I am often asked what a person should do to get their “hard to get in the arena” horse into the arena. Recently, I attended a barrel race as a spectator. This doesn’t happen often but it certainly offered an opportunity to learn. It was one of those “how not to do it” learning experiences for the most part since its always easier to do our best barrel racing from the fence!
There was one rider that had a heck of a time getting her horse in the arena and it came with a lesson for me that I’d like to share. Something that I know, but appreciated the reminder so I’m passing it on.
The horse was beautiful and built for the job. The rider had a good seat and was confident on the horse. She did everything I would have likely suggested. She rode assertive, rode with forward motion at a posting trot towards the arena, she looked where she was going, she never panicked, never got mad. The rider had quiet hands and a balanced seat. She after several attempts she upped the ante and swatted the horses butt with her over an under. It refused one more time, she lined back up, raised the over and under and off they went. I was astounded that all these “tricks” I would have used or suggested weren’t working and I didn’t know why. It only took from the gate to first barrel for me to figure it out.
The horse ran focused and level to first barrel. The rider was soft and asked for the turn. The horse CRANKED out a turn about half the size it needed to be and BOWLED over the barrel. The rider remained calm, slowed the horse down and went across to second. I thought to myself, “well there’s an old issue there she’ll get the next one handled” . So she high lopes over to second and CRANKS out a mini turn and bowls it over! She lopes down to third calm as can be and CRANKS a turn out on top of third! The horse was so worried in her turns it was like someone had taught her to sneak up on the barrels and mow them over. No wonder she didn’t want to go in the arena! The horse thought “if this is barrel racing I don’t like it” and why would it if that’s what its being taught!? Now, I have no idea if the gal riding it was in the process of fixing the horse or she was the cause of this horses anxiety. Either way this particular horse needs some slow, relaxed work on the barrels to open up those turns. Fixing this horse is the least of our worries…how do we make sure this doesn’t happen to us!?
How do you get your horse that is refusing at the gate in the arena? Take a close look at why your horse doesn’t want to go in! In this case it was a training issue. The horse has been training in a way that is causing a lot of pressure around the turn where it literally thinks that is how it is supposed to turn. This horse doesn’t like barrel racing because she is confused about what she is actually supposed to be doing. There is no confidence there.
Another reason your horse may refuse at the gate include Pain – they may even run fine at home, but along with the pressure of competition the pain causes them to look for and “out”. A good vet or equine therapist check including teeth, feet and chiropractor is a good place to start. You want to eliminate any reasons and take care of any problems your horse may have as soon as your horse starts to refuse. This can become a bad habit really quickly if it isn’t nipped in the bud.
It takes a lot of time and patience to retrain your barrel horse from refusing at the gate. Prevention is the best cure so keep your training fun for your horse. Instill confidence in them so when they see that gate they are keen and ready to work. Be sure to not intimidate or confuse them on the barrels. Barrels need to be a happy place.
If your horse is not happy on the pattern and tells you so by not going in the arena to barrel race, its your job to take a step back and figure out why. Once you know, it will help you get on track to get that horse in the arena.
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
Great job on this article – well written with respect and keen observation.
I appreciate you writing this article thank you. But I have one question…
I have a 6 year old Appaloosa/Quarter horse cross gelding who was a halter/standing stud for 5 years. But he doesn’t act like a stud or give me temper tantrums. My problem is that even when someone is helping me walk him to the gate he still refuses, and it gets very frustrating because the gate and “standing spot” for the riders are literally right by each other. Even when i go into the arena to warm up and there’s no horses around, or their all in the arena, and I’m extremely calm, he still gives me issues and refuses to go in. I’ve had vet checks done, and his teeth have been recently checked. He loves to run the barrels, and was trained at a slow and proper way. I just can’t figure out why he is acting like this. Even when I just point him towards the arena if we’re ever there for practice or something he still gives me a hard time. I have a youtube account and if you could look at my video “Barrel Racing 12/26/2009″ my channel is mightysteelzipper. I would really appreciate it. If you have time of course. You can see in that video what he’s doing, but it’s gotten WAY WAY worse now, to the point where he’s backing into other people’s horses and running people over. I’m more concerned on safety issues now than actually making a clean run. HELP!
– Stacy
Hi Stacy,
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I went and checked out your video. Nice run (and your trainers run too) I can see you guys both train a similar way – looks nice to me
I’m going to give you my first impression advice here. I honestly thought you meant to stop your horse at that spot when I first watched your video (and the second time too). At that point in time you needed to be up tilting your hips forward and giving him his head to get into go mode. Perhaps he is looking for a reason not to go, but you are giving it to him. If he has gotten worse since and you are confident his health is in check I would cowgirl up right and start “sending him” from a couple strides back from where he is hesitating. Your body language needs to say go (in the video it was saying whoa even to me watching and he is even more “feely” than what I can see). I see you have a little over and under there so I know you aren’t opposed to using one of those….that might have to be part of your “cowgirl up” routine for a while in the alley and go back to without it. I makes your job even more difficult when all the people stand where you want to leave. You might try getting there early and practicing trotting up the alley, keeping him free. You might stay after and do the same. Just never stop in the alley always go in, turn him to the left and circle back around. Try not to visit too much, keep him by himself. He may be being an opportunist and has your number. This may take quite a while to resolve, but keep yourself forward and think “go”. I also wonder what he is like at a different arena (say outside where you have more room to send him and you don’t have to be so close to other riders)? If he’s fine I would guess he is being a bit stubborn and is looking for any sign that says whoa and is taking advantage of you so he can hang with his girlfriends.
To summarize: Get up and go Stacy – cowgirl up in that alley and send him like you mean it.
Thank you so much
and thank you for the comment on our runs lol. Yea the first two times I did stop him because he wasn’t listening to my feet and taking the wrong lead. And thank you so much for the advice I’m supposed to be going to a race this weekend, and I wanted to work with him on the alley way because we’re going to State and I didn’t wanna have problems there, new pen and all. So thank you so much 
I should have new footage up soon of the problem haha. But thank you 
<3 Stacy
Hey, okay so idk if you can help me with this problem im haveing…… I ve gt this 5year old gelding that has been trained to run barrels wide open!!!! He is a X race horse. I can stay with him because i am a recent jockey… But he is totaly out of control! Hes wide open to the 1st barrel then when i touch the riens for him to whoa he bloas the turn and runs away with me and he hasnt only done this 1 time but 10=15 times already….. He didnt stop till we run into the areana panels one time and i have a black and blue leg to prove that……… Ive took him back to the round pen to work him at all but is there anything futhure i can do???
Hello, I have a horse that loves his job he recently had a saddle fitting issue but it is fixed now! He goes to his first barrel on the wrong lead… Should I try and switch and go to the left barrel first sinces he starts off on that lead? When entering the gate he rears and refuses to go in many people tell to to crack him in the top of his head is this right or wrong? I have had this horse since he was 3 months old and now hes 7 I need help I have let him get away with things for to long and now trying to make him into a nice horse. Thanks!!!!
What if your horse has a chip in his right back leg and it has fully healed and he still dont want to go in the gate and when he gets to the first barrel he will dart.The vet tells me that it may take several months before he knows that he is not hurt anymore. What do u think? Because I have thought about saling him.
I have a 13 year old mare that I’ve had since she was 2 weeks old. I recently had her trained in barrels and she’s awesome!!!! But she gets super super hot when its time to get in the arena. She’ll buck, kick, rear etc…. I had her looked at and she checked out fine. She gets all the grass she wants and get grassy hay. In the arena she’s a totally different horse, she listens to the slightest signals. I really don’t want someone getting hurt. She is totally fine if its jusy us 2 or if there is another horse and rider but any more. Than 3 horses she blows up……I’n open to any advice!!!!!
Stacy-
And you looked really calm and patient with her. I like that. I hate it when riders “demand” stuff from their horses. I know exactly how you are feeling. My 11 year old Paint mare does the same thing. Only worse it seems. Someone else had her before I got her. I don’t know the lady but after a couple of months of having the horse I noticed that she did NOT want to go in the gate. At a recent jackpot, it took 4 other riders to get us in. She saw the alley and stuck her head down and backed up and even backed into another horse and trailer. I stayed calm and kept talking to her to let her know I was there. Once she did get in she was fine and had a great run. I hate the fact that my beutiful girl hates it so much. She’s a great horse and I know we have what it takes to win, I just wish that I didn’t feel like I was torturing her everytime we ride. 
I’m 16 and I barrel race too. I went and watched your video on Youtube. Mighty is very pretty