| Keeping Your Horse Prepared to Team Pen
Date:January 28, 2004
Keeping Your Horse Prepared to Team Pen
How to keep your horse prepared to team pen is a pretty
interesting question. Over the last 14 years I have seen
folks turn their horses out Monday thru Friday, get up on
Saturday morning and be successful. On the other hand, I
have seen people ride their horses all week, get to the
show and find their animals are mentally exhausted, too fit
and too fresh around cattle. Finding a common ground in
keeping your horse ready to team pen can be a pretty tricky
endeavor. I have horses I ride every day and horses that I
closely regulate prior to a show. I have some that are
hard keepers and those that are easy. Remember you are on
an athlete; so keeping your horse fit is essential.
Finding a regiment and schedule that works for both parties
will be one of your most important tasks in your success.
I have two very different animals I would like to share
with you. The first is a mare that is as broke as a horse
can be. To keep this horse mentally and physically ready
for team penning is possibly the hardest thing I have ever
done. She is a finished pro level animal that is put in a
round pen for 15 to 20 minutes a day. Once every two weeks
I will lope her through cattle. She is on a regimented
diet where she is fed at 8 A.M. and 4 P.M. with the finest
Purina feed and she constantly has hay in front of her.
However, you can fatten her up as much as possible, put her
in a trailer, drive 30 miles across town and she will lose
50 lbs. With my second example we have to limit the amount
of feed that he consumes due to he gains weight so rapidly
that he becomes out of shape quickly. He also requires a
walk, trot and loping 1 to 1 hours a day. In addition to
constant cattle work.
Your feeding regiment is a vital part of preparing your
horse to compete. Purina Strategy is my feed of choice.
With a 6% fat content and the high level of protein, it
appears to give the energy and stamina these horses need
for the hard traveling and riding they endure. Although I
am not a big fan of alfalfa hay there is a time and place
for it. If I find while at a show my horse is losing
energy and not performing a t its peak, alfalfa hay seems
to give them the extra energy when competing. However, at
home I feed a Coastal Bermuda or Orchard grass. This seems
to be a good cross with the Purina Strategy when horses are
not competing. I wish I could say I have all the feeding
answers but you can pick up a magazine anywhere around the
country with articles upon articles about the best way to
feed so I’ll leave that to the experts. Only know that
team penning horses are unique in their feeding needs and
you have to find where your horses’ needs are.
Before going to a team penning most horses need to see
cattle a minimum of 2 times per week. I show them cattle
quietly. By this I mean I expose them to cattle by
walking, trotting and loping on a lose rein. This allows
my horse to mentally prepare for cattle and therefore every
time my horse sees cattle they don’t expect a spur stuck in
their side and the tail end of a cow in front of them. I
never work a cow on a finished team penning horse. A
finished horse doesn’t require lots of riding only tuning
and legging up.
The most important thin is to spend as much time with your
horse as possible to determine what their needs are. What
I find most people do is they work their horses schedule
around their schedule. They work all day long, so they
feed before and after work. If they aren’t too tired, they
lope their horse for 15 minutes ant think that is all they
need, when they actually need more. To be successful in
team penning you have to put your horses needs before
yours. Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying quit your job
and take care of your horse. What I am saying is
successful people find ways to be successful. For example,
if you find your horse is a horse that needs to be loped
ask your brother, girlfriend or sister to put your horse in
the round pen for an hour every day while you are at work.
I have discussed two horses of my own that are on different
ends of the spectrum that covers all of those that vary
between the two. Bottom line, come up with a schedule and
regiment that fits for you and your horse that will yield
the maximum benefit your desire. If you have any questions
that you need to ask or you want more information you can
visit www.scottlumley.com and I will be happy to assist you
and any way. |
