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How Does Reining Help Barrel Horses?
by Hannah Kaufman


All my barrel horses get at least 3 months of reining training before they even see a barrel pattern. Why would a barrel horse need to know how to rein you ask? Because I want my barrel horses BROKE! I want to be able to put any part of my horse’s body anywhere I want at any speed anytime with very little effort! I want a horse to work a barrel pattern on their own but still have full control their body during the run. There are five basic reining fundamentals that I feel make a barrel horse more solid. I feel these help a barrel horse learn the pattern faster and allow them to compete physically and mentally faster than regular patterning. You are able to pattern perfect when you start so they learn with very few mistakes.

5 Fundamentals:
Sliding Stops: These are important because it teaches a horse to get his hindquarters underneath and stay free in the front end. This will allow you to use your body to que him instead of pulling on his mouth therefore enabling him to work a barrel on his own and hunt it. Also teaches a horse to “come back to you.”

Spins: This is so important to teach a barrel horse because it allows control of the shoulders of the horse on the backside of the barrel to finish it. I want to be able to pick the front end up and move it over - prevents bowing out of a barrel and corrects swinging out of the hindquarters.

Counter-arcs: Once again control of the shoulders of the horse and collection of the hindquarters. Being able to hold him off a barrel and shape him going into it. Will also advance the spin!

Loping Circles: Most people would argue their barrel horse already knows how to lope circles but I’m talking about a whole new
level of it. The two main ideas are speed control and keeping the inside hindquarters driving and the inside shoulder lifted.

Serpentines: control of the horse’s hindquarters and shoulders to get that coveted “bend” in their body. Excellent way to physically and mentally condition a horse! A great way to warm up and cool down your horse.