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TRADE SECRETS Prepping a reined cow horse for a non-professional pilot alters how Brad Barkemeyer readies the horses in his program. By Kate Bradley Byars
26 MAY/JUNE 2021 | REINED COW HORSE NEWS
KATE BRADLEY BYARS
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rad Barkemeyer’s Scottsdale, Arizona, barn is full of Opencaliber horses in addition to those that he shows and shares with Non Pro level owners. For Barkemeyer, keeping a Non Pro horse in show shape and competing at the rider’s level is not new. He started his career training under Al Dunning’s guidance and preparing cutting horses. Today, Barkemeyer’s clients hold their own in the Non Pro level classes at National Reined Cow Horse Association premier events. And when the trainer is in the saddle, he also takes his share of added-money checks home. For Barkemeyer, preparing a show horse for one of his Non Pro clients is a challenge that offers him a big reward. “It’s one thing to be able to train and show a horse that needs to be disciplined for one rider, but to have him perform at his best with various riders’ abilities really highlights the horse’s trainability,” he said. “It’s a luxury to have Open-caliber horses to show in Open classes, but the importance of having the involvement of our Non Pro clients participating with success ensures that our industry will continue to grow and thrive.” In order to have the caliber of horses to compete in the National Reined Cow Horse Association Open and that can also match his non-professional clients’
Rundowns are an area Brad Barkemeyer focuses on when prepping a horse he also shows for a Non Pro owner to ride in competition.
riding experience, Barkemeyer tests horses based on each client’s preferences on guiding and motivating a horse. “One of the things I need to know as a trainer is how far a horse can be pushed or how many miscues it will tolerate while attempting to perform the basic maneuvers,” he said. Aside from athletic ability, Barkemeyer focuses on riding his clients’ horses in a way that doesn’t depend on perfect timing. A Non Pro that has a full-time job or is in school doesn’t have
the hours in the saddle an Open rider does when preparing for a horse show. “If I am stopping, I might pull on the reins out of time and ask him to stop,” he said. “I want that horse to know they will have someone up there that won’t be perfect all of the time. They get used to specific cues, so I try to push different buttons.” Rundowns are one maneuver that displays a rider’s weakness and how well the horse can tolerate imperfect timing.
