Posted 2025-12-29 6:48 PM Subject: Getting back into Barrel Racing
Regular
Posts: 94 Location: Texas
Hey guys, how do you do it, get back into barrel racing after being out of it for 20+ years? I know phyically its going to be a big challenge. How do you get your seat back in the turns without feeling like the horse is going to sling you off. LOL Not sure where to start, any help would be appreciated.
Posted 2025-12-30 12:38 AM Subject: RE: Getting back into Barrel Racing
Take a Picture
Posts: 12841
I suggest a good clinic with a lot of saddle time. Sometimes I spend hours working on myself just walking through the pattern. Paying attention to my seat, hand placement, weight in my stirrups. You have to be consistent and you have to ride as if that is your run for the world championship. You can just plunk along. When you are perfect at a walk, then you can speed up to a trot. I bet I spent about 3 weeks at a walk so that I would be perfectly consistent.
Posted 2026-03-04 4:49 PM Subject: RE: Getting back into Barrel Racing
Baby Blue's
Posts: 7306 Location: Texas
prober - 2025-12-29 6:48 PM
Hey guys, how do you do it, get back into barrel racing after being out of it for 20+ years? I know phyically its going to be a big challenge. How do you get your seat back in the turns without feeling like the horse is going to sling you off. LOL Not sure where to start, any help would be appreciated.
I'm in the same boat. Haven't entered a race on my own mount since 2007. I've had horses the entire time but no real riding. Just bought a horse for the first time in 20 years. I made sure he was BROKE - a priority before any other priorities. Then I sent him to a trainer and I went to her place, had her watch me, and a gained a lot more confidence that way. Then I paid to board him there another month so I could have a few places to ride that were pretty small. I'm absolutely still trying to get my sea legs back but I am leaps and bounds more confident than I was a couple of months ago. Just time in the saddle is going to help.
I'm in shape (traditial gym plus pilates) and there's no exercise that can prepare your body for the muscles it needs except riding!