Speed / Barrel Racing
Intermediate
15 min
Rate to Stop Drill
Focus: Rate, Collection, Obedience
Equipment: 4 cones or markers
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Set up 4 cones in a line, 50 feet apart.
- Lope toward cone 1. Rate (collect) 3 strides before the cone and halt at the cone.
- Stand for 3 seconds. Lope to cone 2 and repeat: rate and halt.
- Continue through all 4 cones: lope, rate, halt at each.
- The halt should come from the rate — the horse should be so collected that the halt is effortless.
- This trains the same deceleration skill used before barrel turns.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Halting past the cone because the rate started too late.
- The horse anticipating halts and slowing before you ask.
- Not loping with enough energy between cones (the rate only works if there's speed to rate from).
- Pulling on the reins to stop instead of using the seat and voice.
Variations & Progressions
- Vary which cones you halt at and which you lope through.
- Replace some halts with rollback turns for variety.
- Increase speed between cones for a more challenging rate exercise.
Tip: If your horse can rate from a lope to a square halt in 3 strides, it can rate for any barrel turn. This is the foundation drill.
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