I have had this 5 year old horse for 2 years. He is extremely athletic and has done really well at my college rodeos and barrel jackpots. However, I cannot seem to get him to hunt the first barrel going into the arena. I have tried many different techniques to get him thinking about the barrels going in the gate and still he struggles with the first. He was already placing in the top 15 out of 60+ at my college rodeos as a four year old with this problem but I know how much faster we could be if I could get him thinking about the first barrel before we are right at it. Any tips? I know some of this will come with more years of practice but it is hard to keep seasoning him right now with everything getting cancelled. TYIA!

We ride two handed to a point where we want to run. Being consistent every time you run always riding to your point helps a lot. Also we don't run straight out the arena then turn toward the barrel. We head for that point and get a little past the barrel to turn. My horses are big and need that extra step to get past the barrel. I am attaching this just so you can see the approach to the first barrel. 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JubG-PdDtlU

We ride two handed to a point where we want to run. Being consistent every time you run always riding to your point helps a lot. Also we don't run straight out the arena then turn toward the barrel. We head for that point and get a little past the barrel to turn. My horses are big and need that extra step to get past the barrel. I am attaching this just so you can see the approach to the first barrel. 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JubG-PdDtlU

some just never hunt it

I actually agree with this.  My granddaughter rides a 10 year old that wins a lot but he never turns a good first barrel.  I could probably count on my fingers the number of really good first barrels he has had but he is so fast that he wins anyway. 2 and 3 are always good.  We are so envious when we see a horse snap that first barrel.

The answer is simple,  but not fun. You stated that he had this issue as a 4 year old (when you were running top 15 - so you were probably trying to run fast- in college rodeos. Think about that for a second. An unseasoned 4 year old).  You were missing your first barrel then- why not back off on the speed? Still having the issue as a 5 year old. Have you backed off the speed? Or are you still running him in there and hoping for a different outcome? If you are, it's only training him to blow the 1st barrel.

The only way a horse learns to "hunt" a first barrel is to never go faster than they can turn it correctly. Its the last barrel to put speed to. Back off and find the speed where you get your first barrel. Stay at that speed for a while- not just a couple of runs but a good long while- then add 1-2 mph more speed. Stay there for a while. Then add 1-2 more mph. It takes a lot of time and absolute consistancy. It's not fun and you have to give up trying to win a lot of barrel races, but it pays off down the road.

This^^^^^^^ Sounds like to me he sure was asked for a lot when he was a 4 year old.

When you gather your reins in the alley, make sure your right rein (if you turn the 1st barrel right) is SLIGHTLY shorter than the other.  Very gently "touch" the inside rein when going toward the first barrel to make sure the horse is looking that direction.  If they look off, touch the rein again.  Eventually you won't need to touch a rein, they will be looking for it because you trained them to watch for it.

That said, I totally agree with the others, you're already asking a lot from a 5 year old.  Slow down a little and get it right.  You will be glad you did and the horse will last longer and be solid faster.

Good luck!

bull snookies.   Some just have riders that either don't have the knowledge to teach them, or don't have the willingness to spend the time it takes. Some riders just accept a poor 1st barrel because they want to go fast instead of staying slow until the lightbulb comes on.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to be KIND to me and offer advice. My horse and I are doing just fine, when I said he doesn't hunt the first it's not that we are blowing it or having a runaway every time we run. He actually only ever takes a half stride past it. I was asking for more tips on getting him thinking about barrels coming into the arena because at rodeo you don't get to do a bunch of circles or time onlies. I am going to continue moving forward with my horse because he can handle what I'm doing with him and he is staying sound and sane. I consider myself one of the lucky ones to have a young horse that can actually handle the pressure of competition much like many futurity and derby horses do. 

Sorry  if you didn't like the advice given, but you asked. Which you wouldn't have done if you thought everything was perfect about the way your horse is working. If you have to get your horse to think about turning coming through the gate....he's not ready to be blowing an going. If the comment was directed toward me, I still stand behind the advice he needs to be backed off until completly confident about its job. If a horse consistantly steps past a barrel - there is a hole in the training somewhere.

My old school advice would be to transition down going to the first in the practice pen. For example, lope 1/2 way to the first, break down to a jog, then jog about 3/4, then break down to a walk, and then walk around the barrel. I would do this 2 or 3 times in each practice session, about 2 times a week until he starts to anticipate collecting for the turn himself. 

Another suggestion that works well is to talk to them going to the first barrel. If i have one that wants to run hard I talk to them along the way. I'll say "listen, listen" when going down the alley, then "easy, easy" as we are running to the first and then "hey" when it's time to start his turn. I don't say whoa because that means stop. LOL You would be surprised how much talking to them keeps their attention.

Like I said, old school, lol but it seems to work for me! Hope it might help you too. 

Thank you! I really want to try this. I remember that Jackie Dubie-Jatzlau does a very similiar drill to get her horses to learn to have natural rate and collection. I really want to get better at using my voice too because I have seen that really help the horse with ques and the rider with timing. 

Mam, 

I do not know you and you do not know me. I am not going to fight nor am I trying to start a fight with you over the internet. I just came on here to get some advice from people who love barrel racing just as much as I do. Thats what this form is for right? It is nothing to get upset about or personally invested in. 

Have a blessed day

You were asking for advice/tips and you got some really good ones, I think everybody was really kind for taking the time to reply.. Since your horse is struggling at the first after all this time I think the advice that was given is great advice.. You need to post a video so we can see what you mean about the first barrel, maybe the eagle eyes can see what you are talking about since we are misunderstanding your meaning about his problem.. He sounds like he could be really awesome if you can get that first barrel down but that will take time if you are willing to do it.

I completely agree. However, I can't seem to figure out how to attach a video? Haha my phone is kicking my butt. But I do appreciate all of the help. If I can figure out how to attach a video, I will! 

LOL, I have been on here a long time and I still dont know how to post a video, Now pictures I can post them all day long but videos I never got that down ha ha ha..

It could be so many reasons.
To begin during training it makes a huge difference how he was trained. Was his confidence built up or was he micromanaged? Horses who aren’t allowed to try on their own will often not learn to hunt the first. They will always be waiting for someone to correct, stop, micromanage. People don’t even really realize that they are overhandling them to the first and giving off inconsistent signals with their hands and body. So you need to take a look at yourself and not just the horse.
A lot of jockeys hold them out of the chute till they are well on the way to the first. Usually this causes one to get on the muscle even more than they would have been. Then they are turned loose half way there and they fire when they should be thinking turn. They need to be let go back further in the chute, fire then drawn back down half way there. You can always hold them the entire way but that doesn’t teach them anything but to be nervous and chargie.

Teaching them to go the opposite direction can help in having them hunt the barrel. It helps them learn to think instead of act and if you are riding them correctly they learn to wait on you for that direction. Adding a pole pattern can also help teach them to wait and listen… provided again, that you aren’t holding them the whole time and you are letting them make some decisions. Removing spurs can lessen the anxiety as well. 99.9% of people shouldn’t be wearing spurs anyway. Half halts heading to the first can help but I would certainly teach him to whoa with your weight shift and not by pulling on the reins. Do ALOT of halts using your weight (over exagerate leaning forward and sitting firmly( so they he learns that when you sit he slows/stops. This is done off pattern and transfers to on pattern at your half halts and your rate point. This can get you off his face if that is what is causing him to be on the muscle headed to #1.

Backing ALOT can teach them to back off yor hands which helps running into a turn. Not your western pleasure back but using your hands and training them to be super light and giving into the pressure to back. Pulling, tugging and pulling their chins to their chest is not the back Im talking about.

Without seeing or knowing how he reacts and how you ride its hard to say.

Kindaclassey constructive criticism is a good thing, but please don't be rude. When people  come looking for advise it is a good thing, if we bash them in the head with rudness they will stop seeking help.

I didn't think she was rude, blunt, but not rude. There are several on here that are rude that never get called out. I have been called stupid by these people simply for not thinking like them. And this doesn't include the political threads on here.