Ask Tina

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How do you get your horse to use it's hindquarters more in the barrel pattern?

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Tina Spangler Q&A Bio

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Coming NEXT WEEK: How to get your barrel horse to use it's hindquarters and inside pivot foot in the turns!

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How do you fix a horse with alley way issues?

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How do you know if you should buy a free runner or a push horse? How do you train, tune or warm them up differently?

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My open horse feels like he is not as fluid in his turns, what is a good TUNE up exercise AWAY from the barrels during the week to get him more fluid?

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My horse dives at barrels, makes big pockets on her own, or if I try and go in straighter she speeds up, also in a twisted oring she is fine, but in a bit with shank she throws her head around the barrels! Any ideas on fixing this? She has gotten where she will run over third now!

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How do you teach RATE to the barrel horse?

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What is proper nutrition for a barrel horse?

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My horse has become chargey on the barrels, not rating, not fluid, what is an exercise I can do away from the "real barrel pattern" to get him rating, focused on me & fluid again?

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How do you stop a horse that anticipates it's turns from shouldering barrels and hitting them?

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Mental Game: Reader asked, I get so nervous and go blank as I go down the alley, how can I get more relaxed and focused before my run?

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How do you stop a horse from shouldering and hitting barrels, when your pretty sure your causing it? The horse has good basics and a nice pattern in slow work.

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My horse is stalling out of the turns, how can I fix this? He is very lazy by nature!

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What is the best turning style barrel horse?

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Rachel Widener video review and training suggestions

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What is a good weekday exercise as a tune up for a horse that anticipates it's barrels and wants to start it's turns to soon?

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Who is Tina Spangler?

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Bell Boots, to wear or not to wear?

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Electrolytes, Summertime Heat & Humidity & Horses!

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What do you have without BASICS or a SOLID FOUNDATION? Answer: NOT MUCH!

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Horse Abuse!

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Video Review for Mechelle Shelton and Nugget

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My horse will not turn first barrel, my right turn, can you help?

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Emily Melton, Video Review by Tina Spangler

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When do you know if you can add speed to a horse that has had some mental pressure issues?

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How do you stay with your horse leaving 3rd barrel?

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Have your barrel racing video reviewed, commented on and suggestions made in competition and in practice!

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What is a good exercise to teach your horse to use their hind end better or pivot foot?

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I will work for you, written by the horse to it's human!

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Cross Firing, how can I stop it?

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Medical, Dental, Nutrition, Farrier, Fitness & Holistic Care

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My horse is rearing can you help me?

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What bit will stop my horse from shouldering and not sore her mouth?

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My horse is slicing into first barrel any tips to help?

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When should you switch a horse to the LEFT barrel first or teach one to go to the left barrel first?

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Where do you rate an open horse vs a novice horse?

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FBH.com Readers share a TIP with us!

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I can only ride once a week, what exercise do you suggest & I am having 1st barrel issues?

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Tuning on an open horse is different than a novice horse!

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Can you suggest a riding schedule when you work all day?

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My horse is hitting poles, help!

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How important are proper LEADS in barrel racing?

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Winter Care for our Equine Friends!

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Focus on Fluidity and Getting Back to Basics!

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The horse doesn't have a choice!

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TLC Special Exercises to Improve your Competition Runs

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Common Problems and TLC Solutions

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Can you watch my video and tell me why I am hitting barrels going in and stalling out? We are not running as my horse just got well from a lung infection.

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Your horses look like they turn barrels on their own. How do you get them to do that?

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Shaving the last 1/2 second off! How can I do that?

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I am riding two totally different horses and need advice on cues. One is a roll back horse and the other bends around the barrel, both are free running and hunt the barrel. I am wondering where I should be asking for the rate and the turn on each and with what leg cues?

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I have a 6 year old that only knows one speed and that is WIDE OPEN in an arena! Is there anything that can be done to make her realize that she can relax and walk when it comes to the arena?

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I am new to Florida and was wondering if many older women run barrels or just for kids and also, what is the right height for a barrel horse prospect?

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What does asking questions and hard work get you? Winning rodeos!

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Did you know "BLEEDERS" are very common in the barrel racing industry? Did you know it is scary for them like drowning to us, lungs fill with blood and they can't breathe?

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What's a good weekly plan to keep my finished barrel horse on for basics and conditioning?

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Are you heavy handed? What does that mean?

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What type of saddle pad for an older, high wither, a little sway back horse do you suggest with a treed saddle?

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Some problems in the saddle can be fixed on the ground. Tune ups or just getting started!

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Do you love your horse because it wins for you or do you love your horse?

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How do I pattern a horse for the barrels using the TLC methods?

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Tina's Tips, part 2 of last weeks tip for hitting barrels leaving. Below are the 3 exercises to tune a horse and rider that are hitting barrels leaving.

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Tina's Tip of the Week: Conditioning a horse after a layoff, what is best exercise plan to bring them back and how long should it take?

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Tina's Tip of the week: Hitting barrels leaving!

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My horse is getting nervous and chargey going into his turns, he is stalling or shouldering and it's costing me time or down barrels. How can I fix this?

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"Tina's Tips" Question: How do you keep the FUN in barrel racing?

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Tina's Tips, Tip of the Week: Rider Anticipation!

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Tina's Tips - Tip of the Week: Timing, Timing, Timing

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Tina's Tips - "Tip of the Week" High School Rodeo is around the corner, my tip is.....

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"Ask Tina", My horse has NO WHOA, she has a great pattern but no brakes otherwise!

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Mentors, Teachers and becoming your own horsewoman or horseman!

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When I put leg on my horse he just speeds up, he doesn't move over, how do I train him to move over?

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My horse is a great turning barrel horse but I lose time between the barrels can you help?

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Do you have a confident, mental game plan?

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Rider's Basics; TLC way!

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TUNING & CONDITIONING A SEASONED BARREL HORSE

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Do you have a question? email me at tina@tlcbarrelhorsetraining.com

or call 352-516-9362

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What is the proper way to run poles one handed or two handed?

So I have my barrel problem fixed. My horse has been doing so well! But now a new problem has arose...poles. I have been doing great until I started reteaching myself to stop pulling my outside rein before I turn a barrel (bad habit) and it worked for barrels. The lady who helps me seems to think that this is also the right way to do poles (before she made me try inside I was doing great) well I have read on pro pole bending websites that you use both reins...Can you please give me a run down of the correct hand and body positioning during a pole run?
Thank you so much,
Talia

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Ulcer problems for x-race horse, HELP? I have a five year old gelding that was raced only five times. I am training him for barrels. He has good ground manners and is very good under saddle. I have started loping the pattern with him and after a little bit of a work out and warm up he starts to grind his teeth. He is also starting to not want to practice, even though I do not drill him on the pattern. I had the vet check him for lameness, ect... and they found nothing. His teeth were fine as well. the vet seemed to suggest he may have ulcers because of his nervous behavior with the teeth grinding. He gave me Gastro guard for 7 days to start and continue him on another medication. My question is, do you recommend a daily maintance supplement to prevent him from getting ulcers that is affordable? the Gastro guard is 40.00 a tube. I dont want to just pick something out of a catalog, but would like to try something that someone has used and recieved good results with!!! Thanks!

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I see a lot of people using draw reins, why and do you suggest them?

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Some of The Secret's in TLC Barrel Horse Training Book:

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What are realistic time tables for training your own barrel horse from beginning to end? Also, What level horse should a person new to barrel racing purchase?

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What are the rider's cues I should use riding a barrel horse?

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I sent my horse to the vet, trainer and chiropractor and I am still having issues?

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When do you suggest hauling and when to start showing a young/novice horse?

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How do you train a horse for the barrels?

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My horse is stiffer on the right side then the left, is this normal?

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Time Tables! How do I know when to add speed to my horse?

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Picking up correct leads?

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Alley way and first barrel issues?

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How do you pick a trainer?

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Are bigger bits better?

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Alley way issues?

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I hit barrels or come off wide, help?

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Stirrup length?

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My horse has issues, please help?

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What is a good roll back exercise to teach my horse?

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Bit? Any suggetions?

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Anticipation? How to "feel" it and how to fix it?

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Kids, Competition and Women!

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Picking bits for the x race horse?