol. I don't wear a breastcollar either. I change the show tack to my speed tack though. Which is saddle, bridle, bit, blanket, and I add boots. Though, when I am training I wear my barrel tack without the boots. It is a nice theory, but how would I teach her to ride with the barrel tack just as slow and easy as the show tack?

[Wild Horsefeathers]

Rollbacks are fast turn on the hindquarters in a half circle. Its just an easier way to call it, because it looks like the horse rolls back onto their hindend. :)

[alliekk]

Her behavior may be caused by the way you are riding. You think "go go go" when gaming and "slow slow slow" when you are showing. Because you are expecting her to bolt threw that gate when you are showing you tense up and are ready for her to do it. If you walk in without even thinking about her attitude she will get the hint and back off. I would suggest being careful using your show horse for gaming too, it could ruin her show attitude. JUST ASK CASPER2002... her mare went to the world shows in western pleasure, now her slowest gear is 4th.

[HorseDayz11]

Thank you Wildfeathers. :]

And alliekk.. I am not so sure if it is. I keep relaxed. I eye the gate, expecting it, but I know horses can sense it, so I ride as I do anywhere else. My show last night was a disaster, because I had horrible back problems, and the arena was too wet from the fire department. [they water it for dust] So the whole speed classes were moved up. During the other classes, she pranced in and tried rushing by the gate, but I relax for the show too for the judge.. and the horse. ;]. Then with speed changes, the timer was quite close to the starting gate. I asked for the gate closed and she slowed, then as always [anywhere] cut what was in front of her and cantered to the side to a full stop. Without my back problem last night, that could have been prevented. Even with the gate open for actual speed, she gallops out then cuts to the side. I think that is part of the problem. I am trying to stop at the gate, relax, point toward barrels, poles, etc., then run, but further away from the gate. Maybe that will help?

[silverleprichuan]

Teach her that when you take one rein and bring it toward your knee that her feet stop moving. When she acts up simply drop one rein and take the other towards your knee. Keep it there until her feet stop moving, the second she stops, drop the rein and praise. If she starts jigging again take the opposite rein towards that knee and hold until she stops moving her feet. Because your pulling her around instead of back she can't rear, bolt, ot move very quickly. Sooner or later she'll learn to stop the second you start asking for that bend because it's not worth jigging around in a circle.

[HorseDayz11]

Thank you silver. My trainer taught me that too, but she really hasn't learned anything by that. When she gives, I release quickly and try to praise her, but she moves everytime. It takes up the whole time, but trust me, I will and do do it. :]

[12234]

My horse does the exact opposite of what yours does. When i ride past the gate he starts going in circles or just stops. :cool:

[HorseDayz11]

Lol. Hope it gets fixed. :]

[Wild Horsefeathers]

HorseDayz11, when you release that rein, you are rewarding them instantly. The motivator is the release, so they want to do what you are asking(the response) so they can get the release. You dont need to praise after you release. ;)

The bending is often used to get the horse to stop in situations where they wont listen. Sometimes its called a one rein stop, it stops the horse and reminds them that you have control of their head. And once you have that bend, add a leg behind the girth on the same side, and you get a nice disengaging hindquarters. (crossover) :p

[mandyicequeen14]

the horse sees the gait as the shoot for barrel racing, so you need to make the horse realize the that gait isnt for running threw all the time have her walk threw it till she gets the point that she can anly run threw it if you ask her to

[DixieGirl]

She might be thinking that everytime she gets in the arena she has to barrel race ect. and thinks she has to run from the gate to the first barrel, pole, ect. Does this help any??? :)

[HorseDayz11]

Wild - Thank you for that. And I will definately try that crossover.

Mandy - I do that now and even walk through the pattern, but I will do it a lot more. I do it rarely, so I guess it will help. I wasn't so sure. Thank you so much, you made up my mind. :]

Dixie - Yes, that relates to Mandy, but I do train and lunge and ride her in the arena. We do the shows in the exact arena to. She does know how to act just refuses to do it the right way. I had to walk and walk only for six months and it really helped. I don't want to have to go through that again, but I can try to walk as much as I can, when I am not training her for gaiting.

Should I try lunging her near the gate and if she acts up, keep lunging. To praise her go to the other side? I don't know. It is an idea, but will it make her think she has to run by the gate, because I lunge and work her by it?

[Mandy]

When she tries to rush at the gate, do lots of circles and downward transitions right by the gate. This wills how her that if she wants to be stupid and rush the gate, she is going to have to work twice as hard. I ride english, but this is what I do if my horse rushes jumps or gets quick on the flat. I do lots of circles and do downward transistions and then he behaves himself.

[HorseDayz11]

Alright Mandy. Thanks I will try that.