Barrel Racing English Style

My western friend introduced me to Barrel Racing and it was so fun I gave it a try in my dressage saddle. We didn't break any speed records but my horse (25 years old) and I had great fun!

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• Barrel
• race
• english
• dressage
• barrel
• style
• riding
• horse

[horseluvr06]

that was actually a fantastic run!

[ReddenB]

thanks!

[Moontyra85]

haha! I do this in a dressage saddle too xD. Ok, so we go at trot (in a little 40x60 arena), but its all good fun!

lovely looking horse! you have a nice canter going to the third barrel :)

[ReddenB]

It is fun! Thanks.

[SpotsRule98]

Wow, you know what? You had better turns than most western people do. At a bad 4-h barn over here, the 'good' (they think so, but the truth is they suck.) riders don't do it half as good. You could start teaching beginners. You should take a couple lessons too though, from a professional.

[ReddenB]

Thanks for the praise! I think the English training helps balance the turns but it also makes me want too much contact at times too! I did go to a barrel racing clinic with Charmayne James and she was very helpful!

[QH1100]

@snowballjet Is that not the most awesome riding you've ever seen? RIding like that is how I aspire to ride, & I'll keep learning to try, even if I never actually get all the way there! Oh, & did I mention my dream horse is either a Spanish Andalusian or a Portugese Luisitano? LOL

[QH1100]

@snowballjet We sound like we're on the same page! ;) Every different type of saddle in the world was developed for a special purpose on horseback - but the good rider can adapt! :) And well-trained horses won't know the difference if he has a good rider! And a non-trained horse & poor rider - well, that's just a recipe for disaster if they try any of the high speed sports! LOL

[snowballjet]

@QH1100 And also, I checked out the video.. That's amazing. Makes me want to move to Portugal, haha.. Around here everyone seems to do strictly one thing in one discipline, and is closed minded about anything else.

[snowballjet]

@QH1100 Absolutely! What I meant by the saddle thing is really that the barrel saddle is made for that, just as a dressage saddle is made for dressage, though it may be used for jumping or flatwork if you wanted. Not that it changed anything, really. I only rode western at the time of that comment, though recently started riding english. It's definitely difficult, and for me being new to it, requires even more balance than western! (:

[QH1100]

@snowballjet .....The video is titled “Working Equitation Speed Test. Beja 2008”: it combines barrel racing, polo bending, jumping, dressage, trail obstacles, key hole, & bull fighting. If we Americans just dump our prejudice labels, maybe we’d shut up & learn how to ride! ;)

[QH1100]

@snowballjet Personally, I think the Spanish & Portugese have this right. There is no “english” or “western” styles. Check out this vid they call “working equitation”. To them, good riding on a well trained horse is just that, & they attribute the value a good rider has to a good horse….

[QH1100]

@snowballjet I TOTALLY agree with you - but once again, your point has nothing to do with the saddle. It has to do with the training & riding exclusively. I'm assuming you're only "western", & therefore think tight turns & balance only happen in "western" sports. Absolutely not! Dressage is ALL about balance, collection, & control. When show jumping (speed sport), you have to cut sharp corners w/correct striding to make the next fence. & Polo is all about agility, etc, etc...

[42tinamarie]

@SpotsRule98 why dont you just say great job, and its even a rodeo sport... even people that use a barrel saddle, are beginning, dont knock them, be glad they are involved... no judgement either way....

its a thing.... glad to be doing it, and glad you like it... i am totally impresses with english riding... i as a barrelracing think it would take more time... that is why i barrel race... its easier..... so why in the world would i judge her because she already can prove she can

[42tinamarie]

@Candybabe516

u honestly just said that...

[42tinamarie]

@QH1100 i agree