HELP!!barrel racing

[horsecrazy101]

hey eveyone!I can't wait to kick off the 2005 show season...my first year barrel racing!!I'm ready to ride and can't wait to start but does anybody have any barrel racing tips they wouldnt mind sharing with me??good luck to all in the 2005 season and thanks to everyone whos helping me

[lollielala]

I'm just getting into barrel racing myself with a wonderful 6 year old palomino QH named Lucky, and I'm learning something new every day. I think the best advice you can have being new to it, is to try and stay focused, don't get nervous, and remember that the glory belongs to your horse just as much as it does to you. When going into your turns, don't lean in with the horse... let him do the work, lean back in the saddle a bit if you have to, but always remember to keep your belly button in line with the saddlehorn. Will you be riding in spurs? If so, be sure not to gouge your horse with them, just a slight tap is good for Lucky, he understands. What kind of horse will you be riding? Tell me all about him/her :) If you would like, you can email me at painted_dreams_87@yahoo.com ... I can give you some more tips if you need them. :D

[horsecrazychick]

Hellu. I did a little bit of barrel racing w/ my arab/appy at a local gymkhana last year, but we have a problem. Jazzy totally has a mind of her own, and if she doesn't want to go, she doesn't go. Spurs, crops, pleading, begging, nothing works. However, when she decides to be good, she's an angel. When she decides she doesn't want to go and you try to make her, she just plants her front feet and bucks. lol, any suggestions? I'm positive that it's because when she goes into the arena she has to run AWAY from the horses, nothing to do w/ not liking barrel racing, cuz she LOVES running when it's toward other horses or w/ other horses in the arena. She did fine when she was running w/ another horse in the ribbon race.... Oh and my arena at home isn't big enough to set up barrels and practice, so the only time we actually do it is at the gymkhana. :P Geez, how come I always end up writing so much??!

[lollielala]

Yeah, I've had that problem before :rolleyes: do you have any other horses she would want to stay with? because it sounds to me like she's buddy sour. if so, then try to get her out by herself, away from the other horses where she can't see them. sometimes my mare Ollie does that, and I put her out in the pasture by herself and she gets lonely and loves a visit from me and a ride. :)

[horsecrazychick]

Yes, she is buddy sour. ^^ I do get her away from the barn/her friends when I'm at home. However, at a gymkhana she sometimes refuses to, or she will but only at a walk. And at a gykhana she doesn't have any buddies w/ her. She does whinny though to every other horse as if they're all long lost friends. lol. She's extremly... hmm... what would the word be... there must be a word... herdy? herd-focused? I dunno. I guess just buddy sour, even though they're not always really her buddies. hehe.

[lollielala]

yeah I completely get where you're coming from. IM me on AIM.. pnkglittrstar .. we can talk more about it.. :)

[aphagirlie05]

Hey horsecrazy101! I've got a few tips for you! If this is your first season barrel racing, don't worry too much about how tight you take your turns at first. Kinda ease into it. Also, start the pattern on the lead your horse favors most. Run him in a straight line to identify which lead. For example. If he leads off with his left fore, go around the left barrel first. If he leads off with his right, go around the right. This way, two out of the three barrels are on your horse's preferred lead. This makes it easier for you and your horse.

Also, to help practice turning tight circles, work your horse in small circles doing bending exercises. Work your pattern before a show by starting out at the walk and then progressing up to the other gaits. Try not to go running all out at home too often, as this can sometimes sour a horse. Make sure though, that you use leg cues to help cue your horse around the barrels and when he does his circles. Don't just use your reins and feet, use your upper and inner thigh to help him maneuver and stay in balance.

Make sure you don't lean forward. Although many barrel racers think this makes their horse go faster, it only upsets your horse's balance. I prefer not to hold onto the horn, as that also inhibits your balance, and can cause accidents. As lollielala said, don't lean into your circle, that also throws your horse off, and prevents him from using his hindquarters to push himself around the barrel. Leaning to the inside causes your horse to pull with his front end, a terrible strain on his muscles and tendons.

Make sure your horse is wearing protective boots, this will help his legs from being strained, and will prevent him from knocking his own front legs with his hind.

That's all for me! Have fun running this season! I hope to hear about your adventures, wins, and hopefully none, but always inevitable losses. (I've had at least three no times...:D ) Oh yeah, I always wear a helmet, dunno bout you, but I had a horse fall on me and lost my short term memory for a day or so. It wasn't fun! Stay safe, and if you run in the summer keep your horse super hydrated, and you too, elsewise you might pass out! (that almost happened to me as well...) Good luck!!!

Kristen