Barrel racing is one of Equestrian Americas most popular pastimes. The sport was started when women wanted an event to compete in with each other that would be a challenge, but still fair. They came up with the idea of taking "Texas Oil Drums" or 55 gallon barrels, and setting them up in a cloverleaf pattern, with one right turn and two lefts. They would then take their husbands roping horses and see who could get through the course with the fastest time without knocking over the barrels. clubs around that you can go to and have a good time.

Today barrel racing is more complex. It is an event that you and your horse have to be physically and mentally solid to compete in. It demands stamina, concentration and synchronization from rider and horse. Just running fast will not win a barrel race, there is much more to it than that. But how has barrel racing changed since then? How could something so easy be any different now. clubs around that you can go to and have a good time.

To find out what has changed we go to the era of the True Cowgirl. You didn’t have all the gimmicks we have now, tack selection was low, you raced with what you had. There wasn’t a saddle made specifically for barrel racing, so most were heavy roping saddles with low cantles and large horns. The bits of choice were usually larger bits, with long shanks. Stiff curb bits, mechanical hackamores and O-ring snaffles were the majority of what you saw in the rodeo arena. Attached to these bits were reins of thick webbing with a large rubber grip to better aid you in pulling your horse around the barrel. If your horse wore any protection on his legs, it wasn’t much. There was no neoprene or other orthopedic options available. clubs around that you can go to and have a good time.

The rider wore pants or slacks, jeans were mostly banned from arenas and shows. Hats were worn, usually tall and had brims that curled up almost as high as the hat itself. Many competitors wore chaps to protect their legs from bumps and knocks. If you had a bat, it was held between your teeth until you needed it. It wasn’t uncommon to see a horse trailer being pulled by a car instead of a truck. Your choices for a trailer were very slim, but if you had a roof on it was a luxury. clubs around that you can go to and have a good time.

Chiropractors, acupuncture and equine massage were unheard of. There were not supplements for your horses, joint or otherwise. Most turned their horse out to pasture from when the show season ended, and bringing them out when it began again. Deworming was very rare, and if done it was by a veterinarian with a stomach tube. The event related medical experts we have now did not exist then. clubs around that you can go to and have a good time.

The horses went through a different training method, as most were used for several events. Riders stood in the saddle and pushed and pulled their horse around the barrel. The horsemanship in the sport at the time was quite different then it is now, since they didn’t know what we know now, how a horse works, physically and mentally. clubs around that you can go to and have a good time.

They were not trained specifically for barrel racing, or for roping or any other event. When you went to purchase a horse, the ability to be versatile was the main concern. Then if you paid $5,000 for a horse, he better be an All-Around winner. Breeding wasn’t so much of an issue, as a horse needed heart and a great attitude to be able to do the things asked of him. Not much different than today. clubs around that you can go to and have a good time.

The way the competitions were run is what has changed the most. The shows were all Open, there were not any age divisions, all ran in one class from beginner to professional. There wasn’t the 4D format. A large class with more competitors and less chance to win, as most only gave ribbons or paid out to 4th place. There were few events across the country as there were no regional associations. Most of the competitions were at saddle clubs, a more affordable but still competitive way to barrel race. clubs around that you can go to and have a good time.

You knew who you were running with and were willing to lend a helping hand if it was needed, and you knew you would get the same in return. You rooted for your competition and offered congratulations to the winner even if you didn’t win, wouldn’t you want the same? Ground conditions were generally not the best, and made it difficult to run if you were at the bottom of the class. The wait time was dreadful since not only did you have to wait your turn in the huge class, but you usually had to wait for the pleasure events to end. But there were fun times too. Times when you would swap horses with a friend just too see if you could win with another horse. Relaxing times with you would run barrels all day than go for a trail ride after. Most people wouldn’t think of doing either now as it may ruin their horse. clubs around that you can go to and have a good time.

The ladies of that time are what real cowgirls are. Most of them are still in competition today, and still showing up younger versions of themselves. They have evolved with the times, adding to the sport for the new generation coming in, making it easier for us to learn, to win. clubs around that you can go to and have a good time.

We have been spoiled by their improvements. We now have saddles that are designed exclusively for barrel racing. They are light, have high cantles to better hold you in, tall thin horns for better grip, forward hung stirrups to keep us down in the saddle for those turns. There are so many types, brands and styles for us to choose from. Now there are bits made to correct a problem you may be having. Bits that lift, that whoa, bits that bend, that don’t bend. So many styles to choose from, you can just as easily ruin your horse as fix him. But you have options now as to what will work on your horse, and what will not. clubs around that you can go to and have a good time.

One of the most popular additions, is the braided knot rein. Made to aid you in your barrel run by precisely placed knots to tell you where your hands should be. They come in a variety of colors, and are a favorite among most barrel racers. Another great option we have now is protection for our horses. We now have sports medicine boots to act as shock absorbers for our horses, they take the impact so the horse doesn’t have to. There are now so many different types of trailers it sometimes hard to choose from, you want to get what is best for your horse and what you are going to be doing. Now trailers are hauled with trucks, and most truck and trailer combinations cost more than a house. Some trailers are a house but, living quarters are a luxury that few horse people can afford. clubs around that you can go to and have a good time.

Our appearance in the ring has greatly changed. Jeans are on the majority of competitors, and hats come in many styles. Mostly barrel racers are rodeos version of a fashion show. Tack to match the outfit, to match the horse. You rarely see chaps on a contestant, but will see shin guards on an occasional few. We now not only have bats, but over-n-unders that attach to the saddle so you can find it and use it easier. clubs around that you can go to and have a good time.

Along with the material extras, we are more advanced in the medical way of caring for our racers. With the many choices for joint supplements and veterinarians that specialize in our sport, we are able to prevent and care for any injury that may come along. Since most do not pasture their horses between show seasons, we need this to avoid leg and unsoundness issues. The chiropractors, acupuncturists, and equine massage specialists now can help your horse with any soreness he may have been having. We also have more knowledge and are more educated on how a horse works physically and mentally. This enables us to better our training methods for our specific event. clubs around that you can go to and have a good time.

The way horses are bred and trained for barrels is a vast difference. Now horses are bred, trained and sold exclusively for barrel racing. But that isn’t just for barrel racing, other events are the same way. You wouldn’t buy a ranch bred horse to be a dressage prospect. However, breeding or pedigree is a indicator, not the final word. clubs around that you can go to and have a good time.

This article was reproduced with permission from the website  Barrel Racing in Maine.