The Exciting Sport of Barrel Racing

As the blur of horse and rider speed from barrel to barrel the onlookers hold their breath.  Cheers resound as the team crosses the finish line.  Competition is tough, as every second counts, and the adrenaline flows freely through everyone’s veins.  This is the exciting sport of Barrel Racing.

Barrel racing is a timed rodeo event.  The team of horse and rider must complete a pattern called a clover leaf which is created by running around three barrels set up at specific distances in an arena.  This means that there is a precise measured distance between the start line to the first barrel, the first barrel to the second barrel, and finally the second barrel to the third barrel.  The person whose horsemanship skills combined with the athleticism of his or her horse, completes the triangular pattern with the fastest time wins the event. 

The timer begins recording when the start line is crossed by the swift moving horse, and it ends when the barrel pattern has been completed and the horse and rider blaze across the finish line. 

The timer is either an electronic eye, which is used in professional events, with a laser system that electronically records the time, or a judge who has a flag letting the clocker know when to begin timing.  The last method is often used for non-pro events.  

In its inception, barrel racing began as an event for women, while the men rode bulls, broncs or roped.  It started as a figure eight pattern, and alternated from that to a cloverleaf until finally the cloverleaf pattern became the standard. 

The Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) was started in 1948 by a group of Texas women.   It was originally called the GRA or Girl’s Rodeo association, but the name was changed in 1981.  Under the WPRA, women are allowed to compete in different types of rodeo events; however, barrel racing remains the favorite.  

Top Barrel Racers in the WPRA can make over $100,000.00 per year in competitions.  Regional and local jackpots are also available for those that want to navigate a fast moving horse around the barrels on a smaller scale.

In 2010, Sherry Cervi held the record for her 25 year career in barrel racing.  Her total earnings were $1,964,821.00.  Charmagne James comes in second with over a million dollars in earnings that she acquired over a ten year period.

Barrel Racing is a fast exciting sport, and it continues to grow in popularity year after year.   

So if high speed is part of the reason you love horses, barrel racing might just be your ticket to fun.

Author: D. Overman