BEING THE BEST BARREL RACER

Barrel racing is the ladies event of rodeo. In barrel racing, a woman rides her horse around a clover leaf pattern in the fastest time to win. Any barrels knocked over during the run will add five seconds on to her time. This may sound very simple but it is not. It requires great training and communication between you and your horse. A successful barrel racing run requires a correct approach to the barrel, a quick turn and an incredible series of starts and stops. One does not simply enter the arena and make a great run. It requires a great deal of work and practice, along with the right equipment.

One of the first things you need is the proper equipment. Most barrel racing competitors prefer a light saddle because lighter weight means a faster run. Next you need a bit and bridle that is comfortable to your horse and gives you control. Most horses will want to take hold of the bit and run but you need to be able to rein them in and get them to gather themselves in between and around the barrels. Training barrel racing reins can really help your horse to develop a good bend and flex, not only in their necks but in their whole bodies.

Bending and flexing is a series of exercise that can be done anywhere. Begin by setting your horse out straight. After walking a few paces, reach halfway down the rein and bring your fist to your hip while applying pressure to your horse's side with your heel. Your horse will fight a little but do not release their head until your horse gives its head to you. The moment that happens, release the rein. Practice on both sides until your horse responds quickly and easily and your can see and feel their body curve around your leg. Bending and flexing exercises will help them to slip around the barrels. You also need to be careful that your horse doesn't develop the habit of dropping a shoulder on the turn because that is a sure fire way to hit a barrel and add seconds to your time. A lot of barrel racers also like to use barrel racing reins with extra braiding or knotting to increase their grip on the rein for better turns. Racing reins.

Be sure your horse's legs are protected. You usually need shin splints and bell boots at least. If your horse has a really hard, deep stop, you might want to think about adding rear skid boots as well. Using an over and under whip can really help to get a little extra speed out on the final run home. Following these steps will set you on your way to becoming a great barrel racer.

WESTERN WEAR & BLING!!

Beautiful Western Wear & Accessories


 

Train Your Horse & Cure Bad Habits!

Click Here!

Natural Horsmanship Wonders

Click Here!

Natural horsemanship training techniques are beneficial for the horse and the rider or trainer. Natural horsemanship techniques stress intuitive communication between the horse and its trainer. Such techniques make for a less stressful and more fun experience for each in the long run.

Lowered Expense

Keeping a horse is expensive! Vet bills, food costs, boarding costs, and equipment do not come cheaply. Just as people, plants and other animals tend to have better health if they are not stressed, and worse health if they are stressed, so do horses. Natural horsemanship techniques promote training that works with the horse's natural communication patterns and instinctive behavior. This assures that the horse will be more at ease during training, less stressed, and thus will likely remain healthier.

Specific natural horsemanship care techniques such as natural hoof care can also reduce expense for vet bills, food and medication. Horses that work barefoot are more sound and less likely to develop diseases such as thrush. The benefits of natural hoof care are realized most when horses are properly fed and exercised.

Better Movement

Horses trained with natural horsemanship techniques are trained to work with their rider and trainer rather than against. The philosophy of natural horsemanship is that horse and rider are a pair and must move in harmony. The pressure and release system of training used in natural horsemanship creates a strong communication link between the horse and rider, which allows even conventionally shown horses to move with more precision, grace and soundness. This higher quality of movement ensures that horses do better at shows, and are more comfortable to work with.

More Fun for All

Horses and humans each suffer from fear if training does not foster understanding and communication. Natural horsemanship puts those fears to rest for horses and riders/trainers. Learning to work one on one with a horse and communicate in "horse language," or the horse's natural body language takes some unpredictability out of working with horses. While a person can never completely accurately predict what a horse will do at any given moment, natural horsemanship techniques allow trainers to learn each nuance of their horse's personality. Everyone knows that pinned ears mean a horse is frightened, but what does that flick of the tail mean with your horse?

Working so closely with the horse will also allow it to get to know its trainer. If the trainer keeps with predictable cues and movements, the horse will learn to trust its trainer fully. With complete trust, the duo can do anything. If a horse trusts its trainer, it will be much more likely to try new things, and remain less stressed in new situations, making riding, showing and training more fun and relaxing for everyone.