by: Lyndee Stairs, Aug, 2011
When you pull into a barrel race, you should and probably do already have a game plan. You have sized up the ground conditions, the lighting, the shadows of the arena, the banners, etc. Then one of the toughs drives up and that blows your mind. Do not change your game plan, no matter what. It does not matter what the horse in front of you does, or who is there to run; remember, a barrel race pays more than one place. Keep yourself focused on your horse and your run. You are capable of getting a check or even winning whether the toughs are there or not. Make your run and let them make theirs. The timer will take care of everything else.
Only think about the barrel race. Imagine looking down a long tunnel and all that can be seen is the barrel pattern. Pick your points to run to and always keep your mind out in front of your body. When a person wants to be quick at something they have got to project their mind forward. Remember your eyes are attached to your mind and your body. Don’t let distractions around the arena or back at home bother you.
You don’t want to put all your hard work and perfect practice into barrel racing to get beat by the mental game before you ever get out of your own driveway. Ask yourself, can I concentrate and relax at the same time? You must be able to think about the barrel race and still stay loose and not get uptight over it. In order to have a positive mental attitude, never say “I can’t.” It takes a person who can think and figure things out to be a winner. If you make mistakes in your run, figure out what caused them, what happened and how to prevent the problem the next time. If you make a mistake don’t say that was stupid. Learn from your mistakes, even if the lesson is what not to do. Until next time — Enjoy your horses and your barrel racing. God Bless!
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