How do i train my horse for barrel racing?

Question

heyy im a 15 year old girl. i have a 7 year old quarter horse mare. i'm training her for barrel racing. she has the speed but when she was 4 she was beat to do barrels in 30 days. this was before i had her. now, i have to work with her slowly to get her to like them because she doesn't due to what she went through before. i've owned her for about a year and a half and i've done english and trail riding with her. but i think she'll like barrels if i get her to trust me enough to work her through it. can i please have some advise or ideas to safely train her for barrels? thanks a lot!

Answer 1

You should never train a horse for barrels or put a Western saddle on a horse, period. Learn how to sit upright, in a saddle that doesn't weigh a quarter of your own bodyweight. Learn to carry your weight for yourself, not sit on a horse's back like a lump of potatoes, making back and leg problems much worse for your horse for her whole life. If someone has abused her in order to get her to "perform" this ridiculous excuse for a "sport", (which doesn't surprise me at all, given the mental capacity of those engaging in said "sport), then give her a break, show her some love. She is not going to like something that she was coerced into doing. Buy some books on natural horsemanship and focus on having a rewarding relationship with your horse. Relationships, at least real ones, are about give and take, not getting animals or other people to do what you want.

Answer 2

Alright, so your problem is more of getting her to trust you through the barrels rather than training her.

There's a couple things you can do. If she isn't shy of the barrels than that's better, but if she is, one thing you can do is put her on a lead, and bring her around the barrels. If she is shy of them, put like carrots around the barrel or on it, and lead her to it and let her discover the treats.  Then again if she isn't shy saddle her up giving her the encouraging pats on the neck and don't think "holy c**p, here we go this could go bad." Try not to think of what she could possibly be thinking, two timid minds that way aren't good! Here's another thing, if you put the barrels in your riding arena, not in the in the clover shape, just different areas off the side of the rail, so when you are working her(huntseat or whatever) you can just take her off the side, and let her circle them...first at the walk, then the trot, etc,. Just working along them, and you not pushing her too hard, she'll remember how to do it, but you will also be letting her regain her confidence.

As long as you don't push her, and you don't jump the gun, I think you two should be fine. Granted it's a safe way to boost her confidence and help you gain her trust, I don't know what state she is in(scared to death, goes into fits when she sees them, etc,.) I can't tell you how long it will take her to be comfortable with them, but if you take your time and are consistent with her you should be fine!

Good Luck!