In this discussion, we aim to address the issue of hitting barrels and suggest tips to prevent it. A common cause of barrel hitting is individuals fixating solely on the barrel. It is crucial to maintain proper posture and focus your gaze forward. It is often advised to direct your sight between your horse’s ears instead of directly at the barrel. Remember to look upwards, not at the barrel.
Do not become too arrogant or overconfident. Maintain a straight posture, sitting firmly on your seat and urging the horse forward from its hindquarters, not by leaning forwards. These two actions will greatly benefit your horse’s anticipation based on your body position. You are aware that a horse can feel even the landing of a fly on its body, so if you lean too far forward or sideways while looking down at the barrel, your horse will sense it and anticipate the barrel just as much as you do. Therefore, correct your body position and focus on the correct points to stay aligned and balanced in the saddle. We advise people to look ahead at the fence in order to reduce their anticipation of turning the barrel, and also to keep the horse moving forward rather than anticipating the turn too early.
In order to avoid hitting the barrel coming out of the turn, it is crucial to ensure that the horse reaches far enough forward in the middle of the turn, rather than going directly from Point A to Point C. To achieve this, the horse must be pushed forward in the turn to reach Point B, before proceeding to complete the turn at Point C. Point C refers to the spot located on the side of the timer’s line, where the horse is straightened up to transition to the next barrel. However, it is important not to straighten the horse too soon, as it may result in hitting the barrel while leaving the turn. It is essential to continuously push the horse forward throughout the middle of the turn and around the barrel until the horse surpasses that point, allowing a smooth transition to the next barrel. By maximizing forward motion in the middle of the turn, the likelihood of hitting the barrel coming out of the turn can be reduced.
The second barrel is considered the most challenging for hitting, as it is approached at a very direct angle. When facing directly towards the second barrel, your focus should be on a specific spot on the fence, approximately 3-4 feet beside the barrel. The objective is to guide your horse towards that spot on the fence. It is important to identify a visual reference point beyond the barrel, such as a banner or a fence post, to keep yourself in an upright position and look ahead. Avoid starting the turn until your leg has passed the barrel and instead concentrate on urging your horse forward. Rather than focusing on your horse, it is more effective to work on improving your own riding technique and body position, as this will greatly contribute to keeping the barrels upright during your run.
BONUS: Mastering the Reining Spin
For numerous amateur western riders, achieving the reining spin is a highly desired accomplishment. However, it can be challenging to learn certain maneuvers without the guidance of a reining trainer, should you lack access to one.
Today, we will discuss a method for achieving a reining spin, which consists of three exercises: the backing exercise, the star exercise, and the spiral exercise.
The Backing Exercise
The initial step in teaching a reining spin typically involves using the backing method. It is assumed that your horse already possesses the ability to back up with lightness and responsiveness. If you encounter difficulties in this aspect, I suggest revisiting my article on teaching the western backup.
The initial instruction will consist of initiating a right spin.
1. Take hold of the reins and direct the horse to move backward.
1. Begin by tilting the horse’s nose to the right and gently tapping with your right heel (or spur if you employ them). 2. This action will cause the horse to move in a circular motion while backing up to the left. 3. By doing so, you encourage the horse to flex its hocks and engage its hindquarters effectively.
1. Begin by releasing your driving aids and initiate a rollback to the right using your left leg. 2. By performing this action, the horse should execute a crossover in a rollback motion towards the right. 3. As a result, a quarter of a spin will be produced.
The Star Exercise
The next step after the horse becomes proficient at rolling back while backing a circle is to progress to the star exercise. This exercise sets up the pivot foot for the spin. The correct execution of a reining spin requires the inside foot to serve as the pivot foot. This means that for a left spin, the left foot is firmly planted, and for a right spin, the right foot is firmly planted. If your horse is placing the wrong foot as the pivot, the issue is simply a lack of forward motion. Surprisingly, forward motion is the real key to achieving the desired final spin. Please be patient with me as we delve into this concept.
The initial three steps involve instructing a roll-back.
1. Find a flat open space and choose a five-pointed star shape to ride. Once you reach each point of the star, sit down and come to a complete stop.
After propelling forward, proceed to execute a turn on the haunches promptly (by yielding the forequarters). This will result in the horse rolling back over its hocks. Continue to urge the horse to move forward after the rollback, as failing to do so may cause it to retreat over its hocks and place its foot incorrectly.
Continue repeating the process since the five-point start seamlessly transitions to another, making it effortless for one roll-back to lead into the next.
Once you achieve consistent rollbacks on the correct picot foot, you can increase the difficulty level.
4. Continue to apply pressure for increased rotation. Maintain the pressure until he begins to retreat. Once he starts retracting, promptly urge him forward to exit the turn. With proper timing, it typically won’t take long before your horse starts providing you with a partial or even complete revolution.
The spiral exercise is another way you can switch things up for your horse to achieve the same result.
The Spiral Exercise
Start by trotting (or walking) a small circle and gradually making the circle tighter until the horse sits down and rotates its hocks.
When you detect the horse pulling back, promptly encourage the horse to resume the original pace by pushing it forward.
3. Repeat the process. Continue to push for more each time until you sense the horse resisting, then encourage them to move forward again.
