Steel Drums or Plastic....UPDATE, plastic it is!

Kelly4NC · 02-26-2007, 05:17 PM

For barrel racing. The steel drums have an open top so I could easily put a bag of sand in there so they would blow away.

The plastic one have a little opening I would I have to funnel the sand in.

I have to use sand because my place, everyday has like 40 mph gusts of wind.

So steel or plastic?????

miss leanne · 02-26-2007, 05:21 PM

I'm a big fan of the plastic barrels. Also, cut in half, they make good feeders.

pvf · 02-26-2007, 05:23 PM

PLASTIC -
For 2 reasons -
1. If you hit the steel barrel with your legs, knees there is no give at all with steel.

2. If the steel isn't going to move for you it's not going to move if your horse hits it either.

So you have a bigger chance of you and or your horse getting hurt also.

I would use the plastic barrels and I would fill them with sand - but not all the way. they need to fall down if you or your horse hits them. I know that it may be a pain in the but to keep setting them up but it's well worth it.

I use plastic barrels, and thats all that they ever have at any shows.

**taelesean** · 02-26-2007, 05:49 PM

Use the plastic barrels, but put 5 - 10 gallons of water and a little bleach in them (the bleach keeps algea and mold from taking up residence) and put the bung back in. Nice thing about that is you can always dump them out and toss a whole bunch on the truck and take them along.

Another nice thing about the plastic ones - if you really crash into the steel ones, they bend and tear into razor-sharp edges (especially when the seams get rusty). Plastic barels may eventually break, but they'll more likely bend.

**beth55051** · 02-26-2007, 08:45 PM

I much prefer plastic barrels. I don't fill mine though. My colts like to play with them when I'm not using them.

I very quickly and at a very young age learned to respect metal barrels. I was practicing once and my horse tripped as he was setting up for a barrel at full speed. I now have a 1/2 gouge in one shin bone, no feeling in about 4 inches of that leg and a huge scar. The metal barrel was about 1/4 full of rain water that had seeped in over time. It didn't move, but part of my leg did. I hit that barrel so hard it cut my leg right open with no bleeding at all. Didn't even rip my jeans.

I got all of my plastic barrels free from a Sysco warehouse in the cities. Mine are all either food grade or water based detergent so if I wanted I could cut them open and use them for feeders. You want to make sure that they didn't hold chemical solvents or hazardous liquids because even if you keep them sealed up the contents could seep into your soil.

Kelly4NC · 02-27-2007, 10:52 AM

Well I got the plastic and UMMMMMMM they smell good. WHY? They used to carry concentrated fruit juices. I have one thats strawbeery/banana and another that is apple.

I just want to lick them, BUT there dirty.

BarrelGirl · 02-28-2007, 09:40 AM

I've been one of the crazy ones that have had metal barrels forever! Basically because they were given to my dad and he doesn't want to buy any plastic ones.

And yes, I've gotten gouged from those darn sharp metal edges when my horse gets too close... And it doesn't even have to tear your jeans, it will just tear right into your skin!

We really need to get some plastic ones, and I'd be more than willing to pay for them...

**Orchid** · 02-28-2007, 10:12 AM

Goodness, my shins ache just reading this thread...

beckyp · 02-28-2007, 10:29 AM

Since I don't barrel race,I would think plastic would be easier on horse and rider-JMO. You can also take the plastic ones and bale of hay/straw and make jumps if you decide to multi-task your horse.

cboling · 02-28-2007, 10:35 AM

I use both it depends at home in the summer we have plastic but in the winter we have metal at the arena, and in college we only had metal. I have only hit the metal barrel twice, but once was with a student horse and he left a good scar on my leg. I find plastic can be to easy to just run through. It all depends on if the horse is a little sour ( we get tons of these for training) if they need to learn a lesson l like the metal ones ( as long as there in good shape) the horse learns really quick to stay away
( just remeber to move your leg, when he is running into them

) .

repetesis · 02-28-2007, 10:57 AM

Yep I hear you on the shin injuries. I ran barrels as a teen and have at least 1/2 dozen barrel scares, then I got smart and got chin gaurds.
Then when I found them I bought 3 nice blue plastic barrels that I still have. If your looking for them try car and big truck washes. They sometimes sell them of a few bucks (at least they used to).
Really the plastic are the way to go.

**Orchid** · 02-28-2007, 11:19 AM

Soda bottling plants usually have them, sometimes just give them away in fact. They use them to transport the syrup so they are safe to feed/water from as well.

02-26-2007, 05:17 PM
Kelly4NC Greenbroke Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Clyde, NC > 9 miles of friendly people, plus 1 old crab Posts: 3,242	Steel Drums or Plastic....UPDATE, plastic it is! For barrel racing. The steel drums have an open top so I could easily put a bag of sand in there so they would blow away. The plastic one have a little opening I would I have to funnel the sand in. I have to use sand because my place, everyday has like 40 mph gusts of wind. So steel or plastic????? __________________ *Support the wild horses on North Carolina Outer Banks* http://www.corollawildhorses.com/

02-26-2007, 05:21 PM
miss leanne Seasoned Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 4,532	I'm a big fan of the plastic barrels. Also, cut in half, they make good feeders.

02-26-2007, 05:23 PM
pvf Regional Forums Moderator Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Minnesota Posts: 6,779	PLASTIC - For 2 reasons - 1. If you hit the steel barrel with your legs, knees there is no give at all with steel. 2. If the steel isn't going to move for you it's not going to move if your horse hits it either. So you have a bigger chance of you and or your horse getting hurt also. I would use the plastic barrels and I would fill them with sand - but not all the way. they need to fall down if you or your horse hits them. I know that it may be a pain in the but to keep setting them up but it's well worth it. I use plastic barrels, and thats all that they ever have at any shows. __________________ www.prairieviewfarms.net Raising Reg. Paints and Quarter horses

02-26-2007, 05:49 PM
taelesean Administrator Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Virginia Posts: 5,756	Use the plastic barrels, but put 5 - 10 gallons of water and a little bleach in them (the bleach keeps algea and mold from taking up residence) and put the bung back in. Nice thing about that is you can always dump them out and toss a whole bunch on the truck and take them along. Another nice thing about the plastic ones - if you really crash into the steel ones, they bend and tear into razor-sharp edges (especially when the seams get rusty). Plastic barels may eventually break, but they'll more likely bend. __________________

02-26-2007, 08:45 PM
beth55051 Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: East Central Minnesota Posts: 4,870	I much prefer plastic barrels. I don't fill mine though. My colts like to play with them when I'm not using them. I very quickly and at a very young age learned to respect metal barrels. I was practicing once and my horse tripped as he was setting up for a barrel at full speed. I now have a 1/2 gouge in one shin bone, no feeling in about 4 inches of that leg and a huge scar. The metal barrel was about 1/4 full of rain water that had seeped in over time. It didn't move, but part of my leg did. I hit that barrel so hard it cut my leg right open with no bleeding at all. Didn't even rip my jeans. I got all of my plastic barrels free from a Sysco warehouse in the cities. Mine are all either food grade or water based detergent so if I wanted I could cut them open and use them for feeders. You want to make sure that they didn't hold chemical solvents or hazardous liquids because even if you keep them sealed up the contents could seep into your soil. __________________ Do not mind anything that anyone tells you about anyone else. Judge everyone and everything for yourself.

02-27-2007, 10:52 AM
Kelly4NC Greenbroke Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Clyde, NC > 9 miles of friendly people, plus 1 old crab Posts: 3,242	Well I got the plastic and UMMMMMMM they smell good. WHY? They used to carry concentrated fruit juices. I have one thats strawbeery/banana and another that is apple. I just want to lick them, BUT there dirty. __________________ *Support the wild horses on North Carolina Outer Banks* http://www.corollawildhorses.com/

02-28-2007, 09:40 AM
BarrelGirl Coming two Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 1,893	I've been one of the crazy ones that have had metal barrels forever! Basically because they were given to my dad and he doesn't want to buy any plastic ones. And yes, I've gotten gouged from those darn sharp metal edges when my horse gets too close... And it doesn't even have to tear your jeans, it will just tear right into your skin! We really need to get some plastic ones, and I'd be more than willing to pay for them... __________________ I'll never forget you, Clyde! 3/18/02-12/30/06.

02-28-2007, 10:12 AM
Orchid Super Moderator Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 10,077	Goodness, my shins ache just reading this thread... __________________ I have nothing witty or even charming to say at this point.

02-28-2007, 10:29 AM
beckyp Seasoned Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: utica,ky Posts: 4,122	Since I don't barrel race,I would think plastic would be easier on horse and rider-JMO. You can also take the plastic ones and bale of hay/straw and make jumps if you decide to multi-task your horse. __________________ If not at home try the barn.

02-28-2007, 10:35 AM
cboling Weanling Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: canada Posts: 407	I use both it depends at home in the summer we have plastic but in the winter we have metal at the arena, and in college we only had metal. I have only hit the metal barrel twice, but once was with a student horse and he left a good scar on my leg. I find plastic can be to easy to just run through. It all depends on if the horse is a little sour ( we get tons of these for training) if they need to learn a lesson l like the metal ones ( as long as there in good shape) the horse learns really quick to stay away ( just remeber to move your leg, when he is running into them ) .

02-28-2007, 10:57 AM
repetesis Yearling Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Sicamous, BC Posts: 665	Yep I hear you on the shin injuries. I ran barrels as a teen and have at least 1/2 dozen barrel scares, then I got smart and got chin gaurds. Then when I found them I bought 3 nice blue plastic barrels that I still have. If your looking for them try car and big truck washes. They sometimes sell them of a few bucks (at least they used to). Really the plastic are the way to go. __________________ ~~Delia~~ The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. ~Elenore Roosevelt~

02-28-2007, 11:19 AM
Orchid Super Moderator Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 10,077	Soda bottling plants usually have them, sometimes just give them away in fact. They use them to transport the syrup so they are safe to feed/water from as well. __________________ I have nothing witty or even charming to say at this point.