10/29/2026
A common challenge when working on fine-tuning is achieving true collection and softness from the right places.
I like them soft, but elevating from the wither; not dropping down at the wither. I need softness and elevation without feeling them need to lean, pull, hollow out, or hide behind your hands from it all. There also still needs to be drive from behind into this.
In order to get Jethro faster this season, noticed an abnormality in this response. If I didn't clean it up, we would not be any faster and he would have probably started to get very sore. I needed him to match his face to his feet and my hands better, and one of the elements I noticed missing on this was how he achieved softness, elevation, and drive to do that. I needed him driving and elevating from the wither instead of u-necking, resisting, and sticking his nose way out to lunch and dragging his back feet out behind him. I wanted to do less and not have to kick and work so hard either...sometimes I would ask, and my legs meant nothing at all to him. ๐ฌ...it all needed to match.
This is a little excerpt bit from how I did that! This builds from the first session that is here on the page.
The next video to come features how to teach the drive from behind and how to build the hind-end strength for power. All of this helped me to achieve 17.04 on a standard pattern at our last race! We are SO close to entering the 16. second club!
Stay tuned and thanks for watching! I hope this helps you understand my training, and helps you consider me as a trainer for your barrel horses, or if you need any coaching or lessons for yourself. โค๏ธ