Cross Breeds

what do you look for when you want to purchase a great barrel racing horse and why? and many other questions!?

i just want to know because i have been riding for about a year and i am currently in training for barrel racing. plus i plan to own a horse of my own in the future for my own pleasure and barrel racing! also how lond did you ride before you first competed in barrel racing? what was your first time like? did you have to prepare your horse for anything, like the loud music, etc? what is is like to compete in barrels? was it fun? how did you 1st get started? is there any sort of club that you joined like 4h? if so, how did you join? so please give all the details that you can! thanks! i prob won't beable to get my 1st horse till i am out of college tho!

Public Comments

1. Take this up with your trainer. I had my trainer pick out My first barrel horse and i had him until i got Duke. Your trainer knows your skill level. You can join 4H, there are other ones such as NBHA, Womens barrel assocation. But i think 4H would be best suited for you. its so much fun to compete in barrels. But you have to be a quick thinker. I took lessons, got my first barrel horse and sold off my pony. then i got duke and sold that barrel horse and trained Duke. I rode 4 years before i did barrels. My best advice is - Dont run your horse all the time, they can become sour. Get a horse that is older. Young barrel horses and kids who just started barrel racing isnt a good mix..
2. You will definitely want a horse that is quick to respond to your aides like neck raining, brakes, and to your leg (seeing as speed is a must). Try to avoid headstrong horses because you will end up with more fights than successes.
3. Nothing compares with running barrels! My mare is 12, I've had her since she was born, and she runs 1D times. I can only offer some brief advice, because so much goes into it. However, to cover a few important points: Expose your horse to everything. Tie him to the trailer at runs even if you don't ride. I started my horse at local gymkhanas to get her used to the surroundings. Now I run NBHA, some rodeos, and jackpots in the area. NBHA has a website. Again, local gymkhanas are great, and jackpots, because they tend to be less pressure. The book I recommend on doing some research is Charmayne James'. She offers some great advice, and for a starter, you can look at the lists she's put together on knowing what your horse needs to know before training barrels and also what skills the rider should possess before running. It takes time, and working with an experienced barrel rider is extremely helpful. Take advice from several different riders. See what works for you and your horse. Read, go to clinics, go to runs as a spectator. I had been riding for some years before I began barrel racing, but mostly because my mare was the first horse I barrel raced and I was the one to start and train her. I didn't put her at the local runs until she was four going on five, sometimes I even wait a little longer. But, I've also seen four and five year old girls running barrels who literally grew up in the saddle. It depends on your trainer and your horse. However it works out for you, have fun! Once you're into it, you will be hooked.
4. regardless of how much training or expirence you have you want the horse to be a horse that has NO vices or bad habbits and is good around other horses. my friend got a seasoned barrel horse and paid 3,000 dollars for him. he is a great horse but when it comes to barrel horses you're getting into some of the highest priced horses there are. the first barrel horse i owned was a foundation registered quarter horse stud i had raised from a weanling. i didn't train him myself i had some help and it took 1 year to break him and train him for barrels but he is the greatest horse i have evr owned. even though i would never reccommend him for beginners because he is a stud that loves to go. but the first time i raced him he was 3 1/2 years old and his time was 14.358 he placed 2nd in that class. the second time he got 1st with a time of 14.157 at the age of 4. judging by what you told me about you, a mid aged quarter horse that is already trained for barrels would be the best horse for you. in a barrel horse you look for ABSOLUTELY NO VICES good in trailers and expirence in barrels that is also good with other horses. don't expect your first real run on your own horse to place anything but he or she could easily place 2nd or 3rd depending on his/her training and dicipline(s) depending on where you ride some stables let you use their horses to ride at shows if they think your ready. the first time i competed in barrels i was 13 years old and i had been riding for 11 years and i had 5 years of pro. training but all i really needed was 2 or 3 at the most. i'm 23 now and i've had 4 barrel horses and 17 years of barrel racing and every year i get beter. yes i had to prepare my horse for noise, other horses, ect. but as long as you get a sound horse all you should have to do is review. remember you learn from the mistakes you make. the first ride is scary but fun, and you can't help but smile at the end of the run. i heard about barrel racing from my cousin and he got me into it so i owe it all to him. i'm part of 4h and the saddle club. but you don't always have to be a member of a club or group to ride at rodeos, but it's good to be part of a club of some sort. if you have questions email miranda_horses@yahoo.com hope i answered your questions.