Barrel Racing

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(via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1y8AivbPisU)

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The sport of Barrel Racing is new and upcoming. Barrel Racing is a timed event where a rider and a horse round a clover leaf pattern as fast as possible. When Barrel Racing first began it was nothing like it is today. It wasn’t dependent on speed and it was mostly all females who competed. Today both genders compete and it is all based upon speed. Barrel Racing is a very high intense sport that only started to become popular in the past ten years or so.This sport isn’t like many other basic sports, your team consists of solely you and your horse (O’Reilly, Betsy). My community isn’t as normal as most but it is something that I have been involved in since I was young. I started out riding when I was about five years old and started competitively riding when I was about twelve years old. I grew up around horses and it just became something that was apart of my life, nineteen years later it still is.

Lautaret-Jordan, Jolee. Wilson Rides to Win in Riverdale after Rehabilitating Her Horse from Serious Injury. 2013. Riverdale. "Women's Professional Rodeo Association | Home." Women's Professional Rodeo Association | Home. N.p., n.d.

O'Reilly, Betsy. "History of Barrel Racing: The Old and Modern Barrel Racing.” Abler. N.p., 22 Aug. 2012. Web. 01 Oct. 2015.

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When a person thinks of a community they most likely don’t think of Barrel Racing, but for me its just that. I started out at such a young age riding horses it just became apart of my everyday life. I grew up my whole life surrounded by horses. Being around my siblings and seeing them competitively ride made me want to grow up and do it as well so when the time came and I was old enough that’s exactly what I did. When I first started riding my parents bought me a pony named Daisy. Her name didn't fit her in the slightest. This pony was the smallest evilest pony. She taught me a lot though. She may have tried to buck me off and succeeded but she taught me to toughen up.

Competitively riding horses has become such a big part of my life that going into a career field with equine was something that was always a definite.  Moving down to Kentucky from Pennsylvania was a big move but knowing that I was going into an Equine Science major, Kentucky was the right place for it. Horses have made a huge impact on my life from when I was young all the way up until now. They have helped me choose a career path as well as do some pretty incredible things with my life. Some people have dogs or cats, well I have horses.

Volk, Diana. Elks Youth Rodeo. Agust 25-26, 2014. "ELKS YOUTH RODEO." Elks Lodge 520 Sheridan Wyoming. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2015.

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This picture shows the Barrel Racing pattern from start to finish. When watching it looks all to easy, that’s what I first thought.  When I started competing I was about twelve years old and knew Barrel Racing was something I wanted to get into. From watching I thought the sport would be a piece of cake, well I was wrong about that. Controlling a horse going that fast and having to react within a split second isn't the easiest. From a person who doesn't know much about this sport it might seem like I'm joking but imagine turning around a barrel that is about thee feet wide on a horse that is running and then having to react within a half a second while you're sprinting towards the next one without any notice, its pretty hard. That’s why this sport is something that never gets old. it may be the same pattern but you always have room for improvement. While speed is key so is your method. Speed may be a huge factor but so is the way you do it. Turing a barrel may seem like a mindless thought but turning such a large animal around such a tiny object takes precision. The placing’s of the barrels do change in different arena’s. The barrels are still set in a triangle but depending on the size of the arena the barrels may be set farther or closer toe at other to create a larger or smaller pattern.

Loomis-Kernek, Joyce. Barrel Racing. 2010. Barrel Racing. Web. 12 Nov. 2015

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Every sport has its own age groups ad divisions, so does Barrel Racing. Many shows have age divisions such as pee wee (kids five to ten), youth (ten to eighteen), adult (nineteen to forty), and lastly masters (forty till you're about to die). Its always interesting to go to competitions and see all the different age groups compete, especially the pee wee because they are the cutest. Families of all ages will come to compete, from the parents to the kids. Its a family sport that is practical for everyone. Going to competitions isn't like going to a soccer or football game, a competition can be one to three days long depending how many classes and people are in the event. It may be a little intense when it is your turn to compete but going to competitions is anything but stressful because you are surrounded by down to earth people who are just there to have a good time. No one is a sore loser either because we all know the struggles of getting to that point of placing and winning that everyone is happy where ever they end up, winning or losing. Everyone at these competitions supports each other even if they don't know them. Whether it be cheering for them when they compete or even just saying “great run”.

Barrel Racing. 2014. Www.pinterest.com. Web. 11 Nov. 2015.

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Barrel Racing being a timed event, all starts when you and your horse cross over the timer line and then ends when you cross over it again. Placing in a competition is something that is based upon down to the thousandths of a second. There are usually four divisions in a competition. Each of who places is based upon the winning time. For example, if the winning time is a 14.576 that second divisions winner would be whoever got closest to a 15. 576, so in other words every division winner is whoever is a second off and so forth. With this being such a competitive sport every stride you and your horse take counts drastically. A second may seem like a very short period of time but in Barrel Racing every quarter of a second counts.

 Winning is like a lottery, its something you can't plan because rating a horses speed to make it down to the thousandths of a second is pretty impossible but when you do win it’s such a coincidence. This picture is of a woman named Sherry Cervi who is trying to place to win her fourth world title in the 2013 National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, NV. The NFR (National Finals Rodeo) takes place in Las Vegas every year and is major event in the horse industry. Every year people fly in from all over to watch the NFR and it has become more popular every year.

Wilson, Amy. Back to back round wins’ inches Cervis closer to fourth world title. December 7, 2013 [ Pohl, Taylor. “Wining by inches.” December 7, 2013. Wpra.com. October 28, 2015.]

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Barrel Racing all began as an all women event that was not focused on the speed of the race but the execution that was put forward during it. Barrel Racing all began in Texas in 1948 by a group of women who developed GRA (Girls Rodeo Association) but around 1981 they changed the name to WPRA (Women’s Professional Rodeo Association). WPRA is the oldest women’s sports association in the country and the only one governed entirely by women. Today, women in the WPRA compete for millions of dollars every year in twelve circuit competitions held with in the country. The association has two thousand five hundred members currently, which is a huge accomplishment considering it all started out with just thirty-eight women. They are celebrating their sixty-seventh year as of 2015 and plan to keep on going for many more (”Women’s Professional Rodeo Association”).

An association like this is unique in its own way. It was brought up by a group of women who weren't thought of as much in that time period and transformed this organization into something bigger than they ever imagined. Women were thought of as inferior to men back in the time this sport was being brought up so for these few women to create such an impact on one sport is amazing. 

Happy, Marguerite. Polly Reagan Ugland. 1960. California. Wpra.com. Web. 11 Nov. 2015.

"Women’s Professional Rodeo Association | Home.“ Women’s Professional Rodeo Association | Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2015.

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This picture is of one of my two horses I currently own. I trained him myself when he was five and he is now thirteen. He was one of the major reasons why I stuck with this sport. When I was finally finished training him I was beyond happy. It taught me to never give up even when things got tough. I went through so many obstacles while training both of my horses but when I was done it was all worth it. 

One wasn't enough for me so I decided I needed a new challenge and got another horse. When I got my second horse I thought it would be a piece of cake, I was of course completely wrong. My second horse was the most difficult to train but I stuck with it. Through breaking bones, concussions, and lots of headaches two years later I was finally finished. Training horses sounds like a lot of work and not at all enjoyful but in the end its all worth it. You get this sense of accomplishment, almost like when you got a one-hundred percent on a test and its like all those headaches and long nights at the library meant something. In the end you don't just gain a well trained horse, you also get a prized possession that you can call your own.

Pohl, Taylor. “One of My Very Own.” August 13, 2015. Personal Photo.

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A few times a year a competition will be hosted somewhere and more than half the proceeds will go to a certain cause such breast cancer, or any other type of cancer. A particular association hosts a Barrel Race every year called Wrap’n Up A Cure. It takes place every year in Texas. The first year it all started, it began with no money but as the years have gone on people have donated money and their time to make this something special. They raise a generous amount of money every year and donate it to people who are struggling with cancer and also to cancer research. People travel from all around the country to come to this event because they know a competition like this will in the end help a patient who is diagnosed with cancer (Bownds, Shelia).

This is not the only foundation that does something like this. NBHA ( National Barrel Horse Association) and IBRA (International Barrel Horse Association) will host something like this a few times a year and raise money through raffles and entry fees and donate it to cancer research (Welcome). Something like this is really important to me because it brings out a large crowd and it all goes towards a good cause. For me this shows how such a small percent of a community can help out such a larger community through doing something that we are passionate about.

Run for the Cure. 2014. Circledhorsemen.com. Ed. Circle D Horsemen. Web. 11 Nov. 2015.

Bownds, Shelia. “Wrap'n Up A Cure.” Wrap'n Up A Cure. Shelia Bownds, n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2015.

"Welcome.” IBRA. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Sept. 2015.

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One thing I've learned throughout Barrel Racing is that even when you lose you win. Every sport takes practice and the hard work you put into it is a prize itself. Win or lose I always come out happy if I knew I did the best that I could. I’ve learned that things happen for a reason and that to never look in the past but only into the future because that’s what is important. Knowing this I don't look at my glass half empty, I always look at it half full because without positivity life won't be as joyful. When I practice I could be out practicing for two hours but when I compete its as quick as 14 seconds. It might not seem worth it at first but in the end when hard work pays off and you do well, it is all worth it. So when they say, “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard” it truly does. 

Something that I really love about this sport is that there is always room for improvement and you are never competing against the same group of people. People in this sport are from all around the world and within the competition you meet a ton of new people and learn a lot of new things. I have met people from California that have traveled all across the world just for one competition. To hear some of the stories they have really gives insight into what the world is and it always makes me think about how one day I wish to travel all around the world to tell people my stories.

Hard Work Beats Talent When Talent Doesn't Work Hard. 2012. Http://www.azquotes.tk/motivational-quotes-4/. Web. 11 Nov. 2015.

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This picture is of a Barrel Horse News magazine cover. Barrel Horse News is a magazine that gives information about competitions and results from all round the world. It also has articles from famous horse trainers as well as helpful tips for horse care/training (”A New Hope”). In the cover of this magazine it shows a woman that I got to meet names Sarah McDonald. I got to chat with her at one the competitions I went to and she was one of the nicest sincere people I had ever met. People all throughout the world who compete in this sport are why I stick with it. They are all genuine and all around nice people.

What makes this sport and community so different is that it’s not a normal sport such as football or soccer. Its an interesting sport that never gets old. It might be the same pattern you race but there’s always room for improvement and speed. Another part of this community that I love is the people that are involved. Surrounding myself with the people that compete in this sport has opened me up too many more career opportunities as well gaining some of my closest friends. Going to competitions is more of a vacation than anything because I go with my friends and as we compete during the day we have the rest of the weekend to do whatever we want and have fun. 

Starting out riding was very intimidating and it still is to a degree but with the friends you meet it makes the whole experience that much better. Jackie, a friend of mine who rides horses just started to Barrel Race. When I asked her “What is your favorite part about going to a competition?” her response was “I love going out there having fun and hanging out with all my friends.” (Morton). 

Boatwright, Abigail.  Barrel Horse News. October 2012. "A New Hope." Home. Barrel Horse News, n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2015.

“A New Hope.” Home. Barrel Horse News, n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2015.

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This picture was taken in Midway, Kentucky about ten minutes away from Lexington, Kentucky. The horses in this photo are very young and within my community horses start being trained at a young age so this picture doesn’t just represent horses or my community, it represents the beginning of something. Barrel Racing in the last ten years has become extremely competitive. Organizations such as NBHA (National Barrel Horse Association) and IBRA (International Barrel Racing Association) have made this happen. The horse industry has also evolved in the last ten years. People are breeding horses based on bloodlines for successful traits and horses are being trained as early as age two to become competitive Barrel Racing candidates. This sport is growing world wide and becomes more popular every year. In the past ten years or so competitions have become more and more competitive. Events such as State Finals, the National Finals Rodeo, and World Finals are examples of this. Competitions take place all around the country from places in Maine to all the way to Las Vegas. The larger the competition the larger the payout is (money received by winners). People travel all round the country to compete and watch these events and the bigger the crowd, the more fun it is. 

ohl, Taylor. “Midway, Kentucky”. 2 October, 2015. Personal Photo

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One organization that I am apart of is called NBHA (Nation Barrel Horse Association). This associations headquarters are located in Augusta, Georgia and is the largest organization for this sport. It was started up in 1992 and currently has 23,000 members of all ages. People in this organization are located in the United States, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Hungary, Italy, Mexico, Panama, Spain, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. A lot of people don't even know this sport exists but meanwhile it is so popular even in different countries. Being apart of something like this is competitive but is also rewarding.

 In the picture above you can see what the alley way look like where a competitor starts out at. You barely see anything besides what is directly in front of you. Being in there is like walking into a test not knowing a thing. As soon as you enter into the arena bright lights hit you and you're running towards your first barrel. When looking out there and it’s your turn it can be intimidating especially when a huge crowd is watching you. Being used to this its become easier for me to cope under pressure and be able to handle it well. Which has become useful when having a ton of homework and public speaking. Barrel Racing has definitely taught me a lot throughout life and its something that has influenced me extremely.

Smith, Larry. Top Guns at NFR. 2014. Wpra.com. Web. 11 Nov. 2015.

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In this picture it shows Keenland the famous horse racing track located in Kentucky that all started it in 1936. People gather from all around the country to come watch these races and to bet on horses that they think will win (”Racing sales”). A sport such as racing and Barrel Racing are both different and similar. Both sports involve high intensity sprinting but two completely different patterns. 

Competitively riding horses is not your most usual sport. From jumping horses to Barrel Racing it’s a dangerous sport. People might ask “why compete in such a dangerous sport when there are so many others?”. Barrel Racing itself is an intense sport and can cause a lot of mixed emotions but the feeling of winning is something that takes over all of those emotions. Riding a horse this fast is an adrenaline rush in itself. Being a six-year lacrosse player and two-year soccer player I knew the difference of feeling I would get between the sports. Placing and doing well in a Barrel Race compared to wining in a soccer or lacrosse game didn’t even compare. I loved the speed of Barrel Racing and how the team consisted of you and your horse only. To give someone how fast a horse runs in a Barrel Race is about thirty-five miles per hour and on average a race track horse runs around fourth-five miles per hour. The two sports are similar in speed but totally two different ideas. 

Pohl, Taylor. “Keenland”. October 28, 2015. Personal Photo. 

"Racing Sales.“ Welcome to Keeneland. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2015.

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Doing anything in front of a crowd is stressful especially when what you’re doing is by yourself. Competing at such a young age I grew to get used to this feeling, especially when competing in front of large crowd. In this photograph you will see the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) arena where events like this take place. Being out there with just you, your horse, and three barrel is intimidating especially with a crowd that will fill up all of the seats in this picture. One thing I learned is that mistakes can happen and that there will always be a next time. Being able to accept this is something that has taught me a lot. I learned that what is done is done and you cannot reverse time. I’ve been able to accept mistakes and not be hung up on them which has made me a more positive person. Racing has also made me a more outgoing person. Being in front of a crowd this big makes it easier to talk to new people and be able to talk to a crowd easier. This came in handy during speeches and coming to a college far away from where I was originally from and knowing barely anyone. Riding horses has given me lot through life. I’ve been able to travel across the country and meet a lot of important people while doing so. That’s why this isn't just some typical sport, its a part of my life that I have become very passionate about.

Katsilometes, John. Scenes from rodeo. December 7, 2010. Photograph. Las Vegas, NV National Finals Rodeo. Lasvegassun.com. October 28, 2015.

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A community is defined as a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals, that’s what Barrel Racing is to me. Who knew that one tiny part of your life could impact you so much. Barrel Racing and riding horses start out as just something I would do when I had free time but now its something that I do regularly. Riding horses has impacted me so much that I chose to proceed a career in equine science. This community has let me meet some of my closes friends and some of the most influential people in my life still to this day. Barrel Racing isn't just some sport to me, to me its a lifestyle that changed my life forever. It has taught me how to work under pressure and that certain things happen for a reason. My community may be different to other people but to me its as normal as it gets. It has been apart of my life since I was very young and i grew up surrounded by it, it was inevitable. Horse’s are not just some pet or animal to me because they have led my future in such a distinct path. They have given me a career, a major, and more importantly skills that I would have never had without them.

Pohl, Taylor. “Two of my Own.” August 12, 2015. Personal Photo.

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Work Cited

"A New Hope." Home. Barrel Horse News, n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2015.

Bownds, Shelia. "Wrap'n Up A Cure." Wrap'n Up A Cure. Shelia Bownds, n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2015.

 Morton, Jackie. Personal Interview. 26 September 2015.

 "National Barrel Horse Association." National Barrel Horse Association. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Sept. 2015.

 O'Reilly, Betsy. "History of Barrel Racing: The Old and Modern Barrel Racing." Abler. N.p., 22 Aug. 2012. Web. 01 Oct. 2015.

 "Racing Sales." Welcome to Keeneland. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2015.

 "Welcome." IBRA. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Sept. 2015.

 "Women's Professional Rodeo Association | Home." Women's Professional Rodeo Association | Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2015.