dos

The

10 tips to bring your barrel racing up to par

{ By Doreen Shumpert with Carol Ellis }

60

www. a p p a l o o s a j o u r n a l .com

photo A

and the donts

There should be room for your hand under the saddles gullet.

arrel racing as a sport has exploded over the last decade.

The introduction of divisionalor D barrel racesallows
riders and horses of all skill levels a chance at big checks and prizes
because of handicaps. Consequently, shaving minuscule amounts
of time off patterns has become a true art form.
Whether you avidly compete or just enjoy the local gymkhana,
accomplished trainer Carol Ellis can help you beat the clock with
the following Dos and Donts.

dos

Do...
* Do choose the right horse. If youre a novice rider, get help
from a trusted, experienced individual. Its important to be your
own worst critic, because you need a horse that fits your ability
and style to be successful.
The horse in photo A is the perfect 3D horse for an intermediate. Hes kind, sweet and willing to work. Hes got a big hip; his
knees and hocks sit low to the ground; and his neck comes out
of his body levelly. Hes also patient and levelheadedthese are
desirable traits for a successful barrel horse.
* Do choose the right equipment. Make sure your saddle fits
properly, or your horse will quit working. You should be able to fit
your hand under the gullet, with clearance (photo B). You dont
want any shoulder pinch.
Saddle fitting isnt extremely accurate unless you use a computer pad. If you arent sure, find an expert who can evaluate the
fit. Always pick function over looks, and fit the horse first and then
yourself. Some beginners start out barrel racing in an all-around
saddle or whatever they have, but youll eventually need a barrel
saddle. Proper gear will help you stay positioned correctly.
Saddles get slick in the seat, so I like to use a Sure Grip in the
seat so I dont slide around, Carol says (photo C). These come
with leg straps for little children or any rider needing stability, but
they break away for safety, and can really help kids or novices who
are riding powerful horses. Always use leg gear on all four of your
horses legs, good saddle pads, snug your back cinch to secure your
saddle, try two-inch gaming stirrups for stability, position your
breast collar low enough so it isnt pulling on your horses neck,
and consider using a neoprene front cinch for grip and nylon billets because theyre easier to adjust when wet.

Sure Grips help you keep a secure seat in turns and at speed.

Carol prefers reins to reach the dip in front of a horses withers.

* Do adjust your reins properly. I see so many kids with short

arms going around with their reins too short, Carol says. That
pulls kids forward and off balance. As a general rule of thumb, I
like the reins to come to the low spot right in front of the withers
where the neck ties in (photo D).
This rule is for competition. For a shorter-bodied person or
child, reins may need lengthening. If youre longer-bodied, you
may shorten them a little. Carol rides with longer reins while
training or just riding. After she adjusts length to suit a particular
Appaloosa Journal

J u l y 2 0 0 8

61

The horse should feel the weight of the reins before he feels your
hand so he has time to prepare.
* Do study lines and angles. The shortest distance between
two points is a straight line. Every four feet you run adds 1/10 of
a second; it doesnt take many extra steps to put you out of the
money. Run straight to your pockets (photo E); dont curve into
them from the middle of the pen.
If you run straight to your first pocket, you can usually shave
1/2 second without increasing speed. Its easy to get rid of full
seconds; half seconds or less are much harder. Leave a standard
three-foot pocket beside the barrel, then the distance of the horse
from point of shoulder to his tail in back of the barrel (photo F).
Correctly done, your turn is teardrop shaped with the room in the
back (photo G), so you dont lose forward motion.

Keep lines of travel straight during your pattern.

* Do walk the pattern on foot. Plan your angles, lines and

approaches on footeven if it means going into the arena at
midnight. Locate the position of the electric eye and your visual
markers. Walking the pattern allows you to see it from your horses
eye level; its a different perspective (photo H). Before I ever run,
I know the warm-up pen, the holding pen, the gate, what my
approach will be, and I visualize my run up until about 20 minutes before I actually compete, Carol says. Its important to get
comfortable in the arena on foot; it really makes a difference on
your horse because it eliminates many surprises.

Leave a three-foot pocket and the distance from shoulder to

tail behind the barrel.

donts

Turns should be teardrop-shaped to maintain forward motion.

horse, Carol takes the reins off and hangs them in the trailer for
use when running to maintain consistency. If she uses that pair
on two horses, she marks the length for each horse so theres no
mixup. Knot reins are great for beginners because theyre heavy and
teach consistent hand placement. Carol prefers leather for weight.
62

www. a p p a l o o s a j o u r n a l .com

Dont...
* Dont lean, which is a common mistake. Dont straighten
your arm, or drop your hip, shoulder and weight to the inside of
the turnyoull hit the barrel (photo I). What you do with your
weight is the same thing your horse will do. You close the door
when you lean, and your horse cant turn through it. Instead, stay
centered, keep your shoulders up; just lift your rein and send your
horse forward. Youll have a nice, clean barrel (photo J). If you
keep your hips centered with the swells of the saddle, youre in
the middle.
* Dont change your plan. Form a plan at home and stick to
it. Work things out in your brain, walk the pattern, dont quit
before the electric eye (in fact, run hard two or three strides past it)
and dont let people intimidate you. You cant control the ground,
weather or whos there. I tell my students that world champions
are still people who put their pants on just like you do, Carol says.
There isnt a horse built that cant be outrun any given day. Prepare,
train at home, do your best and have fun. Theres always another
barrel race and another chance. Its too late to change things when
you get to town.

* Dont hesitate. Be ready to run when they call your name. I

encourage students to be ready to run 15 minutes ahead of time,

Carol says. And get to that gate and go. Dont penalize your horse
for being ready. Go with the two Cscourage and confidence.
* Dont be inflexible. Form a program that works for you, but be
willing to tweak it to fit the horse if it isnt working. Get help, read,
watch videos, do whatever it takes to help your horse if things arent
working. Listen to what your horse is trying to tell you. He may
just want you to lift your inside rein higher; it can be something
that tiny. Theres a mass of information out there to learn from.

Walk the pattern to see it from your horses perspective.

* Dont overwork your horse. Consult a nutritionist about your

horses feeding program, and have him checked for soundness
every six months. I feed oral supplements (Myristol) reinforced
with a Legend shot once a month, Carol says. Also condition your
horse. I recommend using a stop watch. Figure out how far youre
going in miles (to be exact), then work toward trotting one to two
miles in five to six minutes per mile and loping one to two miles
in five to six minutes per mile. Its the simplest workout there is,
and will really develop strength and get a horse fit.
You can do some breezing or sprints for fast-twitch muscles if
needed. Get a program like this, and then dont camp on your horse
and make him sore. If you dont accomplish something within 45
minutes, you arent getting it done that day. Train for effort, not
perfection. Dont work the pattern too much at home, because your
horse needs to enjoy it or hell quit.
Editors note: Special thanks to the Kennedy family for providing
accomplished barrel horse Cocoa Dotted for photos in this article.

Straight arms and dropped hips can cause you to

lean, and possibly hit the barrel.

Stay centered, with your shoulders up, lifting your rein to send
your horse forward in turns.

Carol Ellis

Carol Ellis has been a competitive

barrel racer for close to 55 years, and
has trained horses for and competed
in English, jumping, reining, pleasure,
pole bending and barrel racing.

For over 30 years, shes trained barrel and pole bending horses, started
reining horses, produced clinics and
jackpots, given private lessons and
still avidly competes.

Carol and her husband, Gene, own

and operate the Lazy Heart E Tack
Shop and Arena in Berthoud, Colorado. Visit them online at www.lazyhearte.com.

Appaloosa Journal

J u l y 2 0 0 8

63