Making Barrel Horses from Start to Finish

Making Barrel Horses from Start to Finish

Learn how Jordon Briggs prepares her young horses for the fast-paced rodeo world. Discover her methods for teaching colts to handle pressure with minimal warm-up time and be ready for any situation. Explore Jordon's drill for calming a young horse that rushes the barrel turn and see how she selects the right direction for a horse on the barrel pattern. Meet "Bluey," Jordon's Pro Rodeo backup horse, and watch her demonstrate a brain-calming drill to fine-tune his performance.

Justin Briggs shares his expert knowledge on teaching neck reining to young horses and the importance of using a back cinch early in training. Learn how to execute a forward turnaround drill to engage a horse's hindquarters and maintain proper posture during a run. Justin also explains the benefits of using a loping hackamore for colts and how to introduce it effectively.

Jordon and Justin emphasize the importance of building a horse’s confidence through small wins and consistent positive reinforcement—Discover Jordon's exhibition routine for a 4-year-old horse and how she maintains correct posture and hand placement. Justin demonstrates rollback exercises to enhance a colt's power and direction, and both trainers offer tips on boosting a horse’s confidence and achieving smooth, controlled runs.

Gain valuable insights into Jordon’s approach to training her horses, including her expectations for young colts and strategies for handling anxiety. Justin provides practical advice on hand placement, posture, and using specific drills to encourage forward momentum without pushing down on the bridle.

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Making Barrel Horses from Start to Finish
  • Deciding to Start Left or Right

    Is the right or left better? Jordon Briggs explains how she picks if a horse should go to the left or to the right first in the barrel pattern.

  • Introducing "Bluey" by A Streak Of Fling

    In this video, Jordon Briggs reintroduces Bluey, a gelding sired by A Streak Of Fling, who viewers might remember seeing Justin rope on last year. Bluey has become a cool barrel and pole horse and served as Jordon’s backup pro rodeo mount at the time. Watch as she demonstrates a favorite drill th...

  • Forward Turnaround Drill

    Justin Briggs explains how to use a forward turnaround drill on a young horse loping around too flat and disengaged.

  • How To Use Reins

    Justin Briggs shows us how to use reins and teach neck reining on a young horse.

  • How to Warm Up a 3-Year-Old

    Justin Briggs explains how he warms up a 3-year-old and emphasizes the importance of keeping their feet moving. He starts by trotting them around and ensuring the horse is paying attention to the rider.

  • Self-Evaluating Your Riding

    Bad habits can evolve when we are trying to win like leg lifts etc... Justin Briggs explains how important it is to self-evaluate yourself and the habits you've created while riding. Watching your own videos can give you insight on what you're sitting correct in the saddle during a barrel run.

  • How to Use a Back Cinch

    Justin Briggs finds back cinches very important, especially in barrel racing. He introduces a back cinch to a colt very early in his training so they can learn what that pressure feels like.

  • Talking Through Arlo's Run

    Jordon Briggs cruises her colt "Arlo" through the barrels and explains what his style is like around the turns and how he compares to "Rollo."

  • Riding One-Handed with Jordon Briggs

    Jordon Briggs demonstrates how to ride one handed and work on correct posture while loping through the barrel pattern. A great way to find holes within your barrel pattern is riding one handed and then going back and fixing the problem. 

  • Exhibition Game Plan on Awesome Arlo

    Jordon Briggs explains her exhibition routine on a 4-year-old by Blazin Jetolena.

  • Fence Work Drill for Young Horses Part 2

    Justin Briggs explains how he is encouraging a 2-year-old filly to not push down on the bridle with certain drills with forward momentum.

  • Fence Work Drill for Young Horses

    Justin Briggs demonstrates how to introduce a rollback exercise along the fence on a colt that is following his hands well in a side-pull. This exercise helps colts use their hind end for power and front end for direction.

  • Hand Position on Colts

    Justin Briggs explains where his hand placement is on split reins and why.

  • Finding Wins on 2-Year-Olds

    Justin Briggs finds ways to boost a colts confidence by rewarding them for their small wins.

  • How to Use a Loping Hackamore

    Justin Briggs likes to use a loping hackamore on colts that have been just started under saddle because it has side nose pressure and chin pressure. This teaches them the pressure they will experience in a curb bit in the future. Justin shows us how to use the hackamore and how it should fit.

  • 2-Year-Old Expectations

    Justin Briggs explains his expectations for a 2-year-old that has 10 days of riding under them. He works on being "square" on the ground by driving them past and giving them a release. Briggs also explains how this drill will help them drive off their hind-end in the future on the barrel patt...

  • 3-Year-Old Expectations on Dash Ta The Future

    Jordon Briggs cruises a 3-year-old by Dash Ta Fame and explains what she felt during that run-through. She talks about her expectations for him now and how he will futurity his 5-year-old year when he is more mature.

  • The Perfect Pattern

    Jordon Briggs shows us the correct approach to the first barrel to set up a perfect barrel pattern while she is in the alleyway.

  • Barrel Racing Posture

    Jordon Briggs explains how important posture is in the barrel saddle. Correct posture in the saddle will set you up for success in the barrel pattern.

  • Pulling to Your Hip Drill

    Jordon Briggs demonstrates a versatile drill that benefits both colts and seasoned barrel horses. By guiding your horse's nose toward your hip, you can help relax their neck and encourage them to follow their nose with forward motion. This technique not only promotes a smoother, more relaxed turn...

  • Confidence with Your Inside Rein

    "Live by the outside rein, die by the outside rein." Jordon Briggs explains how having confidence in your inside rein is so important during a barrel run. Ashley Shafer taught Jordon Briggs a different hand position on her colts and showed us her inside rein secrets.

  • Finding Confidence in Training

    Jordon Briggs explains how she lost her confidence while on colts after not running Rollo while he was hurt. She shares what she has learned from Ashley Shafer and shows us new drills to gain more confidence in riding.