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Whether your goal is to compete at the top of the sport, or if you're just getting started, the basics for training horse and rider for successful barrel racing are the same.

RIDER

A truly competitive barrel racer is physically fit, has excellent riding skills, and is a good horsewoman. She must ride with the correct balance and know how a horse moves and thinks. At smaller events, one sees many women and girls who lack proper riding skills. As the difficulty of competition increases, these competitors fall by the wayside. A good horse will not be competitive past the lowest levels with a poor rider, but a good rider can get top performance out of any horse. It goes without saying that someone who treats her horse fairly and puts the well-being of the animal over a win will go farther in the sport than someone who views her mount as a commodity instead of a partner.

HORSE

While there are no rules regarding the breed of horse used, most competitive barrel racers ride Quarter Horses or other animals of stock-horse type, often with some thoroughbred blood mixed in. The horse needs the proper structure to turn quickly and drive through the turns. Agility and speed are important, but both are worthless if the horse doesn't have the mindset to compete or if his conformation will lead to unsoundness. If your goals are the local fun shows, any sound horse will work. If you want to compete at jackpots, NBHA events, or rodeos, a high-quality animal is a necessity.

TRAINING

If you are new to the sport of barrel racing, it is best to have a mentor and learn on a fully-trained animal. A few years down the road, you will then be able to utilize the techniques and knowledge you're acquired to train your young barrel racing prospect.

Even though competitions are fast and furious, a properly-trained barrel horse spends little time working at speed. The horse needs a proper foundation before even looking at a barrel. A prospect should be able to walk, trot, lope, and gallop on both leads while remaining under control; should have a good stop and back up; and should be flexible and able to disengage the forehand or hindquarters to either side as asked. A horse that is soft and flexible will find his training easier than a horse that is stiff and tense.

Once basic training is complete, the horse will be introduced to the concepts involved in a good turn around a barrel. Spiral patterns at a trot around the barrel both directions are important, making sure

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