What is Barrel Horse Racing?

Question

And what breed of horse is used?

How big is the course? Is the race held in an indoor arena?

Answer 1

It's just called "Barrel Racing". It can be held indoors or outdoors, just needs to be a big enough arena. They set up 3 barrels and the rider rides around them in a cloverleaf pattern. It's a timed event. World class barrel racers will run times as low as 14 seconds. The course is about 150 feet long. Most barrel racing horses are quarter horses, thoroughbreds, or a cross between the two.

Answer 2

The barrel races I have seen have been rodeo events. I would guess that the horses are quarter horses, a little shorter and stockier than an Arabian, whcih gives them a lower center of gravity. Basically, they race the horses around barrels, in a zig-zag kind of serpentine course. Since it's done in a rodeo arena, the course is small, and usually involves multiple laps. The turns are very tight and thus the need for a lower center of gravity.