Anyone have any tips to getting good at reaching down and finding your over-n-under whip after you leave the 3rd? Been having trouble with this and was wondering if there were any ways to practice reaching down and finding it quick besides trial and error during a run lol. Usually trial and error during a run leaves me fiddling around trying to feel for my whip and I'm not focused on hustling and driving my horse home.

The best I can tell you is to put it over your leg. Like your thigh. 

I just started putting a rubber band through my belt loop and feeding my over under through the rubber band. I seem to be able to find it better now. 

Rubber band it to your belt loop and practice.

Leave it on at home and periodically reach for it during your rides, just put your hand on it.  Like all things barrel racing, it’s muscle memory.

I put mine through my front belt loop and the belt loop on my side so it’s easier to grab! 

Practice with your saddle on the saddle rack that way you aren’t messing with your horse when riding around. Keeps him from thinking you are fixing to hit him . 

I have a friend who crosses it over her leg and over the backside of the saddle. She said even if it falls during the run, it ends up sitting over her thigh so it’s always in the same vicinity. I, personally, can’t offer advice. If I used an over under... I’d probably lose an eye.

in videos do you see your horse actually pick up another gear while using it? If not, I'd say leave it at the trailer and just focus on hustling your horse. 

See this is probably the one method I won't try because this scares the crap out of me, if you were to have a really bad fall both you and your horse go down, you are attached to the saddle horn by the hip because of your whip being looped through your jeans and no way to escape....

Yes he does.

Love this idea, I will try this. 

It seems even when I place the whip over my thigh by the time I am in the arena running it just comes out of place and somehow gets on the inside of my leg. This is what I meant when I struggle to find it.

My whip is thin slick leather, if I fell off it’s not going to hold me onto my saddle.

Have you ever tried a hand-held quirt or bat? I always fumbled with an over and under too. I tried all the mentioned tips but definitely prefer having it right at my finger tips.

I got this tip from a calf roper.  He said if you miss your slack calf roping, go to your horn where the rope is tied on, it is always there.  The same thing applies to your over and under.  My hand is always on my horn at the barrels, and most of the run, so if you need to use it just slide your hand down a bit and the over and under is right there.  I always carry it on the right side.  I don't think I could use it with my left hand.

What I've gone to, a quirt around my wrist because coordination isn't my strong suite