TRAINING TIPS
Blasting the Barrels Adele Edwards has won every major barrel race in the eastern states in the past ten years, writes DANNII CUNNANE. She also happens to be renowned as a top-level breeder and trainer.
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angus-based Adele Edwards and her husband Darrell own 3D Quarter Horses and have bred some of the most successful barrel racing horses in Australia from a very small and select band of broodmares. Nangus is a village on the Wagga Wagga to Gundagai Road on the north side of the Murrumbidgee River, and it’s claim to fame is certainly that it’s produced the woman who has become known as the Queen of Barrel Racing in Australia. Adele holds several national titles, which she’s won on different horses and she further proved her worth as a barrel racing trainer when she won the Equitana Australian Open Barrel Race in 2012 on her then eight-year-old gelding Moon Roc.
Adele Edwards rides Moon Roc, main, and Adele with Rocs Rager (inset).
But as much she’s known for her own competition achievements, it’s the fact that these horses, trained by her, have gone on to be successful for other riders, giving her a reputation for training reliable, fast horses.
has a simple formula for barrel racing success that can be followed by even beginners to the sport, and she was happy to share some of her training tips with me for HorseVibes. But first here’s the 101 Barrel Racing:
possible.
The popularity of Adele’s methods has seen her in demand as a clinician. She emphasises the importance of good horsemanship to ensure that barrel horses are able to excel in the arena. She
Introduction to Barrel Racing
The timer starts when the participants
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Barrel racing is a type of rodeo event. The participants and their horses attempt to complete a clover-leaf pattern around barrels in the fastest way
HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE - JUNE 2019
In rodeo events, which are timed, the goal is to make a run at the fastest time. The time is either being watched by an electronic eye or by an attendant. and their horses cross the start line; it ends when the barrel pattern has been completed, and then the horse and rider can cross the finish line.
