_{^{Hey guys!}} 

_{^{So as some of you know I starting my boy Jack on barrels and poles for next season but now that Im at new barn I'm hearing a lot of different things then what I was told at my last place and so trying to get different opinions on this. Well ... I got one person telling me to wait about a year to start getting faster and start off with trotting around barrels and very very slow lope around them but i got another lady telling me she can having me running my boy by September at the gymkhana... We are literally just starting out and been walking and slowly trotting around barrels and poles, learning to bend and what not.. what your opinion on time frame when to get faster on a new horse starting out on barrels and poles?}} 

_{^{He really catch on quick but then again hes done roping and neck reigns and is very broke, good off legs, hes really easy going and learns quick but idk how long I should work with just trotting and slow lope ? ... Thanks!}}

I know nothing about horses, but I'm bumping this for you!

Thank you lol!

I've only done a small bit of gaming (usually showed Hunter/Jumper, WP, Reining) so I'm not an expert but the way you go about training this really depends on the horse and the rider!

Make sure you aren't doing /just/ the barrels/poles for extended periods of time - move him out on the flat, do some collection and extension work, lead changes, direction changes, and gait changes to keep him sharp so he doesn't get sour on the pattern, and of course the lateral work you do will translate to being better balanced for the bending work.

When it comes to adding speed, it's really about knowing when your horse has hit the point of 'Okay, we're totally in control, balanced (not leaning into turns [you, the rider - a middle seat will never throw off a horse around a pattern], and comfortable [you feel 'safe'] at -this gait-' - when you're there, take the speed up a notch. Repeat until you're blazing trails (remember to return to work on the flat occasionally and throw in some slower runs to keep him on his toes)!

I second what Nohyreos said!

Definitely work outside of the barrels/poles. I think every rider should do that basic stuff with their horse every so often anyway, no matter how experienced you get.

And also with the speed, I think it's just a "feel it" sort of thing. When you and the horse are both comfortable at a speed, you can go faster. If you think you might not realize when that is, or you just want someone to watch you and help push you when you're afraid to go faster, then get a trainor!