Who knows some advice about barrel racing?

Question

im gonna be a barrel racer and i need some advice.

Answer 1

I am a barrel-racer and all I have to say is don't expect to learn everything there is in just a day. It takes time and patience. You have to understand that it's just as hard for you as it is your horse. I don't like the fact that some people send their horses off to trainer's, I feel that the only way you and your horse are going to prosper in this is if you learn together. Don't over do it. Your horse is working just as or if not harder than you are. Your horse needs just a little play time too. Don't lose your cool, your horse knows when something is wrong and it makes them uncomfortable. I wish that I wouldn't have stopped barrel-racing, but I did. It wasn't any fun anymore. My grandma made almost impossible to concentrate on anything but winning. Don't get me wrong winning feels great, but the most important thing is to relax and just have fun.
When your relaxed and having fun so will your horse. But when your stresses and worried your horse senses it and it makes her worried and stresses. Talk to your horse...tell him/her that everything is ok and massage the back of their neck. All they need is a little tender loving care and you'll be riding like a pro in no time.

Answer 2

You need a couple of things to start a good horse make sure it is sound especially through the hooves and on up through the legs there is a lot of stress involved in barrel racing, you need a barrel saddle its made especially for this sport deep seat and a taller horn cost varies on who you buy it from buy new if you can if not there is a lot of good used barrel saddles out there we use circle Y and Billy Cook but these are just a few(my wife likes these brands)then learn the pattern and above all else you must have a good seat this is a fast sport with a lot of turning and burning so practice walking before you run the speed will come once you master the turning. there so much to tell you i wish i could basically it comes down to this train get a healthy horse mind you not all horses can barrel race 1/4 horses that have cutting bred in seem to do pretty good that is my wife's horse. any way check out and see if they have a local Gymkhana organization in your area this is a good organization to learn horsemanship and skills to help you become a good rider as well as barrel racer Ive said a lot but this sport means a lot to me because my wife loves it and actually does pretty good won some money a couple saddles and a bunch of buckles have fun a please ride safely and please check out the Gymkhana i think its worth your time

Answer 3

Do a web search for Martha Josey. She gives clinics at her ranch in east texas, buy some Western Horseman books, videos...Don't just take the advice of someone at a playday that runs barrels. Barrel horse can be screwed up just as quick if not quicker than other competetive horses. Agree with the previous post about taking your time, make sure your horse is responsive, light and has good flexion and bend before you get it near a barrel. Teach it the pattern at a walk first. Circle each barrel individually (not thru the pattern) over and over while bending. After your horse is doing the pattern correctly at a walk, trot, lope, you'll only want to make one or two true runs during a practice time with lots of walks, trots, lopes. Another thing if you walk the pattern, make the horse walk out don't let it pick up speed until you ask it to. Hope this helps, not a barrel trainer just stuff I've picked up from my friends that run barrels.

Answer 4

What advice you need? Just email or re-write what exactly need help on in barrel racing and I will respond to that.

Barrel racing takes a lot of pratice and conditioning with you and your horse. I was always taught to not run towards the barrel itself. Run a little past the barrel and turn in, with seating deep in the saddle, hand on the horn IF permits for the rider, with a good bit that will not jolt or pinch the horse. A good turn is also completed by a horse that is a good neck reiner and responsive of leg ques. As soon as going through the one barrel, look on to focus to set up for next barrel and so forth.

The last barrel for me before running back to finish line is the one my mare most likely will knock over. So, I always balance myself to be able to place my hand down to balance the barrel if she bumps into it.

I usually will do warm ups before we go. A 5 min walk, 10 min jog, 15 min lope, 10 min jog, 5 min walk. Then switch to other direction to repeat. Sometimes I will switch it up by doing figure 8's to switch the leads and pratice on the leaning. I will take a circle wide and each complet turn I will make the size smaller to the point my horse will be doing a very fast turn around. If you get dizzy easy, it might be difficult for you to handle at first. Just keep your chin up and look "onwards" not at the ground like a lot of the girls I train first do. Where your eyes go, is where the horse will go.

Make sure the nose is tucked in a little and the nose is towards the barrel, not the outside (which if outside can cause the horse to not turn in and lean into the barrel, knocking it over).

Answer 5

I'm a hunter/jumper rider, however I have barrel racing friends and this is what I've learned from them:

Always start and train slow. Speed comes later. Make sure your horse has the pattern memorized, but don't burn him out with repetative boring exercises. Do other stuff inbetween like leg yielding exercises for example. Your horse should be able to do the barrel patten easily at the walk, trot and canter. Be consistant in your aids and bending requests around each barrel. Work on transitions....A LOT. Your horse needs to be able to go from a canter to a walk quickly. Your horse needs to be able to whoa on a dime, so to speak. Speed control is important since you can't round a barrel if your horse won't slow down for the turn.

If you have a large enough arena, you'll eventually start gallop training and at that point you should consult someone more knowledgable.

Keep in mind that speed is a small part of training. Being able to accurately execute the barrel pattern without knocking them down is most important. Also, don't over due it on the speed and take a tip from race horses: They are rarely galloped full out for training. It's mostly cantering and a hand gallop that they work on until race day. Then they are allowed to gallop/run full out.

Good luck!

Answer 6

You need a good saddle if you don't have one already. If you are goin pro your saddle will cost a lot. You need three barrels to state the obvious. You need a horse who likes speed. If not the track will take forever to get around. If you don't win the first time don't let it get you down you need a lot of practice to get good.

Answer 7

I'm a horse rider and although I don't do western I will tell you as much as I know. Start going for lessons and be sure you can handle speed and your horse. Make sure you are able to stop the horse if necessary. Good luck and have fun!!!

Answer 8

read the horseman mag and talk with people in the horse business,my uncle is 70 and still races at state shows,show the big boys myself. good luck