barrel racing

[baybegirl79]

how does someone learn how to do this are there clinics, or is something you should grow up learning about? Do you have to have a registered horse to barrel race? what is the criterea to race? Is there prize money?
thanks

[snickers]

There are barrel clinic's you can go to. In the breed shows they have to be registered, in local or NBHA shows they do not. There is prize money.

Having a good riding ability and understandment of the sport is a must.
It looks easy, but it is not. There are a lot of factors involved.

Here is the link to the NBHA that you can go through.
http://nbha.com/

You can also check and see when there are any clinic near you.

[TXCowGrl82]

Also check your local horse classified magazines, they usually let you know when there are clinics and whatnot. For example, the magazines for my area are The Southwest Horse Trader and Texas Horse Talk. I'm assuming other areas of the country have similiar magazines. If you have a reg'd horse, then go to your breeds homepage and check out their show listings. And I believe AQHA has a section of trainers and you can search for one in your area and the discipline you want.

[Fancy's Mom]

ok in any barrel racing shows do they have to be striclty QH or can it be any breed even gaited..I plan on training my gaited mare for barrels.

[joustinggirl]

If you go to a breed show, they have to be that breed. In the open shows like NBHA, they can be anything.

[baybegirl79]

thanks everyone, is the pattern usually the same wherever you go?
what is generally a good time to beat? I know it probably depends on the level you are on of course but say for a beginner whats a good time?
what's a good time for the pros?
where does someone find a good barrel horse?
thanks again

[gypsy]

There are clinics. There are lots of good books and DVDs. There are also several websites dedicated to barrel racing. Go to some of your local shows to observe and talk to people.

[snickers]

Originally Posted by baybegirl79

thanks everyone, is the pattern usually the same wherever you go?
what is generally a good time to beat? I know it probably depends on the level you are on of course but say for a beginner whats a good time?
what's a good time for the pros?
where does someone find a good barrel horse?
thanks again

Go to the link I posted and look through the NBHA website.
It will answer most of these questions.

You can find a barrel horse anywhere.
Look through horse ads on the web for barrel horses.
Times to beat vary since it has Four, D formats.

[TXCowGrl82]

Originally Posted by baybegirl79

thanks everyone, is the pattern usually the same wherever you go?
what is generally a good time to beat? I know it probably depends on the level you are on of course but say for a beginner whats a good time?
what's a good time for the pros?
where does someone find a good barrel horse?
thanks again

A "good" time will vary from arena to arena. In NBHA they don't have a set distance apart the barrels have to be. This creates "fast" arenas and "slow" arena. Meaning a 18 sec run may be a good time at the slow arena, but a bad time at the fast arena. Make sense?

The way NBHA does it is the person with the fastest time is first for the 1D division, then there's a 2nd through 5th or whatever. The person who's 1/2 second behind the 1D winner is the winner for the 2D division. Another 1/2 second behind that is 3D, etc. So one time you could win 1st in 2D, another time you could win 3rd in 1D, and have the same time both runs. I know it's confusing. It took me a while to understand it, too.

[almost_mozart]

Check out my link, too. www.nbhamo2.com and go to the "About Us" page. It explains the "D" format pretty well.

I would recommend buying an old been-there-done-that barrel horse who isn't too fast but knows the pattern to start out. Find you a good local trainer/coach and take weekly lessons. It takes TIME, and finding a mentor is the most important thing. I've seen far to many horses ruined by inexperienced barrel racers.

The breed of choice is the Quarter Horse, either registered or grade. I also run a Paint, and I've seen a few good Appies although they aren't common. Some people run Arabs, and Arab-crosses are good on the local circuit, but they really can't compete at the professional level in 99.9% of cases, despite their speed and snappy turns.

Any more questions? Ask away.

[BarrelraKARA]

i have a permit for NBHA and once you learn the D's you got it

i first learned the D's
then the ground because the ground isn't always the same
then i went to a charmayne james clinic (she has a website)
know your horse and its for fun reminder because i forgot that piece

quarter horse show only allow quarters
paints only allow paints
but playday, jackpots, or rodeos they dont care if you rode a pony

its the dirt, space the barrels are at..... are the main things to set the time

[BarrelraKARA]

the horses that are used now are race bred quarters(which i race on) and then some horses a appenix (lol my backup horse) the quarter really good at this......and plz dont go out there with a arabs i like them but they are not made for it.................reminder its the horses heart and how you get along with it that will make the times...

[TheUpNorthCowgirl]

As long as you teach your horse well, any breed can rock at barrels. Around here we have a TWH that runs consistent 2D times and he's awesome at it.I get beat a lot by a 24 year old morgan gelding, he just knows his pattern and runs it well. I race a QH and a Arab/Paint cross. And I have to disagree, my arab kicks butt at barrels. She and my QH usually splint wins half and half. My Quarter has better final barrel burn but my arab corners like she's on rails.

[ThorArb]

Everyone has posted great advice! Look around your area and see if you cant start taking some lessons.

Barrel racing is a very difficult sport. Might look easy to the spectator, but just as with any other discipline, it takes time, lots of time and hard work to get going.

I have been giving my sister lessons on my seasoned barrel horse, Togan (QH gelding). He is a 1D horse, always in the winnings. However, because she has hit this "rut" where she holds him back alot, she has been placing in the 2D mostly. We are working on getting her past this, she has been working everyday to get better. She wants to compete him in April at a 4D jackpot with $1,000 added, but unless she can get going faster, she isn't going to make it. Right now she is usually running a low 17 (she competes in Youth division), but if she wants to compete Open around here she is going to need to run 15s maybe low 16s slowest to even place.

I used to barrel race my TWH mare! She was gaited too but she did well enough. She loved it! We did everything from trail riding to team penning, to barrels to jumping!

Good luck!

Brittany

[snickers]

Originally Posted by BarrelraKARA

the horses that are used now are race bred quarters(which i race on) and then some horses a appenix (lol my backup horse) the quarter really good at this......and plz dont go out there with a arabs i like them but they are not made for it.................reminder its the horses heart and how you get along with it that will make the times...

Um race bred QH's are appendix.
Race bred QH, aka appendix, was used 30 years ago and better.
Not just today.

And I have to disagree on the Arabs. I have seen a few win.

Any horse can run the pattern. May not be as fast, but they can run it.

As stated, learn all you can about the sport, get yourself some lessons then look for a horse.

[spotted_sheena]

If you want to start learning how to run barrels, the first thing to work on is balance. A good seat is a must on those tight turns. I learned the hard way, and landing on the barrel does not tickle!! Anyway, do a lot of bareback riding, slow at first, then pick up the speed when you get more comfortable. Like the others have said, any breed can excel at barrels with if they are willing to listen to your commands and have the ability to move out!!