Five Barrels for Success
When you’re racing against the clock it’s easy to forget where your horse’s body is and concentrate more on your time. But when you start to focus more on the clock than what your horse’s body is doing around the barrel, you’re going to get into trouble sooner or later.
If you want to shave time off your run, you must ride your horse every step of the way and ensure that he’s standing up in his shoulders and driving underneath himself with his hindquarters. Here I’ll break down three major problems I see riders have with their horses when practicing barrels at my clinics and explain how my five-barrel exercise can help break those habits and improve your run. I use this drill with all of my horses—both green and seasoned—and it’s something riders of all skill levels can add into their regular riding routines.
Three Problems
DISENGAGED HINDQUARTERS
The first problem I see involves the horse trying to crossfire or disengage his hind end as he goes around the barrel. Not only does this keep your horse from staying balanced
