How to Compete in a Barrel Racing Event

Barrel racing is a fast-paced, thrilling event that keeps everyone out of their seat - even the rider!

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Spurs
• Cowboy Hats
• Jeans
• Long-sleeved Shirts
• Riding Boots

1. Get a fast horse. The trick to barrel racing is precision and speed. Typically barrel racers use quarter horses for this event because of their speed, but Morgans, Appaloosas, paint horses and even Arabians excel at this speedy sport.

2. Hold on. Barrel racers barely sit in their saddles; they're riding so fast they often lean forward, slightly out of their saddle, to impel the horse forward.

3. Run your pattern. The barrel racing pattern consists of three barrels placed in a triangle at the opposite end of the arena from where the horse enters, the top of the triangle being the farthest away. The pattern makes a three-leaf clover.

4. Gallop into the arena and make an outside turn (turn to the outside) at either of the side barrels.

5. Round the barrel and cross the arena to the top side of the opposite barrel, making a figure eight in the middle of the arena.

6. Make another outside turn.

7. Head up the middle to the top barrel.

8. Approach the top barrel and round it in the same direction as the second barrel, counterclockwise or clockwise.

9. Race as fast as your horse can go back to the starting line.

10. Don't knock over any barrels; a 5-second penalty is added to your time for every barrel you knock over. The fastest time wins.

Tips & Warnings

• Learn to guide your horse while galloping.
• Keep in mind that at rodeos, only women compete in barrel racing and pole bending, and only men compete in steer roping, bull riding, bucking bronc and saddle bronc riding. Smaller competitions may allow men to do barrel racing and pole bending, but not the regular rodeos.
• If you don't like speed or are afraid of falling off your horse, barrel racing isn't for you.

Who Can Help:

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[FAME2003]

on 8/6/2008 WHY DO PEOPLE ALWAYS SAY THAT PAINT HORSES ARE A BREED?? PAINT MEANS COLOR NOT BREED I HAVE A QH THAT IS PAINT IN COLOR. YES HE IS REG APHA BUT 80% OF HIS BLOODLINES ARE QH THE OTHER IS TB. JUST LIKE PALOMINO IS A COLOR YELLOW!!! IT DOES NOT MATTER WHAT BREED OF HORSE YOU WANT TO RUN BARRELS WITH IT'S THE MIND OF THE HORSE THAT MAKES THEM GREAT AT IT. I'VE SEEN A STANDARD BRED BEAT MANY QH'S. IT'S ALL ABOUT HAVING FUN AND DOING WHAT YOU LOVE WITH THE HORSE YOU LOVE!!!

[Cowchic_44]

on 5/11/2007 well i am asking why does it have to be a QH or an Appie? I like the whole Morgan thing... i started out on a 16.5 hand Fox Trotter and usually placed... People don't believe that gaited horses can do the fine sport of rodeo... i've raced some of the QH... and who ever says that a "Quarter Horse" can run a quarter of a mile in under a minute apparently hasn't tested all of the QH...My 5 yo Missouri Fox Trotter out ran that QH... and he kept going... QH's are only good for SHORT Speed events(sometimes).....
..........also..........
i know it may seem like i am bragging... but i am not i am just trying to get my point across that not all good or sometimes GREAT rodeo horses are QUARTER HORSES... try other breeds... anyhorse can be a barrel horse... it all depends on how much you and the horse want the buckle...<3 Taylor

[cowgirlup16]

on 3/6/2007 BARREL RACING IS A BLAST BUT ALWAYS REMEMBER TO BE SAFE AND TAKE ADVICE FROM YOUR FRIENDS!!

[cowgirlup16]

on 3/6/2007 HEY BARREL RACING IS A LOT OF FUN BUT YOU MUST ALWAYS REMEMBER TO BE SAFE AND TALK TO YOUR FRIENDS FOR ADVICE!!

[Cowgirlup26]

on 1/21/2007 I want to say I have barrel raced on many different breeds of horses from paints,to Mustangs, to TB and Arabians and i must say that they all had great wins and were great horses. I think the horse just has to have the heart and the want to excede at any sport.