me and two of my friends are probably going to be doing barrel racing. they have horses and i live in a place where i cant have one, so we’re going to start training some of their horses for barrel racing. so im asking if you have any tips on training barrel horses, buying saddles, or just tips on barrel racing, since we havent done this before. (btw we’re about 13 and 14 so we’re kinda limited to some things) and can guys barrel race? my friends probably gonna do it anyways but we were kinda wondering. thank you!
Make sure the horse can lope good tight circles, can stop with its butt underneath it, and can break at the poll. Start out walking the horse around the pattern for three to four days about 10-15 times a day. Which ever way the horse turns best determines whether or not it will go to the right or left. If it turns good right, go to the left first ( so you have two good turns and only one bad one) and Viceversa. Walk the horse up to the barrel with your hands forward and your body angled up towards its head. Look at your pocket, which is about three to four feet away from the side of the barrel. Use your inside leg to bump the horse and use your inside rein to bring his nose in for the turn. Gently tap him with your little finger, don’t hold his face- it’s a give and take thing till he learns to keep his nose there. Go two handed around the barrels at first, keep your elbow bent and out during the turn. If he is afraid of the barrel don’t stress him out, go back to your dry work and then start over. Do your second and third barrel the same way you do your first. Always try to do everything the same way, because horses learn by repetition. When turning start out wide and finish close.
Next comes trotting. Trot the barrels the same way you walk them. You will trot to the first barrel, and sit down on your pockets when you get ready to turn. Shift your weight to the outside, and make sure you look up when coming out of the turn. If the horse slows down for the turn thats okay, this is called ‘rating’. Just be sure to speed him up coming out of the barrel. Do not lope until he is trotting a PERFECT pattern. If he develops problems at the trot slow back down to the walk, and return to your dry work away from the pattern. You should work at the trot for a few days.
Next comes loping. Lope the same way you walked and trotted the pattern. At first go two handed around the barrel. Once he does it good two handed you can go to the saddle horn. When you reach your pocket, sit down in the saddle, say ‘Whoa’ and grab the horn with your outside hand. Grab the top of the horn and then slide your hand down and around it when you come out of the turn. Remember to elevate yourself forward when coming out of all of your turns, but only do it after you have cleared the barrel. You may need to use spurs, I wouldn’t recommend a whip (It distracts you and the horse.
Buy a saddle with a long ‘skinny’ horn and a high seat. If you go to a tack shop just ask and they’ll show you what it looks like and how to know what size to choose.
These are just the basics. There is a lot more to learn, so when you go to a race talk to all the people that you can. And when you buy a horse, make sure he is broke broke broke! Yes, guys can race.
first you need to figure out if you want to go left or right first on your clover-leaf pattern. once you do this you need to walk the pattern with your horse until it can do it without direction from you. then gradually pick up the pace. and yes, guys can barrel race.
remember, barrel racing is fast-paced. so be sure you are an experienced rider.