Description of Cloverleaf Barrels or popularly known as Barrel Racing
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Barrel Racing is the most popular of the speed events
that are ran today. It is ran in Gymkhana, Rodeo, and it is ran
in Horse Shows large and small.
To explain a little something about running patterns,
there is one stipulation that needs to be brought forth,
and that is that some horses make left or right turns better
than they do the other one. Remember one thing that is important
to have good running times, when you are starting your run, make
sure your horse is at full speed before you enter the timing line and
don't start to stop your horse until you have crossed the timing
line at the finish. The disqualifications for speeds events are
inforced if you go off pattern or fall off your horse. There are
time penalities if you knock down a barrel or pole, which most
of the time is two seconds added on your existing time.
Now I will do you the honor and explain the Barrel Racing
Pattern to you. There is Three Barrels placed in an arena
that are set at like a triangle pattern. To run the pattern for
a left turning horse, you start behind the timing line, go
to the Barrel that is on the right and make a right hand turn.
You are to end up facing the barrel that is on the left, and
go to that barrel making a left turn and then end up facing the
top and third barrel. You also make a left turn at this barrel,
in which you end up facing "home". Then you finish off by running
home past the timing line then make your stop.
If you have a right turning horse you would do the same as
above, but you are to start at the left barrel first, making a
left turn at the barrel to end up facing the barrel on the right.
You then make your right turn at the second barrel and head up to the
third barrel, also making that right turn and then of course, head you and
your horse "home" past the timing line.
Please keep in mind that the speed of each horse varies and
whenever you are running a speed event, you run it at you and your
horse's capabilities. Please remember to take caution to keep you
from getting hurt and from your horse from getting hurt
also or going lame.
And please one more thing for safety precautions, please
wear a helmet to secure safety on your behalf.
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