Miles Baker stood at the head box during the 2024 Bob Feist Invitational to rattle the back gate for plenty of the other headers. But why?

On Long Starts

At jackpots with long starts like the BFI, you’ll see someone standing by the chute rattling the back gate, looking at the header and head horse.

Hard Crack

We do this for each other for different reasons. Some people need a hard crack of the back gate to trick their head horse into standing in the corner, because the head horse hears that initial “false” bang and then is on go and ready when the actual gate bangs. 

Steady Rattle

More often, guys’ horses need a steady rattle instead, taking their focus off the main noise—essentially desensitizing them to the sound so they have time to hold them on those long starts. 

At Home

At home, I’ll call for the back gate, too. I want to hold one really tight, and when that back gate bangs, I want them not to react to it. I’ll allow them staying steady in the corner to be the release, and then I’ll let the horse walk forward. I don’t want the bang of the gate to be the horse’s release.

—TRJ—