Barrel Racing is a rodeo sport that involves a horse and rider going around 3 identical barrels. These barrels are set up in a triangle and the team will follow a cloverleaf pattern around them.http://www.ivis.org/proceedings/aaep/1997/Strickli.pdf The horse and rider will start in an alley way and approach the first barrel on a side at full speed, slow down, make a 360 degree turn around the barrel, and then head straight across the arena to the second barrel.http://www.ivis.org/proceedings/aaep/1997/Strickli.pdf The horse and rider will slow down again, turn, and head for the third barrel. After making the final 360 degree turn around the barrel at the apex of the triangle they head back towards the finish line at full speed.http://www.ivis.org/proceedings/aaep/1997/Strickli.pdf The team with the fastest time wins.

When riding the pattern the team may choose to go to the right or the left. Riding the clover leaf pattern to the right will result in two left handed turns and taking the left turn first will require two right handed turns. Barrel racers will choose to go which way works their horse the best. If a rider knocks down a barrel a “no time” is given and the team disqualified.http://www.mbra.ca/mbra-rules.htm The rider may touch the barrel, and even keep it from falling while on horse back. If the barrel is moved in any way the pattern is carefully reset for the next horse and rider team. http://www.mbra.ca/mbra-rules.htm Prize money and jackpots may be offered as an incentive to draw riders to an event.

The distance between the barrels is usually 90 feet, but this may vary due to the size of the arena and may be as small as 60 or 70 feet between barrels. http://www.barrelracingclinic.com/BarrelPattern.htmM A minimum of 15 feet from the wall is required of the two side barrels. http://www.barrelracingclinic.com/BarrelPattern.htm No matter what the distance is between the barrels they are always the same for each horse and rider team in that competition and the fastest time will win.

A western style dress code is encouraged including a cowboy hat, long sleeved shirt, boots and jeans. A rider may be assessed a fine if they lose their hat during a run at a National, World, or Super Show that has been sanctioned by the National Barrel Horse Association. http://www.nbha.com/membership/rulebook/f.shtml

Barrel Racing began in the 1940s when the women involved in rodeos decided to add events for themselves. http://www.ivis.org/proceedings/aaep/1997/Strickli.pdf The first barrel racing organization started with 74 members and had 60 approved rodeos. The total payout for these events was $29,000. http://www.ivis.org/proceedings/aaep/1997/Strickli.pdf Today barrel racing has grown into a multimillion dollar industry. At the 2009 NBHA World championship the total purse offered was $207,788.00 and there were 1509 entries. http://www.barrelhorsenews.com/component/content/article/61-2009-show-results/3091-nbha-world-championships-augusta-ga-10242009-results The top winner came away with $5532.00. http://www.barrelhorsenews.com/component/content/article/61-2009-show-results/3091-nbha-world-championships-augusta-ga-10242009-results In 1995 World Champion Barrel Racer, Sherry Potter-Cervi, earned more money than any other competitor in professional rodeo and in 2010 is $10,897 from setting a new WPRA record. http://www.ivis.org/proceedings/aaep/1997/Strickli.pdf http://www.wpra.com/ Charmayne James Rodman earned more than 1 million dollars over her barrel racing career, mostly on one horse.http://www.ivis.org/proceedings/aaep/1997/Strickli.pdf

From these beginnings many barrel racing associations have begun, including the Women's Professional Rodeo Association, National Barrel Horse Association, International Barrel Racing Association, United Barrel Racing Association, and many state associations. Men may also compete in barrel racing. Barrel Racing has also spread to other countries and there are barrel racing associations for Italy, Australia, and others.http://www.nbhaitaly.com/ http://www.abha.com.au/