This event was originally designed to emphasize the agility and power of the quarter horse. These horses are bred for a burst of immense speed and tremendous handling ability. The cowgirl and her horse must be in absolute sync as they tour a cloverleaf pattern around the three barrels in the arena. These horses and riders must be precision perfect as the difference between heading home with some prize money and going empty handed can be as little as one hundredth of a second.

Barrel racing is a timed event and looks deceptively simple with a horse and rider racing at breakneck speed in a cloverleaf pattern around three 55-gallon drums set in a triangle. It's actually a symphony of timing, coordination, movement, balance, and style that bond the horse and rider into a single unit.

When the racer enters the arena from the center alleyway, an electronic eye starts the clock. The clock is stopped the instant the horse completes the pattern. The horse and rider have the option of rounding the barrel to the left or right first before circling the opposite barrel then charging around the center barrel and heading back for the scoring line. When they cut the tight turns around the barrels, the horse and rider can be at a 45-degree angle. If the horse or rider knocks one of the drums over, a five second penalty is added to the cowgirl's time, basically assuring she'll finish out of the money. However, there is no penalty for touching a barrel that doesn't tip over. 

Barrel racing has no judges, which means the event has no subjective points of view. Time is the determining factor. At the end of the performance, after all of the racers have finished their runs, the clock is the one and only judge.