i have a 6 year  old qh mare, we've been doing gaming events all this season for the first time. (i'm originally a hunter/jumper) but now  i got that need for speed bug...this is the horses first time with anything so i got to start her from scratch and she is very willing and calm, and ready to work whenever i ask.  as far as barrels have been, she doesn't rush in the gate she rates and bends at the barrels very nicely, whoas on a dime, i cannot ask for a better horse. SO....our times have slowly improved out of 4 shows, from 38+ second runs to 24 second runs...but now i want to ask for more speed. whats the best way to push my horse to the next level??? Definitley if i can, want to stay away from spurs, or any other artificial aids, but not opposed to any ideas. She responds to leg and voice aids very well...
and next dilema...pole bending...okay she is a fiarly green horse, she can do flying lead changes kinda on accident say from one barrel to the next...but sometimes its just luck...what are some good excercises to prepare for bole bening where i need to change leads after just a couple of strides???  Thanks for any info!!!

Spurs really don't make a horse run anyway, kiss at her and kick a little to encourage her to run.  The best thing to do is to blow her out in a field to let her understand that it is okay to run just don't do it to much.  LOL, They will learn to change leads on their own running the pole pattern, don't change them for her.  Your times are improving which means your horse is starting to speed up, you should pick up more as time goes by.  Rushing through the gate isn't always bad as long as you can control your horse.

Thanks for the input!   been taking her out on the trails, and letting her "chase" my daughter on the 4 wheeler...and just letting her loose, i will be putting her to the test this weekend so we will see....for my pole bending...whats the best way to keep her from breaking down to a trot after my first turn??  any ideas, i push her but she just stays in a trot, a very fast extended trot...

You really have to kick, sit back and push her on the backside of the turn.  She will eventually speed up.