SETUP
You’ll need:
5 cones (or markers)
1 or 2 barrels
The Point
This drill isn’t about getting through the pattern.
It’s about riding every step of it
Break it down here.
So when you add speed later…nothing changes except how fast you go.
National Shooting Horse Association's
Pattern 7 Box & Barrel Drill
Ride the Four C's in this CMSA Pattern
This drill builds directly off the box drill on straight lines and 90° turns. Now we’re taking that same control and putting it into a pattern where things start happening faster—and where most riders start losing direction.
This is not a shooting problem. This is a riding problem.
More specifically:
unclear direction
inconsistent timing
and small communication gaps between you and your horse
This drill is designed to clean that up.
Pattern 7 Box & Barrel Drill
The Nitty Gritty
WHAT YOU SHOULD FEEL
Horse stays with you from start to finish
You are placing your horse—not reacting to them
Turns feel organized, not rushed
Rhythm stays consistent even when things tighten up
WHAT THIS DRILL FIXES
Horses drifting off line
Wide or late turns into the gate
Losing control once the pattern “gets busy”
Riders focusing on shooting instead of riding
Lack of precision in foot placement
If your pattern falls apart halfway through…
👉 this is where you fix it.
COMMON BREAKDOWNS
Miss the center line
→ Direction problem early in the run
Turns into the gate get wide or late
→ Timing and communication issue
Horse drifts through the gate
→ Loss of control
Everything falls apart after the gate
→ Rider stopped actively directing
Barrel turn gets messy
→ Loss of collection and balance