Training Barrel Horses

Lesson 1: Choosing the Perfect Barrel Horse

The Horse-Human Relationship

This partner relationship is the basis for everything else you’re ever going to do with your horse, from this course’s point of view. If you don’t develop the horse-human relationship, you might have success with your barrel horse, but it will be for a short period of time. And afterwards, it would be my guess that you wouldn’t really be able to do much else with your horse. This non-relationship is fairly common, in barrel racing and out. But it doesn’t have to be that way, and this course is here to show you how to achieve that all-important relationship.

That tangible connection that you felt with the one horse is what will help you to have a lasting success with him. It creates the base for trust and respect, both of which are absolutely necessary for a great horse/rider team. One of the most important aspects of the relationship is that it creates trust and respect on both ends. If your horse trusts and respects you too, you have a lot less chance of getting hurt (in other words, he will have more respect for your space and whatever boundaries you set); and to top it all off, he’ll be much more willing to do what you ask him to do. It makes every cue, every suggestion that you give to him so much easier that once you have it, other people who watch you with your horse (who don’t have the same ease with their own) will want that. Read these lessons and perform the exercises contained in this course, and you’ll see that it all just starts with a little respect for your horse as a beautiful, intelligent, and regal animal. If you have that respect, willingness, and the desire to work with him to develop him further, you will have this important relationship.

I can't overstate the importance of spending TIME with your horse(s). Whether you're working together, playing together, or spending quiet dreaming time together, it doesn't matter. Just like relationships with people, the more time you spend with them, the better you get to know them (and vice versa). And, just like human relationships, you can create bonds that last a lifetime, that are infinitely special and meaningful. Spending time with each other and getting to know each other is basic and essential for beginning to understand your horse, and vice versa. It is invaluable.

Make friends with your horse. I'm not saying to let him take advantage of you or to run all over you. Being friends means that you do have respect for one another, that you know and love each other, that you enjoy spending free time together, and can even teach each other things.

Keep in mind that while you're friends with your horse, you have to remain in control. Horses know when you're in control and when you aren't, and they act accordingly. If you allow your horse to be in control, he won't respect what you ask him to do, or learn what you teach.

Another important aspect to the horse-human relationship is respect. As I mentioned earlier, if you allow your horse to run over you, he won't respect you or what you ask of him. But it's important that you respect him as well. Emphasize respect for his space, and he'll usually respect yours. It can be not only annoying for a horse to not respect your space--it can be dangerous, as well. Horses are huge, powerful animals, and if your horse gets the idea that you'll allow him to run over you and this will get him out of some work, he'll do it. However, if you establish that you're the leader and that you won't allow him to invade your space, he'll respect that, and very likely will listen to what you have to say.

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