What we’re doing is often teaching the horse a maneuver or fixing a problem on the pattern – off the pattern. We can use a drill (or exercise) to get our point across and train without adding any extra pressure on the barrel pattern itself.

For example, if your horse is shouldering a barrel, much of the problem can be solved outside of the actual pattern. Perhaps you could put three barrels in a row (above) and practice only first barrel since that’s the only place it’s happening. We don’t need to expend the energy turning second and third to fix the problem at first. We can use a drill to save your horses body and energy. What I like to do is fix the problem off the pattern using a drill and then come back to the pattern to test my work. Sometimes the problem does need to be solved on the pattern, but you can also add an exercise right on the pattern too. Often, you can fix a problem on a barrel without even turning a barrel to fix it.    (The image above is showing perfect circles around each barrel in blue and a first barrel turn in purple.  Two ways you can use this setup).

Every drill and exercise is like a tool in your toolbox. There are many drills I have in my tool box that I don’t use very often, but they’re sure handy to have in my back pocket when I need them. Then there’s the tools we use often (like the Phillips screwdriver). I use the same direction barrel drill almost every time I ride in the arena and the barrels are up. It’s on the top of my tool box. I’m sure other trainers have a different “go to” drill and it will depend on the horse you’re riding too. Each horse usually has a weakness we have to keep tabs on so we’ll have a go to drill or two to keep them in check.

Screen capture of the circle tires drill from www.BarrelRacingDrills.com

We can use drills and exercises to train and prepare a horse for the pattern as well. Exercises can help us teach different maneuvers that are necessary on the pattern. They are another means of getting the job done that can really help take the pressure off the pattern. It’s kind of like how my son, who is in grade 1 learns through games. They play games like rolling the dice and playing Bingo to learn numbers and letters. They are learning, but it’s a fun environment for learning. Ultimately, I like to teach my horse these maneuvers so that when we head to the pattern they are broke enough and have the right tools to lope through the first time.

I’ve had a “thing” for drills and exercises since I went to my first barrel clinic in my early teens. I kept a book with drawings of every drill I learned and came across. What I ended up doing with this binder, was putting together a website that you can pay to access over 80 of these drills all online. If you’d like to check it out, go to www.BarrelRacingDrills.com to learn more and purchase a pass and have access to them. It’s organized in such a way you can find training drills or problem-solving drills as well as hone in on a problem like “shouldering” and find all the drills I have for that.

As with any training method, remember to use moderation. Don’t drill them into the ground. Listen to your horse and remember to keep it fun and switch things up. If one drill isn’t working, try another, it might be just the ticket you’re looking for.

She sets up 3 or 4 barrels with a cone in the middle.   You will see her to do a regular turn around the barrels, but do a counter arc when she goes around the cone that is in the middle.   It’s important to listen to all the points she makes at the beginning as it sets you up for proper positioning and your own hand control for this exercise.

This is a lot of work for a horse mentally and physically. You may opt to introduce this exercise with just a few turns the first time and build up to asking for more like Melanie has done here.

I’m not the type to be obsessive about order and organization in the barn, but I do appreciate the point Steve makes about how your reins hang affecting your feel. I believe this affects a single rein as well, so I’ll be making a point to make sure they are hanging right the next time I untack. Watch on >

Here are a couple other examples showing how horses react before treatment.

In this video, Martha Josey demonstrates an exercise that uses 1 barrel and 4 cones.   She alternates circling the cone and the barrel and says it’s a great drill to practice your guiding without having to run the pattern.  Start at a trot and once  your horse has the hang of it, go ahead and lope.

NFR Qualifier Melanie Southard offers some great video tips on how to keep your horse from shouldering the barrels and some exercises to correct this problem.
It’s all about controlling the hips, not the shoulders!   If his hip is engaged, his shoulder has to be up in the correct position.    Shouldering is a (bad) habit and in order to correct it we need to instill a new habit through slow and correct work.  Take the time to build to a quicker speed with correct form.

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It looks a bit distorted here due to being such a wide angle, but you get the idea! HOW:  Go the same distance around each barrel, going the same direction circling from the outside in (inside out is another drill). Some horses will try and drift off, others cut in so it is your job to keep them on the track for a perfect circle keeping their body balanced throughout. This is a lot of work for the horse so don’t overdo it and only go as fast as you can do it correctly. Starting at a trot is a good warm up. You can work up to a gallop in between and a slower gathered lope in the turns. Depending on the horse I’m circling 10 to 20 feet off the barrels and they are about 50-55 feet apart in this picture. Don’t hesitate to go wider if you need to, to keep a perfect forward moving circle.

For complete instructions and the video, be sure to login to your account at BarrelRacingDrills.com

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HOW: Set three barrels up in a row (equally spaced) and you will be able to work more than one drill with your setup. In blue I’m trotting and loping perfect circles. They can be the same size or different. You can circle each barrel one or more times. Make them relaxed and balanced. In pink, I’m turning all first barrels. Approaching and leaving each like it’s first. You can also use this setup to practice your second barrel turns.

If you enjoy barrel racing drills and exercises as much as I do, you may like to subscribe to my online compendium of drills.   You will find over 80 exercises all available online at BarrelRacingDrills.com