The Ranching Roots

On a working ranch, children often learn to ride almost as soon as they can walk! Passing down horsemanship skills to the next generation is a beautiful part of the cowboy/cowgirl lifestyle. Junior events were created to give young riders a safe and supportive place to hone their riding abilities, build a positive bond with their horses, and gently prepare for future rodeo participation.

The Basic Rules

• The Course: The setup is exactly the same as the open Barrel Racing event. The young cowboys/cowgirls must complete a “cloverleaf” pattern around three 45-gallon metal barrels without deviating from the pattern.
• The Age Limit: This event is specifically for young riders who are 15 years old or younger as of January 1st of the current year.
• Safety First: The NRCA takes youth safety very seriously. All competitors under the age of 18 must wear a securely fastened helmet when participating.
• Choosing a Lane: If a young cowboy/cowgirl signs up for the Junior Barrel Race, they are not allowed to enter the regular open class at that rodeo. They gracefully choose one or the other! If they do decide to step up to the open event, they transition out of the junior events from that point on.

How It’s Scored

• Just like the open event, the guidelines and scoring remain exactly the same. This is strictly a timed event.
• The cowboy/cowgirl gets a running start and must cross the starting line to trigger the electronic timers.
• They can gently touch the barrels to keep their turns efficient, but if a barrel is completely displaced, a 5-second time adjustment is added to their final time. The fastest, most efficient run takes home the prize!