Hi! I am getting a new horse a 9 year old gelding and i am going to show him. But I barrel race and I have trained (older horses) for barrels.
I would like a few tips or instructions on how to train him for barrels, and i might want your advice on what to do to train to have the BEST barrel horse around. He’s fast, and i want advice on TURNS! I haven’t gotten him yet but i will in a week or two. I really want to put alot of effort into this to make him a winner! Thank you!
Well a 9 year old would be a little difficult to train for barrels.I am trying to train a 6 year old and every trainer around here says thats jus to old to train for barrels.I have a 19 years old barrel horse i just retired named Cowboy,and him and i have won Missouri State Champions in barrel racing from 2004 all the way up to 2007.From my expeariance training older horses for barrels is really hard work.Some say imposible,but i allways say it never hurts to try.And as for turning around the barrels i set up cones around the barrels just far enoughe away from the barrel to were the horse can still flex around it.And to make the turn almost perfect you should pick a point right past the barrel,never stare directly at the barrel,stare directly past it and there for you give your horse enoughe room to flex around it with out hitting it.But as for the age it never hurts to give the horse a try is wat i allways say.My email address is fords_cowgurl_up@yahoo.com
Not sure "how" much help I’ll be, I haven’t barrel raced in close to 20 years….omg, I’m so old….lol.
My advice for turning is the basic, butt hard in the saddle, dig in with the heel and don’t try to "neck rein" just reach down and sort of pull his head around the barrel…….and pray you don’t palm or knock it down.
Best of Luck!
go out and buy the book, "Barrel Racing 101" from tsc..
it will help alot more than anything on yahoo answers will..
he may be nine, but he may still have some kick left in him..they key for any barrel horse, is to keep it fun for him..even though your having fun..make sure he is too…you dont want it to become a chore for him, nobody likes chores..if he’s having fun, he will run his best…and practice..you have to practice a lot..bringing him closer and closer to the barrel, untill he is completly comfortable with being right up on an object. its good to trot the course a few times to find his comfort level from there..i have a 7 year old thoroghbred..and he is doing fine, and he loves it..but just remember that not all horses were cut out for barrel racing..so if you push him, and he’s getting nowhere, you will get frustrated, and that causes all kinds of problems..so listen to his cues and body language…
cool! Barrel Racing rockz. : D
its really to much to explain but i can recommend u look into Charmayne James, Martha Josey, and i can give u a few tips i have used to climb my way to the top. Charmayne and Josey are both World Champion Barrel Racers and they have several books and dvds out to help Barrel Racers. I have been using their methods so far and im doing great with my horse.
here are their websites –
Charmayne James – http://www.charmaynejames.com/
Martha Josey – http://www.barrelracers.com/
If he has speed, take your time with him. get him really flexible and loose, make sure he has a good stop, back, and supple attitude before even starting the pattern. Teach him to flex, trot alot to build muscle, and practice loping small circles. from the very basic ground skills and up.
also, keep it fun for the both of u. practice new and different patterns around the barrels – really get him thinking. and not all of it has to be on his back. ground skills are just as important as in the saddle.
once u start patterning him, take it slow and stop him b4 u round the barrel, then continue. that way he knos thats where u want him to adjust his body and carve the turn. if u have trouble turning, cross the inside rein over his neck and he will pick up his shoulder and really move nicely. if u teach him to move from pressure by heal and leg that will really get him bending around the barrel.
cross the inside rein over his neck and push his hind quarters with your heals, he should move good. remember its always nice to go only 2 – 3 feet around the barrel. to close and u can knock it over and to wide takes more time.
anyways, im sure there are some helpful tips i missed but i highly recommend u look up Charmayne James and Martha Josey. Their Great!
but Good Luck and Happy Barrel Racing!!!
It;s never to late to start a barrel horse the older they get the better they pay attention. Take it slow with him. don’t practice to hard right off the start and don’t just run all the time. Give him a break and take it out to the trails. My horses is running alot better now that he is getting older and has not been rode in the arena.
i trained a 16 year old rope horse to do barrels and poles and he was really stiff before i started…i started in january and he is coming along really really well…
to turn him i make sure i give him a big enough pocket and remember to say to myself: sit, look, pick up.
by ‘pick up’ i mean dont drag your hand out to the outside or bring it to the inside to turn…litterally pick it up…and go at the walk and trot a lot to get him to know the pattern then he will turn better…
youse your legs
horses dont like all that pulling
the more you can use your legs the smoother your ride will look.
when u trun put ur inside leg in him and make him bend arround it