Today we are going to talk about some of the Bad Habits barrel racers form when training or practicing with their barrel horse. Many of us don't even realize our bad habits in the practice pen. Getting into a routine isn't always a good thing and is definitely the root of all your competitive run problems.
Out of the many, many mistakes barrel racers often make, I have chosen the top three to help you fix your problems.
Leaning! We have all done it. Not one barrel racer is excluded from Leaning. There are so many cons to this bad habit that this mini-course
doesn't have time to list. Leaning throws off your balance, your horses balance, and increases your chances of a wide or hit barrel. A great
trick to breaking this habit is to teach your horse to approach the second and third barrel in a straight line. Don't let your horse move his/her
hips out..this forces your body into a lean. The next reaction is to look right at the barrel and before you know it, you are running right into it.
There are many training strategies and drills to help you break this habit. Stay tuned.
Shouldering! Leaning and shouldering go hand in hand. If your horse is doing one or the other, you probably are too! Shouldering is similar in that your horses hips most
likely always move to the outside of the turn when approaching the barrel. This best thing you can do for your horse to stop this bad habit is to trot acorss
the arena to approach your barrel and keep constant contact on the outside rein. This will keep your horses head straight and his hips in line.
Rate and turn your barrel normally. A few times around the barrels in this way will create a new habit and body language for both of you.
Alley Anxiety! Does your horse know your name when it is called at the race??? NO!!! We all get ready, anzious, nervous, or excited. It's
our sport and we wanna show 'em what we've got! Rider anxiety translates directly to your horse. When you squeeze your legs, tighten your grip and
your heart starts pounding...guess what? Your horse feels it. Now instead of thinking that he is just going into the arena to make a fun,fast barrel
run. Your horse is thinking there is a lion in the arena that is ready to pounce. Relax and let your horse know that this is the same fun
thing that you practice at home. One way to break anxiety is to have a clear plan of what you are going to do. Making mental runs before your
actual run always helps. Taking deep breaths in the alley way will clear your mind and get plenty of oxygen to the brain.
Limit Confusion! By changing your game plan, equipment, or approach to a barrel you are causing confusion with every run. Limit your horses chance to be confused by keep everything the same for at least a week full of runs. Once you have targeted a specific problem, then make one equipment or training change per 7 runs. That way you can have more of a chance of targeting your problems and getting the perfect game plan for you and your horse.
Fallon Taylor is a Four time National Finals Rodeo Barrel Racer. She is sharing her top tips and tricks about barrel racing in this compelling article. (c) 2008
