Comments on: Summer Riding — Chasing Cows and Learning to Turn http://reinersblog.com/leads/summer-riding-chasing-cows-and-learning-to-turn/ Documenting the experiences and commentary of a fledgling reiner in her quest to train a performance horse Sat, 22 Nov 2008 23:27:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Al http://reinersblog.com/leads/summer-riding-chasing-cows-and-learning-to-turn/#comment-951 Al Fri, 15 Aug 2008 12:03:56 +0000 http://reinersblog.com/leads/summer-riding-chasing-cows-and-learning-to-turn/#comment-951 The PRCA was originally called the "Cowboy Turtles Association". Something about they were slow to organize so they called themselves turtles. For some reason they don't teach that in history class in high school. The PRCA was originally called the “Cowboy Turtles Association”. Something about they were slow to organize so they called themselves turtles.

For some reason they don’t teach that in history class in high school.

]]> By: MJ http://reinersblog.com/leads/summer-riding-chasing-cows-and-learning-to-turn/#comment-945 MJ Fri, 15 Aug 2008 09:22:58 +0000 http://reinersblog.com/leads/summer-riding-chasing-cows-and-learning-to-turn/#comment-945 What is a "Turtles roper" anyways? What is a “Turtles roper” anyways?

]]> By: Al http://reinersblog.com/leads/summer-riding-chasing-cows-and-learning-to-turn/#comment-942 Al Thu, 14 Aug 2008 10:48:06 +0000 http://reinersblog.com/leads/summer-riding-chasing-cows-and-learning-to-turn/#comment-942 Been pretty darned quiet around here lately. Been pretty darned quiet around here lately.

]]> By: mtnmollie http://reinersblog.com/leads/summer-riding-chasing-cows-and-learning-to-turn/#comment-922 mtnmollie Sat, 09 Aug 2008 17:18:38 +0000 http://reinersblog.com/leads/summer-riding-chasing-cows-and-learning-to-turn/#comment-922 WestStar webside is GREAT! Perfect. Awesome! Wow! GREAT pictures too. "Turns out Leo is super supple and I’ve done “a great job” there. " Good for you and Leo MJ. WestStar webside is GREAT! Perfect. Awesome! Wow!

GREAT pictures too.

“Turns out Leo is super supple and I’ve done “a great job” there. ” Good for you and Leo MJ.

]]> By: Al http://reinersblog.com/leads/summer-riding-chasing-cows-and-learning-to-turn/#comment-913 Al Tue, 05 Aug 2008 12:21:48 +0000 http://reinersblog.com/leads/summer-riding-chasing-cows-and-learning-to-turn/#comment-913 The WestStar website is amazing! Excellent work. The WestStar website is amazing! Excellent work.

]]> By: Al http://reinersblog.com/leads/summer-riding-chasing-cows-and-learning-to-turn/#comment-912 Al Tue, 05 Aug 2008 12:13:50 +0000 http://reinersblog.com/leads/summer-riding-chasing-cows-and-learning-to-turn/#comment-912 You can try the correction bit but it'll probably just piss him off again. How's he stop in the elevator bit? A lot of time "less is more" with bits. As I recall you got a Billy Allen you can try too. He's young and new to the roping thing so blowing by steers is pretty common. They get all hyped up on adrenaline from the chase then get to forgetting things. All part of learning. When you get him back, really go after his stop. Start at the walk again. Stop means "come back". At the walk, when you give the stop cue perfect is only good enough. It's dead stop and back with no hesitation. Get it to where you can throw the bit over the fence and do it.....just a shift in weight or "whoa" should do it. Make sure his form is perfect. Pretty much same thing at the trot. At the lope and run give him a split second to get everything situated but stop still means come back. Once you get speed the backing will be mostly a thought for him and gets his body in position and makes him stop hard. Speed kills. I know how things get with a green horse and a show or event coming up. I'm the king of stupidity when I got a show getting close and a horse still training. Try and listen to him....he'll tell you things as you try a million different things at the last minute. When you get to the roping give Jim some help. His adrenaline will be pumped too. Make sure all the cues, body position, etc. are consistent just like in practice. It's real easy to try and get that last little bit out of a horse in the warm up pen. But the training is over for the day...gotta go with ya got. You can try the correction bit but it’ll probably just piss him off again. How’s he stop in the elevator bit? A lot of time “less is more” with bits. As I recall you got a Billy Allen you can try too.

He’s young and new to the roping thing so blowing by steers is pretty common. They get all hyped up on adrenaline from the chase then get to forgetting things. All part of learning.

When you get him back, really go after his stop. Start at the walk again. Stop means “come back”. At the walk, when you give the stop cue perfect is only good enough. It’s dead stop and back with no hesitation. Get it to where you can throw the bit over the fence and do it…..just a shift in weight or “whoa” should do it. Make sure his form is perfect. Pretty much same thing at the trot.

At the lope and run give him a split second to get everything situated but stop still means come back. Once you get speed the backing will be mostly a thought for him and gets his body in position and makes him stop hard.

Speed kills. I know how things get with a green horse and a show or event coming up. I’m the king of stupidity when I got a show getting close and a horse still training. Try and listen to him….he’ll tell you things as you try a million different things at the last minute.

When you get to the roping give Jim some help. His adrenaline will be pumped too. Make sure all the cues, body position, etc. are consistent just like in practice. It’s real easy to try and get that last little bit out of a horse in the warm up pen. But the training is over for the day…gotta go with ya got.

]]> By: mj http://reinersblog.com/leads/summer-riding-chasing-cows-and-learning-to-turn/#comment-909 mj Tue, 05 Aug 2008 07:57:39 +0000 http://reinersblog.com/leads/summer-riding-chasing-cows-and-learning-to-turn/#comment-909 Have you two gone to anymore shows? Have you two gone to anymore shows?

]]> By: mj http://reinersblog.com/leads/summer-riding-chasing-cows-and-learning-to-turn/#comment-908 mj Tue, 05 Aug 2008 07:57:21 +0000 http://reinersblog.com/leads/summer-riding-chasing-cows-and-learning-to-turn/#comment-908 Amanda - DANG IT! I want that tail style to come back! I'm waiting for the comeback! Your gelding is a trendsetter. Al - I'm so glad you approve. I found them in the NRS catalog. Also, about the Argentine, Jim says he was blowing past steer on Saturday so he wants a bigger bit. The trainer says that a correction bit pisses him off and since Jim rides mostly with the bit, it's not sound like a good combo. We talked about it and decided that I would work him out a little with the correction bit and he would be sure to give him his head a lot more than normal at first til Leo builds some confidence. It's possible that Jim will rope on him this coming Saturday. He's going to ride for the horse, not for the win if he does, which seems like a great strategy. Did I ever show you guys the site I put together for where Jim ropes? http://www.weststarranch.com The Open Roping and Pro Am are coming up. Jim is going to rope with Trevor Brazile in the Pro/Am. It's on the 27th of August! Leo and I are going to ride around in the arena with all the big time ropers! This might be the perfect occasion to break out the polka dotted overreach boots! -MJ Amanda - DANG IT! I want that tail style to come back! I’m waiting for the comeback! Your gelding is a trendsetter.

Al - I’m so glad you approve. I found them in the NRS catalog. Also, about the Argentine, Jim says he was blowing past steer on Saturday so he wants a bigger bit. The trainer says that a correction bit pisses him off and since Jim rides mostly with the bit, it’s not sound like a good combo. We talked about it and decided that I would work him out a little with the correction bit and he would be sure to give him his head a lot more than normal at first til Leo builds some confidence.

It’s possible that Jim will rope on him this coming Saturday. He’s going to ride for the horse, not for the win if he does, which seems like a great strategy.

Did I ever show you guys the site I put together for where Jim ropes? http://www.weststarranch.com The Open Roping and Pro Am are coming up. Jim is going to rope with Trevor Brazile in the Pro/Am. It’s on the 27th of August! Leo and I are going to ride around in the arena with all the big time ropers! This might be the perfect occasion to break out the polka dotted overreach boots!

-MJ

]]> By: Amanda http://reinersblog.com/leads/summer-riding-chasing-cows-and-learning-to-turn/#comment-901 Amanda Mon, 04 Aug 2008 14:19:53 +0000 http://reinersblog.com/leads/summer-riding-chasing-cows-and-learning-to-turn/#comment-901 Apparently my gelding thinks that shortened tails are in (& also likes the taste of them), because he's the one who took it upon himself to shorten it last winter & now I'm slooooooowly waiting for it to grow back! I have a fake tail that I put in before the show, but it just looked stupid because you could see where her real tail ended & the extension started. Everyone kept asking how old she was, because she's small anyway (14hh) & with a half a tail everyone thought she was still a baby!! Apparently my gelding thinks that shortened tails are in (& also likes the taste of them), because he’s the one who took it upon himself to shorten it last winter & now I’m slooooooowly waiting for it to grow back!

I have a fake tail that I put in before the show, but it just looked stupid because you could see where her real tail ended & the extension started. Everyone kept asking how old she was, because she’s small anyway (14hh) & with a half a tail everyone thought she was still a baby!!

]]> By: Al http://reinersblog.com/leads/summer-riding-chasing-cows-and-learning-to-turn/#comment-889 Al Sun, 03 Aug 2008 14:21:16 +0000 http://reinersblog.com/leads/summer-riding-chasing-cows-and-learning-to-turn/#comment-889 Anybody that works cows, hangs out with a Turtles roper, and throws a loop pretty good can put polka dots on their horse and I'll like it. Shoot they can wear English boots too. "It ain't what you're wearing, it's what you can do." You musta done a real good job developing Leo's mouth if he can rope in an Argentine. It is pretty much same thing as a Tom Thumb. Pretty mild bits. Good idea to work him in that elevator bit. Anybody that works cows, hangs out with a Turtles roper, and throws a loop pretty good can put polka dots on their horse and I’ll like it. Shoot they can wear English boots too. “It ain’t what you’re wearing, it’s what you can do.”

You musta done a real good job developing Leo’s mouth if he can rope in an Argentine. It is pretty much same thing as a Tom Thumb. Pretty mild bits. Good idea to work him in that elevator bit.

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