Posh Pampered Pets

Teaching Your Horse to Barrel Race

A good barrel horse requires lots of time and training. The event, which usually draws more girls than boys, has become extremely popular in 4H clubs and rodeo's.

A horse that is already trained in riding and knows all of the basic commands and basics such and trotting and loping is much preferred to a green horse. If he does not know the basic stop, starts, and reining it makes things extremely difficult and will take much longer to get up to speed. It is best to have a somewhat eager and energetic horse when racing barrels as they must be athletic and have good energy for this fast event.

An arena with at least two inches of loose sand or dirt on top of firm ground is needed. Arrange three barrels in the proper pattern you wish to run. You can either start on the left barrel or the right. Walk your horse around the barrels. Make the pattern three or four times at least completely. The turns must be complete and in the proper way. Leave a pocket when approaching each barrel just as you would when riding the pattern in competition.

Trot your horse around the barrels through the proper pattern for about two weeks. Do not move on until your horse is able to trot the pattern with minimal instruction. Get him to learn the pattern so well that he doesn't even have to think.

You can increase to a lope after the two weeks. If the horse makes any mistakes, go back to the original trot until he fixes the problem. Even after you are at a running speed, continue to walk and run your horse every day. This will teach him that he doesn't have to run the barrels every time he gets near them.

Over time, horses can get very excited when running the pattern and begin to charge the barrel. Relaxation is the key in any competition. When in the training arena and walking around the barrels you may want to walk him several times around a barrel until he can do it calmly and relaxed. Don't go thru the pattern at a run until he is calm and focused.

Make sure to give your horse time away from the barrels, as they get extremely bored of doing the same things over and over. Give them a little relaxation time away from the work.

posted by Posh Pampered Pets @ 9:46 AM