There are at least three different ways to work a horse on the barrel pattern. Conformation and athletic ability determine which is effective on each horse. I have to ride a horse for awhile to get a feel for which may suit him the best. Each horse seems to be born with his own style.
With all three styles you should start to the right of the third barrel if you are going to the right barrel first. And just to the left of the third barrel, if you are going to the left barrel first. For this article, I am going to use a right barrel approach. As you approach the barrel, you should have a pocket of approximately 10 feet to the inside of the first barrel. This will allow you to get to the barrel without slicing off the front side of it. As you enter the five foot pocket of the barrel, apply pressure to the inside rein to prepare your horse to turn. If your horse has not gotten his hindquarters under him he cannot turn the barrel. He needs to be collected at this point. You can do this by tightening both reins and sitting deep or your horse may just be one that does this on his own. Saying “whoa” may also help. This is the most critical point in the turn; it not only lets you finish this turn tight, but it also sets up the second barrel approach and turn.
Leaving the first barrel, you should pick your point approximately 5 feet to the right of the second barrel. Depending on your individual horse, you should set your horse up to turn approximately two full strides back from the barrel. If your horse naturally rates a barrel, you should drive farther into the barrel; if your horse is the kind that doesn't rate, then this is the point at which you tighten both reins, set deep and say whoa. Leaving the barrel, you should use your outside leg to not only drive the horse to the next barrel, but to position yourself in the saddle. Always remember that at high speed both you and your horse will anticipate the turn. By remembering to “ride straighter longer,” you will not slice off the front of the barrel which in turn will make you bow off the back side.
A flex style horse is one that is easy to bend and flex and will stay supple going into and around the barrel. This is the most user friendly type of horse.
An over flexed syle of horse will tend to turn on his front end and swing his rear out and away or around the barrel.
Your approach to the barrel will be a little less pocket with this type of horse; this will allow the horse to keep his shoulder and front end up longer and carry past the barrel. This holds true on all of your barrels, you need to close down the pocket and hold your horse straighter longer. You may just have to stay two handed longer. This will allow your horse to use his hindquarters more, with a faster getaway to the next barrel.
A stiff style horse will have an approach to the first barrel like the over flexed horse. Allow your horse approximately a 10 foot pocket going up the arena and then a five foot pocket directly at the side of the barrel. Remember, your horse can only turn so tight of a circle. Cutting down the pocket size going into the barrel will push him by the barrel in order to have enough room to finish in good shape for the second barrel. This is true in your approach to the second and third barrel as well.
On all styles, a horse has got to be balanced throughout the entire run. I work most horses with two hands to keep that balance reinforced. When making faster runs the saddle horn will definitely help with the rider's balance. This will in turn keep the rider from balancing on the horse’s head.
Two hands should be used in between the barrels to properly position your horse. Positioning your horse properly at each barrel is one of the most important aspects of consistent barrel racing. The key to each barrel is the previous barrel. It is very important for riders to remember, you cannot be set up properly for the upcoming barrel if you did not properly finish the last barrel.
Until next time, remember, if you have only one hand on the reins and you are more than two strides from the barrel, “you are in the hoping position – you are only hoping you will get to the right place,” your horse has no guidance from you.