I have an eighteen year old Quarter Horse, you may think he's too old to barrel race but he's got enough spunk in him to do just about anything. But he can get a little stiff.
I stretch his legs out before every ride, and I try to get him to be in the bridle and collected as we warm up and walk around the barrels.
He was professionally trained as a reiner, and can do rollbacks, sliding stops, you name it, however he wasn't trained around the barrels. So I'm trying to help him. He's very willing, but I'm afraid that I may be confusing him with some of my cues.
But the #1 thing I'm trying to work with him on is bending. I walk him up to the barrel and I move his hindquarters over and bend his nose in and we walk around the barrel. However he tends to swing his hindquarters out and create a more "I" shape rather than a "C" like what I want. No matter how much pressure I put on his butt. (Not harsh pressure)
Is there another exercise that can help him learn to bend?
