The Boyfriends Guide to Barrel Racer Land.
I see you, you brave brave soul. Dating a barrel racer after your friends swore up and down that barrel racers and all horse girls in general are crazy. But you’re not scared. You’re up for a challenge and I like that, so to help, I have created this guide to help you navigate through these scary times. Chin up, you got this!
Lets go over some terms you will hear and should probably know. If there is something she is talking about that is not in this hand guide, ask her! Stay informed. Plus, showing interest in her hobbies will score you major brownie points.
Here we go!
Barrel Racing - where horse and rider cross a timer, go to either the left or right barrel first, complete the clover leaf pattern, and cross the timer to stop the clock. Fastest horse wins.. unless you’re at a jackpot, then you have to look at the D’s (not those D’s, see explanation below) to see where your girlfriend ended up and if she made money or not.
Bottom of the ground - No, she is not getting buried (pssht the ground is never good enough to be buried anyway) the bottom of the ground means that they will rake after five runs and she will be last to go before they re-rake the ground to make it nice for the next set of runs.
Calgary Stampede - Don’t ask if she is running in Calgary, or tell your friends that she is. The chances of your lady running at the Calgary Stampede are slim. This is a qualifier/invite only type situation. Unless you are dating last years Calgary Champion, one of the top four from last years Canadian Finals Rodeo, the Ram National Circuit Finals Champion, one of the top four of last years WPRA Tour Finals, one of the top four in the Womens Professional Rodeo Association standings in the current year, or the top six from last years WPRA standings after the National Finals Rodeo, then hunny, she will not be running at Calgary.
C.F.R - Canadian Finals Rodeo.
C.P.R.A - Canadian Professional Rodeo Association
Crying Hole - if she says she was in the crying hole, then she was just out of the money. Say they pay to 6th position, she was 7th.
The D’s - Oh boy, I may not have enough time or space to explain this one. Here we go, buckle up!
The D system means that you do not have to be the fastest to win money at a jackpot. Which D your gf ends up in depends on the fastest time of the race. To determine her placing you need to know two things: the fast time and what the split is. In the USA the split is always 5/10ths. In Canada it can be 1 full second, 7/10ths, 6/10ths 5/10ths, whatever the event producer or association decides, which can depend on the size of the pattern.
Still with me?
So lets say Suzy wins the jackpot with a 17.056 and the split is .7. That means the 2D will be a 17.756 and on. The 3D will be a 18.456 and on and if there is a 4D it will be a 19.156 and on. If your gf ran a 17.755, she would have been in the bottom of the 1D, juuuuust too fast to win the 2D.
Fingers crossed that made any sense! If not, have her show you results from the last jackpot so you can see it on paper.
Dave Elliott - The man. The myth. The legend. This man is a master bit an spur maker who creates custom-designed hand-made spurs, bits etc. Barrel racers are OBSESSED with his bits, and for good reason. His work is excellent and the knowledge he has behind the mechanics of how a bit works is outstanding. Your gf may have a few of his bits, and she for sure has a few on her wish list. These are expensive and prized possessions. If you hear her ask you to grab the Elliot, she is referring to a specific bit. Learn which it is, and make sure it never gets left behind. These bits make great presents, just make sure you know exactly which one she wants.
Derby - This is an event with added money that only six and seven year old horses compete for.
DTF - DASH TA FAME, the all time leading barrel horse sire. If you see a a text comment etc with DTF it does not mean what you think it does, it is referring to a badass barrel horse stallion. Breathe.
Drug his butt around the barrel - not like your dog at home, this means her horse really got low in his hind end using his glorious booty muscles to work hard at turning the barrel efficiently. This is a good thing.
Enough - This is not a term used. It does not exist. The limit of horses, bits saddles etc does NOT exist. Best to drop it from your vocabulary.
Free Runner - if her horse is referred to as a “free runner” it means he is naturally a running son of a gun, and she won’t have to ride as aggressive to keep him moving forward. She may have a more difficult time getting him to turn, where a “ratey” or “push style” horse will need more encouragement to run.
Futurity - This is an event with added money that only five year old horses can compete for.
The Gate - if you get asked to work the gate, congrats, you’re not hand raking and you are being useful. Thank you. Always latch the gate shut when you let a person in to make a run, and step aside and back so you don’t lose your teeth if they hit said gate and it busts open. You’ve been warned.
Gelding - male horse who has been castrated, and cannot reproduce.
Ground - You might hear her talking about slow or fast ground. No, she isn’t high, she is just referring to the condition of the ground. If it’s slow it might be heavier footing, perhaps heavy sand with a lot of moisture in it. If its fast ground, times are generally faster, which is really exciting, as she might run a person best time.
Halter vs Bridle/Headstall - a halter (not a holster) is what your girlfriend catches her horse with. This, with a lead rope is what you lead a horse around with and what you would tie a horse to the trailer with. The bridle or headstall has a bit that goes in the horses mouth. This is what your girlfriend uses when she rides her horse. Do not tie a horse up with its bridle on.
Hauling - If you are driving the truck and trailer, NO sudden stops, & NO sharp turns If you do, she will throw you in the trailer and see how you like it, as well as tell you how her horse is worth more than your life. Drive with caution both for the horses sake and your own. Also, do not leave late.
Helping - Don’t. Unless she asks you to haul water buckets or move a bale, just let her do things because she will have a system and set way of doing things. The gesture is nice, but she will likely redo anything you tried to do. Do not take offence.
Hot - this has nothing to do with temp unless she says “he is pretty hot, I’m going to cool him off.”
Hot refers to him being a little wide eyed and crazy. You may hear the term “hot on his oats” which is similar to when you give children sugar and they’re bouncing off the walls, her horse is not thinking clearly, is wild and you best stay out of the way.
Inhaled that barrel - she didn’t eat the barrel or knock it, her horse just turned it really fast and fabulously, and your lady is quite pleased about it! You should be too.
Jackpot vs Rodeo - they are NOT the same. A jackpot is typically one event, occasionally paired with another event and there will be D’s paid out, where as a rodeo has all rodeo events (Bareback, Saddle Bronc, Steer Wrestling, Tie-Down Roping, Team Roping, Bull Riding) and only the fastest barrel racers are paid, no D format payout. Jackpot may also be referred to as a JP, pot, race, slot race, etc. Some jackpots have multiple runs, rodeo is one run on one horse only.
Lame - also dead lame. No, her horse is not uncool, out of touch, unsatisfactory or a nerd. The horse may be “off” or hurt. Horses can come back and be sound (see below) whereas some may be lame forever.
Lead me in - if you have zero horse experience you might want to opt out, OR not be offended if she does not ask you. Leading her in means you are responsible for leading the fire breathing dragon named Stella up the alley way where when ever she feels shes ready they will take off at mach speed, and if you don’t let go at the right time, you could be in trouble.
Legged Up - “I am trying to get Rocket legged up this spring” meaning she is trying to get Rocket in running shape/physically fit.
LOOK! - When girls are screaming look while you’re videoing, do NOT look up. Keep videoing. They’re yelling for your gf to look up and to her next barrel.
Mare - female horse. Often a bit moody. Watch out for the red ones. Hell hath no fury like a red mare.
My horse didn’t run - This doesn’t mean her horse literally didn’t run. It would mean her horse didn’t try as hard as it could have. Which would mean it may have been out of air (see below), was being lazy, or maybe she wasn’t pushing him hard enough, but that’s for her to decide, not for you to tell her!
Next Three - You’ll often hear this being called numerous times at a jackpot. The announcer is simply letting everyone know, including the girls racing who is next to go. No pirates here. Typically, “Up Next is Becky” is who runs next, “On Deck is Cassie” who runs after Becky, and “In the Hole is Candace” who will run after Cassie. Clear as mud?
Out of Air - out of breath
Parking - If you are driving the rig, beware that you may pull up to absolute chaos. TRY to park with a reasonable amount of distance between trailers for horses to stand tied. Do not park directly behind a trailer or in front leaving them no room to load up or leave.
Plus Five - If a barrel gets knocked over, five seconds will be added to her time. BUT, do not refer to her time as the total time with the 5 seconds added in. If she ran a smokin run, lets say a 17.0, but knocked, she will tell people, “we ran a 17.0 but knocked.” she will never say, “we ran a 22.0” and you best not say that either. Keep your wits about you, and she will keep you.
Pocket - this is referring to the amount of space she is leaving between the horse and the barrel to give him room to get around safely and efficiently. Bigger pocket, more space. Smaller pocket, less space.
P.R.C.A - Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association
Push - she is not out there pushing her horse around before or during her run. If she had to “push him by” or “push him into” any barrel, she had to make sure he had momentum to get around the barrel without knocking it over.
Rake after five - Nope, you’re not gardening, they will be taking the tractor or a hand rake around the barrels to make the ground nice for the next set of barrel racers. If you want extra brownie points, get in there with a hand rake if they’re asking for volunteers, but I am warning you, you’ll probably be there all day.
Ran up the wall - That horse of hers might make her a tad crazy, but hearing her horse ran up the wall means the bugger didn’t turn the barrel. Instead, Trigger gave your gf the finger and ran the opposite way he was supposed to. Tread lightly, she will not be happy about this.
Ratey - if her horse is ratey, he is good at naturally slowing his rate of speed down as he comes up to a barrel. These horses will be a “push style” horse meaning your girlfriend will have to ride more aggressive and push him up to the barrel to ensure he has enough speed to get past the barrel to turn it without knocking.
Ride ‘em Cowgirl - Don’t say this. The only person who can say this is her adorable Grandma or Grandpa. That is all.
Seconds - this is not a term. If your girlfriend was two seconds off of the fast time, though to you she was close, she was not. So don’t argue on this one, let her sulk.
Send Him/Her in there - your girlfriend is “just gonna send it!” She is going to run 9-0 to her first barrel and pray to the barrel gods they’re turning! jk, shes got this!
Sister - if you hear your girlfriend talking about Sister a lot, or Hailey and Sis, she is referring to the Two Time World Champion barrel racer and her unreal horse Sister. The duo just broke the W.P.R.A Standard Pattern Record, running a 16.63 at Dodge City, and have the record time at the Thomas and Mack in Las Vegas at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo with a time of 13.11. These two are something else, and a great pair for your lady to look up to.
Slack - At a rodeo a gal can enter for the slack or a performance (often referred to as a “perf”). The performance is where there is a crowd, and a set number of contestants in each event competing. The slack is typically early in the morning or late at night where the rest of the contestants for a few events will compete. If she is entered for the slack at Gooseberry she would run early Saturday morning then hike over to Killam for the Saturday perf.
Slot Race - “Babe, I think we are going to enter the slot race.” The ‘we’ she is referring to is her horse, herself and your wallet. This is a higher entry fee race, that has a much larger payout. Get excited about this, cause she will be so you should too!
Sound - a healthy horse that is not lame.
Spit the Bit - when her horse spits the bit, he basically told her to go F herself and took of running like a jerk. He did not physically spit out his bit.
The Split - this is referring to the amount of time to be added onto the fast time at the jackpot to determine the D’s (see above) In the USA the split is always .5 or 5/10ths. In Canada we use 1 second, 7/10ths or 5/10ths.
Stallion - also ‘stud’ or ‘sire’ this is an intact male who can reproduce.
Standard Pattern - Also know as a “full set” this is a regulation pattern that will fit in larger arenas. Breaking it down further, the distance between barrels and from the barrels to the timers is always the same.
Smaller arenas will adjust the pattern size to fit safely within the fence of an arena.
When purchasing a horse, barrel racers like to know what the horse runs on a full set. Typically low 17’s are fast, high 16s are unicorns, they do exist.
The other pattern size that will be the same in any arena would be an “NFR size” pattern, as this is the pattern run at the National Finals Rodeo, and is small enough it can be set up in most arenas. Which leads me to tell you, that your gf may run a 13 second pattern in a hockey rink sized arena, but will never run a 13 on a standard or full set. The pattern size is different/the barrels are set further apart in a standard pattern.
Superstakes - If a horse has a SS/Superstakes certificate this is really exciting. Stallion owners pay into a pot each year so that foal crop can compete in their futurity year for a large amount of prize money at the CBHI (Canadian Barrel Horse Incentive) race. 2020 the winner of the SS should receive $37,000. This pot changes each year. Only SS horses are eligible. So lets say the fast time is a 17.0 but its not a SS horse, the fastest SS horse will win this money.
Videoing - Always video in landscape, which means turn your phone sideways. It’s a better view and if she ever wants to sell Sister, it looks better on a YouTube when making a video compilation.
Important to note, DO NOT stop videoing until her time is called, or you say what her time is.
Also, DO NOT video on Snapchat.
Lastly, be mindful of what you or your friends say while videoing her run. Not only will she hear it but so will all her friends on FB when she posts it.
What to wear - if you are not a real rodeo or ranching cowboy, do not get the idea to come to your girlfriends jackpot dressed up as one with a beer box cowboy hat, pants that are too short or the Lammles buckle with your initial on it. Everyone can spot a fake from a mile away, and its best you just don’t do it. Please take no offence to this. Help me help you. You do not need to go out and buy a new outfit from Irvines or Jones Boys to go to a jackpot. Wear what you would normally wear on a casual day. She likes/loves you for you. Don’t distract her with a new look at this time.
W.P.R.A - Womens Professional Rodeo Association
Woodys - if you hear her talking about a “Woody’s” do not be alarmed, she is talking about a saddle she wants and is saving for. Great idea for Christmas, Birthdays, or a surprise present! Just make sure you know exactly which and what size she and her trusty steed need!
Have something to add? What did I miss? Let me know and I will consider adding it to the hand guide!
