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barrel race is a swiftness event, timed. It is a spectacular and popular horse show.

Horses and riders have to complete a clover leaf pattern around barrels as fast as possible. The discipline requires speed control, horse's athletic agility and technical rider skills in order to maneuver in the fastest time around barrels.

Originally, barrel race used to be practised by women only. It was the women rodeo show while men used to ride bulls, women barrel raced. The first association was the Girls Rodeo Association (GRA). Nowaday, everyone show in barrel race, women and men, professionals and non pro and even youth!

Barrel race is a plain speed event, it is not judged by any subjective point of view, it is just based on the clock. When the horse and his rider enter in the arena they have to be at the top of their speed. The timer keeps running until they cross the end line at the end of the run.

Even if the pattern is easy to learn, it is not so easy to finish a pattern without any penalty. Indeed, if a rider or a horse hits the barrel or knocks it over they will have a time penalty, usually 5 seconds penalty which will result in a too slow time to win. Also, if a rider and his horse take the wrong way they will be disqualified.