Clinton Anderson Training

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Can you answer my barrel racing question?

I have never owned a horse but am now going to be getting one soon. I want to barrel race but even though this will be my first time owning a horse, I am very determined to train one on my own. I have barrel raced a little for fun but only a show lope at the most and I have been riding quite a bit for a few years enough to know what I'm doing. I have lots of knowledge of working up to barrel racing and going slow as well as making sure the horse is flexible etc. I would get the Clinton Anderson videos for barrel racing and know I would be able to follow them. What I want to know though is could a horse that competes in western pleasure be trained to barrel race? I found a beautiful paint horse that I want that I would also compete in western pleasure as it is trained to do but could I be able to train it in barrel racing if I wanted to?

Any horse can barrel race.

My barrel horse is an off the track 17 hand Thorougbred.

I have also trained a Saddle seat Arabain to barrel race as well as a 27 year old hunter jumper.

The only issue you will come up with is ruining the training that horse has had.
That horse may never be able to be a great Western Pleasure Horse again.

Cross training can be very hard.

When you are training the horse, never ask for a the full run until the actual race.

Aske for slow transitions to teach them to follow through with the pattern, not antisapate that run home.

My barrel horse is also a hunter undersaddle horse that I personaly cross trained.
We never ever full out run the barrels until at the race.
Most of our practices consist of our normal flat english riding other are practicing our turns, getting into the pocket and following through with the pattern.

If you want this horse to be able to do both pleasure and barrels make it a point to practice both and a good trick is 2 different bits.

One for racing one for pleasure. THe horse will most likely get the idea that in one bit they are calm and in the other they can get excited.

I would work with a trainer so that both you and the horse are on the track, even if its for just a few days when you first get the horse.

Good Luck!
feel free to email me with any more specific questions.
sunnybunny210@gmail.com