Running Head: EXPLORING CULTURE ESSAY

Three Barrels; Two Bodies; One Mind

Maggie Parsons
University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky

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Abstract

Through this paper, you will discover how two bodies, a rider and a horse, become of one
mind mentally, to navigate a course of three barrels in order to finish at the fastest time
possible. Predominately females participate in this sport at rodeos and western events;
however, in more recent years more males, youth, and seniors are participating in the
sport. Although the race seems simple and sloppy from an untrained perspective, it is
actually very diverse and requires vast amount of grace to compete successfully. Both the
rider and the horse have to be kept in great shape for the team to be at their optimal level
of performance, but it is the synergy and mental connection between the horse and its
rider that will set a team apart from the others, as they push each other toward a win.

Keywords: Racing, barrel, women, rodeos, western, grace, perform, emotions.

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Culture, according to the Webster Dictionary, is defined as A particular society

that has its own ways of life, beliefs, arts, etc. For horse owners in general this statement
holds true, but for the Barrel Racing Culture, that is even truer. Barrel racers are
stereotyped, as pretty girls on fast horses; however, those who understand the barrel
racing industry would argue this statement is definitely false. In fact, barrel racing is
much more strategic and difficult then just being able to run around three barrels at a fast
pace. Someone outside this culture will often describe the event with words like speed,
sharpturns,balance,andadrenaline.It'safastpacedeventfullofexcitementandthrills.
(SaddleUp.August8,2014)Someoneinvolvedinthebarrelracingculturewouldmost
likelydescribethiscultureusingwordssuchas trust, strength, control, skill, dedication,
passion, teamwork, and heart. Years of practice and repetition are needed for a barrel
racer to turn their horse into a sturdy, reliable teammate. Barrel racing has been around
for hundreds of years, but the amount of change that has occurred within the sport is
spectacular. Barrel racing is not just pretty girls on fast horses anymore, in fact they are

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much like a quarterback in todays times, they must be able to think fast and know how to
lead. (A. Valdez. 2009. P. #52)
Barrel racing does not happen just once a year at a big race. Part of the reason that
the members of its culture are so close knit and bonded together is because of the amount
of time they spend together. The racers travel and compete the majority of weekends
throughout the riding season, For NBHA (National Barrel Horse Association) racers, this
season typically runs from early spring to late fall, so every weekend they all load up and
travel wherever they need to in order to be able to race to collect point to qualify them for
state and national shows at the end of their year in October. (National Barrel Horse
Association October 8, 2014) At the High School Rodeo Association level, you travel
year round to different rodeos in the United States to earn your points to qualify for
Nationals in July in Rock Springs, Wisconsin. Alivia says, one of the pros of the barrel
racing culture is the bond that you get to make with other people that you spend so much
of your time with. Not only your immediate blood family who grow together over a
common bond, but the entire rodeo family holds a special place in each others hearts
around the rodeo arena. (A. Conkwright. Personal Communication, September 23, 2014)
Travelling and a willing to pay high prices is essential to be successful in this
culture. National High School Rodeo participant Alivia has traveled all the way to Rock
Springs, Wyoming just to be able to compete at a Rodeo. I am not sure how many miles
it is from where I live to get out there, but I know that it took us nearly 28 hours by the
time we pulled our horses in the trailer, and we had to stop around every four hours to let
them out to stretch and move around so that they would not get too sore for the races.
(A. Conkwright. Personal Communication. September 23, 2014) Although travelling

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every weekend is not a necessity in order to compete, it is often necessary in order to

obtain enough points to qualify for state and national competition. For Kristina and her
horse, they travel almost every weekend, no where near 28 hours away, but still enough
to hurt her wallet. In fact, she states that money and the expense of racing is definitely, in
her opinion, the biggest down fall to barrel racing. It is not cheap to run to shows every
weekend. You are looking at around $100 for diesel, and anywhere from $200-$250 for
entry fees depending on the show and number of horses you bring. In a weekend for one
show, you are spending anywhere from $300-$500 for just one show, and there are
around 20 or so a year depending on what you choose to attend. (K. Grandbouche.
Personal Communication. September 20, 2014)
Money, as we all know, is the centerpiece for all good things in life, including
barrel racing. Horses are known to be one of the most expensive hobbies to have, because
of the high demands in food and care they require. When you add up the feed, hay,
veterinarian and medical bills, training, bedding, boarding and supplies you need for the
horse, your investment is quite substantial, but most horse owners say, If I wasnt
spending my money on my horses, then I would find something else to spend it on, and
so I would much rather spend it on my horses! (K. Grandbouche. Personal
Communication. September 20, 2014) The bond between the owners and horses becomes
much like a relationship with your best friend or sibling. When you are spending that
much time, effort, and money into something, it is nearly impossible to not create an
unbreakable bond. On average, per year, the cost of keeping a barrel horse ranges from
$10,000 to $20,000 depending on how well you want to treat them. In fact, just to buy a
good barrel horse on the East Coast you will spend a minimum of $8,000. Owning a

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horse does require a lot of money and time, but no amount of dollars could ever compare
to the memories that are made while in the saddle.

love,

Figure 1. Kristina Grandbouche pictured above has been riding horses since she
was four years old, however it was not until she was nearly 12 years old that
she found her true passion for going fast on the back of a barrel racing
horse. Now, she could not imagine her life without the experiences,
and thrill that barrel racing has brought into her life.
Horses often impact peoples lives and outlooks. According to Alivia Conkwright,

the horse culture has shaped her life and who she has became today. Basically the horse
culture has shaped my life to be exact, I couldnt even imagine not growing up around
horses, because that is where all my memoires have been spent. (A. Conkwright.
Personal Communication. September 23, 2014) The bond between a horse and their
owners are unbreakable. Horses become accustom to the same people over and over who
are often their owners or trainers and sometimes get skeptical when strangers come into
their life. The horses in barrel racing perform according to their partners vibes, says
experienced barrel racer, Kristina Grandbouche; They feed off you, your vibe, your

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nerves, they know all of that. (K. Grandbouche. Personal Communication. September
20, 2014) Like people horses have various personalities and temperaments, and some are
naturally more excited or anxious about racing than others. Hot blooded horses, are often
known to get too excited during practices and think they are running for a race all the
time. On the contrary horses are also known for their ability to common humans. Their
ability to do this often helps people with autism or behavior disorders be able to calm
down and take part in activities that any other person may often take part in. However,
like humans, we all have our different personalities, just like horses all have their
different personalities.
Their genetics make up a lot about their personalities. Some horses are born to
run, some horses born to show, some born to pull heavy objects, some to be fierce, some
calm, some majestic, while others are just born to look pretty in the fields and eat. Barrel
racing horses are often quarter horses; and some are crossed with thoroughbreds to add
extra speed to their genetics. These genetics ensure that the horses will be able to grow
and develop all the skills needed to preform in the races. An idealistic barrel horses are
horses that have been starting to ride and be broke to ride at the age of two. By the age of
three and four years old they are being trained to run the barrels and practicing
developing the fundamentals of how and when they need to turn, speed up and slow
down.
Just like the people who make up the culture and develop a type of love for one
another for the other members, so do the horses. Horses have a way of connecting with
one another and communicating when they are together just as people. Sometimes you
get people who do not like each other, horses can do that too. If the owner is riding the

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horse and they happened to pass one of the other horses that it does not like, you are able
to tell by the way their bodies tense up and the way they use their ears. Horses are very
temperamental and can easily show their emotions if you have been around the horse
enough. This is just another factor of the bond that people and horses share, they are able
to determine the emotions of their teammate just like a good tennis partner, or common
teammate could do when it involves people.
People you typically find within the barrel racing culture are people who have
grown up around horses their entire lives. They are adrenaline junkies that love going
fast and are the ones who are not afraid to get dirty in the dirt or mud when they fall off,
which is known fact of riding, sometimes you fall off and when you do, you have to get
back on again. Kristina is now mid thirties and still loves riding as much today as she did
when she first started seriously riding at four years old. While interviewing Kristina her
Father shared a story with me of how when she was a baby, too small to even walk, and
was in the barn with her mother, would cry and throw a fit until her dad placed her on the
back of a horse. He said that is when he knew she would develop a passion for horses and
love them as her own children for her entire life, and so far that statement has held true.
Kristina does not care how much it takes to be involved in this culture, she loves it
wholeheartedly and it is her passion now. Even though her husband, Ryan, does not fully
support of this expensive hobby has come to realize it does not matter what he says or
wants, it is her money and he will not be able to change the love and bond she has for her
horse. (K. Grandbouche. Personal Communication. September 20, 2014) This type of
behavior is not unusual for horse people. It just shows that some people do believe that
horses are like their children, they love and care for them as apart of their families and

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would go to extreme measures to see that their horses are being treated they way that they
deserve.

Figure 2 Most of the time, passion for horses and barrel racing are established at
a young age. A daughter of a lifetime barrel racer is pictured above helping her
mom groom the horse before going on a trail ride.
Barrel racing has been around for hundreds of years and was at one time, a
womans only sport. Now days, male or female, child or senior can barrel race at certain
races. This not only changed the culture from being a womans only culture, but it
allowed a huge amount of diversity to be introduced to the barrel racing culture. Many
new divisions of barrel racing were entered into the races culture; pee wee, youth, and
seniors races were added so that the competition would be even all around the playing
fields; however, when looking at races at the rodeos, they are still the Pretty girls on fast
horses. This stereotype still exists even though riders do not necessarily have to be pretty

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or the horse is not necessarily the fastest in the race. In barrel racing, it looks as if the
gates open and a wild, fast horse comes running out the gates, goes around three barrels
and runs as fast as they can back to the finish line. While much of this holds true, there is
a much more difficult strategy to barrel racing; especially if you want to win. The amount
of training and preparation for this race takes practice nearly every day to teach the right
pattern for the horse to run; for them to learn how they need to turn like fundamentals on
how close they can get, how fast they can go and how to use their feet around the barrels
so that they do not fall. Keeping a horse in shape might be the most crucial part of racing;
so they do not get too tired after their racing and so they can push themselves to their full
potential. Most riders like Kristina and Alivia, ride everyday to ensure that their horses
stay in shape. Just once a week however, will they show the horses the barrels before the
race because they do not want their horse to experience burn out. Therefore, they spend
anywhere from an hour to three hours everyday trail riding or galloping in circles around
an arena to keep the horses use to running.
Not only do the horses have to keep in shape, but so do the riders. It takes a great
amount of muscle to be able to hold onto the horse going that fast. Leg and core muscles
are extremely important to be able to ride with great skill. During the off season, the
muscles get out of shape and riders typically get super sore for the first couple weeks
after long, hard rides again. Riders typically use their legs, it allows them to hold on and
not fall off. You can hold on with your hands but then you cannot properly ride. Using
your legs allows you to stay in the middle of the saddle at such a fast pace. Not only do
the members of the culture have to be in shape to properly ride their horses, but they need
to be in some type of shape to be able to clean stalls, put up hay, and lift the water

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buckets and other heavy equipment and tack in the barns. Not only do your physical
muscles need to be in shape, but so do your mental reflexes and reactions. When racing,
you have to be prepared for anything at any time. At any moment your hose can fall,
throw you off, or knock over a barrel. You have to be ready for anything at anytime to go
wrong. You have to mentally prepare yourself. It is such an adrenaline rush that usually I
do not remember anything that happens until I get out. You feel like you are going 100
miles an hour and what you prepare yourself for is not always what is going to happen so
you have to be ready. (K. Granbouche. Personal Communication. September 20, 2014)
Three barrels, two bodies, one mind; that is what barrel racing is made up of.
Typically a womens sport that contain women who work hard, think fast, and can look
good while doing it. No longer is barrel racing something for pretty girls on fast horses. It
is much more serious and competitive. It takes a big heart, huge dedication, loads of trust,
and precise skill for one to be able to successfully master the race. As for the culture,
these fine people are some of the best you will ever meet. They can care for their animals
the way that children should be treated, they spend long hours working hard to become
the best team the can be apart of, and they spend their money doing what most outsiders
seem to find unreasonable but to the people who make up this culture, every dime is
being spent for something that means the world to them.

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Reference List

2013. About Barrel Racing International Barrel Racing Association. October 8, 2014
http://www.ibra.us/about_barrel_racing.php

A. Valdez. December 2009. Barrel Racing. October 8, 2014.

http://eds.a.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=51799b32-6073-4a5c874e-9977ea62bc3b%40sessionmgr4001&vid=0&hid=4202

About NBHA National Barrel Horse Association. October 8, 2014

https://www.nbha.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=55&Ite
mid=201

D. Nelson (Photographer) 2013. Kristina 4th place 4th Division Nationals.

[Photograph]

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J. J. Denison. May 1997. Ranch Reunion. October 8, 2014.

http://eds.a.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=75fbeadf-d12d-41a2bf34-95a27fc4d54e%40sessionmgr4005&vid=0&hid=4202

K. Grandbouche (Photographer) 2014. Starting Them Young. [Photograph]

Saddle up. August 8, 2014. Barrel Racing. October 8, 2014

http://www.saddleupcolorado.net/blog/barrel-racing/