There’s a razor-thin line between a tight, fast turn and one that knocks a barrel. That’s where perfecting your pocket approach during practice sessions can make a big difference. Leading futurity trainer and million-dollar barrel racer Sharin Hall explains how she sets the pocket for each barrel and calculates the perfect distance.

Watch the complete step-by-step video lesson on Ride TV.

What is the “pocket” in barrel racing?

In barrel racing, the “pocket” is the space between each barrel and the horse and rider. If a rider doesn’t set up their pocket well, it can lead to too-tight turns that risk knocking over the barrel or inefficiently wide turns that add extra time.

To determine the size of your barrel pocket, measure your horse.

“I’m big on forward momentum and having enough room around the barrel to kee that forward momentum. I want my horses to run around the turn; I don’t want them to slow down, make the turn and then take off. I want forward momentum the whole time. To do that, you have to evaluate how long your horse is from his nose to his tail. This particular horse is maybe 7 feet long, so I know I want 7 feet to do this move in one spot on the backside of the barrel.”

Understand the pocket for each barrel.

Each barrel requires a slightly different approach: 

First barrel pocket

The pocket is directly behind the barrel toward the fence. This depth helps the horse smoothly transition to the second barrel. 

Second barrel pocket

Here, the deepest part of the pocket should be at the three-quarter point, aligning with an imaginary line between the second and third barrels. 

Third barrel pocket

Positioned directly behind the barrel and toward the fence, this setup allows the horse to exit efficiently and head straight for home. 

How to build confidence in your young barrel horse

“Horses are naturally claustrophobic so I give my horses more room when I’m first introducing them to the barrel pattern. I don’t want them to feel pinned down with nowhere to go. A horse does not want to hit a 55-gallon drum, and they will if we get them out of position or don’t give them enough room to keep moving forward.

“When I’m doing my slow work at home, I always practice the jockey skills I’ll need when I’m at the race. So not only am I working on repetition with my horses, I’m also working on repetition of what I do in the run.”

Key takeaways

• The length from nose to tail plays a big role in determining where and how deep each pocket should be.  
• Understand the unique pocket for each barrel and have a plan of approach.
• Practice slow work and give enough room around each barrel.
• Practice consistent horse/rider movements. 

TRAIN WITH SHARIN HALL. Sharin Hall is a leading futurity trainer and million-dollar rider who breeds, raises, and trains some of the best barrel horses in the industry. Access her full library of training videos on Ride TV.