How do you teach a horse to barrel race good?

Question

Im trying to teach my horse to bend better when we barrel race how would I do that?

Answer 1

Again I am a firm believer that we can not train horse's on the net

I would give you advice till  I am blue in the face

Please seek a really good trainer maybe a reining one or a real pro ,,

I could tell you to bend your horse this way and that

But with out seeing you ride and know your horse I can not give you what you want

Horse people maythink it;s mecanhial to train ,,but it is not

so My answer is try to find some one that really knows and knows you and you horse and can watch you ride  

then they can help

No way can 10 different answers are going to help

Only confuse you and your horses

Good luck I think sound advice is better then NO ADVICE ?????

Answer 2

I can not tell you how to train a horse over the computer. Try a really good trailer. They will teach you from there how to bend the horses rib cage with your feet & you will learn that real barrel racing has nothing to do with your hands at all. It ALL your feet/legs. GOOD LUCK with training !!

Answer 3

How far along in training are you and your horse?  If the horse already knows how to bend, he should be able to do it on the pattern.. Until your horse knows the pattern well, you should only put him on it at a trot..

When trotting around the barrel, pull your inside rein up and towards your outside shoulder.. This will ask him to bend around the barrel.. You can go around each barrel two or three times when practicing.. Get him used to finding the pocket and then turning around the barrel.

Even if you are just looking to compete at fun shows.. Practicing the pattern at a trot will be your best bet.. Trot it at least a few weeks(or until you feel he really knows the pattern)

Answer 4

Work a lot of suppleness exercises first, don't just stick him on the barrels. You can do this on the ground and in the saddle. Neck and back stretches,turns etc. Use a lot of leg bends in the saddle and teach him to hold that back end in place so he can dig in better. Hit the barrels slow until he gets it under control. Then ask for speed  This can be a demanding sport so pay attention to stiffness issues, massages and chiropractors can keep him supple and  loose before and after competition. And see if he's right sided or left sided , use his dominant side for the two turns