by: Lyndee Stairs, May 2012
Some Second Barrel Problems & How To Solve Them
If I can tell you to focus on only one thing, it is APPROACH, APPROACH, APPROACH. Approaching the barrel you are about to turn correctly will make for a great turn.
What if your horse drops in front and does not use his rear enough, or is real stiff? For these problems I go off the pattern to work, maybe change bits. A lifter type or stiffer bit for the dropping front end horse, a bit that has more bend for the stiff one. Do rollbacks on the fence to help the front end dropper use his rear and one rein stops to help the stiff horse.
Leaning can be a bad rider mistake. It will cause your horse to either make a wide turn or shoulder in and slice the barrel. SIT IN THE MIDDLE and KEEP YOUR SHOULDERS SQUARE.
Balancing on the horses reins is also something I see quite often and that really slows you down. Let me say one thing – SADDLE HORN. Use it to push yourself down in the saddle for the turn. This will help you to keep your feet in front of you. Use it to pull your self up for the take off. This will keep you from inadvertently pulling on your horse’s mouth.
Another thing that I see riders do is make great big pockets only to cut back in and slice the barrel or hit it. If you have a horse that wants to hit a barrel, making a huge pocket will not solve your problems. Your horse will only dive harder. DO NOT MAKE GREAT BIG POCKETS. The pocket on your approach should be about five feet to the side of the barrel.
Overrating is another fault, as is not rating a free runner enough. Maybe you are quitting riding or sitting down to soon? Maybe you are not helping your horse enough. Riding your horse TWO HANDED and balanced will help both of these problems. If you do try to rate your horse, or hold him up with one hand, he will shoulder in or cut in and throw his rear out. Hanging or pulling on the inside rein too much in a turn will cause your horse to throw his rear out almost every time. Ride him across the pattern with two hands and legs. This will keep him from moving over and away from the barrels too.
Please remember that SMOOTH IS FAST. So until next month, ride smooth. Next month: Third Barrel.
