I want to get into barrel racing and me and my horse are green at barral racing. She is 4 and a tennesse walking horse. I want to train her to barral race and any tips for me would help alot to! I am a "advanced beginner" i guess i am not afraid of my horse and i canter alot but only galloped once and over a very short distance. (like 10 yards) I am training her to neck rein and it is coming along good. I am looking for more than the stuff you will find in books. Like for example i am looking for past experinces with training a horse to barral race. (i cant sell my horse to get another one and i am only allowed her)
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You need someone in real life to give you tips and lessons. You don’t necessarily need someone to train your horse, but you need someone who can train you and help you to train your horse. But no matter what, go slow. Don’t even attempt to canter the pattern for a while.
I suggest that you practice your basic horsemanship for a while before starting the barrels. In my opinion, you shouldn’t start training for barrels until you can label yourself as "Intermediate." You need excellant balance and basic skills to be able to do barrels well. Contesting is all reflex, and you need to have the basics very well embedded in your brain, with most of your cues and adjustments being instinctual. My advice would be to just play around with your horse to improve both of your more basic skills and your bond. If you can, get someone to instruct you in horsemanship, and then barrels. I suggest also training for poles when you start training. Poles are very good for balance and use of your weight and neck reining. Yet again, start very slow.
My number one single piece of advice for you once you start training: Look up. When you turn a barrel or pole, do not look down at the obstacle, no matter what. Look to the next barrel/pole. Also, as you look, sit back in the saddle around the turn to get your horse on his haunches. You do not want him on his front end around the turn.
Also, the speediest horse will not win at barrels if they don’t have good turns. The biggest mistake for beginner barrel racers is thinking that they will win if their horse runs fast between the barrels. The turns are what really matter.
Good luck!