Training Spotlights


What Are you Looking for in a Youth Horse?


We blindsided a couple of trainers during the NRHA Derby. Here's what they had to say.


ANDREW FOX Discipline: Reining


Not sure there is such a thing..!! All joking aside, they have to be honest. I don't care if they aren't big turners, or not great stoppers, or lean one way, or need a little tune up in areas. But, they HAVE to not lie to me.


They should at least good leaded. Most of these kids sometimes need a little help. They can't be robotic... Otherwise, the kid won't actually learn how to ride one.


PATRICE ST ONGE Discipline: Reining


Something very reliable. We can start with that.


Very Quiet, Very Reliable horse. Horse that has a lot of talent. Horse that’s forgiving. That will take care of my kid. Sound.


2. Mini Clinic


Add Smoothness & Speed to the Spin


Contributed by Tommy Powell


The spin consists of a se- ries of 360-degree turns with the horse turning or pivoting on his inside hind leg while his front end crosses over with cadence. One of the problems I


commonly see with the spin is the lack of forward movement and rhythm. The horse will hop around the spin or turn a sloppy spin that travels across the arena. I


1.


fix this through


a series of trotting and suppling exercises. I prefer to do these exercises 2-handed. First, I make sure the horse is soft in the face and I can move all his body parts. The head, neck, shoulders, ribs, and hip all need to move forward while the horse is flexing at the poll. 1. To start the spin exercise, I trot the horse in about an 8 foot circle by using my inside rein and inside leg. I make him work on that circle. 2. If he leans, I will make him lift his shoulders, drive him forward, and make him stay correct. The spin is the reward. 3. I trot until I feel him wanting to spin.


DAVID HUTTON Discipline: Reining


Sound, sane, one that’s very trained and broke but mentally well maintained and not used to the point where they are hard to show. One that if you do your job, they will mark a 70.


Also one that has been shown by more than one person. Preferably not an open horse. One that’s had a non-pro before or youth.


18 SouthWest Horse Trader July 2018 3.


I will then change my legs and let him turn a couple times. Then I take him back out on the circle and trot until he is hunting that spin again. I keep doing this until he has good rhythm and cadence. 4. The next step is to ask for a little speed by clucking to him. If he doesn’t speed up, I use my outside leg to bump him (the leg is your gas paddle) until he speeds up. I turn him a couple turns and then I return to the circle. I will usually finish these ex- ercises by trotting him a little faster to bring him into the spin with more momentum. I also use my clucking and leg bumping to signal for him to speed up. I will also switch to one-handed to see how he responds. As he gets the hang of it, your spin should smooth out and have good rhythm and cadence. w


4.


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