Events at the rodeo include bull riding, saddle bronc riding, bareback bronc riding, team roping, steer wrestling, calf roping and barrel racing. Little attention has been given to the barrel racing industry which continues to be one of the fastest growing equine sports. Once considered a sideline event of traditional rodeos, barrel racing is now an integral part of most PRCA rodeos. The cowboys introduced barrel racing into their list of events so their wives and girlfriends would have something to compete in at the Rodeos.

Equistat reports that barrel racing events paid out 12.2 million dollars or more in 1998 and it grows each year!

There are all different levels of barrel racing. The lure and the thrill of barrel racing lies in the excitement of seeing equine athletes and their skilled trainers perform at their best. The trick to barrel racing is precision and speed. In barrel racing, the first barrel is commonly called the "money barrel," because the outcome of this turn determines the fate of your run. The idea of barrel racing rests on the premise that you don't hit a barrel in an effort to have the best time. In barrel racing, the contestant and their horse enters the arena at full speed.

When looking for a barrel racing horse, check the horse for gait faults such as forging, or check for aa history of hock problems. Consider what previous jobs the horse has performed. Sore backs and hocks are frequent problems that hinder speed in a large percentage of barrel racing horses. Today, the quarter horse is one of the most popular breeds that participates in western style barrel racing.

With the margin of victory measured in hundredths of seconds, knocking over one barrel spells disaster for a barrel racing competitor. If you don't like speed or are afraid of falling off your horse, barrel racing isn't for you.

Rodeos are designed to capture each event down to the tenth of second. There must be at least two timers who agree on each contestant's time for calf roping, team roping, steer wrestling, and barrel racing.

About the Author:
Rob Daniels has been an equestrian rider for 25 years. He has studied various disciplines additional articles are available at: Riding Stable - http://www.riding-stable.com and Horse Stall http://www.horse-stall.net