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 Go For It!
   
Location: Texas | I wanted to share this with those who may not have FB...
I want to address a problem that is a common one in our industry… Squaring the barrel pattern… There are several arenas that do not have a center alley (it may be off just a few feet). I want to stress to everyone that is producing or running in these types of arenas. It isn't always easy to "eyeball" an arena. This is one of the reasons we are developing a website to teach those, who are willing to learn, how to correctly square a barrel pattern so that it is fair for everyone, whether you run to the left or to the right.
When "squaring" your pattern, you MUST measure from the center of the alley to the first barrel and to the second barrel. It MUST be the same distance to both markers (just like the arch to the third barrel from the 1st and 2nd barrels). This is the only fair way to set the pattern. Unless you are using an arena with a "set up" to the first barrel, your pattern MUST be the same distance from the center of that alley to the 1st and 2nd barrel. If you do not square your pattern to the alley, on an arena that the alley is just a little offset, then either the horses running to the left or the one's running to the right will have an advantage. With as competitive as these barrel races are these days, this is a big deal. It can mean the difference between getting a check and going home empty handed. For those who think it doesn't really matter, let me give you a quick scenario… You go to a barrel race and some folks get to run on the pattern with the barrels on the inside of the stakes and some have to run with the barrels on the outside of the stakes. You probably wouldn't be very happy if you were the one that had to run with the barrels on the outside of the stake. Even if they were only doing it with one barrel, you would feel slighted.
We can change the way things are done if we are open-minded and forward thinking. It does not have to be status quo in our industry. If you are a producer, check your patterns, it's easy to do. If you are competing, bring it to the attention of the producer, many are willing to fix things when they find out about them. This isn't about accusing people of cheating or stirring up controversy, it is about making our industry BETTER & FAIRER for everyone. Please share this on your page so that others can be aware of how to stake things correctly. Keep in mind that this works on ANY pattern, not just the ones listed. Have a blessed day everyone and keep spreading the Word!
Be sure to like our FB page... A New Standard in Barrel Racing!
Edited by grinandbareit 2014-12-02 7:50 PM
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Expert
Posts: 1314
Location: North Central Iowa Land of white frozen grass | Amen. It isn't any harder to do it right than to do it wrong |
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Blessed 
 
Location: Here | Thank you!!!!! |
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 Am I really the Weirdo?
Posts: 11181
Location: Kansas | I guess I never felt like it was a disadvantage going left vs right as long as some part of the alley was centered on the pattern. Of course, I'm the girl who hugs the side of the alley all the way to give my horses more room going into the first barrel. As long as the alley isn't OBVIOUSLY off-centered (and I have been to a few big shows where it was - some where you had to run in (talk about unfair), some where you could come in and set up if you wanted), I'm not going to complain.
My biggest pet peeve with barrel racing rules is the rodeo associations that require forward motion or only allow one 90 degreen turn once you're in the pen from a corner gate. I found out about that little rule one time 3 people before I was up in slack and it completely changed my approach to the first barrel. Luckily I was on a horse that could handle a completely stupid approach but still, what a stupid rule. |
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 Pork Fat is my Favorite
Posts: 3791
Location: The Oklahoma plains. | rodeowithjoker - 2014-12-02 8:19 AM I guess I never felt like it was a disadvantage going left vs right as long as some part of the alley was centered on the pattern. Of course, I'm the girl who hugs the side of the alley all the way to give my horses more room going into the first barrel. As long as the alley isn't OBVIOUSLY off-centered (and I have been to a few big shows where it was - some where you had to run in (talk about unfair), some where you could come in and set up if you wanted), I'm not going to complain.
My biggest pet peeve with barrel racing rules is the rodeo associations that require forward motion or only allow one 90 degreen turn once you're in the pen from a corner gate. I found out about that little rule one time 3 people before I was up in slack and it completely changed my approach to the first barrel. Luckily I was on a horse that could handle a completely stupid approach but still, what a stupid rule.
I am thinking she means more so the distance TO the barrels than between them as far as offset? Imagine if you will, looking from an ariel view and the line from the first to the second isnt parallel with the back of the arena. The barrels might be centered from the alley but they would not be square and therefore shorter score from one 1st barrel vs the other. Correct me if I am wrong. |
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 Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| We run in a pen where there is about an 8' difference if barrels are set the same distance off the fence. One group is great about setting them from the center of the alley which makes one barrel further off the fence but it keeps the pattern the same distance whether left or right to first barrel.
Edited by rodeomom3 2014-12-02 9:21 AM
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Regular
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Location: Somewhere between here and there... | Thank you Thank you Thank you!!! |
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 Expert
Posts: 1580
Location: Down South | I face this scenario at the facility where most of my shows are held. 75% of the time I am able to have a centered alley. Remaining times the alley is off-set. Depends on if the facility takes the cattle pens and/or bucking chutes out of the back of arena. Thankfully over the years I have been schooled and taught by some very good friends about arena set-up. Most times I am able to turn the pattern-setup over to my friends at my shows and they take care of making sure it is fair for all competitors, whether they are a lefty or a righty. Most do not realize how an off-set alley affects the pattern. You cannot simply pull "x" # of feet off the wall for each barrel with an off-set alley. If you do... some have the advantage, and some the disadvantage.
Good post/topic.!!!!  |
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 Expert
Posts: 3815
Location: The best kept secret in TX | GREAT POST!!!!!! |
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  Whack and Roll
Posts: 6342
Location: NE Texas | Now if only people will listen. I ran into this about 15 years ago at an ammy rodeo I was at. I had just moved to this state and was an outsider. At this rodeo, there were actually TWO gates side by side at the entry of the pen with no alleyway. The one that they had open made it much worse on a lefty (which is what I had). When I went to the director, she basically said oh well, tough crap. I asked if I could use the other gate then, which would at least be a little closer to what center would be and she said nope, only the one gate is allowed to be used. I got so dang mad and I think I ended up placing anyway, but it just aggravated me terribly.
This is a good post and it does make a big difference if the alley is offset to the pattern. Hopefully this will help educate people as to the correct way to set the pattern.
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 I Prefer to Live in Fantasy Land
Posts: 64864
Location: In the Hills of Texas | |
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