“3 turns, 2 hearts, 1 dream” This is one of the most famous quotes known in the world of barrel racing. I have been a part of this world since I was a little girl. There are many men and women around the world that share my passion for the sport. I would like to share my passion with you. Everything from the equipment, the pattern, how to prep and train the horse, and more.
My hope, is by the end of this essay, you will understand the sport I have grown up loving. Just as any other sport, the history behind it is just as important as knowing how to participate it. Barrel racing began in the early 1930’s. The pattern differed between a figure-eight, and a what we call a clover leaf pattern. Although, barrel racing started as a woman’s sport, …show more content…
A bridle and saddle are two of the more important things you will need. Barrel racing or contesting saddles differ from normal western saddles. They have a higher seat to better fit the rider at a high speed. On the bridle, you will have shorter rains for better control while you turn the horse around the barrels. The bit will differ depending on the horse. Like finding the perfect pair of shoes, finding the perfect bit to fit your horse can be a lengthy process, but a very important one. Polo wraps or splint boots are recommended but not required. They help protect the splint and cannon bones. Bell boots come also highly recommended because they help protect the front two ankles of the horse while its running. Most importantly, you will need a horse! Finding the right horse can be very difficult, but extremely rewarding once you get the perfect …show more content…
When in the beginning stages of teaching your horse to barrel race, speed is the last thing you need to worry about. Teaching your horse to correctly execute the pattern at a slow speed is step one. Personally, I set up one barrel and work on maintaining a four-foot distance around the barrel while properly teaching the horse to turn. Once you have the basics down, slowly add speed to the equation. When you practice perfect, you perform perfect. Warming your horse up is simple. Doing some circles to practice your turns, and some light trotting and running will do the trick. Just as a runner warms up before a race, so must your
My hope, is by the end of this essay, you will understand the sport I have grown up loving. Just as any other sport, the history behind it is just as important as knowing how to participate it. Barrel racing began in the early 1930’s. The pattern differed between a figure-eight, and a what we call a clover leaf pattern. Although, barrel racing started as a woman’s sport, …show more content…
A bridle and saddle are two of the more important things you will need. Barrel racing or contesting saddles differ from normal western saddles. They have a higher seat to better fit the rider at a high speed. On the bridle, you will have shorter rains for better control while you turn the horse around the barrels. The bit will differ depending on the horse. Like finding the perfect pair of shoes, finding the perfect bit to fit your horse can be a lengthy process, but a very important one. Polo wraps or splint boots are recommended but not required. They help protect the splint and cannon bones. Bell boots come also highly recommended because they help protect the front two ankles of the horse while its running. Most importantly, you will need a horse! Finding the right horse can be very difficult, but extremely rewarding once you get the perfect …show more content…
When in the beginning stages of teaching your horse to barrel race, speed is the last thing you need to worry about. Teaching your horse to correctly execute the pattern at a slow speed is step one. Personally, I set up one barrel and work on maintaining a four-foot distance around the barrel while properly teaching the horse to turn. Once you have the basics down, slowly add speed to the equation. When you practice perfect, you perform perfect. Warming your horse up is simple. Doing some circles to practice your turns, and some light trotting and running will do the trick. Just as a runner warms up before a race, so must your