How to barrel race 

What is barrel racing?

Barrel racing is a sport that involves you, your horse, and 3 barrels. The 3 barrels are in the shape of a cloverleaf. Your horse can either run to the left or right, whichever works for them and they are comfortable with.

What you need to barrel race?

In order to barrel race you need to have a saddle pad, saddle, a bit, reins, bell boots and splint boots. The saddle pad is to protect the horses withers so when you ride them the saddle doesn’t rub the hide off the horse.  You have to put different bits in the horse's mouth to see which one they work best with, that when you go to a horse show they will work right. You also need a tie down to put on the horses nose so it will keep their head down when they ride. 

Things to wear to a barrel race

There are different types of barrel races, horse shows all you have to wear a T-shirt and boot cut jeans. Sometimes if it is a fundraiser show they will give you a shirt and you have to wear that shirt in order to run. Normal horse shows you don’t have to wear a hat but sometimes they require you to wear one. You want to also make sure you have boots to ride in. 

Essentials you will need at the show 

I always make a list of things that I need before I start loading my horse trailer up. It is just the basic things that I take every time, unless it is a big show I will need extra stuff. So my list normally looks like this: 

• Water bucket
• Bell boots
• Saddle pad
• Saddle
• Bits
• My boots
• Whip
• Money
• Horses 

I always make sure I have those things because it would not be a good show day if I did not have some of those things with me. 

 What to do when practicing 

Normally when I practice, I always long trot my horses 3 times each way around my arena. Then I loap them in circles until I think they are good and warm. Then once I am done warming them up, I set my barrel pattern up and take them around it 3 times. Here are the steps I do when I am practicing:

1. I take the horse to the right, make him turn the barrel 2 or 3 times around then trot him to the next barrel and do the same thing. 
2. Then once I do that 2 or 3 times I walk him around the arena so he can cool down.
3. Then I breeze him through it once to see how he improved. 
4. After that I walk him around one more time, then proceed to walk him through the pattern slowly. 
5. Then I am done. 

Basics of barrel racing

In order to barrel race, you have to make sure you know what you and your horse are doing before you attempt it. It takes a lot of practice to get it down pat. You have to make sure your horse knows which way to turn around the barrel the right way. If your horse turns to the right, you are going to make one right turn then two left turns. If you turn to the left you will turn once to the left then two right turns. The pattern is never the same size anywhere you go. So it is important that you practice your horse on the pattern of different sizes. The pattern that we use is called cloverleaf. 

Safeties of barrel racing

Most people wear helmets when they ride because barrel racing can be a dangerous sport. Your horse can slip and fall on you. They can throw you into a fence, over a fence or under a fence. So to keep yourself safe wear a helmet. Another one is people put rubber bands on their feet to keep their feet in the stirrups so they do not come out. Then people also wear knee braces over their knees to protect them from the barrels because the barrels, most of the time, are metal. 

How to improve your mistakes

If your horse is not working how you want it to work, the main thing to do is go home and work very slowly to fix the mistakes your horse was making. I normally use a bit that I do not ride them in at horse shows to practice them in it. The bit I use is called draw rein bit, it makes my horses more bendy in the neck. That way around the barrels that will not be so stiff. I use split reins to work them in, I just do the basic workouts, for instance: legging them up, side passing them, bending their heads back towards my foot, then I make my horses bend their head down to touch their chest.