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If you've ever been amazed by watching a 100-pound girl flying around metal drums in hairpin turns at lightning speed, you probably wondered how she managed to hang on to her horse and harness such equine power. The concept is simple, but the act is anything but. Barrel racing is one of the most popular events in rodeo, and in professional rodeos, only cowgirls are allowed to enter. There are several different barrel patterns, but the one done at professional rodeos is typically the cloverleaf.

The cloverleaf involves three 55-gallon drums, placed in a triangular pattern. Barrels 1 and 2 are placed 90 feet apart, directly across from each other. The #3 barrel is centered between the other two, 105 feet away. The rider with the fastest time wins. If a barrel is knocked over by a horse or rider, the rider is penalized 5 seconds.

The Right Horse

Training a horse for barrel racing competitions takes months of practice. You also need to begin with the right type of equine. The horse has to have speed, agility, proper conformation, good legs, and sound bone. An effective "drum runner" needs to have powerful hindquarters, too. Intelligence and "heart" are also integral to a winning horse. Most any stock-type horse is appropriate, but the American Quarter Horse is the preferred mount for professional barrel racers because of their temperament, their athleticism, and their quick bursts of speed.

Before starting a horse on barrels, the horse should be seasoned and trained to neck rein and respond to leg pressure. It should be used to crowds, loud noises, and loading into a trailer. You should be familiar enough with your horse to know which way he turns best. Most horses turn to the left best, but a few turn better to the right. This is very important in barrel racing because you'll base your direction on which turn is easier for your mount. For example, if it makes left turns better, you'll want to run the pattern starting with the right barrel. That way, your horse will make one right turn and two left turns, saving you valuable seconds. If your horse turns better to the right, run the pattern from the left.

Equipment

You'll also need the proper equipment. A barrel racing saddle will help keep you in place, and it's lightweight. The saddle should be paired with a high-quality pad and a breast collar to keep the saddle in place during the ride. Use a short round rein that won't get in the way and that makes it easy to slide your reining hand into different positions

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