Barrel racing is a tough sport on both rider and horse.
Barrel horses are athletes that need to be in really good
condition when running barrels. A horse that is not in good
condition and started on barrels may get sore and associate
the pain with running barrels. This can lead to problems
that are hard to correct.
If you plan on starting a horse on barrels or are
getting a seasoned horse back into shape, start on their
conditioning before putting them on the barrel pattern.
Long trotting and slow loping are the best two ways to get
a horse in top condition. These gaits will build up muscle
and lung capacity allowing the horse to perform better and
not be gasping for air after a run. Part of getting your
horse into shape is building his lung capacity and stamina.
Having an exercise program for your horse is the best way
to monitor what exercise your horse is getting. This makes
it easier to add or take away parts of the program
according to his condition and needs.
Find a good, safe place to exercise your horse. An arena
is good because of the cushion of the dirt or sand, but can
become very boring for both you and your horse. If you have
a large pasture you can do most of the exercising there.
Dirt roads without rocks are good for this because the
scenery isn’t so repetitive. Make sure that you don’t
exercise your horse on ground that is too hard, like on
roadways, cement or icy ground. Always put protective boots
on your horse’s legs before riding to protect his legs from
injury.
To get your barrel horse in condition you should work up
to riding him six to eight miles three or four days a week.
These days should consist of warming up with a walk, long
trotting and slow loping. In the beginning you should do
more walking and slowly take the walking time and add it to
the trotting and loping segments. After walking a half of a
mile, alternate long trotting and slow loping for a half of
a mile. Do this for a week and then add another half of a
mile. It can take months to reach the full six to eight
miles, but getting a horse in top condition takes time and
patience. Of course, if your horse is in good shape before
starting the program you may increase the mileage
faster.
On the days you aren’t following the exercise program
you should your horse lightly or exercise him in a round
pen. Allow your horse at least one day off a week to rest
and relax. Turn him out in a pasture to run freely or lay
around. This allows his muscles to still work, but at his
own, natural pace. This also allows him to relax and not
become bored with the exercise program.
After following this program for about 90 days you
should see a vast improvement in your horse’s condition and
stamina. He is almost at his peak performance at this
point. Now you can add a sprint to your exercise program on
one day of the week. Start out with a walk and trot to get
his muscles warmed up and stretched. Ask your horse for a
sprint for about 250 yards. Ask for as much speed as he
will give you, allowing him to run as fast as he can.
Slowly bring him down to a lope, trot and then a walk. Walk
him until his breathing is even and he is cooled down. This
does not need to be done more than once a week. If you are
running your horse at a barrel race almost every weekend,
you can skip this part of the workout.
Once you start competing regularly this rigorous
exercise program can be cut down to a maintenance program.
If you are competing almost every weekend you can shorten
the exercise down to 45 minutes of walking, trotting and
loping three to four days a week. Always be sure and give
your horse at least one day off a week and don’t ride him
hard every single day. Horses get bored with routine and
can start to misbehave. Remember to not work him too hard
the day of or the day just before a competition.