Barrel Racing

Barrel racing is a timed rodeo event where the fastest time wins. Speed is what it is all about.

For the barrel-racing event, the arena is cleared and three barrels are set up at different marked locations. The rider then enters the arena through a center alley/entrance at full speed, quickly rounding each 55 gallon barrel in a "cloverleaf" pattern (3 barrels set in a triangle formation), and then exiting where they entered.

Typically the pattern consists of one right-hand turn (the first barrel) and two left-hand turns (the second and third barrel). But some riders start to the left and have one left-hand turn and two right-hand turns.

An electronic eye is used to record times down to a hundredth of a second. The timer starts once the horse's nose crosses the start line and keeps running until the beam is crossed again at the end of the run.

The Rider receives a 5 second penalty added to the cowgirl's total time for every barrel knocked over.

Girls of preschool age may compete in this event.