Barrel Racing!?

Question

I love barrel racing! but ever since i fell off a mare while she was galloping, i've never felt the same passion I had for a while.

I know they say when you fall off to get back on. The only problem was i couldn't because the fall busted my back open! I'm so scared of galloping that i havnt been real barrel racing in a while. Please help me.

Answer 1

I am a pro barrel racer i southwest ohio and i got rared and i understand if i scares you that probably what it is you just start slow and you will get it back again

Answer 2

i rode my first barrel horse 6 days ago and it literally scared me to do death. i rode a second one that same day and i fell in love w/ her and i bought her. but anyways if i were you i'd probably wait till my back healed and then just start riding like around the areana and things just to get back my courage and then start back on the barrels cause i loved the feeling of running around barrels more then anything so i could never quit now that my mom finally gave into buying me one i've rode horses since i was three and started out on a pony that only had one eye we saved him and i haven't stoped riding ever since and trust me i've been thrown off not enough to damage or break anything but skin so i know what you mean. so take your time and when your ready go for it just hang on tighter.

Answer 3

Barrel racing is one of my few passions i have in life. I my self have never fallen off because of barrel racing but i have fallen off and torn my rotator cuff in my shoulder, from bare back, i know its a difference but getting back on after a fall or accident is a hard thing to do, but its something that you're going to have to do. Yea its going to be something thats hard and you just have to start out slow, and work your way up, to a gallop, by walking and trotting, and loping.Just do it gradually and it'll finally come back to you, it'll be long and hard but if you trust your horse and trust yourself you'll be able to do it.

Answer 4

I ride horses alot. I fell of the most prefect Tennessee Walking Horse ever riding bareback. I was terrified to get back on at first. But I love it sooo much that I was determined to get back on.

  Just a little fact only 5% of people stick with horses all there life. Do you want to be in that number.

  Also go to Parreli.com. Parreli is a natural horsemanship class. You can go to a 2 day lesson. You do not ride but you learn how to communicate with your horse better and build a trust relasionship. It has really hellped me alot with the horse I ride he'll do anything to please me and he protects me.

  Ohh yeah just say to your self you can do it and you will. You horse love you and needs you to ride her. Sooner you get back on the better off you will be.

  Also go to IvoryPal.com the owner of this horse is a great friend of mine he'll be glad to help me. He has encouraged me to get back on my horse. He says that is not likely that will happen again.

  Also go to Jennie Jackson she is awesome. She will help you to.

  I hope this help you!!!! And good luck with all your dreams!!!!

Happy Trails,

   Kristin

Answer 5

Kristin H is right, Parelli is a great way to build a relationship back with your horse.  Parelli will take you step by step towards being a confident rider again.

Make sure you're able to walk you're horse without being afraid before you move to the trot.  Same with the lope and gallop.  One step at a time.

Good Luck!!

Answer 6

Just start slow and when you build up your nerve you should be ready.  Trot, then lope then as fast as you can.

Answer 7

Face your fears. Get back to what you love.

Answer 8

I've seen many people who were passionate about horseback riding change the way they felt about it after a bad fall.  FWIW, not everybody is able to shrug off the injuries and the fear that comes with them and be able to ride without thinking of falling again.

What you need to do first of all is give yourself time.  Your feelings are what they are, don't punish yourself for feeling fear.  Feelings are neither good nor bad, they just are.  

Start slowly in riding again.  You may need to do some training to build your confidence level back up and to help assure yourself that you are capable of managing a horse in a full gallop.  One exercise that I've found is helpful to me is to ride without reins on a horse being lunged.  This is a good exercise for developing a secure seat, and getting a good balance.  It also helps to keep you from relying on the reins as a "security blanket."  

You might also feel better if you spend some time working at a good working canter, just doing circles or crossing the ring diagonal to change directions, doing a simple lead change in the middle.  This will help you to concentrate on your equitation and feel more in control of yourself and your horse.

Forget about the timed events for a while and work on things you feel comfortable with.  When all is said and done, anything that helps you to be a better rider is going to help you in timed events, so it's all good-- even if it doesn't involve working at a full gallop.

Also bear in mind that everyone is different, and that it's okay to decide that you'd rather not do timed events if you don't feel comfortable.  There's a whole universe of fun things to do on horseback, and you can keep learning and increasing your skills your entire life.  Just don't put yourself in a mindset of "barrel racing or nothing" as far as what you do on horseback, because there are many other things that are fun to do and it would be a pity to lose out on those things because you've convinced yourself that you HAVE to barrel race.

Good luck and take care.

Answer 9

Barrel racing is so pointless and just crazy. The horses are totally out of control. Take up something more elegant, and controlled, like dressage or hunter jumping.