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choosing a barrel horse

1K views 6 replies 3 participants last post by  Horsecents1997 
#1 ·
I've recently started barrel racing. My current horse( the bay with me on him) is doing well, he's very fast and tall ( not so good I've been told), but he's slow on turns. I have to work extremely hard to get his flexibility and quickness up and it deteriorates quickly if i spend a few days doing jumping or trail riding. ( Part of this is due to his long back) I do not know whether to continue with him. Do you think he's a hopeless case? He is the first pic. There are three horses I'm looking at for prospects, but again, I'm new to this. The first is a big( not necessarily tall) , grey-ish mare that has a lot of bulk as a yearling. She's fast and quick. The second is a sorrel gelding that has barrel racing and halter in his bloodlines and as a weanling ( now yearling the pics are of him as a weanling) has a lot of mass, so he's gonna be big. The third is a rather lean and somewhat muscular filly that will be steel grey. ( Colors clearly don't matter, but that way you know which is which) She seems to be the most barrel typical horse to my eyes. Which do you think is built better for the job? ( Any horse will have to be able to do more than barrels) Laso, a fourth. She's in an awkward yearling stage in the pics, put they said she's super fast and quick, but has an attitude. The above horses all have calm dispositions, with the exception of my current bay, who has an attitude.Also, does the long back inhibit turns? Does excessive muscling and bulk slow the horse down? Do larger horses struggle more? Thank you for the help, I greatly appreciate it!
 

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#2 ·
does the long back inhibit turns? Does excessive muscling and bulk slow the horse down? Do larger horses struggle more?

I don't think a long back will inhibit turns, it might be slower but I don't think it will be too bad.
Excessive muscling should not slow the horse down.
I do not think larger horses would struggle at all.

My barrel horse is 15.1 hands, long back, and some nice muscles - he does great with his turns and when I ask him he has nice speed.
This is Brisco, my horse.

I know my position is bad - I'm working on that!

I think your horse will do great. Yea he will need some work - but once it's all done or getting there, it is worth your work and you will be much happier. Don't buy a new horse just win. My first barrel race ever was just over 30 seconds - boy am I so happy! We didn't knock any barrels and we didn't break the pattern, SUCCESS!!!

The first horse looks a little big around the barrel area, but still a nice build. Her hindquarters are nice and refined lookin and looks like anice horse. It has a nice short neck and a long underline - nice.

The second one, It has a short underline and big hindquarters - so he may not be what you are looking for. But he would still be a nice runner.

the third looks like it would be a nice one. He doesn't look too top heavy, nice neck, croup, and hindquarters as well as a decent underline.

The fourth one looks like he would be a nice one - but maybe a little young??

You also want a horse that is alert and stays well focused. He should listen to you nicely and you should be able to have control over him.
 
#3 ·
The first grey filly (yearling) is my pick. I looked at her not too long ago. She's priced really good too, for her quality!

Honestly, it all depends on the horse, and their drive/heart for barrels. I rode a 14 hand foundation qh, super muscular and she is a 1d barrel/2d pole horse. She beat 16+ hand high horses, leggy and lean builds.

I have a very stocky paint mare that is fast, fast, fast. Built like the grey filly. And I have a race bred qh, 1 hand taller, still stocky, but much longer back. The turning style is very different. It is harder to get my qh to use her hind end because of her back.

I personally don't like any other horses you posted.

Consistent, quality training is KEY, when it comes to a barrel horse. Take your time and be thorough when it comes to training and most horses can be competitive if they are interested.
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#4 ·
Oh yes, your horse currently, Chance?, really lacks a hind end. Look for a horse with a motor! Level build, good bone, shorter back, quick bursts of speed, low set hocks, natural balance and big hind end. That's your barrel horse!
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#6 ·
No sense in why you can't have two. :wink:

I have my 2 mares, and then I ride my mom's gelding too. :-D
 
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