How to Train for Equestrian Barrel Racing

Training for equestrian barrel racing can be a lot of fun for you and your horse but it is also a lot of hard work. Since competition has no age limit you are never too old or too young to start. Assuming you already have an athletic horse, willing to please, with a lot of drive, you will also need a training area. The training area should be level with room for three barrels set in a pattern that resembles a three-leaf clover. You will need to teach your horse to run the cloverleaf pattern around barrels as fast as possible. Your goal should be to increase your racing speed with each repetition without knocking any barrels over. You will want to watch some equestrian rodeo barrel racing competitions to get an idea of where you time should be.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A horse
• A level training area
• Three 55 gallon barrels
• A western saddle
• A bridle
• Horse protective leg wraps

1. 
   The barrels are in a triangular pattern

   Set up your barrels to train your horse. The first two barrels need to be 90 feet apart. If you think about a triangle, these would be the bottom of the triangle. The barrel at top of the triangle or clover needs to be 105 feet from barrels one and two. The score line, where you begin and end the competition is 60 feet in front of barrels one and two.

2. 
   Barrel racing diagram

   Practice together daily if possible. Your horse is an athlete and is therefore subject to similar injuries and strains as human athletes. You may want to use protective leg wraps during training. Remember to walk your horse, and then jog, to loosen up those muscles before each training session. You should have a physical fitness program yourself during this time to maintain your own peek performance.

3. 
   Practice turns

   Determine whether your horse makes right turns or left turns faster. Your horse will make either two left turns, and one right, or two right turns, and one left, both patterns are acceptable. Once you have decided, always turn to that barrel first. Practice walking your horse in the cloverleaf pattern, then trot, working up your speed as your horse understands your expectations.

4. 
   Curve around the barrels

   Train your horse to curve around the barrels, as tightly as possible without knocking the barrels over. You may want to practice this skill at a walk or a trot initially, and work up to your racing speed. The area around the barrel that allows for the fastest speed is referred to as the pocket.

5. Look through the turn at the next barrel. Go around the second barrel in the opposite direction that you went around the first barrel. The third barrel is taken in the same direction as you took the first barrel. You need to practice consistently to gain speed and skill.

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure to clean your horse's hooves before and after riding.
• If you pick up a stone, your horse could become lame if it isn't removed.
• Diet is important to an athlete; you should increase the protein in your horse's diet during training and racing.
• Walk your horse after training for a cool down period.
• You may even want to hose the horse off on really hot days.
• Never attempt to ride a lame horse.
• Just as human athletes need to take breaks, so do horses, don't ride your horse to death.
• Never put a sweating horse away, they need to cool down like any athlete.

Resources

• Barrel Racing
• National Barrel Horse Association
• How to Clean Your Horse’s Hooves

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