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Barrel Racing

  1. ​Starting lines in clover-leaf barrel racing will be subject to ground rules.

  2. A clearly visible starting line shall be provided.

  3. There shall be a minimum of 75’ allowed for stopping, from starting line in barrels back to arena fence as arena conditions allow.

  4. The barrels and the starting line will be permanently marked for the entire go-round.

  5. The horse’s nose will be timed as it crosses the starting line.

  6. A barrel horse shall not be ridden by more than one contestant in this event at any one rodeo.

  7. During barrel racing events, the arena will be dragged at regular intervals, to be determined by the management. Turnouts and releases must be included in the count.

  8. Following barrel racing events, the pattern will be dragged or leveled.

  9. A contestant may enter the arena at the speed of her choice.

  10. Arena gate must be closed immediately after she enters the arena and kept closed until pattern is completed and her horse is under control.

  11. Contestant may change horses in this event.
    II. Time Limit:
    Contestant will be allowed legitimate time from the time she enters
    arena gate until her time starts by Field Flagger or electric eye.
    III. Event Rules:

  12. The barrels must be twenty (20) feet, at least, from the arena fence.
    64

  13. The arena conditions will enable you to determine the distance that the barrels can be apart, provided they are at least 20 feet from the fence.

  14. The clover-leaf pattern is the only approved pattern in this event.

  15. Touching barrel is permitted by horse or contestant.

  16. The front two barrels shall be twenty (20) yards (60 feet) from the starting line as required by arena conditions.
    a. The maximum distance between the two front barrels shall be thirty (30) yards (90 feet) arena conditions permitting. The maximum distance be-tween the two front barrels and the back barrel
    shall be 35 yards (105 feet) arena conditions permitting.
    b. The contestant may start on either the right or left barrel. (1)When starting on the right barrel there will be one right turn and two left around the barrels. (2)When starting on the left side, there will be one left and two right turns around the barrels.

  17. Diagram of pattern (See diagram in the back of this rulebook).
    IV. Scoring and Penalties:

  18. Timed event judge will not flag contestant out until time is recorded.

  19. Judge is to flag time, then flag contestant out if run is not legal.

  20. Knocking over a barrel is a five (5) second penalty, per barrel. Should barrel be knocked over and it sets up on opposite end, the five (5) second penalty will be assessed.

  21. Not following the clover-leaf pattern will receive a no time. A broken pattern shall be defined as breaking their forward motion to retrace their tracks to finish the pattern and/or passing the plane of the barrel on the off side. Example: Should a contestant run by a barrel and have to back up or turn around and retrace their tracks, this would be considered a broken pattern.

  22. Contestant will be allowed legitimate time from the time she enters arena gate until her time starts by Field Flagger or electric eye.

  23. Judge will determine legitimate problem for prestart time.

  24. If horse re-crosses starting line at any time before the pattern is completed, pattern will be considered broken and run will receive no time.

  25. If contestant’s horse breaks timer light, by backing through before starting pattern, time will be considered started.

  26. If the arena requires an alleyway to meet the 75’ requirement to start and stop, it is considered part of the arena and all rules apply to that alleyway.

  27. A five (5) second penalty will be assessed if the contestant enters the arena without her hat on her head.

  28. When the electric eye fails to work for one or more contestants during a performance, the manual back-up time will be used for those electronically missed. The electric eye-controlled times will
    remain unaltered.

  29. Assistant helping barrel racers will not be allowed to go past the plane of the main arena gate when they are entering the arena or the contestant will receive a no time. Optional at state/province
    qualifying rodeos only, not state or national finals: When using the alleyway and closing the back gate on alleyway for stopping, assistant can offer assistance to riders up to the main arena gate, at the discretion of the arena director.

  30. The contestant is allowed a running start. If the gate is centrally located, contestant must keep forward motion toward the first barrel. If a side or corner gate is used, a single spin or pivot is acceptable in either direction or by the Arena Director’s approval. Failure to comply will be a no time. Contestant must be mounted when entering the arena.

  31. Contestant must run in the order drawn. Failure to do so may result in a no time at the discretion of the judges and arena director.
    V. Reruns:

  32. No rerun will be given due to faulty or broken equipment furnished by contestant.

  33. The battery digital clock will be the first backup time and digital hand-held watches to be second backup time. When both the digital clocks malfunction and no time was recorded from digital watches, contestant will be given a rerun at a time designated by the Judges and Arena Director, plus any penalties.

  34. Contestants will carry any penalties with them if they are granted a rerun. If the barrel racing is moved, postponed or rerun for safety reasons due to ground conditions, reruns will be penalty free.
    VI. Optional Rules:
    Equipment necessary: Twin units of battery power electric eyes with one electric power digital clock and one battery power digital clock and two (2) hand held battery power digital watches in hundredths shall be used, with the time indicated by the electric eye timers, or, if necessary, the average of the watches used by the official timers to be the official time. (Optional at State/Province level).
    VII. Equipment:

  35. Western type equipment, including saddle, must be used.

  36. Use of a hackamore or other types of bridles is the optional choice of the contestant.

  37. Judge may prohibit the use of bits or equipment that he may consider severe.

  38. Equipment necessary: Twin units of battery power electric eyes with one electric power digital clock and one battery power digital clock and two (2) hand held battery power digital watches in hundredths shall be used, with the time indicated by the electric eye timers, or, if necessary, the average of the watches used by the official timers to be the official time. (Optional at State/Province level).

  39. Complete electric timer must be backed up by a flagman. One timer will record the times that appear on the electric eye-controlled readout. Two timers will operate the digital watches and record the average time which is shown thereon. These two timers will operate from the flagman’s signals.

  40. Permanent markers should be put in the ground for the electric eyes. Electric eyes should be placed on the starting line no closer together than the width of the first two barrels and for the electric
    eyes to be centered on pattern for each performance.

  41. Position on fence for flagman should be well marked. These markers should be checked every performance along with the barrel markers and re-staked if pulled out. A record of these measurements shall be kept.

  42. Set timer beforehand in the same height and position and lock the legs.

  43. Barrels are not to be used as stands for the electric timer devices.

  44. Barrels to be 55 U.S. gallon light steel drum with both ends intact.
    (JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION)
    I. Refer to the NHSRA Clover-leaf Barrel Racing Rules.

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