Barrel racing is classified under the sport of rodeo and is most likely associated with the Women's Professional Rodeo Association and the National Barrel Horse Association. The sport of rodeo also includes bull riding, team roping, and tie-down roping and may be primarily associated with the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. Even though the sport of rodeo is primarily dominated by men, barrel racing is the biggest way for women to showcase their skills in such a male-dominated sport. Although all breeds are allowed to compete in barrel racing, the American Quarter horse is the most predominant breed in the sport primarily because it is the most versatile of all breeds and has the speed and agility needed to bend around barrels. When it comes to horse types or bloodlines, it's more of a personal opinion. A competitor may choose a horse more intended for racing in order to provide a faster horse or a cutting horse which will provide more maneuverability and a smaller bend around the barrels. A good ideal is to combine racing and bloodlines to produce a horse with the ideal combination of speed and agility. The saddle is the very important piece of equipment used for barrel racing. The saddle must be fitted to the horse and most of the time the rider will choose a saddle up to a size smaller than they would normally use. Saddle pads and girths should be chosen to fit the horse correctly. Although the saddle is important, the bit is probably the most important piece of equipment for the barrel racing rider. The bit is most often chosen based on two concepts: a bit with a longer shank allows for faster stopping due to the additional leverage on the mouth and a bit with...... middle of paper ...... The odeo association originally recognized women bronc, roping and barrel racing riders. Today, barrel racing is the only sport in which women compete, with the exception of the National Finals Rodeo competitions. Rodeo, as a sport, is judged overall on a points system. So even if you don't win a single event, you can still have enough points to become a cowgirl if an individual competes and places in all events on a circuit. Since this sport is considered the biggest adrenaline rush for women in rodeo, I would love to participate in barrel racing. I think women who compete have a lot of courage to let a horse reach its maximum speed and still manage to maneuver around three barrels. The athletic ability required of the horse is incredible and I give a lot of respect to women who excel and have the money to invest in such an incredible horse..