Working too fast

[Bob Gould]

Ed and Martha,
I have been to one of your clinics before, but has been many moons ago...
I have recently purchased a 3 1/2 year old QH to start training on barrels, she has been broke really well, has reining training and also have been roped on and other misc. riding, but has not been around barrels much.

I have previously only trained two other horses for barrels and both of them did not have as much training before I started them on barrels. I started them both slow and they came along slow and steady. I have been working my new horse only a few weeks on barrels and she seems to be catching on VERY fast and wants to go faster and seems to be keeping herself together at a fast gallop, however I am worried about working her too fast.

She seems to speed up going around the barrels more than in-between, but is making a good turn. Should I allow her to keep going at her pace until problems arise or should I slow her down? I am not sure whether she needs to run equal speeds through the entire pattern or is allowing her to go around the barrel fast a good thing.


I think she will make an awesome barrel horse, but I don't want to mess her up.
Thanks for any comments..


I would not allow her to rush around the turn. Maybe you should back up just a bit and lope to the barrels and then walk or trot around them. I would do this a couple of times a week, especially after I had added some speed to her. That way, you can keep her relaxed and enjoying what she is doing.
Martha Wright