what do professional barrel racers feed their horses

In 2013, the WPRA notes season winnings for the top 15 barrel racers ranged from 15th-place Jean Winters’ earnings of $69,846 to the $147,417 won by top contender Sherry Cervi. A season was originally spring to fall, but the advent of indoor arenas has extended the season to December, when the NFR is held in Las Vegas, Nev. Nancy Hunter, the second-ranked barrel racer, had competed in 11 rodeos and won $66,973, so her per-rodeo average was actually higher than Lockhart’s at $6,088.Ī barrel racer’s earnings are tracked on three levels: season winnings, National Finals Rodeo (NFR) winnings and total world earnings. Lockhart, however, had competed in 18 rodeos, for a per-rodeo average of $3,746. Jeter had competed in 16 rodeos at that point, giving her average earnings of $15 per rodeo.

As of July 2014, for example, the WPRA notes that among the top 500 barrel racers, winnings varied from the $253 won by Brooke Jeter to top-ranked Lisa Lockhart’s earnings of $67,345. Not all barrel racers are at the top of the money. Prize money for first place in most competitions varies from $1,000 to $4,000, according to professional barrel racer and trainer Heather Smith.

Prize money can be based on a single barrel run, called a go-round, or the racers must run several times and take an average of their times. Prize money varies according to the size and prestige of the rodeo, whether competitions are sanctioned by the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) and other factors.

Barrel racing is not technically an occupation, and many barrel racers earn their living in other ways, such as ranching, training horses or in other occupations.

What do professional barrel racers feed their horses