Barrel Racing Research Paper

Ride It Like You Stole It
My parents anticipated I would surpass the ‘I want a pony for Christmas’ phase as a child, but I would be lying if I said that phrase has not come out of my mouth and traveled through to my husband’s sense of hearing. Shortly after I discovered my love and admiration for the four-legged beasts with a mind of its own, my parent’s wallets emptied but my heart became full. Not only did I love to ride, but I loved to ride fast. Going to county fairs, I was drawn to the horse arenas to observe, what I did not know then, but was soon to be my future hobby - Barrel Racing.
Barrel racing is an extremely vigorous sport because of its cautious patterns, demanding regulations and precise equipment. My wishful career as a barrel …show more content…
That particular phrase came in handy for the tight, sliding turns around the barrels. The barrels are set up in a clover-leaf pattern, with two symmetrically placed in an even line nearer the score line and one at the head in the middle of the other two furthest the score line. The distance to the first and second barrels in a standard sized arena are 60 feet from the score line, the distance between these two barrels are 90 feet and lastly, the distance between the first and second barrel to the third barrel is a whopping 105 feet (Clark). When I make the 315-foot dash, it is a time of powerful speed and rushing adrenaline. My first time running in this size arena with these distances was a life-changing one. “Tiffani Maybury is on deck,” I heard the announcer say. These words caused my heart to pound and my adrenaline to rapidly pump. I proceeded to enter the arena, pull my hat down and let my trust and pride fade 100 percent into my horse. My horse took off with such power that it jolted me back in the saddle. I kept my eyes on the first barrel and kept my horse in the stride needed to make a perfect turn. We slid around the first barrel and my eyes glanced to the second barrel. I knew we were making a run that would be challenging for the other competitors to beat. We reached the second barrel, making a turn that should have been a little tighter and it dawned on me that we …show more content…
I have shaken hands with the one and only Fallon Taylor, 2014 barrel racing world champion. I have fallen, gotten back up again and finished my ride. I have disregarded rules and made them my own. I have gone through loads of money purchasing tack, feed, and vet visits. From the Saturday night lights to the rides in the ambulance, barrel racing is a wild experience. It is a competitive endurance towards cash, fame, and pride. The teamwork and patience behind horse and rider is a bond that is untouchable. The feeling of receiving the first blue ribbon is one I will never forget, I appreciated my horse and the way he took my trust and soared away with it. Although the ribbons and trophies will eventually become dusty, nothing can replace the hard work, sweat and blood a rider and her horse puts in to win such things. It is a rewarding experience once you learn the challenging rules, calculate a re-occurring pattern that you can accomplish with your eyes closed and manage to accumulate the correct equipment. Until a person has felt the wind through their hair and the power behind a barrel horses take off stride, they are unaware of what is synonymous to

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