Saturday, June 29, 2013

Barrel Races Are Not Just For Women Anymore

By Freda Watts


The largest event for women at rodeos is barrel racing. In this event, competitors race around 3 barrels arranged in a a diamond design. They guide their mounts around the barrels in a clover leaf configuration. The barrel races end quickly. They can take as little as 17 seconds. Racers are not far apart in their closing times, which can be less than a second apart.

From humble beginning in the 1930s, this sport has continued to grow to become a highly popular part of rodeos. It is believed that the competitive sport was first introduced in Texas. Early beginnings have been traced to the 1932 holding of the Stamford a weekend rodeo, the Texas Cowboy Reunion. In this year it held an event for girls where horsemanship was demonstrated by riding in a figure eight configuration around barrels.

In 1935, the figure eight was changed to a clover leaf pattern, which has become universalized. In the early period, the pattern alternated between a figure eight and its eventual successor. Eventually the more challenging design became dominant as the figure eight was dropped in favor of the more difficult pattern. The race was not judged according to the shortest time run until 1949.

Racing around barrels appeals to fans and riders who appreciate its demands. The rider and horse must take taut turns at high speed without hitting the barrels. This requires speed, agility and strength and tests the special alchemy between horse and rider.

The first cask is called the money barrel as it determines the final result. The competition has developed over time. Earlier, the horses used were those considered unsuitable for other riding events. Today, specialist trainers focus on training for this specific purpose.

Expert breeders are also breeding horse strains with an enhanced ability to perform in these competitions. The optimal steed must combine speed with control. It must be capable of making sharp quickly.

Certain inborn qualities and physical traits make some breeds of horses better contestants. Ultimately, it may be the harmony between the individual and the horse that triumphs in this contest. Presently, quarter horses dominate the equine member of this relationship mainly because this breed is built for surges of speed over brief distances. Appaloosas are also a popular breed used in these events. These equines are appreciated for their stamina. This intelligent breed has the important traits suited to this activity. Being fast, agile and sturdy it has the key attributes required for this test. Arabians and Paint horses are also considered to be suitable for this activity. A Paint is recognized for being a very friendly breed. It is also intelligent and athletic. It has powerful, muscular hind legs good for turns and speed. The species has a superior distribution of weight and because of its small stature, a low center of gravity. Arabians are very responsive to human contact. They have a long past of human acquaintanceship. Their strong spirit is a boon for this hardy challenge.

Evolution in this challenging event has continued as breeding programs develop improved strains and training methods have improved. Once confined to women, males have recently begun to participate seriously in barrel races. Fraternities have sprung up with a focus on male racers. Training for youngsters is offered by a number of regional and local riding institutions and racing associations. The whole family can become involved in this activity.




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