How to Train an 8 Year Old Horse for Barrels

A perfect barrel run takes just 15 seconds to complete and months to years to achieve. Eight-year-old horses starting barrel have some advantages. Horses reach their prime between 8 and 14 years old, so the horse if fully grown and mature. He has received all of his basic training, though he might need polishing. Just treat your 8-year-old like any other potential barrel horse, and he'll come out fully trained to turn and burn.

Things You'll Need

  • Horse
  • Western Tack
  • 3 barrels
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Instructions

    • 1

      Attend a local National Barrel Horse Association (NBHA) competition and watch the horses compete. Notice the horses, which perform perfect runs and win their division and which look like your horse. Shorter horses flex around the barrel. Taller horses eat up ground with longer strides. In a perfect barrel run, the horse turns about the close and leaves the turn set up for the next barrel. You'll hear the term pocket associated with turns like the ones described above.

    • 2

      Take a moment to really look at your prospective barrel horse. Consider his flexibility, fitness, eagerness to run and his overall health. Some characteristics of a great barrel horse result from focused training; others, like the desire to run, cannot be forced. Barrel horses sometimes injure tendons and ligaments and suffer other serious injuries, just like a human athlete.

    • 3

      Begin barrel training with riding circles of every speed and size to develop control of speed and direction. Start with circles about 30 feet wide at a trot. Place a cone or barrel to mark the center, if you need it. Increase speed to a lope and tighten the circle. This increases your horse's flexibility and balance. Repeat about three to four times per week until your horse can move at a lope in tight circles with a diameter of less than ten feet.

    • 4

      Put up two barrels--the first and second barrel in the pattern--and walk the two barrels in a figure-eight pattern. Look to hit the pocket each time. Increase speed to a trot, then lope while teaching the horse where to enter and exit the barrel.

    • 5

      Add the third barrel and start walking the pattern. Circle each barrel before moving on to the next. Trot and then lope the pattern. You are not looking for speed; you seek accuracy, control and flexibility.

    • 6

      Vary your workouts with trail riding, barrel training, circles or rail work. Continue until your horse lopes a perfect pattern without pulling on the reins or getting excited.

    • 7

      Take your horse to local shows and practice in the exhibitions. This will get your horse used to shows and entering the arena without the horse getting excited.

    • 8

      Let your horse run the pattern at full speed. Run the patterns two or three times after a good warm-up of walking, trotting and loping circles. Only practice at full speed once a week. Your horse can't handle full speed if he knocks down barrels, pulls on the reins or circles the barrel too wide. You must have control of your horse at full speed. If any of these problems exist, then return to the beginning and start again.