Using traffic cones to mark key points around the barrel, Martha Wright’s cone drill is a proven method for helping barrel racers build better positioning, cleaner turns, and more consistent runs.
Barrel racing legend and clinician Martha Wright has spent decades teaching riders—from beginners to world champions—the importance of riding with intention. In a recent Ride TV training video, Wright walks through how she sets up cones around the barrels to give riders clear reference points for their horse’s body position throughout the turn.
“Sometimes it’s just good to have something on the ground so you know exactly where to go and how far to go,” Wright says. “The cones aren’t for the horse—they’re for the rider.”
The Setup: Four Quarters, Two Cones
Start by dividing each barrel into four quarters—like slicing a pie into four equal sections. Wright explains that each quarter helps riders identify key moments in the turn. For this drill, she places two cones at each barrel at what she refers to as the 1.5 and 2.5 positions—between the first and second quarters, and between the second and third quarters.
These cones serve as guides for where the horse’s shoulder should travel. As you approach the barrel, you ride your leg to the barrel and guide your horse’s shoulder around the first cone (1.5). Then, you continue forward around the second cone (2.5) on the backside of the barrel to complete the turn with balance and flow.
“You want to ride your leg to the barrel and make your horse’s shoulder go around that first cone,” she says. “Then you finish the turn by going around the second cone on the backside.”
This setup creates a physical guideline to help riders avoid common problems like cutting off the backside or losing control of the turn’s exit. It reinforces correct shoulder position and helps maintain forward motion through the arc.
Understanding the Four Quarters and Three Riding Points
Wright emphasizes the importance of recognizing that every barrel has four quarters, and that riders must ride through three key points in each turn: the entrance, the backside, and the finish.
#1 Entrance – where the rider first approaches and initiates the turn
#2 Backside – where the horse travels deepest around the barrel
#3 Finish – where the horse drives out of the turn and prepares for the next line
“If you cut off the backside, you’re not giving your horse enough room to finish the turn,” Wright explains. “And that’s when you see barrels tipped or horses having to regroup coming out.”
By using cones to help visualize those key points—and how they relate to the four quarters of the barrel—riders can ride with more precision. Wright’s approach helps you “complete the turn, not just start it.”
Why It Works
“This drill works for any kind of horse, any stage,” Wright explains. “If I’ve got a young horse just learning or an older one having trouble with position, the cones help me ride where I need to ride.”
The cones provide structure to your training without interfering with feel. For beginners, it removes the guesswork. For experienced riders, it sharpens muscle memory and reinforces precision.
Want to see this drill in action? Watch the full training session with Martha Wright on Ride TV, where she coaches riders like World Champion Jordon Briggs through the same techniques that have shaped champions for decades.
About Ride TV
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