HM Horse Training & Lessons

HM Horse Training & Lessons Waco, Tx Horse Trainer & Barrel racer

If you treat your 5D horse like a 5D horse, then they will perform as such.If you treat your 5D horse like a 1D horse, y...
03/26/2024

If you treat your 5D horse like a 5D horse, then they will perform as such.
If you treat your 5D horse like a 1D horse, you have a chance at them competing better for you and even pulling checks
What do I mean by this exactly? I’ll use my mare as an example.
I always thought my mare would never run faster than an 17-18 second pattern or ever win a check. I thought that’s just her speed and I’ll have to deal with it, so I didn’t put much effort into her. Well, after years of running the same times and not really placing as well as I wanted to, I decided to change up our routine and act as if we were at a professional level, even though we aren’t. You may be thinking that this is a waste of time, but keep reading.
I started getting body work (chiropractic and massage) done on Shiloh, added a gastric supplement and alfalfa to her diet, exercised her more often with hill work and endurance being the main priority, got her teeth done by a professional equine dentist, I also focused a ton on my riding and slowed my body down because I used to always be worried about the clock instead of how I was riding.
After experimenting all of this and keeping it consistent, I noticed a huge change in how Shiloh preformed. She was actually wanting to run and she felt stronger under saddle.
We started placing at the top of the 5D and winning checks in 2021, enough to win our entry fee back which I am totally okay with.
This month, we competed at the biggest barrel race we have ever been to, she clocked a 16.9 with barely almost making a check after some tough competition. Even though we didn’t win a check and we placed in the 5D, she still ran a great time and we probably would have been at the very bottom of the results page a long time ago
My point is, if you want to see your horse perform better and actually feel like they are hustling and wanting to work, you have to prioritize their health and body condition beforehand. You can’t just let them sit for months in the pasture and then haul to a jackpot. You can’t skip out on a good diet, body work and dental care, this is the very root of getting your horse performance ready.

if you are someone who practices barrels in the pasture, please read this👇I know a lot of us can’t afford an arena with...
03/25/2024

if you are someone who practices barrels in the pasture, please read this👇
I know a lot of us can’t afford an arena with sand, so we resort to practicing barrels in a field/pasture because that’s the only option sometimes. One thing I do see a lot that bothers me though is the people who are running their horses on the hard ground over and over again. Pasture ground does not give like sand does, if you constantly make tight turns or run the pattern constantly on this ground, you are putting your horse at risk for slipping, pulled tendons, twisting an ankle, taking a wrong step and making them sore. Also, your horse cannot move correctly if the ground does not give. They cannot dig their feet into the ground and use their hind end correctly. Therefore you will feel the choppy and rough turns and this is a sign you need to slow down and not take that risk.
Yes, this can also happen in an arena, but the risk is way higher for hard ground like dirt or grass. The people I see that do this, are the ones who say that it is their only option and their horse hasn’t gotten hurt. I totally get that for some people, it is the only option, but for your horses safety you need to be cautious. I only practice big circles and I will walk around each barrel when I make those tighter turns. I will not risk my horse getting hurt simply because the pasture is my only option for practicing barrels. If you absolutely need to run the pattern, haul to an arena! Or have sand hauled in and put it around each barrel. You can also till the ground up around the barrels until the dirt is loosened up and soft.
Let’s not make excuses, put your horses health and safety first!!!

Tips for training a young horses (2-4 yrs old)If you are new to starting colts or finishing their training, here’s some ...
03/20/2024

Tips for training a young horses (2-4 yrs old)
If you are new to starting colts or finishing their training, here’s some tips for you!

1. Take it SLOW. Rushing a young horse and nit picking at everything they do wrong is setting them up for failure. It can take a long time before you get a really good handle on a horse as they mature. I like to spend 15-20 minutes everyday on training sessions and I’ll work on ground manners, flexing their neck, backing up, yielding the hind end, Etc.

2. Desensitization is so important in the early stages of a horses life. I love using tarps, feed bags, jumping around and being loud every once in a while to get them used to sudden movements and scary objects. We want safe horses, not reactive and dangerous horses. They will adapt to everything you show them with time so don’t do everything I listed in one training session lol!

3. Repetition is also very important. It’s good to do the same training technique repetitively and clearly so they understand what you are asking. Make sure you are clear with your cues. For example: if you sit deep when asking them to stop and then a week later you don’t sit and only pull the reins back, it’s giving them some mixed signals.

4. Don’t hold them back from making a mistake. Let them make a mistake and then go back and fix it. You won’t get anywhere if you act like a helicopter mom!

5. Take them on trail rides and ride different terrain. Rocks, hills, flat surfaces, and mud will get them using their bodies and learning how to balance themselves. It will also get them to be more confident in where they place their feet

I hope this helps🐎🐎

For my new followers on this page!This page is intended to educate my fellow horse owning/riding friends🙌🏻 I cover just ...
03/17/2024

For my new followers on this page!
This page is intended to educate my fellow horse owning/riding friends🙌🏻 I cover just about everything horse training and barrel racing related, and I tie in some of my own personal experiences as well.
If you are someone who is new to owning horses, barrel racing, or training horses, you’ve come to the right page!
We all need guidance at some point in the horse industry, so i am offering all my advice and coaching on here 🐎🛢️

Have you ever gotten that feeling as your walking your horse through the alley way to make a run where you instantly fee...
03/10/2024

Have you ever gotten that feeling as your walking your horse through the alley way to make a run where you instantly feel the adrenaline that makes you anxious, shaky, and to the point of blacking out?
I know this feeling all too well as it is something I used to struggle with all the time. It got to the point where I’d forget how I did on the pattern once I got off my horse. I felt unfocused, not confident, and disappointed in myself.
I was constantly worried about whether or not I’d hit a barrel, I wouldn’t be fast enough, or I’d make a ton of riding mistakes that would cost me time on the barrel pattern.
I’ve come up with 3 simple tricks to help with this! I’ve tested these out myself, and it worked! Check them out down below and try them at your next barrel race.

Update on the mustang mare “Dibs”It’s been a while since we last updated on her, but long story short, we’ve had a heck ...
03/04/2024

Update on the mustang mare “Dibs”

It’s been a while since we last updated on her, but long story short, we’ve had a heck of a time with this mare and trying to gentle her. The last time I was able to touch her was when I hand fed her.
That night, a storm came through and I guess she did not like that at all and ever since then, she had become a little aggressive in the pen when I would feed her (trying to charge at me or jump the fence)
So, after weeks of trying the same training techniques we decided it was time to rope her and get her in a confined area. After about 3 hours of her fighting against us, we finally got a halter on her and she let us pet her. We didn’t want to have to do this, but sometimes it’s necessary with horses like this.
More updates to come! And I hope it’s way better than this one 🐎

02/23/2024

Barrel racing/ Riding tip of the day!

“I can’t seem to sit in my saddle without being bounced around when I go around a barrel.”How do you fix this issue? If ...
02/20/2024

“I can’t seem to sit in my saddle without being bounced around when I go around a barrel.”
How do you fix this issue?

If you look at the photos below, and we look at the one on the left, you will see I am sitting square and not really doing anything with my body. A lot of the times I see barrel racers not do anything to help themselves in the turns which causes bouncing around, imbalance, and stiffness.

In the right side photo, you will see I have my hips tilted and my leg is pointed forward a little hit helping me stay stuck to the seat and distributing my weight correctly. This slight change in weight and body movement can greatly improve your horses turn around the barrel. You are staying in your saddle and telling your horse you are ready to make that turn

Keep this in mind the next time you go work on the barrel pattern!

02/20/2024

Quick tip on how to sit your turns better on the barrel pattern!

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