Back in the 1930’s, Barrel Racing was a women’s rodeo event, and the rider’s outfit and horsemanship in maneuvering through barrels placed in a figure-eight or clover leaf pattern were elements judged, not so much speed. Looking for more opportunities to compete in rodeo arenas, a group of cowgirls formed the GRA (Girl’s Rodeo Association) in 1948, and that started to change things –barrel racing became all about speed. Today, the sport is open to girls, boys, men and women of all ages and levels of experience, including weekend riders and professionals.
Barrel racing contestants race against the clock running around three barrels in a pattern known as a “cloverleaf”. Horse and rider are allowed a running start and may begin on the left or right barrel first, but the pattern cannot be broken (if a turn is incorrect, contestant is disqualified). The race is timed to the hundredth of a second by an electronic eye stop-watch. Touching a barrel is permitted; however, knocking over a barrel results in a five second penalty. A fast run is less than 14 seconds.
Barrel race divisions classify horse and rider teams, determined by the speed a horse runs the cloverleaf barrel pattern, and are designated as 1D, 2D, 3D, 4D, 5D and 6D. 1D class barrel races are run by horses and riders with the fastest times, with every other class set at five seconds slower. 6D, however, is reserved for horses and riders that run the course more slowly and/or young horses schooling.
It might look easy enough, but barrel racing is actually a challenging rodeo event and exciting to watch as the winner is often determined by thousandths of a second. Good team work between rider and horse is essential to success in barrel racing as well as the courage and commitment of both. American Quarter Horses are typically favored in barrel racing events because of their sprinting ability and agility in turns, but American Paint Horses, Appaloosas, and Pintos are also popular mounts.
Family support is also a great help to professional barrel racers as they travel many miles to compete in rodeos during the season. Jackie Ganter is a third-generation cowgirl, and a rising star in the sport of barrel racing. In the short video documentary, ‘The Story of Three Generations of Texan Cowgirls’, Jackie, her mother and grandmother provide a glimpse into that life and what it takes to succeed.
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Did you miss the live stream broadcast of barrel racing at the 2018 Stock Show and Rodeo? Sorry, there’s no video recording of the competition. Here are the Women’s Barrel Racing Results:
1, Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, SD, 13.78 seconds, $4,459 2, Taylor Langdon, Aubrey, TX, 13.94, $3,344 3, (tie) Brittany Pozzi-Tonozzi, Victoria, TX and Amberleigh Moore, Keizer, OR, 14.02, $1,672 each.
Finals qualifiers: 1, Ivy Conrado, Hudson, CO, $10,404 2, Moore, $8,584 3, Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, SD $8,026 4, Tillar Murray, Fort Worth, TX, $7,580 5, Taylor Langdon, Aubrey, TX $5,128
Amazing! In the semi-finals, Hailey Kinsel and her seven-year-old mare, DM Sissy Hayday, shattered a San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo record with a 13.60 run.
Information/Resources:
San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo, February 8-25, 2018 (events, entertainment, and attractions)
International Barrel Racing Association
Women’s Professional Rodeo Association
More horse/rider teamwork in perfect harmony. It wouldn’t be a rodeo without a cutting horse event & we’ve got lots of it
There’s some bull riding, too
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Feature photo is courtesy of Flickr user, Max Rae, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
