One of the most exciting Western horseback sports is gymkhana, a rodeo-style sport that involves speed and precision.
Barrel racing and pole bending are the two most well-known and popular gymkhana activities. In barrel racing, barrels are set up in a pattern. The horse and rider team are expected to run the barrels in a clover or other type of pattern. Riders enter the arena one at a time and try to run the pattern in the fastest time.
In pole bending, a group of poles are set up in a straight line. Horse and rider weave through the poles at a gallop, hoping to beat the time of other riders who will perform the same task.
The best thing about gymkhana is that you don’t need a fancy horse and expensive tack to participate. As long as your horse has been trained to make sharp turns and respond to your cues with precision, you can compete in gymkhana.
Michael