For the barrel racing event, the arena is cleared and three barrels are set up at different marked locations. The riders then enter the arena at full speed, quickly rounding each barrel in a cloverleaf pattern and then exiting where they entered. A stopwatch or timer is used registering down to a hundredth of a second. Speed is what it is all about in this event. The riders steer their horses as close as they can to the barrels trying to shave precious seconds off the clock. For each barrel they knock over a 5 second penalty is assessed to their total time. Leaving the barrels standing and ripping through the course is every barrel racers goal.

Ground conditions have much to do with one very common injury in barrel horses, strained suspensory ligaments.

Very deep ground, whether it is deep sand or wet, muddy soil, can contribute to a strain of the suspensory ligament of the front legs. If the horse is shod with a long toe and low heel, the risk of acquiring suspensory desmitis heightens. These ligaments are under great pressure as the horse is turning the barrel. Because the animal must turn in both directions, either leg may be affected.

Because of the nature of the turning and pushing motions of the rear legs when a horse goes around the barrels, the hocks are very frequently affected. Bone spavin in the distal intertarsal joints and tarsometatarsal area is quite common.

The twisting and turning motion of the barrel horse in competition at high speeds may cause many muscle groups to become strained and sore. A history of a recent slip, fall, or any other trauma causing a twisting motion can cause lameness.

Shoulder injuries, because of the nature of the action, occur with more frequency than other sports. The horse’s shoulder joint and musculature is approximately the same height as the barrel when it drops to turn. Should a given horse turn too quickly, he may well run directly into a barrel edge and traumatize the area. These injuries can be quite painful for several days. The injuries, seldom lacerations, are usually managed with anti-inflammatory treatment.

As with any equine sport or breed type, bruising occurs, chip fractures involving carpal joints occur. Therapy and management of these problems are identical to those used in other sports.

Because of the number of rodeos and the distance between them, these horses spend more time in a trailer than in a stall. They cannot hold up to the constant pounding, poor warm-up areas, and hauling that they undergo. The futurity horses seldom last 1–2 years. Very rarely do you see a horse who has done well in futurities show up in the professional circuits. The pressure to do well at such a young age results in significant performance-limiting injuries that can force early retirement.

The goals of therapy with the Thermotex™ Infrared Therapy System appliances differ very little from other disciplines. They are:

• Increase the circulation to provide more nutrients to the muscle tissues and remove wastes such as lactic acid.
• Provide an increased flexibility so that these muscles can work with more efficiency and stamina.
• Alleviate soreness within the muscle tissue and stiffness within the joints to allow the animal to perform at its peak.

In this event, the use of the Thermotex™ Infrared Therapy System appliances will allow the rider, owner or trainer to have a sounder, more relaxed and comfortable animal to perform. General guidelines to follow are:

• When posssible, always allow 30 to 60 minutes to warm-up with the therapy devices before an event.
• Often these animals are ridden for a period of time and then prepared for their event. Warm the animal up before riding with a therapy session, return to the barn (stall) or warm up area and then provide another therapy session before competing in the event.
• If an animal has experienced a particularly difficult day training or competing, accelerate the recovery period by providing a second therapy session later in the day.
• When these animals are stressed, provide multiple therapy sessions as needed throughout the day, each being at least 30 minutes in duration.

There isn't a single discipline that would not benefit from therapy sessions with the Thermotex™ Infrared Therapy System appliances. Each discipline has its own unique characteristics and stresses but all can benefit from infrared heat therapy. The important fact to remember is:

These appliances provide a safe efficacious infrared heat therapy to the equine athlete. They should be used as often as practical and in as many situations as possible. They only work when they are on the horse and the only time they doen't work is when they are hanging in the tack room.