08/06/2026
I totally agree!!
It’s the same in English disciplines. The amount of undisciplined, disrespectful kids (and some adults) at hunter/ jumper shows and even three day eventing is mind boggling!
Unfortunately I think it’s an issue across the board. We, as equestrians, should be able to take our green horses to gain experience, too, without worrying about those things. Shows and rodeos are stressful enough!
We LOVE that barrel racing is a family sport. Kids running around, families hauling together, friendships being made at the trailer — that atmosphere is a huge part of what makes this sport special.
But family-friendly doesn’t mean free-for-all.
If your kids are at a barrel race, they still need to be supervised.
As someone who hauls a LOT of c**ts and young horses, I can’t count the number of times we’ve had kids come flying between trailers on Segways, scooters or bikes, running through the alley, dragging toys around horses, or popping out from somewhere with absolutely no awareness that a 1,000+ pound animal is coming through.
And before somebody says, “Well, your horse should be broke enough to handle it” — that’s not really the point.
A broke horse can spook.
A seasoned horse can react.
A c**t is literally there to gain experience.
And no rider should have to choose between keeping control of their horse and avoiding someone’s unsupervised child.
Your child having fun cannot become someone else’s safety issue.
We WANT kids at these shows. We want them growing up in this industry, making memories, learning to ride and eventually becoming the next generation of competitors.
But part of growing up around horses is learning that you don’t run behind them, fly past them on wheels, play in traffic areas, or assume every horse on the grounds is kid-proof.
Family atmosphere and basic horse-show safety can — and should — exist together.
Where do you draw the line? What rules do you have for your kids at barrel races, and what do you wish more parents taught theirs?
