Other stuff to know 

 

Focus on Basic Riding First

  • Make sure you're super confident at a walk, trot, and lope before hitting the barrels.

  • Work on balance, seat, soft hands, and clear leg cues.

2. Learn the Barrel Pattern

  • The pattern is a cloverleaf:

    • You start by heading to the first barrel (either right or left depending on your horse’s better side), circle it, go to the second, circle it, and then to the third before sprinting home.

  • Memorize it — you need to know it so well you don’t even have to think about it.

4. Set Up Your Turns

  • Slow down slightly before the barrel to control the turn.

  • Use outside rein and inside leg to guide the horse around without "dropping in" too early or drifting too wide.

5. Practice Rate and Collection

  • "Rate" means teaching your horse to slow down a little before the barrel without you hauling on the reins.

  • "Collection" is about keeping the horse balanced and ready to turn tightly without scrambling or losing speed.

 

6. Look Where You Want to Go

  • Your body follows your eyes.

  • Look past the barrel to your next target spot — not down at the barrel itself!

7. Stay Calm and Consistent

  • Speed will come later.

  • At first, focus on smooth, consistent runs, even if they're slower. Clean patterns beat wild, fast ones.

8. Use Good Barrel Racing Drills

  • Figure 8s around two barrels to work on smooth turns.

  • Single Barrel Drills to practice setting up and finishing turns cleanly.

  • Straight Line Runs to build confidence going home fast.

9. Keep Your Hands Quiet

  • Don’t yank on the reins — it throws the horse off balance.

  • Use light, guiding pressure instead of sharp pulls.

10. Reward Your Horse

  • After a good run or good practice, walk them out calmly, offer pets, and sometimes even hop off and loosen the cinch right away.

  • Make barrel racing fun for your horse too!