Horse Running Games

As a horse owner you have many ways to enjoy riding your horse. Competing in horse shows and racing events is one of the best ways to have fun with your horse while giving your equine companion something new to do. According to famed horse trainer Pat Parelli, many riders give up their sport simply because they run out of new and interesting things to do with their mounts. Adding horse racing games to your routine is an excellent way to vary that routine and enjoy new experiences.

  1. Barrel Racing

    • If you ever have been to a rodeo or local horse show, chances are you saw some barrel-racing horses in action. Barrel racing is a timed event that combines speed, agility and excellent horsemanship into a sport that is as exciting to watch as it is to do. The barrel-racing pattern consists of three 55-gallon drums arranged in a triangle. The horse and rider enter the arena and circle the barrels one at a time, making a full loop around each barrel before moving on to the next one. The spacing of the barrels varies according to the size of the arena, as does the distance between the first barrel and the start/finish line. At most rodeos, contestants enter the arena at a run, while most horse shows require competitors to walk into the ring before breaking into a gallop and starting the pattern. Knocking down a barrel results in a 5-second penalty, which in a competitive race most likely will knock that horse and rider team out of contention.

    Pole Bending

    • Like barrel racing, pole bending requires a horse that is both fast and agile. The pole-bending pattern consists of six poles placed 21 feet apart in a line. The rider enters the arena, runs straight down past the poles, turns at the last pole and weaves carefully back through them. When the first pole is reached, the horse must spin around and weave back through in the other direction. Pole bending is one of the most challenging races for horse and rider to master, because it requires the horse to change leads with every pole. A good pole-bending horse must be very agile and very smooth, since jerky movements can eat up precious time.

    Scurry Race

    • Speed events are exciting to do and to watch.

      The scurry race combines the excitement of jumping with the speed of a race. Three jumps are set up in the arena, and a 55-gallon drum is placed beyond those jumps. When the competition begins, the horse and rider enter the arena, clear the jumps and run around the barrel at the end of the ring. After turning the barrel, the horse runs back down the arena, taking each jump as he goes. The jumps are small, generally less than 12" in height, and the challenge is to maintain a smooth pace and turn in a good time.