Riding a barrel race well requires careful preparation and planning. In the beginning, your barrel must be cleaned thoroughly and the barrel-to-ground contact must be perfect. However, once you’ve prepared your horse and made sure all of your equipment is ready to go, it’s time to start riding your pattern! The most important thing to keep in mind is not to rush it. Riding barrel races fast and accurately is not an easy task. Going slow and clean will often give you a better time than going faster. When you slow down you can pay closer attention to what you're doing, and your focus can become more precise.