Barrel Racing Class Requirements For Versatility & The Tennessee Walking Horse.

Barrel Racing
The course must be measured exactly. If the course is to large for the available space, then the pattern should be reduced 5 yards at a time until the pattern fits the arena. Remember to leave adequate space between barrels & any obstacle. The distance from barrel #3 to the finish line need not be reduced 5 yards at a time if there is sufficient room for the horse to stop. Barrels should be at least 18 feet from the rail. A clearly visible starting line shall be provided, either using a rope buried in the ground or marked by lime. This is a timed event. An electronic timer or at least 2 stop watches shall be used, with the time of the watches used by the official timers to be the official time.
	The Contestant is allowed a running start & the pattern must be performed at a run. Timing shall begin as soon as the horse's nose reaches the starting line & will stop when the nose crosses the finish line.
At a signal from the starter, the contestant will run to barrel #1, pass to the left, & complete an approx. 360* turn around it: then go to barrel #2, pass to the right, & complete a slightly more than 360* turn around it; then go to barrel #3, pass to the right, & do another approx. 360* turn around it, then sprint to the finish line. Or the course may also be run to the left.
	Knocking over barrels shall cause a 5 second penalty per barrel. A contestant may touch the barrel with his or her hand. A contestant that breaks the pattern or fails to follow the course shall be disqualified. In the event of a tie, the horse declared the winner in the runoff must re-run the pattern within 2 seconds of its original time or the runoff must be held again.