While you are preparing your barrel horse for the competition season, are you considering ways to give him an advantage? Alongside ensuring his wellness and adapting his training routine to enhance his performance, use these tips to boost his chances in the upcoming barrel race.
The task at hand involves focusing on supplying at a low speed by thinking through each step.
If there is tension or imbalance in your horse, it can result in losing seconds and dropping down in the race rankings. Spend some time and practice suppling exercises at a slow pace. One advantage of concentrating on suppling is that you can perform it several times a week without causing strain. Additionally, there are numerous drills available to enhance suppling and body control, allowing you to vary the routine and prevent boredom for both you and your horse.
Practice only certain sections of the pattern, proceeding methodically and logically.
It is not unchallenging to become fixated on practicing the pattern continuously until it is flawless, but excessive repetition of the whole pattern can cause your horse to become negative, disinterested, or sluggish. Instead, concentrate on a specific segment of the pattern that is causing difficulty. Once you have invested a considerable amount of effort, shift your attention to a completely different activity, such as trail riding, to prevent your horse (as well as yourself) from becoming exhausted.
Place your attention on the alignment of your body.
Consider your body alignment and how it affects your horse’s performance. Pay attention to aligning your hip and heel in a straight line to enhance your stability. Additionally, ask a friend or trainer to observe you riding from behind to confirm that you are properly centered in the saddle.
In order to improve your seat and balance, begin by practicing sitting the trot, riding while standing in your stirrups, and twisting your body from side to side while riding. Enhancing your seat and balance will enable you to assist your horse effectively during every run.
Collaborate with a trainer who is not the same as the one you previously worked with.
By working with a different trainer, even if only for a few sessions, you can gain valuable insight into your horse’s performance and identify areas for improvement. A new trainer will offer a fresh perspective and often have unique ways of explaining techniques. If you have been facing challenges with a specific issue, spending a few sessions with a new trainer could alter your viewpoint and assist in resolving the problem.
BONUS: Understanding the barrel pattern and the perfect circle
The barrel pattern is not complicated; it consists of three barrels arranged in a triangular shape. In this pattern, each rider must make a fast clover leaf turn around each barrel. Riders can choose to follow a pattern involving one right hand turn and two left hand turns, or the opposite. The diagram below demonstrates a right handed pattern, where the rider selects the right barrel as their first one. They will then proceed in a straight line to barrel two across the pen, where they will make a left hand turn. Afterwards, they will go straight to barrel three for another left hand turn before finally returning across the timer line.
Recognizing that the barrel pattern consists of straight lines and rapid, tight turns is crucial for grasping it. By practicing exiting each turn in a position to proceed directly to the next barrel, you will be able to reduce the time taken for your run.
Preparation of the horse and rider.
In order to walk your horse around the barrel pattern, it is necessary for both you and your horse to be able to execute a perfect circle in the correct lead at a walk, trot, and lope. A perfect circle goes beyond the horse’s ability to simply lope around in a circle; it also includes maintaining the correct body position and collectedness. The correct body position entails a slight tilt of the horse’s nose towards the inside of the circle, free shoulders that can move naturally within the circle, a slightly bent rib cage towards the inside, and the hip positioned underneath the horse. This is the desired position for your horse as it maneuvers around the barrels.
To maintain and gain control over each of the horse’s body parts, it is helpful to practice circles in both directions, gradually transitioning from smaller to larger circles. Additionally, circles serve as a beneficial warm-up exercise for your horse prior to a workout.
For more experienced horses and riders, they may choose to incorporate counter-bending into their circle work. Counter-bending is an effective technique for loosening your horse’s shoulders and further developing control over individual body parts. To execute counter-bending, begin by establishing a regular circle with your horse, ensuring they are relaxed and comfortable. Then, gently guide your horse to move their nose and rib cage away from the inside of the circle, while keeping the correct positioning of their shoulders and hindquarters for the circle. Maintain this position for a brief moment before returning to the original circle body position.
