Rodeos are a traditional sport where cowboys and cowgirls compete in different events. These athletes show off their skills in timed events. Such events include: barrel racing, roping, pole bending, goat tying, rough stock riding, and many others.

I have been barrel racing since I was three years old. Over the years I have learned different techniques from many people. Every technique I have learned is very helpful in its own way.  

Serpentines: Start at one end of the arena and zigzag your way to the other end. It is like doing a “Z” over and over and over again. When doing these exercises collect their head in the corner and straighten the body out in the start. This teaches a horse to travel in a straight line and to collect their body when turning. When running a barrel pattern your time is always faster when you make a straight line from one barrel to another. Then when you get to the turn they will collect and burn the turn.

Spirals: To do spirals you can set up a barrel in the center of the arena. Start off loping in the correct lead in one direction. After you get that, begin loping around the barrel. At first you will lope a big circle and then you start to get smaller and smaller. You continue doing this until you feel that your horse is collected and they are really using their hocks.

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Two exercises I really enjoy are serpentines and spirals. Serpentines are used to help a horse break at the pole and helps with you and your horses balance. Spirals are used to get a horse to use his hocks. This is another method to help with balance and coordination. All these methods are great for barrel racing and many other rodeo events. There are many others that are very helpful but these are the two I use the most. I especially use these exercises with colts. Gets their brain thinking and works several muscles in the body. To do these exercises keep reading.

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