Martha,
I have a 5 year old leopard appy that I have been working with for a year now, slowly on barrels. I have 2 problems as I am trying to add some speed. One: he swings his rear end around and uses his forehand to turn and I have done the stop, back, walk around the barrel thing from the git go. #two problem: When trying to add speed, a fast gallop, he crow hops with me and sometimes slings his head when going around the barrel. He has been worked slowly so shouldn’t be sour at all. We pasture ride a lot and I do not work barrels all that often, maybe 3 Xs a week.
Thanks you so much!
Wanda Cook
Dear Wanda,
Do you have our book, “Barrel Racing, Training The Wright Way� If not, the purchase of a copy would answer your questions and give you some exercises that will help get your horse’s rear end under him, teaching him to drive with the hind leg. I think you have probably worked at the slow speed for a bit too long and consequently your horse thinks that is what he is supposed to do. You need to be working “circles†on him varying speed and size so that he learns to respond to what ever you ask him to do.
Martha Wright
