Multi-million dollar rider and top barrel horse trainer Ryann Pedone explains how using poles can assist you in barrel racing training.

There’s something about starting fresh with a new horse that can bring out both excitement and uncertainty. Futurity trainer Ryann Pedone knows the feeling—and she’s got the experience to help riders navigate those early stages with clarity and confidence. In this lesson, Ryann steps off the horse and into the role of coach as she guides a younger rider, Perry, through a barrel drill that builds feel and timing with poles.

The focus? Setting physical boundaries with poles to help riders—and their horses—build consistent, correct patterns around the barrel.

“This drill is like the bumper rails in bowling—it’s meant to help riders stay in the lane and understand what the correct line and timing should feel like. It’s not about being perfect; it’s about learning to think and ride with intention,” Pedon explains.

Who This Drill Is For

This is for riders:

• Starting over with a new or younger horse
• Transitioning from a finished horse to one that still needs shaping
• Looking to build confidence in their feel and position
• Wanting to understand how their body affects the horse’s pattern

Setting Up The Barrel Drill with Poles

This simple but effective drill helps riders and horses stay consistent on their approach, shape, and exit around each barrel. You’ll need two ground poles for each barrel.

Here’s how to place them:

Use the Same Setup on All Three Barrels:
Adjust your angles for left or right turns accordingly, but the concept stays the same: guide your horse through a consistent path with the help of the poles.

First Pole (Backside Marker):
Place one pole directly behind the barrel—aligned with the horse’s path across the backside. This marks where the horse should begin to leave the turn. The goal is to make sure the horse’s inside hind leg clears this pole before squaring up and driving out of the turn.

Second Pole (Outside Lane Bumper):
Place the second pole parallel to the first, about 3 feet off the barrel, on the outside of the turn. This creates a “lane” or visual bumper for the rider to guide their horse through. The idea is similar to bowling with bumpers—you’re helping the horse stay in the correct lane without drifting too wide or cutting in too tight.

WATCH HERE.

This setup not only reinforces proper foot placement and turn shape—it also builds rider awareness and feel. It’s especially helpful for green riders getting with new horses, or for tuning up horses that tend to drop or fade at a barrel.

Barrel Drill with Poles Step-By-Step

Step 1: Walk the Pattern

• Begin by walking the pattern with the poles in place.
• Focus on keeping the horse between the poles, with a clean arc around the backside.
• The goal: get the inside pivot foot past the backside pole before squaring up out of the turn.

Step 2: Long Trot the Pattern

• Increase intensity with a long trot.
• Keep your upper body quiet and core engaged through each turn.
• Reinforce staying deep in the seat—not pitching forward.

Step 3: Invisible Barrels for Problem Areas

• If a horse anticipates a turn too early, use an “invisible barrel” to create space.
• Ride a second, imaginary turn behind the barrel to reprogram the horse’s path and mind.
• Here are more drills for fixing problem areas in the barrel pattern. Click here.

Step 4: Reverse Arc for Correction

• If the horse dives in early or cuts the turn, perform a reverse arc to reestablish the shape.
• Don’t avoid mistakes—correct them slowly, then repeat the correct version.

Step 5: Loping Through

• When the horse and rider feel connected, lope through the pattern with the poles still in place.
• The rider should sit deep, maintain body control, and focus on finishing each barrel correctly.

Step 6: Walk-Back and Self-Talk

• Walk the pattern again at the end of the session.
• Riders should talk themselves through their body position and decisions to build muscle memory and confidence.

WATCH HERE.

What Riders Learn from This Drill

• How to feel where their horse’s hip and shoulders are in a turn
• When to correct versus when to reward
• The importance of core strength and seat stability
• Why mental fitness matters just as much as physical prep

Ryann is honest about the reality of training—it’s a long game. “It’s not about going to one clinic and being fixed. It’s about showing up, working through the mistakes, and learning to love the process.”

About Ride TV

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