Play-Day Patterns
Below are diagrams and brief explanations of each pattern with videos of a rider walking through each one.
Clover Leaf Barrels
A timed event. Rider will cross timer line, make 360 degree
turn around the first barrel, go to second barrel make 360
degree turn around barrel, go to third barrel make a 360
degree turn around barrel, and run back across timer line.
Rider may run either right or left pattern.
Penalties
Five (5) second penalty added for each barrel knocked over.
Disqualifications
Failure to complete pattern. Breaking the pattern.
Spur
A timed event. The horse and rider must go through the first set of
pylons, make a 360 degree turn around the pole, returning through
the second set of pylons. Race may be either a right or left pattern.
Penalties
Only penalties are disqualifications.
Disqualifications
Breaking the pattern. Failure to complete the race, any leg of the horse
passing over any cone rather than around the cone, knocking over any
cone. Knocking over anything.
Straight Away Barrels
A timed event. Rider crosses timer line weaving right or left
of the barrel, continuing weaving in and out to third barrel,
and weave back through to timer line.
Penalties
Five (5) second penalty added for each barrel knocked over.
Disqualifications
Failure to complete pattern. Breaking the pattern
Poles
A timed event. The pole bending pattern is to be run around
six (6) poles. The rider starts either right or left, runs to the
sixth (6) pole, pivots around pole, starts weaving in and out to
the number one (1) pole, pivots around pole, weaving in and
out to number six (6) pole, and then runs back across timer
line. Each pole is twenty one (21) feet apart with the first pole
being twenty one (21) feet from timer line.
Penalties
Five (5) second penalty added for each pole knocked over.
Disqualifications
Failure to complete pattern. Breaking the pattern.
Pylon Alley
A timed event. Rider crosses the timer line between the cones
in the first and seconded set, makes a turn around the center
cone (of the last three) and returns, going between the cones
in the second and first set. A left or right turn may be made
around the center cone.
Penalties
Only penalties are disqualifications.
Disqualifications
Breaking the pattern. Failure to complete the race, any leg of
the horse passing over any cone rather than around the cone,
knocking over any cone.
Bow Tie
A timed event. Rider crosses the timer proceeds to the left of
the center cone and than goes right around the right side top
and bottom cones, continues to the right of the center cone
and around to the left of the left side top and bottom cones
and finishes by making a 180 degree turn to the right around
the center cone and back across the timer line. Race may
begin on the right or left side of the center cone.
Disqualifications
Breaking the pattern, failure to complete the pattern, or
knocking over or straddling a cone.
Larriat
This is a timed event. Rider will cross the timer line
and goes on the outside of the first pole, inside of
second and outside of the third. Going around the
barrel rider proceeds to the second set of poles
going outside the first, inside the second and
outside the third and then runs to cross the timer
line. The event can be ran either left or right.
Penalties
A five second penalty will be added to the riders
time for each pole or barrel knocked over.
Disqualifications
Failure to complete the race
Breaking the pattern
Hitch & Go
A timed event. Rider crosses timer line going
between the first two (2) poles to the next set
of poles, either to the right or left pole. Going
to the inside of the chosen pole, making a 360
degree turn around the pole, across the arena
to the opposite pole and make same (right/left)
360 degree turn, finishing on the inside of the
pole. Completing the pattern by going back
through the first two (2) poles and across the
time line.
Penalties
There will be a five (5) second penalty for
knocking over a pole.
Disqualifications
Failure to run a correct/complete pattern will
be a disqualification.
Flying W
A timed event. Rider crosses the timer to the back pole
and turns it weaving each pole, turns last pole and
returns crossing the timer line. Rider may run either a
right or left pattern.
Penalties
Five (5) second penalty added for each pole knocked over.
Disqualifications
Failure to run a correct/complete pattern will be a
disqualification.
Baseball
A timed event. Rider races to the barrel and picks
up the baseball while turning barrel, then returns
to the barrel nearest the finish line, depositing the
baseball in it before crossing the finish line. Rider
may run either right or left pattern. A rider may
circle either barrel as long as the rider comes in
one side and goes out the other without running a
figure eight.
Disqualifications
Breaking the pattern such as doing a figure
eight.
Failure to pick up the ball.
Dropping ball.
Two (2) Bucket Flags
A timed event. The rider crosses the timer line, passes the
middle barrel going behind it. He picks up the flag from the
bucket or, the middle barrel and places it in the bucket on
an outside barrel and returns back across the timer line.
Rider may run right or left pattern and may circle any
barrel.
Penalties
Only penalties are disqualifications
Disqualifications
Breaking the pattern
Failure to complete the race.
Flag falling from the bucket.
Knocking over a barrel or bucket..
Failure to place flag in bucket.
