Proper care

Every horse should be fed a top quality feed. Barrel horses especially, they need a lot of nutrition to keep them energetic and healthy. A lot of horse owners feed their horses "Sweet Feed" which is a mixture of oats, molasses, and corn and added supplements. Horses also need better quality hay and pasture grass to maintain their health and eating habits. Having fresh water at all times is another important part of owning a horse. After practicing with your barrel horse you should always offer them water so they don't dehydrate and heave.
Another important aspect in keeping your horse healthy is providing them with proper stall bedding. You should leave your horse in a stall that has plenty of room for them to turn without feeling trapped. Also, in the stall you should lay down rubber mats before applying saw dust. This helps protect their legs since horses spend the majority of their life standing, also if they do lie down the concrete floor won't scrape hair off of their legs. When applying saw dust you want a thick layer for padding on top of the rubber mats. The sawdust you choice should be top quality, you can not use walnut or cedar sawdust. Walnut absorbs into their hooves and goes into their blood stream and internal system and they could get deathly sick. Cedar has too strong of a smell for horses and can also cause them to get sick. One of the best shavings to use is Pine, the smell is light and there is no harm for the horse.

Barrel patterns used

This is the typical pattern used for barrel racing. The distance between the barrels fluctuates due to the size of the arena being used. Usually it will be 90 feet between the barrels, but may only be 60 or 70 feet.

The distance from the start line can vary from 30 to 60 feet. There must be at least 15 feet behind each barrel to the fence in order for the tractor to drag the arena without moving the barrels and so the horses will have enough room to make a safe turn.

The other popular barrel pattern that is most used is called speed barrels or "straight barrels". The rider simply runs in-between each in a figure eight motion. The rules on timing and knocking are the same as the regular barrel course.

These patterns are most commonly used, when the rider knocks a barrel there is no time deducted at most shows. Depending on the status of the show and competitiveness it depends if the rules state if you are deducted.
13 to 14 seconds is generally a winning time in barrel racing, but this will vary according to the size of the arena, as all rodeo arenas are not made the same size.

How old do you have to be?

There is no age limit on barrel racing. Many parents like to start their children at a very young age to get them comfortable with riding. There are children as young as 3 years old barrel racing, but their parents are right there walking beside them during the course. The horses speed never goes past trotting and usually parents put their children on pony's.
 Children as young as 8 years old compete by themselves and are comfortable with running their horses. The age to join a 4-H club is 8 years old, so usually kids start competing at their local fairs by this age.

There are many divisions of age groups in barrel racing, for 4-H it is 8-18 years old. After you reach 19 you are in a senior division at the fair and competing with other adults. Fairs usually have a separate show for people who are not in 4-H called a "jackpot" show.

Shows outside fairgrounds have no age limit their divisions are broken up by junior and senior. There is also a division in-between junior and senior which breaks down the size of the horse you are riding. If you have a horse that is under 14 hands and you are 15 years old you would compete in junior-pony class.

What equipment is needed?

Just like a lot of other hobbies and sports your equipment could be crucial to winning. Barrel racing is a competitive sport that requires the right equipment to control your horse properly and to make you as comfortable as possible during speed.

Your barrel saddle is the most important piece of equipment. Without a proper fitting saddle, you and your horse can become sore. Make sure you use a saddle that fits your horse's back and your seat correctly. It is best to buy a saddle that is one size smaller than you would usually buy for trail riding, during racing your leather is going to stretch a little and you want the maximum hold so you don't fall out while your horse is turning or running.

The next piece of equipment that can make or break a barrel run is the bit. Having the correct bit means your horse responds to your slightest move of the reins, the bit fits good and doesn't pinch his mouth and allows him to make a great run. Usually the bit that gives you the most control and is sensitive to the horse would be best for racing. Most barrel racers keep an assortment of different types of bits in their barn. One bit is not going to be the best for every horse and some horses need different bits for different situations. Some barrel racers use one bit for training, one for exercising, one for competition and another for pleasure riding. Having the proper bit is one of the most important things you will buy, if you don't have any control over your horse in the arena you are going to have a hard time getting your horse to respond to you.

Boots are a must-have accessory when running barrels. These aren't boots for you, but your horse. Your horse's legs take a lot of stress running and turning hard. The right kind of boots can absorb some of that stress, reducing the wear on his legs. Front boots can also keep your horse from cutting himself with his rear legs when turning. Many barrel horses receive injuries to tendons and ligaments on their front legs from clipping themselves with the back hooves. These boots also protect the bulb of the front hooves from being stepped on or torn by the rear hooves. Buying boots is very important to your horse's health, you do not want to ruin your horses legs because most horses take months to years to recover, or some might never recover. This mistake is made commonly, so be kind to your horse and buy boots!

The last thing you will need that is very important in barrel racing is reins. Buying the right type of reins is crucial for racing. If you buy the wrong type of material it might be too slick to hold onto while running, also having the proper length is the only way to control your horse the most efficient way. You will need to determine what length of reins you want buy how tall your horse is and how much length is between you and the horses head, and also how much give you want while running.

Basics of Barrel Racing

Barrel racing is a timed rodeo event, where the fastest time is what matters most. It's you against the clock as well as other competitors.

One of the most important things in barrel racing is having a good horse. Usually people prefer Quarter Horses because of having the ability of buying a horse with good bloodlines. A top of the line barrel horse can range from $5,000 to $50,000 depending on how strong their bloodlines are.
The main goal about this event is speed. The riders steer their horses as close as they can to the barrels trying to shave precious seconds off the clock. For each barrel they knock over (which does happen) a 5 second penalty is deducted from their total time. Leaving all of the barrels standing and having the fastest time is every barrel racers goal.