Women Excel Competing In Barrel Races

By Freda Watts


Racing around large casks involves the most significant activity for women at western riding events. In this contest, contenders sprint around three large casks in the form of a diamond arrangement. Their mounts are guided around the obstacles in a clover leaf shape. These barrel races do not last long. They are terminated in as little as seventeen seconds. Participant timings are not far apart in this contest. The separation could be mere hundredths of a second in time.

From humble beginning in the 1930s, this sport has continued to grow to become a highly popular part of rodeos. It is believed that the competitive sport was first introduced in Texas. Early beginnings have been traced to the 1932 holding of the Stamford a weekend rodeo, the Texas Cowboy Reunion. In this year it held an event for girls where horsemanship was demonstrated by riding in a figure eight configuration around barrels.

In 1935, the figure eight was changed to a clover leaf pattern, which has become universalized. In the early period, the pattern alternated between a figure eight and its eventual successor. Eventually the more challenging design became dominant as the figure eight was dropped in favor of the more difficult pattern. The race was not judged according to the shortest time run until 1949.

Racing around barrels appeals to fans and riders who appreciate its demands. The rider and horse must take taut turns at high speed without hitting the barrels. This requires speed, agility and strength and tests the special alchemy between horse and rider.

The first obstacle has been described as the money barrel by competitors. This is because it sets the tone for the rest of the run. The sport has seen some major progress over the years. This is exemplified by the mounts, which were earlier discards found unsuitable for other riding trials. Now skilled trainers have prepared them for this specialized use.

Breeders are raising horses for this objective as well. The archetypal steed needs to be speedy and able to manage its velocity. It needs to preserve its poise and make the meticulous turns at high speeds required by the course. The busy travel schedules can also test endurance in a different way. The charger needs to maintain competitive hunger while taking tournament stresses in stride.

Certain inherent traits and physical factors make some types of horses optimal contestants. Quarter horses are the most common breed. Their ability for speed spurts over a short distance is needed. Appaloosas, paints and Arabians are also popular breeds. They are selected for their special attributes. Intelligence, agility, athleticism, sturdiness, powerful legs, a low center of gravity and a good distribution of weight are some of the reasons for their appeal.

Evolution in this challenging event has continued as breeding programs develop improved strains and training methods have improved. Once confined to women, males have recently begun to participate seriously in barrel races. Fraternities have sprung up with a focus on male racers. Training for youngsters is offered by a number of regional and local riding institutions and racing associations. The whole family can become involved in this activity.




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