Our Guide to Barrel Racing

What is Barrel Racing?

Barrel racing is a rodeo event where horses and their riders must navigate a course around barrels in an arena. It requires riders to be extremely skilled in agility and speed, with time being the crucial judging factor. As a time trial, the goal is to complete the course in the fastest time possible, and there are often mere seconds (or even fractions of a second) between competitors. It is a high-intensity sport that requires precision, agility, and speed.

The course is traditionally a cloverleaf design, with three 50-gallon barrels laid out in the cloverleaf for riders to race around. The cloverleaf design is the official barrel racing pattern of the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association and, consequently, has been adopted as the traditional pattern for barrel racing worldwide. 

As one of the most popular rodeo events in Western riding, nowadays you’ll find competitions and events at most rodeos around the world. It is open to riders of all abilities and ages, with a wide range of competitors usually grouped by age. 

History of Barrel Racing

Barrel racing began informally in America in the 1930s, though it was formalised as a common rodeo event in the 1940s and has since become a global rodeo event. While there is no record of the first barrel race, the development of the sport is closely tied to the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association in the USA, who transformed it into a quintessential rodeo event.

It was originally developed as a rodeo event for women, adopted by the WPRA in the later 1940s who were working to find a place for women in rodeo sport. In 1948, in Texas, the WPRA began to host formal barrel racing competitive events, with the discipline growing into the most popular rodeo event for women in competition. In fact, at the top level of the sport, the event is exclusive to women. No other female-only Western rodeo sports exist, and whilst at lower levels men are welcome to barrel race too, the event is unique because of this.

Whilst the cloverleaf barrel pattern is now preferred, originally barrel racers competed on a figure-of-eight pattern course The cloverleaf pattern is more complex, and it’s introduction has made the sport more difficult, more challenging, and more demanding – but just as exciting to watch.

Rules of Barrel Racing

The rules of barrel racing are simple. The barrels are arranged in a triangle, and riders must guide their horse around them in a cloverleaf pattern. If a rider knocks down a barrel, there is a time penalty of five seconds. Barrel racing is unique in that the only factor is time – riders are not judged based on ability of horsemanship, purely on how quickly they are able to navigate the barrel course. The quickest rider to complete the course wins.

What do riders wear for barrel racing?

As a rodeo event, barrel racing  largely follows the same dress code rules and regulations as any other rodeo events, with colour encouraged! Most barrel race riders wear a long-sleeved Western shirt, classically Western denim jeans, and cowboy boots. Most riders choose also to wear a Western hat and Western belt buckles too. 

In America, the National Barrel Racing Association has its own dress code regulations, which are a more formalised, codified version of the way that most barrel racers dress for any event. The NBRA requires racers to wear a tucked-in Western shirt, Western jeans or trousers, a Western hat, and cowboy boots. British events tend to lean into this Western American tradition, typically following the same dress code and guidelines.

Women’s Barrel Racing Clothing

For women looking to get started with a barrel racing wardrobe, we recommend the Kirby Street Western Shirt, available in a range of colours and patterns and offering flexible movement. Pair this shirt with the R.E.A.L. Perfect Rise Stretch Rosa Boot Cut Jeans with a flattering fit and durability, with a flared cut to accommodate Western boots like the San Angelo VentTEK 360 Western Boot. These boots offer a lightweight sole and temperature regulation to boost your performance.

Men’s Barrel Racing Clothing

The first item we recommend for men dressing for barrel racing is the Wrinkle Free Grover Fitted Western Shirt, to keep you looking smart even when competing. The M7 Rocker Legacy Stretch Boot Cut Jeans pair perfectly with the Western shirt to create a classically Western and practical look. Complete the look with the Sport Herdsman Western Boot for durable, lightweight footwear to elevate your performance.