How do you train your horse to barrel race?

Question

Okay, well I really want to start barrel racing on my horse, but he's not trained and I have no clue how to train him. I can already walk and trot him around all three barrels, but once we canter he gets confused and frustrated. My dad have gave me the option of sending him to a trainer and having that person train him, along with getting over a few quirks. Should I go ahead and have someone else train him? Money isn't a problem or anything like that.

Also I am going to have him trained in a snaffle, will this work fine for barrel racing? He was past trained as a roping horse.

Answer 1

well in my barrel horse training experiences this problem might come from where you are looking. Beacsue if he does good at the walking and trotting then it is either you or he needs more work at the trot.

Practice looking past the barrel untill the horses shoulder hits the barrel, then turn and look at the next barrel. This might solve the problem. If it doesnt just do more work at the trot to build his confidence. Because he might not have enough confidence to be able to do it.

As for bits i use a short shank smooth snaffle. Because I feel you need the leverage to get around the barrels.

So if you decide to use my approach you can email me at [e-mail] for more details, and to keep me updated on how he is responding.

Answer 2

It really depends on how competitive you want to be.  If this is something you really want and want to do it well, I'd send him to a trainer.  The trainer will be able to figure out if barrel racing is even an option for this particular horse.  It will also give you a chance to observe the training process and receive a little training yourself.

Answer 3

Gee - lucky girl if money isn't an issue.

YES - by all means have a professional trainer train the horse and you - don't let someone tell you they can train the horse and put you on it - you need to know everything that horse needs to know in order to continually succeed.

Barrel racing isn't just an everyday sport - it takes committment and knowledge and ability to learn from others to succeed.

Where are you?  Have you access to Ed and Martha Wrigth or Martha Josey?  These are the very best to teach young people to barrel race.  Get on Ed and Martha Wright's web page www.edandmartha.com and find a clinic near you - quick before Ed's not doing these anymore!

You will learn more in a two day clinic with Ed Wright than you will in years of book reading or video watching.  take Mom or Dad and a video camera.  it'll cost ya a few hundred dollars, but you'll walk away knowing exactly what to do next - after the first 2-day clinic, you can brush up yearly with one-day clinics near you.

Ed will start with a talk with you the first morning, take you on foot through the pattern and then work with each person individually that first day.  The second day he works with each of you again.  Your time with it shouldn't be your only time paying attention - watching what he does with others will help you too - ask him lots of questions too.

Until you can do that- get some videos' by people from the NFR - Sherri Cervi, Charmayne James - get all the videos and books you can by these gals - Western Horseman books has one by Charmayne James - and my old age isn't letting me remember the other gal's name - these books are easy reads and will help you immensely learn the right way.

By far the best advice I can give you is:

1.  Do NOT take a horse through the pattern over and over and over.  You don't want your horse to know the pattern, you want the horse to listen to you and put his feet where you tell him - if he's thinking for you, he isn't smart enough to know the proper way and what you're knowing is the right way to go - different arena sizes and footings with require ability to run a pattern differently  - the horse needs to be listening to you, not thinking ahead of you.  You need the horse to be going around any barrel the way you want him to - successful racers do not run a pattern even every day.  The horse only needs to go around the pattern about twice before he knows the actual pattern he will run - the success comes in turning exactly right - putting his feet in exactly the right place.  Until you can do this perfectly at the walk, you can't do it at the trot and until you can do it perfectly at the trot, you can do it any faster.

2.  Don't do it on your own, don't do it to win.  Do it with others who will help you with an open mind willing to take criticism for what it is and learn from it.  If you do it to win, you'll be disappointed until you do and it will take longer.  If you go after it for the fun and for the learning of it, the win will come more naturally.

3.  Set small goals to get to the biggest ones - if you aren't setting small goals, there won't be little successes along the way to keep your spirits up.

I could go on, but that's the basic "how to" - Good luck, cowgirl!

Answer 4

I trained 3 horses to barrel race so far...it just takes time & patience....do not rush him & dont barrel him everyday...i always say for every hour in the ring, spend about 2 hours riding on the trails or your horse will be one of the idiotic ones who balk and get ring sour or he will go completely crazy & become dangerous! Anyways I always use hackamores on my horses, they offer good precision turning as you dont have to more your hands very far to make contact & the WHOA factor is there if you EVER need it....ohh and make sure you teach your horse not to run to the gate after your run....curve to the side (which ever lead he's on) so he doesnt one day jump the gate in his agsnt or injure the gate person.  My moms horse is very lazy & i trained her to barrel....you need to gain their trust before they let you wrap them around a barrel at a full gallop :P Dont run on unsafe ground and when you ask for a lope, make sure you get one when you ASK not when he FEELS like it :) look up articles or get a coach...if you want to train your horse yourself....private coaches are awesome....i love my coach, she is amazing!!  

Answer 5

Yes, walking your horse around the field, but I think that when he gets confused, it's the rider that isn't giving clear directions to him, so he's confused.  Make sure that you are clear in your directions to him via the reins.  Also, be sure to focus your eyes ahead of the immediate place you are so your body language to him will indicate where you are going.  Good strong hands on the reins, focusing your attention on where you are going.  Try the walk, trot, canter/lope - daily.  It takes patience on your part to get him to understand what you are asking as long as your asking is strong.

The bit - depends entirely on what he responds to, how it fits his mouth, if he's trying really hard to roll that bit up, even if he's slobbering a lot - all indications that another bit is necessary.  It may take 3 or 4 bits to find the one that he adjusts to and doesn't hurt his mouth.  Sometimes the wrong bit can create problems on the course.  Working together, letting him know when he's done the right thing by loving on him (a lean down and patting his neck is good) and even working with a treat in your pocket and when you have a really successful day, he gets a treat.  Talking to him while you are riding is also effective.  If you just can't get him trained I suppose that sending him to someone else would work, but I think that you will miss a lot of what makes a horse and his owner work as a team if someone else is doing the training.

Answer 6

Wow! That is a lot to write down. Here is the basics!

First walk him around them and keep getting faster and faster!

Answer 7

i trained my horses by walking them around for while when they get used to it trot then run if your ready and its goin to take practice

if you think you cant handle then send him to a trainer but if you can handle dont

for the bit i use a curb bit  

Answer 8

If he is very lazy then even sending him to a trainer will not make him into a good barrel horse.  A good barrel horse has to have the athletic ability and the heart for it.  Not all horses are cut out to be a barrel horse.  If you still want to barrel race him then I would recommend sending the horse to a professional trainer, especially since, as you say, money is no object.  I have a friend who barrel races her horse in a ring snaffle with no problems, but no all horses will do it with such a mild bit.

Should you want to continue on your own then continue to walk and trot the patterns, moving into a lope when you feel as if he understands what is required of him.  Make sure that when you approach the barrel you move over to make a "pocket" for you and your horse to get around the barrel.  Failing to do this will usually result in the horse shouldering the barrel over.  Concentrate of following the pattern and form before you worry about speed.  It could take years to get a barrel horse trained so don't try to rush things along, if you rush him you risk blowing him up and making him ring sour.

Make sure that you ride him on trails also - all work and no relaxation will also make a ring sour horse.

Good Luck.