The Beginner's Circle
Start your barrel racing and horsemanship journey with confidence in The Beginner’s Circle, an exclusive Ride TV playlist designed for riders who are brand new to the Western riding world. This curated collection delivers the essential skills and knowledge every beginner needs to build a solid foundation—whether your goal is to ride for fun or compete in the arena. Learn basic riding techniques for balance, control, and communication, along with horse care fundamentals like grooming, tacking up, and understanding horse behavior. Each video includes clear, step-by-step instructions and practical safety tips so you can handle and ride your horse with assurance from day one. With guidance from trusted trainers and real-world demonstrations, you’ll develop the confidence to work around horses safely, ride effectively, and begin your path toward barrel racing or other Western performance disciplines.
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The Right Supplements for your Barrel Horse
A look at various equine supplements that can help your barrel horse cope with the stress of hauling and competing.
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Effective Barrel Racing Warmups
Amy Jo Reisdorfer explains the steps she takes to warm up right, either at-home or at an event.
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The Importance of Regular Veterianary Maintenance
Work closely with your veterinarian to keep your barrel horse firing on all cylinders.
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The Necessary Fundamentals
Correct fundamentals and proper body position before going to the pattern with Andre Coelho.
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Setting the Pocket for Each Barrel
Sharin Hall has a different pocket for each barrel and uses the length of her horse's body and stride to help gauge the depth she allows around the turns.
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Resolving a Lack of Rate
Andre Coelho demonstrates an exercise that helps reinforce rate and turn for a horse that starts blowing by the barrels.
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Instilling Confidence & Control in Race Breds
Leading barrel horse trainer Sharin Hall talks about how she establishes control and instills confidence in her running bred barrel prospects.
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Thoughts on Tiedowns, Browbands & Other Training Tools
Professional barrel racer Sharin Hall has specific reasons for the training tools she uses and explains in what rare cases she incorporates a browband, draw ropes, and similar tools.
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Training Bits vs. Running Bits and Why?
Leading barrel horse trainer Sharin Hall answers the common question of if she trains and runs in the same bit, and if so when and why this would apply.
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Loping Lefts and Rights
To keep her horses listening, staying between her hands and driving through the turns, leading trainer Sharin Hall uses "Lefts and Rights."
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When to Ride With Split Reins
Leading barrel futurity horse trainer Sharin Hall talks about when she uses split reins and why.
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The Importance of Bit Guards
Sharin Hall uses bit guards and explains why this is an important detail you shouldn't overlook.
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Building Strength to Tighten Turns
Sharin Hall trains her barrel racing prospects to hold frame in perfect, correct circles, which creates smooth barrel turns as she gradually builds strength in her young horses.
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Rating Horses with Your Body Cues
Sharin Hall talks about how to signal horses to slow down, get their hip underneath them and shoulder up for the perfect turn.
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Loping a Perfect Barrel Pattern
Amy Jo Reisdorfer demonstrates riding the correct position through each turn on the barrel pattern at a lope.
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The Importance of Leads in Barrel Racing
Cuing with your legs and seat to catch the correct lead and how being in the correct lead helps horses prepare for the turn.
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Feed Program and Turnout Time
Jordon talks about her philosophy on pasture turnout, grazing time and her feed program.
