Editing Barrel racing (section)

==History==
Barrel racing originally developed as an event for women. In early barrel racing, the pattern alternated between a figure-eight and a cloverleaf pattern. The figure-eight was eventually dropped in favor of the more difficult cloverleaf.<ref>{{cite web | title = History of Barrel Racing | url = http://www.gailwoerner.com/way-out-west-blog/the-history-of-barrel-racing | publisher = Gail Woerner|access-date=January 24, 2015}}</ref>

It is believed that competitive barrel racing was first held in Texas. The [[Women's Professional Rodeo Association]] (WPRA) was founded in 1948 by a group of women from [[Texas]] who were trying to find a place for women in the wider sport of rodeo.<ref>{{cite web |title=History (WPRA) |url=http://www.wpra.com/ |publisher=Women's Professional Rodeo Association|access-date=January 24, 2015}}</ref> When it began, the WPRA was called the Girls Rodeo Association (GRA). It consisted of 74 members, with about 60 approved tour events. The Girls Rodeo Association was the first body of rodeo developed specifically for women. The GRA changed its name to Women's Professional Rodeo Association in 1981, and the WPRA still provides women competition opportunities in several rodeo events, but barrel racing remains the most popular. Even so, the sport of barrel racing is played by large numbers of both boys and girls, especially in rural and remote areas.