Sharpen your reflexes and your mind with Jane Melby’s back-to-back barrel pattern drill.

During the middle of a run, there’s no time to look back – you’re not going that way. When things don’t go as planned, however, Jane Melby says it takes a creative mind to keep moving forward, leaving your mistakes and your horse’s missteps in the dust. The three-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo go round winner sets up this month’s drill to develop forward momentum, an often overlooked factor in compensating for mistakes and winning barrel races.

Go on with it!

To set up this month’s drill, create a diamond-shaped pattern by setting a fourth barrel opposite of the third barrel on your typical cloverleaf barrel pattern. Melby acknowledges that the location of this fourth barrel will alter your approach to the first barrel when you begin the drill, but this unconventional approach can be used in your favor.