NBHAC Beginner's Guide to Barrel Racing

Learning to Barrel Race A Beginner's Guide

Barrel racing is a timed event where hundredths of seconds count.
There are 3 barrels set in a cloverleaf pattern and the goal is to turn as tightly as possible around the barrels to make the best time.
A knocked-over barrel adds a 5 second penalty.

The Cloverleaf Pattern of Barrel Racing

In this sport, the horse and rider come into the area facing the front two barrels; in the rules, you can take either the right or left barrel first. If a horse favors his right lead, it may be beneficial for the rider to start the pattern on the left barrel and complete the pattern on the last two barrels in his preferred right lead.

This cloverleaf pattern of barrels is completed by the horse and rider making complete turns around the barrels. Barrel racing horses should be able to do flying lead changes, respond well to all cues, and have a willingness to learn.

Direct Reining and Beginner's Barrel Racing

The usual reining for the sport is direct reining—which, unlike neck/indirect reining, is achieved by pulling as gently as possible on the rein that corresponds to the direction the horse should turn. To direct rein a horse to the right, take up the right rein and gently pull his nose around to the right until he turns as much as desired.

When first beginning a horse on barrels, sit on the horse facing the barrels to teach him that he doesn't have to be on edge every time he sees a few barrels. Begin by walking the horse just to the point where he's going to have to make the actual turn around the barrel, and stop him. This teaches the horse the point where he needs to check his speed. He'll get used to stopping there at a walk, then slowing down at faster speeds. Have a good voice command for stopping, something simple like "Whoa."

After stopping the horse at this turning point, let him sit for a moment, and then continue walking around the barrel in the correct pattern. Practice walking the cloverleaf like this, and then progress to a trot (still stopping your horse at the turning point for now).

As the horse becomes familiar with the pattern, speed up the practice but keep your horse versatile. Don't allow the horse's flying lead changes and reining get rusty as these are vital skills for a successful barrel racing horse.

Your horse should be learning to stop at the edge of each of the barrels at a walk and trot. The point of this, at these speeds, is to teach him that at this point, he should be checking his speed. At a lope and then at a run, this is extremely valuable in a barrel horse. Horses that won't check their speed at the crucial turns lose those seconds in time that could cost you a win--not to mention how precious it is to have a horse who can stop and/or turn sharply at high speeds. This type of horse is more rare than it should be.

When you begin loping your horse in the cloverleaf pattern, one great way to make sure he's in the correct lead going into the first barrel is by doing this: lope him in a little circle before approaching the first barrel, in the lead that you want him to be in on that barrel. For example, if you're hitting the right barrel first and therefore want your horse to be in his right lead, lope him in a circle to the right to ensure that he's in his right lead. This isn't necessary, but it helps sometimes if you're unsure.

At this speed, don't stop your horse at the turns, but be sure that he slows down. After stopping him at that exact same point at the slower speeds, though, your horse will probably be very aware of that spot at a lope, as well, and that's great--that's what we were going for. If he's very aware of this spot, and this spot, and what he's supposed to do there, he'll be concentrating more on making a good run than running away with you or whatever the case may be. So, most horses will automatically slow down at this spot, or maybe even stop out of habit and what you've taught him at the slower speeds.

Allow him to slow down, since that is what you want him to do, but not to stop at a lope. Continue around each barrel at a trot, then urge him back into a lope between barrels. At any speed over a slow lope, you'll want your horse to continue loping around the barrel--no more trotting or walking. But at a slow lope, go ahead and trot around the barrels. As said before, being careful at the beginning will give you and your horse lots of rewards as you go.
Be sure and stop your horse after each good run and reward him. Pet him and talk to him and make sure that he knows you're pleased with him. Make sure he's not confused about whether or not he's doing what you want him to do. Continue increasing your speed until you're at a run, and have a blast doing it! Remember to do other things with your horse other than barrels, and to stop running them after your horse has done what you've asked him to do. Burning horses out is a common and horrible thing. But taught correctly, you can have an excellent--and in control--barrel horse on your hands. Summer is perfect for barrel racing, so get out there and have a great time!