So I'm sure most of you have seen my previous posts about the issues I was having with my horse, good news is he seems to be feeling better now. I ran him this past weekend and he gave me a lot more fire than he was doing before. I did notice the two days I ran him, we took a pretty big pocket on the second barrel. It was my fault of course, I should've scooted him over. My question is how could I do a better job at preventing this? I did switch bits and made my reins longer, I asked a couple people and they thought my reins were fine and I shouldn't shorten them. I'm not sure if I'm just not used to having that long of reins and maybe it just felt weird or if maybe I should shorten them a hair. I was nervous as all get out, epspecially since we haven't been doing to good for while, so maybe I just didn't ride as good this weekend as normal. With the rein length though, we did have an amazing first barrel, so maybe that isn't the issue? He is pretty push button for me, I usually don't do much besides make sure we don't come at the first too striaght and I really have to act like I'm going to the fence on the third so we don't cut in and knock. I hardly ever practice at home, should I maybe do a little tune up a few times?

Do you have a video that you can share? 

A video would be helpful :)

I will tell you that I struggle with rein length as well. Sometimes I feel like I have way to much rein and other times my horse is pulling them out of my hands - but I tend to have better runs when my reins are shorter. I have always noticed that they feel a lot longer when I'm running than when warming up. Also, I think an occasional tune up would be beneficial - most of the time I slow-work the pattern for me, not my horses. 

I can never figure out how to upload things to here, sorry. :( but I will do some at home to see how I feel and see if he does the same thing. Thank you!

I do a couple of things with a horse that wants to step off the turn on the front side or dive in.  I first tune them up on staying square between my hands and legs all while moving forward, driving off their butts. For a drill,  I'll do what I call post to post; I pick out a post in my arena and drive them straight to it, sit, gather them up, shape, and make the turn. It's not so much about the turn moreso i want them straight and driving with their hind end in "the middle" part. When they do it good I'll take it to a pattern; same concept, drive them forward, past the barrel if need be, and then come around the turn.  I might do a couple of 360s on the front side of that turn, making sure that outside shoulder is coming with me. To get them committed to the turn I might also make a couple of revolutions, on the turn, tight, moving forward, make them work a little....get a taste for it, and then get the heck out of there. But I don't do that very often.   If I am losing the shoulder to the outside I'll counter arc them, making sure their rib cage is picked up, and Ill take that to the pattern and put it on a barrel as well.

.One of the ladies on here was giving advice on that very thing a few years back.  I wish I could remember who.  It worked fantastically.  She said something like as she was getting up to leave a barrel she just did a quick neck rein, like blink of the eye quick, sorta like you thought about a teeny overturn, it was like a quick flick, and drive forward hard.  I always end up at the same perfect spot and now have a fabulous second barrel thanks to that advice.  Maybe whomever gave that advice will read this and come explain it better. 

Agree that a video would be super helpful. Often it is easiest to upload to YouTube and then post the link here.

WHERE exactly in the turn did you go wide? Around the whole thing? Just leaving? Coming in?

Preparing for the 2nd barrel starts by how you LEAVE the first barrel. And then is carried through by how you approach the 2nd barrel, when you ask him to start the turn, when he actually starts the turn (LOL), and how you finish the turn.

I came in very wide but left it nicely, but that makes sense. I probably left the first barrel going to the right too much and we ended up coming in a mile away lol. I did switch to the bit you recommended so maybe I just need to adjust the way I do things a little? He does respond nicely to it I mean he actually came into the first really nice and listened and didn't blow it. I just rewatched my vidoe in slow motion and it looks like I cued him to come out to the right too far. Thanks I really didn't think about how I feft the first barrel! I was happy that I came in perfect for once in that arena I didn't focus at all how I left it lol.

So once you have finished your first barrel, make sure you LOOK where you want to go at the second barrel. Don't look at the second barrel, but instead look at a point on the ground (or a point on the fence if you prefer) on the straightest course to where you want to go. Then go there. Some horses are automatic and know where to go - others need more guidance. It's up to you to get your horse where he needs to be .