[Lena4285]

This is my 12yr old Quarter horse mare. She has some cutting lines and such but nothing real big. I'm thinking of starting barrel racing and would like to run on her. Do you think she is built well enough to make 3D/4D times?

 

[horselovinguy]

Near any horse can be a beginners horse doing barrels...
It takes time and patience to teach a pattern, to the rider and to the horse.
The horse needs conditioning to build proper muscle and balance...
Long before you go fast you go right...get the basics learned correctly and completely first...
The add the speed you want to achieve...

For starting out...I see no reason why she could not meet your needs presently.
She's cute and will give you a start to understanding what is needed, what is wanted in a barrel horse.
Biggest part of "can she do it" is "will she want to do it?"
Particular personality to a good barrel horse..
Take good care of her, she is a nice horse and deserves good patient training and great care while she works so hard to please you and your wishes and wants. :wink:
Remember to have fun!!
Enjoy...
:runninghorse2:.....
jmo...

 

[beau159]

A horse can have the worst conformation ever and be a jam up 1D barrel horse.

Likewise, a horse can have textbook perfect barrel racing conformation and not even hit the 4D.

Now with that said, it is nice to have a prospect that is well put together because that decreases your chances of having lameness (of course, does not eliminate it) but most barrel racers will tell you that the HEART of the horse is what makes a top barrel horse.

Your horse is weaker in the hind end than I like to see in a barrel horse, but looks like she has clean legs. She may have a long-ish back (which makes it harder for them to collect those hind legs under them) but it may also be the strange way she is standing.

And when you say 3D/4D times -- are you talking about local jackpots or large events?

If you are just looking to have some fun with your horse, I don't see any reason why she couldn't do it, so long as the horse enjoys it.

 

[Lena4285]

I would probably be doing mostly jackpots. I'll probably get a different horse later on when I'm more seriously competitive. She has a long back and weak hind quarters but we can probably work through that. What exercises would you recommend to build up her hindquarters? She bad about using her forequarters in ahead of hind. How can I fix that? Also she absolutely refuses to pick up the left lead. She will do it it the round pen if you get after her. She only holds it for a few strides. I haven't noticed her doing it in the pasture. Otherwise she refuses. Thanks in advance!

 

[beau159]

It could be training and she simply does not understand what you want under saddle. It could be pain that could be preventing her from being able to pick up that left lead. If she does not pick it up in the pasture on her own, then I would be led to believe it's a physical problem, and you should take her to a good vet and have her checked out.