basic barrel horse training

[mercury]

Hi,
i wasn't sure where to put this. Anyways, i own a four year old (coming 5 soon) appaloosa mare. she has the pedigree to win and excell. we managed to get her from a friend for a good deal. However, she has very little trianing and i am looking to go pretty far with her. please mind, i myself and only fourteen years of age. i have a lot of riding experience but sometimes i do get carried away and sometimes don't think properly. I am hoping to exhibition her some this year. but my own barrel racing has not been that advanced. i am looking for some help in my mares training, just basics. I need help getting her to shoulder in, shoulder out, side pass, and move her shoulder and hip first of all. i can usually get a horse to do this esaily but she seems to be rebelling. also, how can i get her out of bucking? she likes to buck at the canter, but it's not to throw me, just out of joy, but it's consistant and annoying.

thanks

[Bob Gould]

was this question just for Martha Wright or anybody?

[acheela]

Get yourself some of Clinton Anderson tapes, they will teach you how to train your mare to be willing and respectful. The bucking is either from too much energy (check your feed, don't give her a sugar high), or soreness in the back. Have someone experienced check to see if she is out.

[3jammasup]

First you need to teach your horse to give to you when you ask, be patient, for some it takes a few rides. If your wanting to teach them to side pass, start along a fence, pick up their shoulder, tip the nose in, and push them away from the fence. Do this several times, allowing one or two steps at first, reward em'. It will soon get better and better. Do both sides, don't focus on one side. Soon you can go in a strait line and sidepass both directions, don't do so until you can do both sides at a walk, trot, and lope. Make sure you guide in the right direction, if you need to use your outside rein a little to guide, but try not to pull too much. This should also help with moving the shoulder around, counterbending, pick him up, move him the oppisite direction of the way you tip his nose in, use the outside to guide if need be, but try to use it less and less as you go along. Roll your spur up on the inside to encourage them to arc their body.
As far as exhibitions, I think you should take her now, out and about, but don't rush it, take her in and walk and trot, make sure she is listening to you at all times, if not stop and correct her, so she learns. The more exposure the better, and remember, dont just work her in the arena, when you come out work her out back in small circles, bending, counterbending, flexing and all the basic stuff. Don't stand around with your buddies and wait for your turn, keep her moving, so she don't become sour. Good Luck!