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Tips on getting more bend in a barrel horse?
I have a 6yr. old quarter horse that has about two months of barrel training. He is currently loping a pattern in the 3D, he is going to be super nice when he is finished! The only issue we are having is that he really flattens out in his turns when you add more speed. He has always been rather stiff throughout his whole body since i purchased him a few months back. With lots of slow work he has turned out really nice, bending a lot more, but like i said he gets stiff when you add speed. I just want to know if y'all have any suggestions about how to keep his whole body at an arc around his turns because he really wants to turn flat. I own his 3/4 brother who is a pro caliber barrel horse that also doesn't have a lot of bend, it's just his turning style. I'm not looking to get an over bendy horse cause its just not gonna happen but just want to know some exercises that will keep him soft and supple through his body without him getting sour on the pattern. Any sort of exercises y'all have in mind would really help! Thanks
Hannah thank you for your answer but i am aware of all the beginner exercises. This horse is very very broke at a walk trot and lope. he will flex laterally and vertically, will counter arc and move off leg pressure. knows how to sidepass and spin and just about anything you ask. like i said he just stiffens up a little when asked for more speed in his turns. i am looking for exercises that keep him very "bendy" at a faster gait without working on the barrel pattern. i don't want to sour him asking him to go around the pattern a million times just to get him bending. I've trained a lot of horses but have never encountered one that slow work is perfect and when you add speed you have a problem. I know the only way to correct this is to let him work at a faster pace but once again i need any ideas of a fun exercise that will keep him bending without hammering on the barrel pattern
2 Answers
- 7 years agoFavorite Answer
This May kinda sound crazy, but try some pole bending:) it helps loosen them up and at the same time he is working on moving off his hind as well:) it's also fun and a nice change in routine:)
- ?Lv 57 years ago
Here are some good bending exercises :
Flexing Laterally :
1) At a standstill, pull the right rein back to your hip, asking the horse to touch his nose to your boots, jeans, stirrup or fender. Do not put any pressure on the left rein.
2)Keep pressure on the rein at your hip until the horse stops moving his feet and his nose almost touches the stirrup.
3)As soon as the horse keeps his feet still and softens, drop the rein. Repeat on the other side.
Vertical Flexion :
1) At a standstill, slide your right hand down the rein and grip it. Then slide your left hand down the rein and grip it.
2) Pull the right rein back toward your knee and hold it there. This will tip the horse’s head slightly to the right. Then pull the left rein back to your knee and hold it there. These movements should be done rhythmically in a one, two, three, four pattern. Brace your hands against your legs so the horse cannot pull its face away from you. Only apply enough pressure to make contact with the horse’s mouth.
3) As soon as the horse stops moving his feet and softens vertically, even a tiny bit, release the pressure on the reins by releasing them up onto the horse’s neck. Just because the horse has his head tucked in does not mean he is soft and has given to the reins. Only release the pressure when the horse has created slack in the reins. Eventually, progress to the walk, trot and canter.
Shoulder In/Shoulder Out :
Walk along the fence with your right hand closest to the fence. Use your right hand to tip the horse’s nose slightly towards the fence. Keep your left hand low and move it out towards the direction you want to move the shoulders. Press the horse up by the girth with your right leg to push its shoulders away from the fence. When you feel the horse take two steps off your leg, release the pressure and let him walk out straight. Repeat in the other direction and eventually progress to the trot and canter.
The simplest of all is to simply bend your horse from left to right a few times right as you get on to supple and relax him.
Good luck!
