Problem Solving in Barrel Racing Part II
 

Every month I receive over 100 emails from people having problems with their barrel horses. My first suggestion to most of the questions is for them to check their saddle fit, check their horses teeth and check to make sure their horse isn’t in any type of pain anywhere. Something as small as an ill fitted saddle can cause major problems in a horses performance. After the possibility that your horse isn’t in any type of pain, we move on to the lack of a solid foundation and training issues. Here are some more common barrel racing problems and some exercises to fix them.

Not Changing Leads

When a horse is running around in a field, they naturally do these beautiful flying lead changes. You cant help but stare and think “why cant my horse do that when I am riding him?” Well he can! If your horse can do something in the field, he can do it under saddle. If he doesn’t, it could mean he is having a pain issue or a tack fitting issue.

During training it is important to work on lead changes from the first to second barrel, but for the most part a horse will pick it up at faster speeds. If your horse is not changing leads, it can be very dangerous turning that fast. You horse could slip and fall and hurt himself or you.

If your horse is having problems changing leads while you are running barrels, check all the possibilities. Check the horses back and legs especially. Then move on to the saddle fit. Your saddle may fit perfectly while your horse is standing still or just walking, but when they start running and turning hard, the saddle moves, and may put pressure on them. This can also be a cause for bucking. To check for this, put your horse saddled in a round pen or other enclosed area and move them out. If they buck or react to the saddle while loping or galloping, it is your saddle fit. You also have to take into mind that when your weight is in the saddle it adds pressure points.

Your next step to look to would be your position. Being in the proper position coming out of the first barrel and going to the second is going to be very important to your horse switching leads. If you are leaning to one side, putting pressure on his shoulders, he isn’t going to be able to pick himself up to switch the lead. If coming off the first barrel you are pulling on the rein, you are going to throw him off balance, not allowing him time to switch leads before the turn.

Throwing Head

Horses tend to throw their head to get away from pressure or pain. If your horse is throwing his head while running, it doesn’t mean you should put a tie-down on him. All this does is make him take the pain, and pretty soon he will be doing other things to avoid it, not excluding rearing, bucking or worse.

Check the way your bit sits in your horses mouth. Have your horses teeth looked at to make sure the bit isn’t interfering in anyway. Even if you ride your horse in a hackamore you should still have his teeth checked. Your curb strap or chain is another thing to check. If it is too loose it doesn’t do anything, if it is too tight it can hurt your horse. Your saddle can cause your horse to throw his head as well.

If you have checked all these things, then it is time to go back to training. Work on getting your horse to want to drop his head. Sounds strange, but it can happen. They get so used to holding their head up like that, their muscles are strengthened for it, so you cant and shouldn’t fit them to keep it down. Training, training, training! Dressage work can help any horse of any discipline. Work on collecting your horse and getting him to respond to the slightest movements from your reins.

Rating

This is one of the most important things your horse needs to know. To teach your horse to rate properly you must use your seat and legs to work on collection, not your reins or a bit. Train your horse to collect when you sit down in the saddle. This will be most beneficial especially when you start your barrel training, because we want our horses to rate (collect) before they turn the barrel. Here is how to teach this to your horse.

In an enclosed area, like an arena or small pasture, ask the horse to walk. After a few strides, sit deep in the saddle and ask the horse to stop. If the horse doesn't stop by just sitting down, pick up your reins. After stopping and standing for a few seconds, ask the horse to walk again. After a few more strides, maybe about 30 feet, sit down and ask the horse to stop again. If your horse doesn't, pick up the reins. Do this starting and stopping until you can get your horse to stop from a walk just by sitting down in your saddle. After he does it once, stop doing that for the day and do something else. It may take a few sessions for your horse to understand what you are asking, or it may take 5 minutes.

Next step is to ask your horse to walk, and then urge him into a slow trot. After a few strides sit in deep in your saddle and ask him to walk. If he won’t, pick up your reins and ask him to walk. Then, ask him to stop by sitting deep in your saddle. Move this up to where you can get your horse to come to a stop from a trot just by sitting down in your saddle, without having to use the reins.

Do you see where this is going? How great would it be to have our horses slow down from a run just by sitting down in the saddle, without having to yank them down? Wouldn't that be great?

So now your horse will stop when you sit down in the saddle. Time to move up to a faster pace. Ask your horse to lope and give him a little more distance to get going. Sit deep in the saddle and ask him to whoa. I bet you he will pick this up in one session if you did right in the walk/stop and trot/stop.
 

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