Horses, speed, competition and adrenaline; all things barrel racing has to offer us. Barrel racing is a times event with nothing but you, your horse and three barrels to conquer. The race is a clover leaf pattern, starting with either a left or right turn depending on your preference. The clock is the only judge as the fastest times win. 

The clover leaf pattern can start with either the left or right barrel first. If you go right, you will have one right turn and two left turns. If you choose to start with the left turn first, you will have one left and two rights to complete this course. It is complete preference on which barrel you start with, most horses are said to be “left handed” or just more dominant with their left turns. Because of this, most people start with the right turn first so they get two left handed turns. 

How it Works:

First, we must establish the pattern for us and our horses. The pattern has many points on it that we must try to aim for to avoid a disqualification such as a down barrel. The size of pattern changes from race to race, arena to arena, but typically as per NBHA rules: 15 feet off the fence for first and second barrel and a minumum of 30 feet from third and the fence and from the timer line and first barrel.

Attending an event:

NBHA/Division Format: In order to give every rider a chance to make money. NBHA started having divisions added to their open race to allow everyone, not just the top times to earm some cash. These races can also have specific classes such as rookie, youth, senior, and futurity. 

Rodeo: If you’re looking for only the top times to make money, hit up a rodeo where they only pay top spots.

How Divisions Work:

• 1D is the fastest times of that go/race
• 2D is half a second slower then the fastest time
• 3D is 1 full second
• 4D is 2 seconds off the fastest time.

Example: winning time was a 15.0. The 1D winner is a 15.0, the 2D is above a 15.5 the 3D is above a 16.0 and the 4D is anyone slower than a 17.0

However, some races are 5D format, in this case all 5 divisions are half second split.

Example:

• 1D is 15.0
• 2D is 15.5
• 3D is 16.0
• 4D is 16.5
• 5D is 17.0

Anyone can enter the open race. It is open for youth, rookie, seniors, futurity horses etc to enter. The open class usually has the biggest number of entries and the most money added.

Penalties

There are a few ways to earn a disqualification in barrel racing.

– A Down Barrel. This is when a barrel is hit by you or your horse and falls over. There are some cases of the quick reactors to reach down and grab the barrel before it falls. Beware, some riders loose their balance and end up falling of their horses trying this move!

– Running Off the Proper Barrel Pattern. This means if you run home and go anywhere but the middle of the 1st and 2nd barrel, its a automatic DQ. Also, if you turn the barrel inside out, meaning the horse exited the barrel the same side they came into it.

– Final Call. When your name is called, you have a specific amout of time you MUST enter the arena. If you fail to get in the arena, due to horse alley issues, or you just miss your run due to a longer than expected warm up. Whatever the cause is, make sure you know the time allowed before you get “last call” and miss your run.

A few terms you need to know

Exhibitions: This is before the show start time. Exhibitions are a paid time slot you get in the arena with the barrels up. Learn about doing exbos here. They are your time to practice the pattern before you run against the clock. BUT, expos are limited as well. Usually 60 seconds is your MAX. Please respect everyones time and ride within your time limit, it helps the show run smoother and everyone is happy. YAY. 

Rate Spot: This is the spot on the pattern wher you start to slow your horse down for the turn. It differers per horse but it is typically around 10 feet before the turn. It is important to look ahead of the rate spot, we don’t want us or our horses to anticipate the turn and hit it. 

Pocket: The pocket is the area we give our hores the aceptable room to make the turn smoothly. Our pocket is going to change based on the horse, some big horses need more room for the turn and smaller horses might need less space. It is typically the area going into the turn and behind it that we want to give room so we can leave the barrel nice and straight an close to the barrel.

Home: AKA the timer line. Hustle HOMEEEEE is the phrase. or just “go on!!” “Hustle!!!!”and whatever else comes out of your mouth in the heat of the moment.   

 I remember showing up to my first barrel race; a local rodeo in my hometown.

I drove to the fairgrounds earlier that day to enter. I wasn’t a member of whatever organization it was, I was just some 14 year old kid who wanted to run barrels.

At the time I was riding this horse who never wanted to go fast. I trained him for the pattern in this small little patch of sand in our fields. Our property was beside a river and it flooded yearly. The floods left behind river bed, also known as sand all around the property. I hopped on the tractor and started to reassemble the sand into patches where my barrels would be. The pattern was no bigger than a 40×40 foot square. It was small but it got the job done

He ended up becoming a great 4d horse. At the time I didn’t even know what that was. (if you dont know what 4D is, click here)I just wanted him to try and go faster that day at the rodeo. I even breezed him a little at my house before loading up, hoping to get him excited and want to run like that later. Its debatable if that really worked.

I knew no one, We showed up in our tag-along stock trailer just in time for my event. I don’t remember being nervous or scared, I just wanted to go do a run.

My run wasn’t bad, I remember pushing him to go and we ran what felt like three nice barrels, first run complete! I didn’t make money but I was just as excited to have been in that arena!

Even thinking to my first few bigger first races, I remember a lot of it, but nerves were not one of them. At the time I just didn’t know anyone nor did I care. Staying focused on you is key.

I was so in tune with it just being me and my horse out there.

That’s all I cared about, I had a better horse, one that was all mine and I wanted to race! It was me and him. No pressure, no feeling dumb, just me riding my horse and being in that area I always dreamed about growing up!

Things change as we progress in this journey. One that should not is our level of excitement showing up to a race and running our horses! We must keep that fire alive, the fire I had as a 14 year old showing up to a random local rodeo.

I’ve fought with it a lot but at the end of the day I love it. I absolutely love horses and what they do for us. I love being able to communicate in such a way and always striving to do it better and faster. It can be so fun and beautiful if you let it.

So let it, show up as the eager younger self in you just crazy about horses and wanting to go run a barrel race. It can be as simple as that.

Do you Believe in Exhibitioning your Barrel Horse?

We Do Exbos!

We feel they are a good thing. Especially if you have a hot horse that doesn’t want to slow down and concentrate on you. They are a great time to go in the arena and allow your horse pay attention and not think its time to go run. They slow down and will listen more to what you want to do.

With our hot horses, it works for us! Not necesarilly to make them do a perfect pattern, but, to get them think and slow down, not think they do a competitive run everytime in the arena.

When people say “I can’t exbo my horse…” It should be your decision if you feel the need to or not do an exbo. To not do one because you don’t want to fight with your horse is a problem. That should be a sign you SHOULD be doing an exbo and try to strive to do.

Exbos tell the horse “this isn’t just a place to run.”

We have broke horses and were all proud of that! We should, be able to, no matter what speed and what were asking, it doesnt matter where we are doing it, they should be willing to do what were asking of them.

So what haoppens if the Exbo doesnt go to plan?

You have to put it behind you. You know you are as prepared as youre going to be for the show. Unfortunately, we cannot fix anything major in 1 or 2 exhibitions. We have to make the most out of the 60 seconds in the pen to help you and your horse feel ready to succees!

We know this is a controvercial topic. But I want to hear your thoughts, do you OR don’t you exbo? Why or why not?

Imagine, your horse is good and never pulls back.. Until that one time they did it, and now your “quick release” isn’t so quick. The knot is soooo tight there is nothing you can do except cut it off.

Well, this handy knot will never get too tight where your only option is the knife. It might take a few extra seconds but its worth it!

I don’t know what the name of this knot is, but I discovered it while interning in South Dakota.

They used it almost every day, every time they wanted a horse tied. For some reason it took me a while to remember the steps properly. But save this page and video for future reference when you need it.

No more “quick release” and no more cutting leads off your trailer.