Hey everybody! I have a question about how to get a horse to move over to be set up for his 2nd barrel. He turns 1st good but I'm thinking he's leaving a little early and just books it out and is so strong I get tensed up and can't get him moved over in time so we're set up good. Anybody have any drills to get him to stay in the turn a touch longer so we're set up better? Or is that a me thing where I just need to stay better relaxed? Thanks so much!!

Hannah Kaufman Performance Horses posted a lovely drill for this on Dec. 30, 2022. Look it up on Facebook. 

If you could post a video, that would be helpful. I think 99% of the time we have problems on the pattern, it is usually caused by the rider. (unintentionally of course)

So make sure you aren't inadvertantly cueing her to hit the gas, before you've finished the turn. And if it's a bad habit, recognize it takes time to break and develop a new good habit.

Yes, of course, the ultimate goal is a confident horse that can run the pattern on their own but we all know that is a process to get there.

Horses can sure benefit from visual aids. If you are asking him to finish during slow work, help him by placing a cone at the exit. The cone will be a coulpe strides out and off to the right some (provided the first is to the right) He will learn quicker that you need him to exit and shift over to the right a bit.

There are a couple nice drills that are too detailed to type that can help. A figure 8 at the exit and return the barrel but you really need to use certain shoulder cues to make this effective. 

On the back 3/4 of the turn, right at the exit you can stop, settle, ask for a poll break, back up a step or two then quietly exit. You both can learn to relax at the exit doing this.

Im not a big multiple circler. I find it causes most to enter in the wrong body position after the first circle. If you pay a lot of attention to your horses body position during each circle I guess it can work? Lots of folks do it.  For me most folks go to re turn and their horses body is over bent on the exit and entrance, both places I want my horse standing up under themselves. Thats just me though. Doing any drill correctly is the difference between success and failure.

Heeeyyyyy Geronabean! Long time no see. How are you? Didn't you move from Florida to somewhere way up north? How do you like it?

HEY CanCan!!! 
yep moved from FL to Wyoming. LOVE IT!!! But not much barrel racing where Im at. Have not sweat in almost 2 years?????? No mosquitos, bugs, snakes, humidity... but we do have a few grizzlys and wolves LOL