[Miz Khiz]

Well now that my ring is finally finished I want to start my extensive barrel racing training instead of what I was doing before.
Anyone have a good way of approaching barrel racing?

This horse has FANTASTIC turns, she's quick and can get her speed FAST.. the problem is getting her to turn .. and getting her not to buck when I urge her faster!
Is it better to keep the reins fairly tight when I'm beginning or loose?
Go through it walk, trot & canter.. or spend one day walking, next trotting, next cantering.. next REALLY FAST! Lol..

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On a different note I WENT BARREL RACING WITH MY 25 YEAR OLD.. she's still fantastic.. I wish she was a bit taller and a LOT younger I would have won millions with her!
I was scared that when we got the ring she wouldn't run towards the back of the field (away from her paddock) because she NEVER does.. it was a bad habit from when I was younger.. but she's great and she can still fly around those barrels!! It feels so awesome!!

[Dawn]

Personally I don't like barrel racing. It's just not my thing. The best advice I can give you is to hardly ever actually run the barrels.

[Miz Khiz]

I haven't ran the barrels yet.. just walked and trotted.. grr I want to be able to fly around them.. like I can with my 25 year old!!

I know not to run them too often 'cause then the horse will get sick of 'em.. I need like 5 horses so I can make one go zipping around the barrels, when I'm done with him take the other one and so on.. hehe that'd be awesome.
I could be like a jockey barrel racer.. haha wow I need sleep.

Grr Pennie was making me SOOO angry today because we just got our ring finished and she kept trying to run OFF the dirt.. I'm going to put a fence up so I don't have to keep her from running OFF the dirt.. I thought she would like it!!
Khizzy LOVES it!

[Dawn]

I guess I worded that a bit weird. I meant to not do the pattern at all. When you do do it, walk and jog mostly. Only run it every once in awhile.

[Miz Khiz]

Yeah I dno't want her to get sick of it.. I do poles and some trail things too.. but barrel racing's my passion!!! I wish she knew how!

[carmi]

Hello, I have been barrel racing ever since I can remember, and Have a wall full of trophies and ribbions! I Love it too! Lots of people say not to run your horse very often around the barrels... but how will your horse ever learn what she is supposed to do? The way I train barrel horses, is mostly at the trot at first until the horse gets the idea of the pattern. Something important to start doing is slow down at each barrel, make your pocket, and say something (like HUP is what I say) right when you want them to turn. I don't know how much you know about barrel racing, so if you have any questions about any of that, let me know. When you are trotting, you may want to slow down to a walk at first to go around each barrel, to give the horse an idea of having to sit down and turn the barrel. You may even want to ask your horse to back up a few steps before turning (to get the hind end under her), but just do this at the start, or once in a while latter if you are having troubles. And don't to the pattern too many times in a day. At the start I wouldn't do it more than 3 or 4 times in a day....

Then you graduate to the canter. Here you will want to slow her down to a trot at every barrel (and don't foget your pocket b/c you will need it to turn them at a higher speeds!.(At this point in time, if she does the pattern good the first time, I wouldn't do it again... you don't want the sour at it). Once she is doing that well, ask her to canter around the barrels.... slowly add speed, you need control before speed, so if she is going out of control, take her back down to a slower speed.

In the end, now that my horse is trained and knows what to do, the only time i practice her is maybe once a week, and FAST. I have NEVER had a horse sour at barrels... they all love it! YOu have to make it fun for them. And make sure they do it RIGHT. If you are having a problem, work on it that day, and end with YOU winning.

My mom always told me, "How are they going to learn to run if you don't practice at a run?".... Race horses don't trot around the track in practice, and then run during the races... it dosesn't work that way. But at the same time, you don't want to do it more than once or twice a day a couple times a week, or they will get sick of it. Remember, the key to a great horse is to do many different things with it, to keep both yourself and the horse interested.

I don't mean to preach, but i have seem SO many horses that rear up before going in the ring, or you simply can't get them in the ring. All my horses walk to the ring, see the barrels and are ready to go! They love it just as much as i do!

Good Luck!

If you have any other questions, I would be glad to help!

[Tammy Grace Lynn]

I am an ex-barrel racer myself and Carmi gave good advice. You could also buy a video..there are alot of good ones out there. Good luck!

[Dawn]

Carmi, you just said yourself that after training them, you only run it once a week. Which is exactly what I was saying. Also, race horses are not raced everyday. They are breezed. Big difference.

[Sandra-A1]

Barrel racing...any of the timed events for that matter, needs a well trained, responsive, well conditioned athlete.
I would get out of the arena and hit the trails (or pasture) and work on building up my horses wind and muscle. I would also work on suppleing and increasing my horse's responsiveness to the riders aids/cues. (<VERY important)
I would work on getting smooth transitions as well as extensions and collection at all 3 gaits.
I would get a hold of Cherry Hill's book 101 Arena Exercises and use the patterns in it to practice with.
While I would work on the barrels it is not necessary to work them always in the cloverleaf pattern or just work with 3 of them. It doesn't even have to be a barrel! Traffic cones or tires will work too. You can use more or less and make up other patterns with them. Your still working on hitting the pocket and turning. Your just doing it in a way that helps to keep your horse listening to you, interested and fresh. Keeping it different and keeping it fun for the horse is very important!
I would constantly review the basics of practical everyday horsemanship and make sure my horse knew what "HUP" was for as well as that "whoa" means "whoa!"
A little research shows that the successful barrel racers make sure their horse do something other than just run the barrels. The herd and turn back cattle, they pony other horses, they trail ride....well you get the idea!

[Miz Khiz]

Yes.. I don't use barrels, they're traffic cones.. haha..

I was planning on buying a book or video ( I prefer a book) So I'll check up on that 101 Arena Excercises!
Thanks for all the help!!