Hidden Creek Stables

09/02/2026

08/11/2026

08/05/2026

Greed has no place in horse training.

The fastest way to hold a horse back is to ask for more than it's ready to give. Every horse learns at a different pace, and the ones that last are built through patience, consistency, and doing right by the horse—not by rushing the process.

Don't let your goals get bigger than your horsemanship.

The best horsemen aren't greedy. They know when to ask for more, when to reward, and when to call it a day.

Put the horse first. The results will follow.

www.betweenthereins.us

08/01/2026

A lot of people think barrel horses are made by running barrels. They’re not.

They’re made by hauling, stalling, standing tied, riding in new places, and exhibitioning.

Every trip teaches something:
• Learning to haul quietly.
• Standing in a stall and relaxing.
• Warming up around other horses.
• Focusing in a busy environment.
• Walking into an unfamiliar arena with confidence.
• Listening to the rider instead of everything going on around them.

The barrel pattern is only a small part of the job. A horse that can handle the pressure, stay mentally with you, and confidently adapt to new environments will always have more long-term potential than one that’s only good at home.

Don’t rush to make a barrel horse. Build a confident, broke horse first. The speed will come.

The goal isn’t just to make a horse that can run barrels…it’s to make one that can run them anywhere.

07/27/2026

With these six barrels, I think of six benefits I feel it gives me and my horses.

1. It helps with muscle memory for me and the horse on body positioning and preparation for the turn.
2. Foot placement, collection, transition and helping one “crawl” through the turn.
3. It helps build confidence in the turn.
4. You can do the pattern but also work on the fundamentals, all in one drill.
5. Direction and keeping the horse up in the bridle while letting the horse have freedom to go in straight lines, then gathering back up for the turn. This eliminates panic if I make a mistake in a run and pull on the horse — rein pressure will not be a complete shock to them.
6. It really helps with patience, because there are so many transitions to be made throughout the drill, it keeps the horse waiting on your cue and helps eliminate a horse wanting to cheat or getting bored on the pattern with so many ways to go.

Full drill here: https://bhnmag.co/sixbarreldrill

07/21/2026

How to ➡ https://bhnmag.co/sixbarreldrill

"The drill I do that benefits my horses the most uses six barrels in a two-pattern format. You have a cloverleaf pattern at one end of the arena, and a mirrored cloverleaf pattern at the other end. This exercise is the only thing I ever set up, because you can address so many things with it. I mostly use it to teach a horse to wait on me so it doesn’t look to cheat and also to help quicken up its feet."

🔗 https://bhnmag.co/sixbarreldrill

07/14/2026

After the summer my Seven saddle will be listed.