Pole Bending is an amateur rodeo event that features a horse and one mounted cowgirl, running a weaving or serpentine path around six poles arranged in a line.
The cowgirl will take up a gallop and ride past all the poles turning at the last pole. The cowgirl and horse will make a serpentine path through the poles, that is passing on alternating hands and leads through the poles. When the last pole is reached, they horse and rider continue in a mirror pattern through the poles back to the first one. When the pattern is completed the horse and rider then gallop back past the poles and through the timer.
This is usually seen in High School and College rodeos.
