How can I teach my mare to "chase" the barrel?

Question

I've got a QH mare that is a great contesting prospect. I've been doing a little local showing and racing for a few years now, but am not 100% happy. Don't get me wrong, she's dead fast, but our control isn't the best, as is our form. During our fair week, she does great around the barrels. The rest of the year, she spooks at them. Even if I walk her up to them on the lead, she is extremely cautious and wary around them. I need to get her to bend better around the barrels, as well as someday hopefully WANT to get to the barrel as fast as possible. If anyone knows a way to urge the horse to act in this way, I'd really appreciate it. Thanks!

*Also: I've wasted a lot of money on trying to find the right bit for my mare, and decided after buying one today it's this one or nothing. In normal western riding I use a correctional, and today found what's called a Wonder Bit at the local TSC. Basically a sweet iron snaffle gag with round shanks. Sound right for barrels? Thanks again!

Answer 1

when practicing, just take her and WALK around the barrel ( just one) untill she gets used to them. them go the other direction. when she's comfortable going at a walk. go to a pleasure trot, then a fast english trot, then lope, then run. after she's used to one barell go to doing the first two barrels in the pattern then slowly go to doing 3 barrels. u have to go slow in this. just take things slowly and in both directions!! a horse has two sides to their brains so if u change directions, u have to start all over again.the wonder bit should work i use that on one of my horses. have u tried a tom thumb!?!?!?!? its simple but it works.try before doing ur other excr\erisces just try to get her nose to touch ur knee.on both sides. after a couple knee touches, go in circles to both directions.( not around anything)!!!! i hope this works. it has been working for me for the past few years.

Answer 2

Sounds to me like she might not be the right horse for you, If you can afford it,(big if) start another young horse, then focus on the best one.

Answer 3

She needs to go back to the basics.  It sounds like you skimped on the basis to her training and added speed too quickly and she's learned to be apprehensive about the barrels.  I didn't gallop my barrel horse on the pattern until she was four years old, and even when we compete, I'll run her at speed on the pattern at most once or twice a week.  Control is the basis for all speed events.  Without it, you're cheating yourself and the horse and can very easily get hurt.  A good barrel horse will work with almost any bit.  The fact that you can't find the 'right bit' for your mare tells me she needs more training, too.  A correction bit on a speed event horse is a disaster waiting to happen.  A wonder bit works well for some horses, but you need the control to be there first, then fiddle with a few changes of bit to find the one that gives you the right amount of bend and rate with the least amount of effort, and one that the horse is comfortable in.

I just watched Clinton Anderson's barrel horse training DVD's that he put together with Cheri Cervi.  Wow.  They are excellent. They're expensive, but far less expensive than a new horse, wasted entry fees, or a large vet or hospital bill.  I'd suggest you get those and go back to square one with your mare, working on relaxation, flexion, lateral bending, and control.  Unless you can control the head, neck, forequarters, rib cage, and hindquarters of your mare and flex and bend her any time, disengage the hindquarters, stop, back, turn, etc. with complete softness and willingness on her part, she's not ready for speed.  Put the barrels away and take several months and get her really, truly 'broke' and ride in a loose-ring snaffle and you'll be amazed at the difference when you've finished and have started her back on the pattern.  If you do all this and she's under control and comfortable and still doesn't like barrels, then find another job for her.  Don't make her do something she doesn't like.

Sharon Camarillo also has an excellent book on the training of the barrel horse available at many book or tack stores, or through Western Horseman magazine.