Please pick me apart! Would love to shave off another 0.4-0.5 seconds somehow... I apparently don't ride straight coming home either ..... at what point is it worth touching their face tho? Won't that just slow them down?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxpVdTM8OEs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GT5re0klZpE (same run as above but different view point)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRHdQFpGpOg (slower run wasn't wanting to finish third)

The biggest thing I see if the shape into your barrels. He/she comes in super stiff which can be fine if thats his/her style, however, he is bracing and shaking his head and studder stepping which is losing a lot of time. Smooth that out and i bet you'll see a big difference in your times!!!

You need to keep your hands quiet, and keep them down. 

First three pictures show a pattern of resistance. You either have a basics issue where this horse doen't respond properly to pressure, a teeth issue, a headgear issue, and/or a hand issue... or all four. He fights you at each barrel. EVERYTIME you have to pull a horse like this that doesn't respond properly wastes a lot of time.

These two pictures shows that your pocket are too wide and your horse is rating way too soon.

The below picture shows what your hands are doing between 1 and 2. You are pumping his face with every stride. Like Southtx suggested... work on quiet hands, ride with your body.

Thanks guys! This is his second race in his no hit bit. I used to run him in a French link snaffle. I think we are both still getting used to things. And I’m absolutely guilty of being handsy and stupid with adrenaline! I don’t think I’m sitting well either? He is so ratey to 2nd and 3rd! I find it really hard to get him passed them. He has actually ducked 2nd on me before or turned right on top of it pretty much. 

Maybe I should lengthen my reins? Or put him back in the snaffle so when I’m stupid it doesn’t hurt him as much? Or both? 

I do feel like he could be a very good horse and often wonder if I should sell him to someone who can actually ride lol 

You arent doing bad!!! You can ride, just tweek a few things and you will be faster.

Longer reins will not fix anything, longer reins comes with their own set of problems lol!!  They can get you leaning, pulling instead of guiding, etc.

Concentrate on one thing to fix at a time. Before you know it you will be half second faster!!

Oh thanks ... I try I little too hard sometimes lol I know he is going to shut down coming to second especially. I’m afraid I have outside reined him before to keep him from mowing it over. 

Agree - lengthening reins creates new problems lol. 

I would like to say I have pretty good hands. However, I have personally said, this bit is not for my hands. So maybe thats something to consider as your first change if you think its a problem or the problem is worse since the switch. I love some good drills to work on my balance, seat, hands without drilling them on patterns. 

ETA - over rating is 99% you or starts with us and becomes habit for them... I say that because I am SOOOO guilty of it on my gelding. I have to pick a spot on the fence and ride like im going through the fence. Once i got my positioning down and stopped preparing him for shouldering... wahhlahhhhh - no hit barrels.

Another thing I see.... when you run home you are looking down not where you are going. Look up and run straight home. you are covering a lot of extra ground coming out of your third and running home....