If you ever decide to give the world of barrel racing a try there are some things you should look for in your horse. Whether you are going to use a horse you already own and just train him for barrels, or are looking to buy a horse to use, make sure it is fully trained in basic riding. It is possible to take a horse who has not had a lot of riding experience and train it for barrels, but you both will be better off in the long-run if the horse is well trained before starting barrels.

To see if your horse knows a few of the basics before taking him through the barrels, try putting him in a mild snaffle bit. It is best to do these exercises inside an arena, large round pen or an enclosed pasture, especially if you don’t normally use a snaffle bit. See how well your horse responds to basic commands such as moving forward when asked, stopping at every speed, backing, side-passing, turning, flexing each way and bending around your leg. If these exercises are something your horse can perform easily at your command, he is probably ready for barrel training. If your horse does not perform these exercises well or easily, it would be better to train him in these areas first. This will actually cut down on mistakes made when training around the barrels.

After you have established that your horse knows enough to get started on barrels, remember this rule and repeat it throughout your horse’s training; take it slow! The best barrel horses are not rushed during training. If you rush the training your horse could end up burned out or learning things incorrectly. This means walking through the pattern without going any faster. Do this for at least two weeks. It would be better to walk the pattern for three or four weeks. Remember, you shouldn’t be going through the pattern everyday, so it isn’t just a month of walking around the barrels. Two or three days a week is plenty to start with. Make sure you give your horse exercise and plenty of riding away from the barrel pattern. When starting your horse on the barrel pattern, don’t limit your riding to only practicing the barrels. You will want to keep them interested in doing barrels, not bored.