Many of us may wonder, “What qualities contribute to a great barrel?” The way we execute a turn successfully is a result of our approach. However, the question remains, how do we achieve this? We will outline what we believe are the essential elements that make a barrel truly exceptional.
So let’s get into it.
3 Things to Make Fast & Smooth Barrel Racing Turns
1: The one thing that we start off by telling everybody, is the approach.
To achieve success with barrels, it is essential to approach them correctly and efficiently. The key lies in our approach: if we fail to approach the barrel correctly, any mishaps or difficulties will hinder our ability to finish the task successfully.
If you enter the barrel tightly, you will need to approach it wide. If you enter with your shoulder dropped and your horse’s hip sticking out, your horse will need to take an additional step or two in order to regain balance and successfully maneuver around the barrel in the most efficient and fastest way. Our main goal is to complete the barrel pattern as quickly as we can.
Both horses and humans have a tendency to foresee the turn, which often leads to various problems such as slicing into it or creating a large pocket. Consequently, when we exit the turn, our horses may unexpectedly encounter these obstacles, resulting in numerous potential complications in a mere second.
#2: Point of Focus
To maintain the same meaning while rephrasing the text, follow these step-by-step instructions. Remember to look directly behind the barrel, as that should be your focal point. Make sure to concentrate only on that spot and aim for your horse’s head, front feet, and back feet to travel towards it. You can approach it by thinking “lift the shoulder, move forward; lift the shoulder, move ahead.”
When considering the process, to effectively convey the same idea without altering any details, you would focus on drawing a line behind you as the key point for urging your horse forward. The objective is for horses to become accustomed to running up to that specific spot. It is crucial to maintain consistency and refrain from initiating the turn until the horse has completely passed the barrel. Remember to always have a designated point where your gaze is fixed, as this will aid in developing muscle and mental memory.
#3 Straight Lines
The second element for a barrel race is straight lines. Maintaining straight lines is crucial for keeping the shoulders in alignment and ensuring the horse functions as a cohesive unit. It involves working in parallel tracks with the front and back feet. When approaching and maneuvering around the barrel, the key is to maintain a sense of complete control over your horse’s entire body using your hands and legs.
Circle Tires for Smooth Runs and Fast Times
When training, maintaining, or troubleshooting with your barrel horse, a variety of tools will be employed to achieve your objective. By maintaining an open mindset, we can expand our toolbox by incorporating additional tools and resources.
Arrange the tires in a circular formation, with a diameter of approximately 50 feet. The actual size can vary by up to 10 feet based on available space. Opt for bicycle tires as they are convenient to reposition and do not accumulate water like car tires. Utilize 5 to 8 tires for the circle, depending on the amount of space you have. Aim to have the tires evenly spaced with a minimum gap of 20 feet between them. Remember, the closer the tires are to each other, the greater the difficulty level.
The aim is to create flawless circles around each tire. Only accelerate once you are able to complete a full rotation of the large circle (around each tire) perfectly. The size of your circles should be determined by the training level of your horse. The lower the level, the bigger your circles should be. If your intention is to relax your horse during a turn, larger circles would be more preferable. However, if you are focusing on maneuverability, you may vary the sizes of the circles.
To effectively prepare for turning the next tire when starting out at a trot and lope, it may be necessary to skip a tire. Maintaining a proper body position is crucial, with the inside rein guiding and the outside rein providing support. The inside leg should create bend, while the outside leg helps keep the hip in place. Keeping an equal distance from each tire is important, and if your horse tends to dive for the turn, widen your approach and make him stay out. Maintaining the same distance when leaving each tire ensures readiness for the next turn. Depending on the size of the circles, you can adjust the number of tires used. It’s important to practice this drill in both directions to achieve balance. An advanced version of this drill would involve performing it correctly with only one hand on the rein during the turns, similar to a barrel turn.
By performing this drill with young horses, you can determine if they are prepared to progress to the barrel pattern. If a horse cannot successfully execute this drill at a specific speed, it will be unable to perform a correct barrel turn at that speed. Additionally, this drill is beneficial for developing the hip muscle and enhancing the horses’ hind end utilization through repeated complete turns. If a horse tends to work too hard or crowd in a turn, this drill effectively encourages relaxation in a circular motion and improves maneuverability during a turn.
