Gate handler and Barrel Racing for the first time!

This might come out funny, but I am LOVING being the gate handler right now! Haha! Crazy, I know... But This summer I will be doing the gates at fair, rendezvous, regular races, and our big rodeo! I am so excited! But hey, take small steps, haha!

Well, I also might be racing this summer too! Not as an actual championship stuff, but mostly for fun. Golley and I have never raced before, but we are both excited for this new, and big, step of ours!

I was just wondering if anybody had any tips on racing. I will be getting some bell boots and maybe leg wraps.
What are the benefits and non-benefits of leg wraps?
Is there anything else that I might need for barrel racing, other than bell boots (for sure.)?

This is my first time ever, so any tips would also be great!!

Thank you for everything!!

First thing, I would check out Drum's sticky on this forum. There's lot of great exercises on it.
Barrel Racing Exercises and Drills.


Secondly, we've been talking a lot about sport boots and polos lately. Here are some of those threads:

Opinion on Polo Wraps for leg protection and support??

Boots vs Polos .... Here is the Professional's Choice SMB study from 1998 ...

Boots on just front?

Sport boot brand opinions??



And every once in a while, there's a newbie to barrels like you. Here's what we've talked about before:

Trying to get my horse into barrel racing, need some help please.

How do I start barrel racing??




So basically, READ UP!!

Feel free to ask any further questions.

While you are on the gate, be observant as to what the competitors are using. I know of a number of competitors who went back to wraps or splint boots and bell boots as the medicine boots would fill with sand and had to continually be removed and the leg brushed well. There often wasn't enough time in between events.