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boon
Posts: 1
| Hey all! I'm wondering what everyones advice is on getting started in barrel racing…. I"ve ridden my whole life, but all pleasure.
Do I hit some clinics? Where are good local barrel races? Fun shows?? I'm in the Green Bay Wisconsin Area…
I've got a little mare that is broke..
Thank you!! | |
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 BHW Resident Surgeon
Posts: 25351
 
Location: Bastrop, Texas | I'll take a shot at this. I would first take riding lessons, not necessarily from a barrel racer to begin with. Go to a highly respected trainer. At the same time I would invest in a few books on barrel racing and read them cover-to-cover. I'd watch videos a lot and really study them and ask yourself a lot of questions. After about a year or so, I would sign up for a clinic. I wouldn't just go to a clinic that is put on by a successful barrel racer, because that doesn't necessarily mean they can teach well. It's hard to go wrong with Charmayne James, for instance, but there are others. Ed Wright clinics are very popular, but I would wait to go to one of his after you've had a couple years experience. You can also learn a lot by reading threads on places like BHW, but that shouldn't be your main focus, IMO. | |
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  Playing the Waiting Game
Posts: 2304
| You didn't mention whether or not you are an experinced rider that wants to start something new or if this is your first horse. I'm going to assume you have been riding and jus want to start barrels.
My advice is: Remember EVERYONE has a way to train, ride, etc... Horse are all individuals and what may work for ME on MINE may NOT work for you on yours. Take all the information in stride and see what fits. If you can find a clinic near you I would suggest attending. You may even meet other barrel racers that are willing to take you under thier wing. | |
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 Dancing in my Mind
Posts: 3062
Location: Eastern OH but my heart is in WV | I would like to mention one very important thing. A lot of newcomers think just because they want to barrel race that you HAVE to have this high energy, powerful horse to compete. Just because a horse has a "lot of spirit" or "likes to run" or "is fast" a barrel horse it does not necessarily make. I see so many newcomers make this mistake because the previous owner said the horse had one of these traits.
I would start first with finding some area barrel races, go visit and try to met people. Watch them ride and start asking questions of those who appear knowledgeable and have nice, WELL BROKE horses (TRUST me you will be able to tell the difference). A LOT of people are willing to help, or speak to you, if you introduce yourself and tell them you are new to the sport and wanting to learn.
I would PERSONALLY probably sale the mare and look for well seasoned, experienced older horse. I know you said you having riding experience, but just getting into barrel racing, you want a horse that will be able to also HELP YOU learn. Again, I DON'T know how knowledgeable you have or how broke your mare is, but being a newcomer and trying to train your horse can be overwhelming. If you decide you want to keep your mare, get a good trainer for you and the horse. The money invested will be paid back over the years.
If you do horse shop, I would take someone with experience with you and be looking for a true "been-there-done-that" type of horse. Older, well seasoned barrel horses are worth their weight in gold and can TEACH YOU so much about the sport. As long as the horse is sound, or manageable, who cares if it may be in it's upper teens. That 18 year old, calm horse will be able to teach you way more about riding than a horse that is going to be so hot headed or powerful that it scares you. Just starting out, you want a horse that is going to take care of you and let you develop on YOUR timeline. A horse that will just walk in and out of the arena, let you do slow work and a horse you will bond with on ALL levels. Taking the TIME and laying a good foundation for your skills will allow you to win so much more, LATER, when you are ready. Then as your skills, confidence and knowledge of the sport grows you can look to "upgrade" your horse power.
I wish you the best of luck and welcome to barrel racing! Just keep in mind, JUST like ANY style of riding there is the GOOD, the BAD and the UGLY. Having horse knowledge already will work to your advantage. Just take your time and look for good help OVER just rushing in and regretting it later. | |
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 Twin Sister to Queen Boobie
Posts: 13315
Location: East Tennessee but who knows?! | You've gotten some great advice.
Here's some things you'll want your horse to be able to do before starting on the pattern Be soft through the face with just a snaffle. You need to be able to get their head around without pulling -- just be able to pick up. You won't want them pulling against you - you want them to give.
Have a good easy whoa. They need to stop easily - you don't want to have to pull a lot to get them to stop even at a hard canter.
Good speed control - you want to be able to speed them up & then slow them down without a lot of effort.
Leads - they need to know how to take the correct lead every time.
They need to be able to do circles perfectly & be able to make them smaller & bigger pefectly as well.
Need to be able to move the shoulders, hips, rib cage easily and independently.
Once you get those things in place, the whole process of barrel racing goes a whole lot smoother!
Also...... once a horse knows the pattern, don't do a whole lot of work on the pattern. It is so easy for them to get soured on the pattern because it's repetitive. Some folks, especially when they're starting out will run exhibition after exhbition because they think they or their horse needs it. Do as much as you can off the pattern. | |
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Pig-Bear Dog Lover
| HEllo!!! I would defiantly advise getting a FINISHED horse. It's not AS fun if your training on something and don't have something finished in the trailer. Not only that but its hard to transition from training mode to competing. BUT if you like your mare, I would first buy a training DVD like dene Kirkpatrick and go from there. She covers most everything you'd need to know to get started. Chances are you could find an older finished horse pretty reasonable. | |
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 Three in a Bikini
Posts: 2035
| SwishMiss - 2014-09-21 6:04 PM
HEllo!!! I would defiantly advise getting a FINISHED horse. It's not AS fun if your training on something and don't have something finished in the trailer. Not only that but its hard to transition from training mode to competing. BUT if you like your mare, I would first buy a training DVD like dene Kirkpatrick and go from there. She covers most everything you'd need to know to get started. Chances are you could find an older finished horse pretty reasonable.
I am going to DITTO this.
If there was one thing I wish someone had told me it would have been to purchase a finished horse!
You dont have to do this right off the bat, but it is so much easier to work on "yourself" first.
A good horse will allow you to develop the muscle memory that you need to help train inexperienced horses in the future.
I personally LOVE older horses. Give me a 22 year old barrel horse any day. They know their job and I just have to hang on and enjoy the ride! | |
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Expert
Posts: 1561
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What state do you live in?
I would find a trainer that would work with you and the horse at the same time. | |
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HOW TO GET STARTED??