** CALLING ALL THE WESTERN RIDERS AND BARREL RACERS OF HP!! **

DISCLAIMER: This post is no way intended to be a heated debate, but more so just a discussion of everyone's opinions, so please keep comments civil. I am curious to see the thought processes of equestrians from the other side of the fence as I do not show or horseback ride and do not claim to know every aspect of the sport. I am basing my information solely on what I have seen in person, been told, or have read about the sport.

I do not typically post these type of things, but one of the talks I had with my friend the other day brought up something very interesting; when we were talking, we brought up the topics of rodeos. He was curious on rodeos and what events were in it and we brought up Barrel Racing; as we were watching some reels from past competition, he pointed a lot of riders were doing what many equestrians consider "Star-Fishing" in the saddle. For those unfamiliar with this term, it is basically where your feet and stirrups go outward (like a starfish) and your body is practically hovering above the saddle seat. He asked me why these cowgirls do it and if it actually makes that horse go faster; I have heard from Silver Sands Riding Arena from a couple racers that this method does increase the horse's speed and makes the time better during your run.

After our talk, it really got me thinking and since I know nothing on how riding in Barrel Racing works and I know there are some riders here who partake in this discipline/sport, so to those who do: what are your thoughts on this method? Does it really make the horse go faster or increase your time? He wa also curious if "Star-fishing" had any negative impacts on a horse so that additional comment is also appreciated.

Thanks all! 

Boop ♥

Idk about faster but when learning to barrel race we were taught to do this for balance on the sharp turns.

I do not ride Western, but my understanding of star-fishing is that it's done to be able to kick/spur the horse harder; the image usually captured of it is just the apex of the movement before their legs/seat come down on the horse.

Personally I find it quite excessive and I can't imagine that it's comfortable for the horse, especially with spurs involved. Slamming up and down on the horse might get them to run faster while in the pattern but from what I've seen in videos from competition, a lot of pro barrel racers don't find it necessary.

I do not like this technique, it looks so bad IMHO. Like just before you're getting ready to fall off because you were unseated when that horse launched. My mare will stop real quick if someone does that on her and she's had barrel training. She goes faster if you stick your legs to her side and lean down into the run with her you can feel her just go into AWWW YESSSSSS mode and kick it into a whole new gear. Star fishing looks tasteless and like the rider truly doesn't know what their doing. It's one thing to kick a horse on but to slam on their backs like that is ridiculous. 

If you tried something like that on Bella she would LOSE it so I have insane respect for the hroses. Quite frankly until I see some research proving it makes horses run faster than simply letting a horse do what it loves and riding appropriately to work with them I don't think it's necessary. You're slamming up and down on the horses back (in an already heavy saddle) and kicking them (with spurs often) which cannot be comfortable. Not to mention then you have to be over dramatic about everything else.... I've seen some ex-barrel racers going into second careers and they're always tense and flighty. I know not ALL barrel racers come out of the patterns like that but it's common enough. It's another case of "horses love what they're doing but people beat them into it anyways" type deal. There's research stating that whips in horse racing don't actually make the horse go faster, and yet....