What's the tips to be part of horse show and barrel racing training for a wanna be show horse person?

Hi,

The tips you received on the colt and imprinting are excellent so I won't expound.

{Wait for a while before you do any training}? You don't realize that every time you interact with your horses, you ARE training already. That is just the way it is. Horses are like sponges, sopping up both bad and good.

The type of breed you have is not really built to motor through a barrel racing course. not that you couldn't play around a bit with it. If you get serious with either showing or barrel racing, you will either need two horses or a horse for the event you choose.

If you want to train your own, I suggest RFDTV or buying DVD's on the event you are interested in, or getting a reputable professional to help you learn (and not necessarily in that order). Shadow a pro for a while an watch everyone. "you can learn something from everyone, even if it is ...I won't do it that way!" LOL You can never know everything because each horse is a new individual and each will teach you as you teach them...

Good luck with your horse'y endeavors and if you have any questions from myself, you can e-mail me at lovesflyinhorses@msn.com ....I specialize in babies, young horses, starting under saddle and Barrel Racing.

Ask questions, questions, questions...and watch, watch, watch...you will learn a lot that way!

BTW to KOALA LOVER-----Stick to your koalas since you are obiviously biased when it comes to horse events... a horse can break a leg in the pasture or in a halter class...it's all a part of life. If a barrel racing horse is cared for properly, he is in no more danger than any othe horse being used for sporting events. Thanks for the encouragement to someone starting out...you are VERY helpful...NOT

Getting a trainer is always the best way to go. Someone who has experience with beginners, and green horses is important. Anyone can run barrels, quarter horses tend to be used the most, and are usually the most successful at it, but use what you've got. Start out trotting the pattern and when turning the barrel, don't focus on the barrel itself, but a small pocket around the barrel. When you start cantering the pattern, the pocket will ensure that you can make a better turn, and remember to change leads between the 1st and 2nd drum, as if you were doing a figure 8. When you get really fast, you'll start to turn using 1 hand...the inside hand, by tipping the horses nose in and bringing it around the barrel. To do this bring your inside hand towards your belly button or even your outside hip. Also, don't use more bit than you need to or tie downs or anything, especially without a trainer. Less is more most of the time.

I don't think you'll be able to barrel race and show in pleasure a Saddlebred. I once bought a Saddlebred mare that had been barrel raced, thinking I'd trained her to show in pleasure. She was barrel crazy. I ended up selling her after she weaned her filly to a man who does endurance with her and she's awesome at it. I'm sure some breeds are fine to do both with, but I'd rethink the Saddlebred. At least try to talk with people who have done this with a Saddlebred.

Congrats on the foal!

I would get RFDTV on your cable as the offer alot of horse training show..but I would start by imprinting the colt so it is very comfortable with you from the beginning.. and work with im a littl each day.. starting with halter... they are never to young to start.... I start my colts the minute the are born..week one they get a halter made to fit them.

I would rethink that; barrel racing is VERY hard on horses' legs.