5YR OLD ARABIAN GELDING

HELLO
MY NAME IS PETE, I HAVE A 5YR OLD ARABIAN GELDING, HE LEARNS FAST. MY QUESTION IS, WOULD THIS BE A GOOD HORSE FOR BARREL RACING, I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY EXPERIENCE WITH BARREL HORSES, I NEED TO KNOW THE DISTANCE FROM BARREL TO BARREL, AND FROM THE STARTING POINT TO THE FIRST BARREL, AND WHAT IS THE RECORD TIME, FOR BARREL RACING, AND WHAT WOULD BE A GOOD TIME TO EVEN CONSIDER ENTERING A BARREL RACE? AND IS IT ONLY A FEMALE SPORT, OR COULD A BOY RIDE THE RACE ?
THANK YOU.
PETE

Dear Pete,
Most barrel racing these days is for anyone who wants to run with the exception of the PRCA/WPRA barrel racing. Your gelding would probably work great as most Arabians are very quick and agile. A standard pattern in the WPRA is 60′ from the score line to the 1st barrel, 90′ from the 1st to the 2nd barrel, and 105′ from the 1st and 2nd barrels to the 3rd barrel. The fastest I ever heard it being run in was a 16.84 but you must also consider ground conditions and arena specifications (such as center alley to run in or do you have to walk in and start inside the arena?) Most of the time a run in the low 17.0’s will get you a check on a standard pattern. Many arenas aren’t large enough to set up a standard pattern so when you start to shorten your measurements, do it proportionally. Also, many jackpots these days are what they call 3-D or 4-D barrel races where they pay money in several divisions, so you don’t necessarily have to have the toughest horse to be able to get a check.
Good luck.
Martha Wright