| Originally an Open race where everyone ran together, | | | | struggle making it in 3D/4D. Be sure to check his |
| beginners and professionals alike, barrel racing has | | | | record against other shows. Arenas, ground conditions, |
| now grown to having divisional races. The new 4D | | | | and pattern size all can vary on any certain day, |
| format allows everyone an opportunity to place and | | | | causing your time to be different. But the benefit of |
| win at events, and even bring home some extra cash. | | | | that is you can sell a horse that is a few seconds off |
| But has this had a negative or positive effect on the | | | | the usual winning time and still make a decent profit on |
| industry?The plus side of this for competitors is they | | | | him. Perhaps the reason people look for theses horses |
| now have more of a chance to be in the money. You | | | | with the potential to be more is because of the 4D |
| do not need to have the fastest horse to place, but | | | | format. They can still place and win money while trying |
| the fastest horse is going to bring home the biggest | | | | to improve their horses run, and they tend to be a bit |
| purse. With these divisions it seems the horse market | | | | cheaper then a winning 1D horse.With this format, the |
| has grown as well. Now you can sell a horse that is | | | | purse can be larger by the number of racers there are |
| 2D/3D with the potential to be a 1D horse within in | | | | in the sport now. Inexperienced people feel |
| weeks if not days after he is up for sale. However, | | | | comfortable going to races and competing, even if it is |
| the way he ran his 2D races may not compare to the | | | | with some of the best riders in the state. Often times |
| way you want to place in 2D at different events. He | | | | races have an added jackpot of $100, $500, $1000 |
| may have been a consistent 2D horse at a local | | | | and up. |
| saddle club, but taking him to larger shows he may | | | | |