We hold the belief that having good horsemanship skills is crucial to achieving success in pole bending and barrel racing. It is not uncommon for a successful pole bending horse and rider to abide by the established rules of the sport. Our philosophy is centered around teamwork, where the horse and rider collaborate seamlessly. To reach the highest level of achievement, both the horse and the rider must have a thorough understanding and mastery of the core principles.
We suggest using a zig-zag pattern called a slalom, similar to skiing. We prefer this approach because it prompts the horse to move through the pattern while keeping its shoulders and hips away from the poles, following its nose. The alternative method is the lateral or side-pass, but it is not as effective since few horses can perform well with their shoulders and hips in, resulting in a falling movement. Additionally, the side-pass requires more space, using up a significant portion of the 21 feet available. This approach often leads to poles being tipped by the rider’s knee or the horse’s hip. Therefore, let’s stick with the zig-zag slalom.
Application of the Technique
When observing from above in the video clip, the viewer can clearly see the zig-zag pattern that the rider envisions. However, from ground level, an observer may perceive the pattern as a seamless weave. The rider should ride from one important point to another important point known as the key spot, which is the point where the rider’s knee surpasses the pole. The most extensive part of the pattern occurs at these key spots.
Once the horse crosses the pole line, the goal is to move away from the pole line until you reach the key spot. At any point in the pattern, the objective is to reach the subsequent key spot. It is crucial to aim to cross the pole line at the midpoint.
When it comes to horses, they tend to anticipate – they desire to begin crossing the line prematurely and the pole line prior to reaching the midpoint. Employ your aids to make them wait until the crucial moment, then guide them (avoid forcefully urging them!) in a straight path from that moment to the midpoint, progressing head-first towards the subsequent key spot.
Causes of Downed Poles
The lack of respect for the poles is a crucial factor in the occurrence of downed poles. After organizing multiple clinics nationwide, we have determined that this is undoubtedly the primary cause. In my perspective, many riders handle the poles with excessive nonchalance. This implies that during practice, they treat a downed pole as something insignificant. They appear to believe that they only need to prioritize downed poles during a competition. However, by that time, it is already too late!
Let me give you an explanation. Pole bending is often considered the most demanding and intricate speed event. It involves performing precise maneuvers at high speeds, like a choreographed dance with your horse. The pace of this event is considerably faster than barrel racing. Despite our efforts to achieve perfection, riders cannot always maintain ideal positions. It is crucial for your horse to collaborate with you. They must compensate for any mistakes you make. This demonstrates the importance of your horse having reverence for the poles. We like to imagine that each pole carries a powerful charge of 20,000 volts. If touched, both the rider and horse are at risk of getting shocked! So, you need to ask yourself if you have effectively trained your horse to honor the poles, or if your horse has learned from you that they are insignificant. Keep in mind that horses are always learning. Here’s the breakdown: The first knocked down pole is deemed a mistake. The second knocked down pole becomes a problem. And finally, if the third pole is consistently knocked down, it becomes a habit!
Insufficient guidance change is sometimes observed in horses. There are instances where a horse stiffens its body, making it difficult to maneuver through directional changes in the bending section. This often leads to the horse running in a straight line too close to the pole line, causing the rider’s knee to strike the pole. It is important to ride the horse to each designated spot and remind it to flex its entire body, not just the head and neck, in both left and right directions. A horse that is on an arc should have its spine curved to correspond with the shape of the arc. However, very few horses are able to achieve this perfectly. Like humans, horses can be either right-handed or left-handed. Most horses perform well when turning to the right, but experience stiffness in the rib area when turning to the left (although a few may have the opposite issue). These horses need to be suppled. To get them to flex and conform to the shape of the circle, they must move their ribs away from the rider’s inside leg. We encourage this flexion by adjusting our own body position and direction, as if we had eyes on the front of our shoulders and were looking where we intend to go.
3) When it comes to learning how to run poles at speed, horses can only achieve this by actually running at speed. However, they acquire the knowledge of where to place their hooves by engaging in slow work at a walk and trot. It is crucial to prioritize the slow work and execute it accurately. Keep in mind that a running horse will require additional space when passing a pole due to leaning, so ensure more room is provided during the slow work. To properly execute the pattern, it is recommended to trot with approximately 3 or 4 feet gap between your knee and the poles. Additionally, ensure that the horse’s shoulder is slightly outwards (not inwards), ride towards the key spot, cross at the midpoint, and request a slight outward movement of the hip.
4) When thinking about improper flexion, remember to say “Shoulder Out!” It is necessary for a horse to flex in the direction they are going. In pole bending, the changes in direction are minimal to the point that they will appear almost straight when running at full speed. This is acceptable. However, what is not acceptable is flexing the horse’s body in the wrong way, known as inverted flexion. This occurs when the horse’s body is flexed towards the opposite arc of their travel path.
The horse is inverted due to the rider’s use of a direct outside rein to keep the horse away from the pole, but this method is ineffective as it causes the horse to push its shoulder into the turn, ultimately disrupting its balance and position. It should be noted that the same technique does not work for barrel racing either. The proper correction is to employ the inside aids, which include the inside leg and inside rein, to properly guide and control the horse.
Inverted flexion can also be caused by a lack of suppleness in a horse. When a horse is stiff on one side, they will only flex in one direction. When running, a horse with this issue may feel as though they are running correctly past a pole on one side, but on the other side, they may feel like they are falling backward across the pole line.
5) Absence of Control. It is necessary to identify and target specific positions. The horse will naturally establish a rhythmic pattern that ideally accommodates these positions, but the focus should be on the positions themselves and they should take precedence over the rhythm if the two elements become misaligned. It is crucial to successfully position your horse at each key spot.
This exercise, done at slower gaits like trot or lope, aims to enhance control by enabling the horse to “lateral march” diagonally out of the pattern. This means that the horse is shaped for a stride that passes a pole on the right side. The goal is to maintain this shape while directing the horse forward and to the left on a diagonal line, without disrupting the position of the horse or the rider. The technique resembles the position used in a “head-out” dressage move down the fence and requires the use of the inside aids, specifically the inside leg and inside rein. When executed correctly, there should be no change in the horse or rider’s shape, nor any noticeable movement of the hands. The purpose of this exercise is to prevent the horse from diving in early at the pole and to allow the rider to hold the horse if it hasn’t reached the desired spot beside the pole yet. This exercise is occasionally used to keep the horse honest and help the rider develop finesse with the reins.
When executing a turn, it is important to set up the bending segment. The horse should complete the turn at the designated spot, next to the turning pole, while facing the next pole with its body. The horse should pass the next pole in three strides – starting with a powerful stride upon departure, followed by a longer stride, and finally a full stride. This sequence should take the horse all the way to the next key spot, which is when the rider’s knee is past the pole and the horse’s off-lead leg lands past the pole. Over-turning the pole, which is a common mistake, will prevent the horse from reaching this crucial next key spot.
One frequently encountered issue, particularly at the start, is the rider’s lack of preparedness. Although the horse is ready, the rider is not, causing the horse to perceive a lack of guidance and pause briefly, anticipating the rider’s catch-up. Consequently, the stride is shortened, and the horse fails to reach the crucial point once more.
Another issue that arises is if the rider fails to notice the designated set for the turn, leading them to overshoot the end pole by turning too far behind or wide. This, once again, disrupts the stride pattern and causes them to miss a crucial point at the subsequent pole.
The ‘Look’
The principle is that looking is not just about the eyes and head, it involves the whole body. By shaping your body in this way, several things happen: – Your shoulders rotate towards the turn. – Your hands follow your shoulders and are in an effective position to control the horse. – Your weight shifts onto your seat bones, and they move in a way that the horse can feel. – Pay attention to your legs – your inside leg becomes active at the cinch, requesting flexion, while your outside leg is in a good position for holding control of the hindquarters. – A diagonal is created towards the inside of the turn to allow energy to flow, which is exactly what you want.
By consistently teaching our young horses to follow the gaze, they will quickly learn to do so, which may come as a surprise to you when you try it with your own horse.
Avoid the ‘Santa Claus’ Run Down
What is the Santa Claus run down exactly? It can be identified by the distinct sound of “Ho!, Ho!, Ho!”, which is often followed by three rapid pulls on the horse’s mouth, described as ‘yank, yank, yank’. Every time the horse is told to stop, it loses energy and speed, and also consumes time. How much time, you may wonder? Well, based on video analysis, it has been observed that a conservative run down and run home can easily waste more than half a second.
To ensure the horse responds to your body position, begin by riding to a spot at or close to the fifth pole, and then sit down. Shape the horse’s movements by mimicking the desired turn with your own body. If necessary, use the command “whoa” at this point. Any excessive pull on the horse’s mouth that causes a change in head position is not desirable. Keep track of this by reviewing your videos. The goal is to utilize all of your energy and guide the horse into, around, and out of the turn without wasting any energy. The energy you conserve during the turn will be helpful in exiting smoothly.
5 Barrel Racing Tips
1. It is essential to consistently learn and enhance both your and your horse’s physical abilities. To enhance your racing performance, it is crucial to focus on improving your overall riding skills. Explore innovative approaches such as riding without a saddle and incorporating exercises from diverse equestrian disciplines – the possibilities are limitless!
To maintain your horse’s optimal physical condition, it is essential to incorporate a routine of suppling and strengthening exercises, as well as stretching and rest. Additionally, chiropractic and massage sessions can significantly contribute to your horse’s physical well-being and aid in injury prevention. Furthermore, when riding your horse, try incorporating various activities to stimulate both his mind and body.
To avoid burning yourself and your horse out, it is important to vary your activities and take breaks from repetitive barrel racing patterns or drills. Just like taking breaks while working on a project, barrel racing also benefits from changing things up. Going on a trail ride with your horse can sometimes be the best way to enhance your barrel racing performance.
Before running your horse, it is imperative to properly warm up with some gentle turning exercises while walking, jogging, and loping. This will prevent any injuries during the run by warming up the muscles. Equally important is cooling down your horse by walking after the run, allowing the muscles to relax and the heart rate to return to normal.
It is crucial, particularly for novice barrel racers, to gradually progress through the gaits until both the rider and horse are at ease and confident in running the barrels at full speed. Even experienced barrel racers should consider revisiting the pattern at a walking or jogging pace to review and address any challenging areas. A horse that is new to barrel racing will benefit from a slow approach as they begin to learn and memorize the pattern.
Finding a good teacher is crucial for new barrel racers, as having someone watch and offer constructive feedback is invaluable. It is important to locate a teacher who provides high-quality instruction and is professional, but most importantly, they should be a good match for both you and your horse.
