Remember the Basics!
While practicing at home, do not forget the basics of barrel racing.  Always check your equipment first.  Give yourself that needed  "mental talk."  Remember that it is your job to place your horse in the correct position to turn the barrel. Find your imaginary blue line to the first barrel. Next, go over your barrel run in your mind's eye, and as you do say out loud the Rienhardt sequence: Sit down-Whoa, saddle horn, bend, look up, pull up, and touch and slide. Last, say a prayer, breathe, and go!