Local Girls to Compete in State Fair Barrel Racing Tournament

This year at the Virginia State Fair, local riders Rayne Marshall from Marshall’s Anchor Down Ranch and Anna Pfeiffer from Pfeiffer riding stables will be competing in Virginia State Fair Youth Barrel Racing tournament. The event is scheduled for October 5, at 7 pm.

The tournament boasts some of the best youth barrel racing competitors in the country.

Rayne Marshall practicing (Photo by Timothy Marshall)

In a sport where the winner can be determined by thousandths of a second, the relationship between the rider and horse is crucial. The horse’s athleticism and mental condition and the rider’s horsemanship skills are tested as they maneuver through a clover leaf pattern at top speed.

The course consists of barrels placed in a triangle in the middle of an arena. The rider races into the arena with the timer starting when the team crosses the start line, and ends after completing the clover leaf pattern and racing to cross the finish line. The team that puts up the best time with tight turns, explosiveness, communication and no overturned barrels wins. It is a sport that requires tremendous agility, and training.

The girls are looking for sponsors to help fund our trip and help support our great little town of Cape Charles. Sponsors in return will receive a patch and or banner on the horse/horse trailer advertising with great pride your business and your town for supporting these two Eastern shore girls. To help out, call  (757)693-2111.