by: Lyndee Stairs, April 2012
This is the most complete turn of the three. The second barrel is sometimes the most difficult, since it usually sits on the wall, fence or bucking chutes. Let me say this: To have a great second barrel you have to leave the first one in the correct position.
When you are leaving the first barrel, look up and line up. Look to the spot on the ground on the side of the second barrel – about five feet directly to the inside of the barrel – and run to it. About two strides before getting there, you should set down deep on your pockets, tighten your reins and prepare to turn. I go to the horn with my outside hand when I am at the barrel. FOCUS ON THE SPOT ON THE GROUND THAT YOU ARE RUNNING TO. This really helps.
Don’t forget, on the path from barrel one to two, the shortest distance is a straight line. One of the best tools I use is to look at my tracks. After you make a run on your horse, not necessarily at a barrel race, go back and analyze your horses’s tracks in the dirt. Were your lines straight? How were your pockets? 5 X 3 X 1? Analyzing your videos and pictures will help also to evaluate your path.
Don’t look directly at the barrel and hold your horse off. Be sure to ride to the spot you are going, and not to the barrel. If you do this you have to move your horse out and that costs time. When you leave the first barrel, tell yourself, “Look and line up.” This will keep you from looking down at the barrel and wasting time or messing up your turn.
I ride two-handed across to the barrel, so I can be ready to help my horse if he needs it. I also feel the only way to gather your horse for a turn is with two hands. I do use the saddle horn to brace myself in the turn and pull myself up when leaving a turn at speed. I don’t want to get left behind. Also the quicker I can pull myself back up in the saddle when leaving the barrel the better. This is a speed event. I like a quick, snappy turn. But, if I hang on the inside rein too long he will sling his rear out and lose time. So about a stride or two out of the barrel I go back to two hands on the reins again.
Bend is good but too much bend can also cause you to lose time in your turn, It can cause your horse to lose the use of his rear end in the turn. So don’t over bend, either.
Next month we will talk about some second barrel problems and ideas to try and fix them. Until then, ride smooth and enjoy the process.
