Spirals: Their Value and How to Use Them
Spirals are a very valuable exercise for any discipline. They really help with shoulder and rib cage control. Spirals test a horse's balance and collection. They can be done at…
Read More
Tag: barrel racing
Jackpot vs Divisional vs Rodeo vs Futurity: What’s the difference?
Barrel racing is an iconic rodeo sport that is rapidly growing in popularity across the US and even internationally. But not all barrel races are created equal. There are four…
Read More
Making a Barrel Horse: Push Style vs Free Runner
In barrel racing there are two kinds of running styles: push style and free runners. They both have their pros and cons. Push style is the more common of the…
Read More
What makes a barrel racer?
Most people in the horse world have at least heard of barrel racing: a somewhat controversial rodeo event that consists of a three-leaf clover pattern around three barrels and the…
Read More
Patterning: Barrels, Poles, and Beyond
There are many different philosophies out there about how to “pattern” a horse on barrels or poles. One prevalent method that I see a lot though is what I refer…
Read More
The Big Bit Band-Aid
One of the big controversies in the horse world, particularly in the western arena, is over-bitting. The show pen seems to have developed the mentality that bigger is better and…
Read More