Here is a great video from Winning Runs with Futurity trainer and multiple time National Finals Rodeo qualifier Danyelle Campbell.

Danyelle and Charlotte go through some of the bits Danyelle uses to run and train in, she talks briefly on martingales.
The preview then moves into a barrel racing exercise that she uses on her 2 year olds right up to her open and rodeo horses. It helps the horses stay open the rib cage and following their nose.

She will use her inside leg/foot to help the horse stay in a “C shape”, but she is careful not to keep constant pressure

Barrel Exercise -Circle Tires

on the reins. She wants them to stay in the C shape, bend by giving and taking the rein pressure so they stay in position on their own. Because this is a preview, you don’t see the complete drill, but we have it on our Barrel Racing Drills website

The video moves on to show how Danyelle keeps her horse working consistent as she demonstrates why she tries not to “pick a horse up” She wants her horses to round out as she pulls to her hip and have the horse step around the barrel. She finds if you pick a horse up you take the roundness and speed out of a turn.

For the complete Winning Runs Video you can pick it up at www.winningruns.com

For this particular barrel racing drills and over 80 more Check out www.barrelracingdrills.com

World Champion Barrel Racer and Olympic Gold Medalist Kappy Allen put together this video clinic.

The video demonstrates proper hand position and how it contributes to a happy, relaxed and focused horse with bend through the body. All these key factors result in a smooth run and FAST TIMES.

Kappy says “relaxed and fluid means consistent and fast”. The key to this is hand position and this all starts in the practice pen. We need to train our muscle memory so that in the run and at fast speeds we are in the proper position without having to think it through.

“Relaxation means bending through the entire body”. We want our horses to bend through the ribcage and remain relaxed while doing it. Proper hand position will contribute to this.

Kappy states that a horse that runs tight and tense is more likely to run choppy and take extra steps. A tense horse is also more likely to hit a barrel. To avoid this she feels we need to always be paying attention to where our hands are in the practice pen always working for a relaxed horse. This starts at a walk.

Watch this great video with barrel racing tips to learn how to achieve this. At the end of the video Kappy talks about different barrel racing bits and their uses.

For more on Kappy visit her YouTube channel or www.kappyallen.com

NFR Qualifier and Futurity horse trainer Tamara Reinhardt makes an excellent point. Not all horses mouths are created equal. We need to consider whether the bit we are riding them in fits the horse. Watch this Winning Runs video trailer and learn how you can measure if your barrel racing bit fits your horse properly.

You can go to www.winningruns.com to purchase this video with Tamara (this is just a snippet of what she has to share) and many other great training videos. We will be featuring more soon.

A valuable resource available to barrel racers includes the website of World Champion Barrel Racer Charmayne James.

Each month Charmayne contributes an article to the Barrel Horse News magazine. If you aren’t a subscriber you can still access this information. On Charmayne’s website she has a link called Barrel Horse News where you can find the articles organized for reading right on her website.

Past topics include problem solving for barrel racing, safe hauling, proper bitting for barrel horses, the importance of healthy barrel horses (including shoeing, dental work and chiropractic work). Important lessons from her clinics, horsemanship, balance, nutrition and fitness and how they apply to barrel racing.

I encourage you to check out these articles whether you subscribe to Barrel Horse News or not. There is a large database of past articles which make for a great reminder even if you have read them already.

11 time World Champion Charmayne James sharing her experience and sound advice is something barrel racers can’t afford to miss out on.

Here is a cool video with Charmayne talking about her Bridleless run with Scamper. It is a great example of what a great team they were right from the very beginning when Charmayne was only 16 years old.

Here is a great 2 part video put together by Barrel Racing Buzz with accomplished barrel horse trainer Dena Kirkpatrick.   Dena goes through a pile of bits and talks about the uses of each one and how they should each fit.   She discusses several different types of snaffle bits, some gag bits including the popular Simplicity bit and her favorite bit the Loomis draw gag bit.  She also discussed one  of  the Sherry Cervi line of bits, a hackamore and combination bit.  Its a great review of many bits.

Kirkpatrick stresses that horses are like people and they all have different preferences.  Different horses are going to prefer different bits.  Certain bits are also made so that we can adjust them for the horse.  Adjusting the curb strap can also make a bit work differently making the horse respond differently.

Enjoy these Barrel Racing Buzz videos:

Part 2:

If you are reading this from the facebook fan page, you’ll want to go to www.freebarrelracingtips.com to watch the videos.

In this feature video on Barrel Racing Buzz, Josey Ranch Team Member Ty Mitchell talks about the importance of rein length and hand positioning for your run.  This is great little video you can watch online but here is a recap of the video:

Ty emphasizes that how much control and how much leverage you have with the bit is directly connected to your rein length and hand positioning.  He noted that there is no money made on the back of the reins (hands in the middle).  You need to spread your hands apart to get control.  In order to keep forward motion in a run you need proper hand positioning.  It all starts with your hands.  Communication with your horse starts from your hands.  He suggests a shorter rein for competition to minimize movement improved timing. (long rein = delayed reaction, getting behind).

He offers this suggestion for determining your rein length:  when just sitting there on your horse you want to be able to take the slack out of the rein and have it just a few inches in front of the saddle horn. This is a good place to start for figuring out a more precise length.   Slow work and practice you can have a longer rein.  Before you start your run, slide your hands down the reins, four fingers wrapped around the reins you’re you want thumb tips pointing towards each other.  Your hands should be about 12-14 inches apart (Ty says wide enough you could carry a plate of food).  You don’t want your hands close together or touching each other.  This could cause you to loose your shape, might even cause the horse to drop a shoulder.   You want to keep your hands over the withers, in front of the swells of the saddle.  You want to get your reins and hands in position before you take off for your run.

To watch the video head to the Barrel Racing Buzz.  Its one of the newest videos.  They have so many other great ones too.  To learn more about Team Josey and Ty Mitchell head to BarrelRacers.com

This is a great video that demonstrates why it is so important we don’t place our saddles ON the shoulder. Also, why correct saddle fit is so important. They are using an English saddle but the principle is the same.