by: Lyndee Stairs, June 2012
When you watch the top horses and riders run barrels, you will see a straight line directly from the second barrel to the third. The horse will run up there, rate, put his rear up under him, and use that inside hind pivot foot to drive around that barrel. He will then push off with both back legs and run straight home.
Some barrel racers go blank running to the third barrel, or they hold the horse off and then cut across the backside and run wide out of the barrel, blowing an end barrel in the process.
A bad third turn can be caused by many things: not taking speed off in front of the barrel or not collecting for the turn will cause you to come off wide of any barrel. Also when the rider pulls too much on the inside rein the horse’s rear will swing out and he will not be able to push off in a straight line.
If you are having a problem with the third, walk your horse in a straight line to the side of the third barrel. I mean all the way to the side and in a line directly from where you leave the second. Do not make a rainbow arch going to the third or let your horse’s rear end swing away. Keep his rear pointing directly at the second as you go. Do these same things at a lope.
In competition, if your horse is moving away from the barrel and slicing back in as you get close, be sure to keep his body straight and his hip behind him with your outside rein and outside leg.
If your horse is not gathering up or slowing down as you approach the third, you can stop him at the side and also work on speed transitions going to it. When you stop your horse at the barrel, sit down, tighten both reins evenly, say whoa and then ask your horse to stop straight. If he automatically drops a shoulder, swings his rear away, or turns on his own toward the barrel, (steps in towards it) just stop and turn him in the opposite direction, go back to the second barrel and do it again. I practice this exercise at a trot and a lope, until he starts to slow down and stop when I sit down. Speed transitions are going to a barrel at a trot or a gallop and then slowing your horse to a slower gait about two strides back; (stay straight) and then turn the barrel in this slower gait before leaving straight and then speeding back up.
A bigger bit is no substitute for training. However, if I have a horse that is pulling on me and not collecting for the turn, I will put a different bit on my horse so that I can be lighter with my hands. Sometimes adding or tightening a tie down can also help with collection.
The third barrel can be difficult to maneuver correctly since it is the longest running distance of the three. The horse has to run full out, collect and make a snappy turn. The rider has to keep her focus and not over-ride past the third helping her horse accomplish a quick snappy turn in the process. By training and tuning your horse and riding to suit the arena, you can have a great third turn.
I’ll talk more about riding to suit the arena and how to win big on the third barrel next month.
