My name is Renee, and I’m sixteen. I’ve been taking riding lessons for 9 years, barrel racing for 3 of them. I was finally able to get my own horse about a year and a half ago. When she had to be put down, I was given a “racehorse reject” (to sweet and 1 2/100’s of a second too slow).

I did all the groundwork and got him used to all my barrel tack. I started taking him to a trainer for lessons, and after a month of me and her working with him, she took him for 30 days.

I have been practicing and keeping it fun for him for about six months. I have been taking him to small shows and letting him lope the pattern. We have had several good runs in practice. Our trainer thinks we could make the 2-D division at a NBHA show. My problem is his attitude. He loves working the pattern, but doesn’t like to give all his effort. We have gotten around this problem slowly, but he can be very immature.

I have found a special smooch-like noise that makes him run, but I am not sure if I should be pushing him. According to the trainer, he is mature as a typical three-year-old, but he is five. Should I wait another year or so until he becomes more mature?
Please help.

Thanks,
Renee Zbynski, 16, IL

It sounds like you are doing things correctly but you didn’t say how long your training sessions were so I might suggest that you keep them short and enjoyable for your horse and limit them to about 2 days a week – take him and trail ride or do something other than barrels the other days of the week. That will freshen his mind and give him something else to think about. And as far as asking for more speed – do so only when you and the horse are both comfortable with each other at a slower speed. Ask him to speed up maybe once or twice during your training session and if he does really well, praise him, leave the barrels for the day and just take him out and ride. Don’t keep asking him for more and more without giving him a break or backing off in speed. Too many people want to ask for run too much of the time and end up making their horses dread the pattern.

Martha Wright