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Barrel Racing is a fast paced sport where a hundreth of a second can literally be the difference between winning and losing.

Riders gallop from a starting gate and race in a clover leaf pattern around three barrels. If a rider opts to go around the left barrel first, she must make a left turn, then a right turn around the right barrel, then a right turn around the center barrel then gallop back to the starting gate.

If a rider opts to go around the right barrel first, she must make a right turn, then a left turn around the left barrel, then a left turn around the center barrel before galloping in.

Riders are heavily penalized for knocking down the barrels, although they can hit them as long as they remain standing. Ideally, horses cut close to the barrels without hitting them which results in a fast round.

Quarter horses and paints predominate, although there are also quarter horse crosses and occasionally some other breeds seen. The sport requires that a horse be able to gallop from a halt, slide into a turn, pivot and gallop repeatedly, which quarter horses excel at.

The sport is usually found at rodeos, and is mainly considered a women's sport although a good number of men also compete.

Horses usually wear a special kind of western saddle and breastcollar to keep the saddle from slipping during turns. Riders can wear kneepads and shinguards to protect their legs from hitting the barrels.

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