Is there anything wrong with this?

Ok so I don't have a dirt arena cause we don't have enough room for that so I just set my barrels up in the grass in the pasture and that's where I practice I mean I don't have a choice it's that or nothing and someone b*****d at me and said it's bad for the horses and I shouldn't be practicing on the grass, I've been doing it in the grass sence I started barrel racing ( 7 years ago) and it doesn't seem to bother my horses at all and I don't see what it's hurting it's not like I always run my horses on barrels anyways I do mostly walking and trotting and if I have a rodeo coming up I might run them not flat out just lope to make sure they don't need anything corrected...What do you all think?

I don't run in my pasture.. mostly because my neighbors BOTH have arenas.. I used to though.. not run though..just trot and stuff.. but I have heard of it not being good for horses.. Im not sure if it was you who posted a while back. And some people said your horse looked sore and needed a chiro? Maybe running in your pasture does bother her? But ya know.. I don't know much haha.. just saying:)

It can be very slippery, that's why people don't do it

Yes, the slipperiness can make it dangerous. But if you have had lots of practice on the grass and you are prepared for if the horse slips, then I don't think there is any problem with that. I used to lope up and down my driveway - there was grass everywhere in that road.

One of the biggest barrel racing courses in the world is ran halfway on grass. But they turn on the track. Its in Pendleton, OR

Fluffy Pony Around my barrels is dirt I keep it worked up to so it doesn't get all hard and stuff

How well, and how much dirt do you actually have around your barrels? Do you have a picture?

Do you routinely walk (on foot) around your pattern to be sure no holes or rocks are present?

I find that a horse will not stop, turn and use their hindend properly when doing barrel work on grass. And I feel if your not going to do it right...to teach the horse the correct feel of a turn, and do it in a way that's going to be done in the arena, then don't do it at all. JMO.
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I've had two of my horses fall with me loping in the pasture turning, no where near as tight as a barrel turn. I find it dangerous and only walk and trot the pattern at my house. I might lope in between the barrels, but never around. I find the ground is way to hard for the horses legs, they can't stop or do anything properly other than what is in a straight line. You won't go to any (well run) barrel races on grass, and your horse wont have the proper feel for it.

beau159 Yes I walk and and look for holes and rocks and I have it done pretty good, and ya i've had a few falls around the barrels but i'm prepared for if the horse slips but like I said I never actually run them