Barrel Racing Barrel Racing requires a well trained horse and a skilled rider. Professional barrel racers will normally train their horses several hours every day. Training consists of walking the horse through the pattern and then slowly increasing the speed. The pattern consists of 3 barrels positioned in a clover-leaf. The rider may chose to begin either to the left or to the right. Which ever direction is chosen, they must circle the barrel. If they start to the left, they will circle the barrel in a counter-clockwise direction. If they start right, they will circle in a clockwise direction. once around the first barrel, they proceed to the barrel on the opposite side and must circle it in the opposite direction. To keep the horse on the correct stride, a "flying lead change" is required here; cued by the rider. Once around the second barrel, they proceed to the far barrel and must cirlce it in the same direction as the second barrel. After circling the third barrel, it is a full out run back to the starting point. Time is recorded to the hundreth of a second; started and stopped by an elctronic eye for accuracy. Riders may touch the barrels, but, a 5-second penalty is added for each barrel knocked over. Failure to excute the pattern is a disqualification.
Pole Bending This exercise is a test of control. While slimilar to barrel racing, this event requires more precise control. Six poles are placed twenty-one feet apart in a straight line; like a solomn course. The horse/rider must run down the outside of the poles to the far end. They then solomn thru the poles down and back. when done, they return to the starting point, running down the outside of the poles. There is a 5-second penalty for each pole knocked down. Failing to excute the pattern, is a disqualification. If excuted properly, the horse will do a flying-lead change between each pole. Excution of a "flying-lead" change is not a required element; However, it will provide a faster time. Time is recorded in hundreths of a second and is started and stopped by an electronic eye for accuracy.
	Flag Racing A triangular pattern similar to that of the barrel race is used, with the substitution of a pole in place of barrel number three. The two other barrels will have a bucket that is 3/4 full of rabbit pellets, sand, or pea-gravel placed on top of it, and a flag in one of these buckets. The rider may choose to run to the right or left and as they pass the first barrel, they pick up the flag, race past the pole, back to the second barrel, and attempt to place the flag in the second bucket. If the rider knocks over the first bucket or the pole, a 5-second penalty will be assessed. If the rider does not pick up the flag or misses the second bucket, no time will be given. If the second bucket or barrel are knocked over, the rider is disqualified. Looks easy, but try this at 30 plus miles per hour!

TERM: "Flying-Lead Change"
To excute a smooth turn, a horse must be on the proper lead/leg. If they are not, the turn will be very rough and out of sync.. When circling right, the right leg should lead. Likewise, circling left, the left leg should lead. when changing direction, for example in a figure-eight, the horse must change its lead leg to maintain a smooth ride. This is done by doing a sort of skip step while both front feet are off the ground. Hence, the term "FLYING". when excuted properly, the change is not noticable to the untrained eye.

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