What is barrel racing and how is the competition format structured?

Barrel racing is a timed rodeo and arena event in which a horse and rider complete a cloverleaf pattern around three barrels arranged in a triangle formation as fast as possible. The standard pattern places two barrels at one end of the arena set parallel to each other and one barrel at the opposite end centered between them. The rider may choose to begin by circling either of the two parallel barrels first, completing two loops at that end of the arena and one loop at the single barrel before running straight back through the timer. The pattern must be completed in a specific directional sequence — left barrel first or right barrel first — and the choice is made by the rider at the start of each run. Time begins and ends as the horse crosses an electronic timer at the entrance to the arena. Knocking a barrel over results in a five-second penalty added to the run time in most formats, which effectively eliminates a run from placing in a competitive class. A horse that misses a barrel entirely or runs an incorrect pattern is disqualified. Barrel racing is offered at rodeos, breed shows, open competitions, and dedicated barrel racing events ranging from small local jackpots to large national futurity and derby competitions. Horses compete across a wide range of age and experience divisions, and the sport has developed its own extensive competition circuit with significant prize money available at the upper levels of competition.