This summer i'm planning on training my horse for Gymkhana; Barrel Racing. I am going to be getting lessons for B.R. in the summer, but for now i'd like to condition my horse so that he is ready for it. I am planning on buying some bell boots, and splint boots, for when we start the real training (probably in the spring). But for now i'm not sure what things l can do to start conditioning my horse, l live in michigan and there is lots of snow on the ground so it is kind of hard to do much. My friend was an amazing barrel racer until her horse threw her back out, but she is volunteered to help me daily this spring and summer with Lark. Lark (my horse) is still kind of green (in my opinion), he can walk, trot, and canter, and i've done a little bit of jumping with him, but not much and the highest i've jumped him was about 1ft. This past summer l took him to the fair and we won intro to dressage champions, but the judges did comment that Lark needed more bend in his circles and turns, and i'm guessing that he is going to be needing lots of bend for Barrel Racing, so if you have any tips for that too, that would be a great help. Thanks for you time,
Alyse
P.S. If there is any tack that l will need for gaming besides bell boots, and splint boots, please let me know. Thanks!

If you have the extra cash, invest in a show quality barrel racing saddle and breast plate and bridle.

A lot of stretching work in the arena. General hard work will get him conditioned if u plan on taking lessons. Do rollbacks to get him to work off his hindquarters, work on slowing down really quickly at a canter (rating), do a bunch of circles (not in a row, but every so often). Try doing figure eights, S figures, etc. Get ur horse to move off of ur leg commands. Get ur horse used to neck reining, direct reining, & short reins.

l do not know how u will be able to do this in the snow unless u have a closed arena.