Training Openings for 2012!
We will be accepting two to three outside horses at a time for barrel racing training for March - October 2012. Our main focus is training futurity horses, however we are open to most all ages of horses. Contact us today for more information and to secure your spot with us! We are filling up fast!
trainers in their haste have gone wrong, and that is why I decided to train barrel horses - to build a horse's confidence.
I have been very fortunate to learn from some great horsemen and women. I've learned my horsemanship skills from John and JJ Hovde, who have a natural way with horses. They taught me to ride with a horse instead of against it. A horse naturally wants to work, they just need to understand what the rider is asking. When they understand, it builds confidence in their rider. Mary Ketchum, a barrel racing legend of Montana and the Dakotas taught me everything I know about barrels. I started riding with her in 1999 and during that time I soaked all I could out of every ride with her. She helped me start some of her colts and later my own. I continue to ride with her every chance I get.
See what our clients are saying about us !
*Check out our Testimonials page for more!
We had Andrea and Phillip put 60 days on our 3 yr old barrel futurity prospect. Philip for the 1st 30 for general breaking, then Andrea for the next 30 for a start on the barrels. Although we didn't see our colt after Philip rode him, the package was exactly what we wanted. Phil knows what Andrea expects.
When we picked him up at the end of the 60 days, we watched Andrea go through the barrels showing his start. We are very impressed. Andrea gave us an honest assessment of his chances in the extremely competitive area of barrel futurities. So we will be back next year for more training from Andrea for his next level, and another assessment of whether he may be competitive as a 5 year old.
Thanks Andrea. Even if he doesn't make a barrel prospect, he'll make one of the best saddle horses I hope to ever own.
Don Netzer Sidney, Montana
*Latest testimonial regarding Frenchie Ta Fame (see video above)
Frenchie To Fame -
3 year old gelding after 60 days training by
O-O Barrel Horses!
August 2010
Philip & Andrea Huft
P.O. Box 871
Baker, MT 59313
406-778-2302 (home)
406-978-4302 (Cell)
Training Philosophy
When looking for a barrel horse or prospect for myself, I always look for conformation that can stand the high demands of rodeo and a mind to handle the pressure. A horse's mind can easily be blown from training or it could be enhanced. I have seen too many talented individuals get blown up and wasted due to a trainers haste to get results. Confidence is a main ingredient needed for a horse to succeed. It needs confidence in not only itself but also it's rider. That is where these
Before starting a horse on barrels, they need to have a solid foundation of the basics. You can read more of what I consider the basics by reading the December 2008 Tip of the Month . In addition to the basics, our colts are rode extensively on the ranch. We like to put a lot of miles under their feet and give them a job pushing cattle. We feel that by this program it helps the horse mentally mature faster, helps them learn how to travel and handle their feet in tricky footing and teaches them how to keep their cool in high pressure situations.
Starting a horse on barrels is kept simple and easy after a solid foundation of the basics has been set.
Repetition is key. By making the same perfect pattern going slow and building up speed as the horse is ready, you are not only building up a horse's confidence, but also the horse's muscle memory. The barrels become second nature to them.
I like to keep riding my colts in the pasture and on the ranch whenever possible. I try to keep their minds fresh and enjoying the barrels. I take pride in how I can make a run on my horses, stop, turn them around and walk the barrels like a pleasure horse.
We strive to put a good enough handle on our horses to run a reining pattern, to earning it's keep on the ranch, and onto a successful barrel horse. Our program follows much of Mary Ketchum's who is known for training good horses. We intend to do the same!
Feel free to give us a call or drop us a line if you have any questions or are interested in having us ride for you. We take in a limited number of outside horses so contact us today! References are available.
Check out a few of our videos of horses we've trained through various stages of their training.
