Barrel Training?

Question

How is the best way to start training a 15 year old Quarter Horse Mare, for Barrel Racing? She is a really good trail horse.

Answer 1

Good for you to decide on this sport. It is a lot of fun and you get to learn your balance and feel your horses movements to help you ride better.

It will be depending on the size of the mare and the condition she is in.

Take sometime to get her physically fit and speedy!

I would suggest to get her used to the barrels so she would get used to it. After she gets used to it...I would tie the reins to the cantle of the saddle (make sure it is tight on the left rein) and make sure she will flex and move around with ease and make sure that she moves with an arch body. She may arch her neck to get away for the pressure and the pain. She will learn sooner than possible. Go behind her talking to her and make sure she does what you ask her to flex and turn with ease. Also say "HEYYY" when she turns so she will learn when you say "HEYYY" that means to turn really well. After about 10 or 15 minutes, reward her with some treats and pet her.

After about a day of that, I would excersise her and make sure that she is physically fit. If she is in foal you should be a little softer on her.

Make her trot around the barrels in the correct way so she understands which way to go next. Make sure she sees the barrel before you get close and make your turn.

After about 5 or 6 days you should lope her around the barrels and make her bend well. Make her get used to turning fast.

And around a month you can gallop her around those barrels. Enjoy it and have fun. When you bring her home "HISSSSSS" a lot and that will make her go very fast.

Also another thing I would recommend is to talk to some local barrel racers. They might have benificial things for you to hear and help you throught your journey.

REMEMBER TO HAVE FUN and good luck with your mare!

Best of luck in the Barrel Racing Season.

Answer 2

First you need to review the basics to make sure she knows them.  Giving to the bit.  Getting her as soft to the bit as you can.  A true snaffle(no shanks on a snaffles) is good for this.  Make sure you have a good whoa on her, can move her shoulders and hindquarters and just basicly have good control over her body, speed and stop.  

Then start with one barrel and work on rate and moving the horse in and out from the barrel.  Go slow you don't want to just start running right away.