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Barrel Racing Critique

2K views 10 replies 10 participants last post by  Harlee rides horses 
#1 ·
So I thought I'd post a few pictures of me running barrels on the horse I ride at the ranch I go to during the summer. I've never taken any lessons or anything in barrel racing and the only western lessons I've had have been western pleasure so I definitely expect to be corrected.

Let me know what you think!
Oh and the horse's name is O'Sage.
:]

Practicing in the big pasture...




Rodeo day.


Turned too soon, it didn't fall though.


Going out a little wide there.


And for fun, O'Sage and me after our first run on rodeo day.
 
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#2 ·
O'Sage is so pretty! The one thing I might suggest is that you lean back a bit. It seems like you tend to lean forwards. I don't know much about western riding, though- that's just what I think. Overall you guys look good together! You look like you have a solid position and you look very comfortable.
 
#3 ·
Not sure how serious you're planning to get with barrels, but I will give you some tips.

1. I agree with anrz, you need to sit down through your turn. This will provide you with balance and stability and also will help your horse to dig in.

2. I would suggest going back to slow work. You should still probably be riding with two hands. You need to place more emphasis on your inside hand to tip your horse's face in a bit. At the same time you need to be pushing with your inside leg to get his body to go into that arch around the barrel. When you and your horse are ready to ride with one hand, you ALWAYS use your inside hand. I see it dangling in one and reaching back in the other. Also reaching back to your cantle, while fine for leisure, will throw your balance off during a pattern.

3. You need to get your weight out of your inside pocket, if you're leaning your weight to the inside that is where your horse is going to. Probably the reason why you knocked that barrel.

4. I would also suggest looking at where you want your horse to go, not your next barrel. While this differs for everyone I've had the best luck with looking at the next spot that I want my horses inside leg to go.

5. You also need to take him in a wider arch as you are too tight into the barrel. I would suggest about 4' away from the barrel if you're not going to do a pocket. If you are going to do a pocket, go wider than that on the front side of the barrel but cut the backside shorter. Either style should be an even circle the only thing that changes is where the barrel is placed inside that circle.

6. If you want to get your horse really sinking into the barrels you're going to have to get him more collected and on the bit. Your horse isn't going to be able to sink into the turns with his nose popped out. I would also suggest taking off the tie down if you feel comfortable with it. A tie-down should be there for your horse to brace himself against through a turn, not to restrict head movement. So you shouldn't really need one unless you're really cruising around my turn. That is just my opinion though.

If you do want to learn more about barrels I would suggest picking up one of the Charmayne James books, she has some excellent tips on getting started and getting your horse into a smoother pattern. Sorry if this was a little more in-depth than you wanted.
 
#4 ·
His nose is always pointed out and away from the barrel. You want him to hug the barrel and flex his head to the inside and have his nose lead in where you want him to go.

I don't know if you are too concerned with fixing it, but you could do softening and lateral flexion exercises to help him with that.

I can't help with the riding critique though since I don't ride barrels as much. I'm more of a trainer than a competitor.

Hope that made sense
 
#6 ·
Thanks for all the advice you guys.
:]

Yeah, I'm not that serious about barrel racing, was just curious.
I only get to see this horse for a month once a year so I can't really work with him that much but I'll definitely take the advice and apply it next time I go up there. I wish I could buy him and bring him down here and really work with him but he's just a ranch horse that I get to mess around with during the summer.

Thanks again!
 
#10 ·
The only thing that I really have to say other than I absolute love Osages color is to ride with both hands, sit down and back more and RELAX! Barrels are fun. neck rein with outside rein and flex your horses nose inward with the other. It will make a huge difference!
 
#11 ·
See how he turns his head out when he's going around?
That's him dropping his shoulder which in turn will slow your horse down... If you push him hard to the barrel and then don't ask them to collect about five feet ahead of the barrel, they tend to drop their shoulder. So, what I suggest would be to do some collection work around the barrel, like trot to the barrel and then walk around the barrel. Canter then trot around the barrel, and then gallop and ask them to canter around the barrel.

Eventually they understand you want them to collect and get their butt under them and then they will start to do that while running. Whenever I used to run my friend would always yell "Whoa!" right before I would turn the barrel, thus triggering me to pull back and Chief to collect.
 
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