Rodeo Pole Bending: Terminology and Facts

Pole bending is a rodeo event that is commonly competed in by youths from junior rodeo associations through high school rodeo. It is also an event that is a common performance class at horse show events. The easiest way to understand the event and the terminology of pole bending is to look at the event in a step-by-step manner.

Pole bending starts with a rider entering the arena aboard their horse. Their time starts when they pass through a sent of electric eyes that are set up twenty-one feet from the closest pole. The poles are all spaced with twenty-one feet between them and the other poles. There are six poles and they are placed in a straight line. The poles are numbered with one being the pole closest to the electric eyes and six being the other end pole. The rider and horse start by running straight to pole six beside the poles. A person can choose to run down either the left side or the right side of the poles, depending on which way their horse turns best. They then turn around pole six and begin to head back toward the starting line by weaving through the poles. When they reach pole one they turn around it and weave back through the poles toward pole number six. When they turn around pole six and head back toward the finish line they should be on the opposite side of the poles they ran to the end at the beginning on. The time is stopped when the horse runs through the electric eyes after completing the pattern. The poles are between six and seven feet tall. They are most generally made of PVC pipe and are held up because they are placed in rubber bases.

Pole bending is not harmful to the horse. Some horses and people can be injured while competing in this event just like they can be in any type of sporting activity. I competitive time in the pole bending depends on the association and the age of the participants. On the National High School Rodeo level runs that are in the long nineteen second to the short twenty-second ranges are winning runs at the National Finals. While, runs as long as a short twenty-one second run can be highly competitive at local and state rodeos. The range of times at a rodeo often depend on the ground conditions.