Handling Free Runners
Developing Rope Horse Prospects with Miles Baker & Ty Benson
•
9m 17s
What do you do with a young horse that naturally wants to go?
In this episode, Ty Benson explains how he approaches a free-running, run-bred 2-year-old and why reading the individual horse is critical. Rather than pushing speed early, Benson discusses the importance of holding these types back—often spending the first 60 days walking and trotting to build foundation, softness, and control before ever adding more forward motion.
Miles Baker reinforces the value of patience, stressing that taking your time with a naturally quick horse is far more productive than rushing one too soon. They break down common mistakes trainers make in the roping industry, especially when dealing with athletic, speed-bred prospects that can get ahead of themselves mentally and physically.
Up Next in Developing Rope Horse Prospects with Miles Baker & Ty Benson
-
How Do You Deal with a Lazy Two-Year-...
In this session, Baker explains how overusing leg pressure can create a dull, unresponsive rope horse. While it may seem logical to kick a lazy horse more, excessive pressure often has the opposite effect—causing the horse to tune the rider out instead of becoming sharper.
Ty Benson builds on th...
-
How Cautious Should You Be Starting a...
How cautious should you be when starting a 2-year-old rope horse?
In this session, Ty Benson answers that question and explains the balance between patience and progression when developing young prospects. Starting a 2-year-old requires feel, timing, and an understanding of how much pressure to ...
-
How to Roll the Spurs and Lift a Rope...
In this instructional session, Miles Baker and Ty Benson demonstrate what it truly means to roll the spurs and how to use them correctly when developing a young rope horse. Rather than kicking or overusing pressure, they explain how proper spur timing and placement should encourage softness, resp...