what is the best horse for barrel racing?

Question

I'm wanting to go into barrel racing but i'm not sure what the best breed is. What should I do?

Answer 1

The most popular barrel racing horse by specific breed is the American Quarter horse. But not all quarter horses are capable of being excellent barrel racing horses.

What you are really looking for is a horse that has both speed and agility - or the ability to turn on a dime. Because of the agility issue, you want a horse that is muscular and athletic. Just about any breed of horse can be taught to barrel race, but some breeds are more suited to it than others.

One thing you should be aware of is that this is really strenuous for the horse - hard on the legs and can ruin a good horse if pushed too fast to be a winner. You don't put on running shoes and go out and win a marathon your first time out - so don't expect any horse to be that good, either. It takes time, practice, conditioning and patience.

A horse with long legs can be taught to run. That's why thoroughbreds are generally thought of as race horses. But there are also quarter horse races - on tracks just like the Kentucky Derby. There are all manner of quarter horse "types" as well. Just going out blindly for a quarter horse is not the plan. Some quarter horses can be mistaken for thoroughbreds - tall, sleek, long legged. These would not be good as a barrel racing horse.

You might be surprised, but the average plain jane grade horse is a great barrel racer. "Grade" is a term applied to horses of unknown origin, mixed breeds, crosses. They should always be considered an option because they will have favorable characteristics of more than one breed. Pony crosses are usually excellent barrel racers.

Now when I say a pony cross, I am not talking about something that can run under your legs and never touch you. There is a fine line between a pony and a horse - and that line is at 14.2 hands. Short is good. Compact, well developed legs, muscular.

Ponies, because of their small size, are excellent at darting this way and that and have to rely on their own agility to outrun or escape a predator. They are at the bottom of the food chain - and know it. Speed alone won't get them away from a predator, so they devloped the ability to make pinpoint turns and dodge this way and that to shake an attacking predator. Those are the exact qualities you want in a barrel horse.

My advice to you would be to look for a horse that has a pony somewhere in it's heritage. That's the animal that will take you to the winner's circle.

Answer 2

If you want to get into barrel racing the best thing to do is to take lessons. That way you can decide if you really want to do barrel racing without spending thousands of dollars. It will also give you the best preparation if you do decide to get a horse. The question you asked is a pretty easy one.........which would tell me that you should have more experience before owning a horse..........
Quarter horses would probably be the best.....
Paints, Appys, and Arabians would also work........
But, if you are not going to enter really big shows, any breed would do good as long as it is not a really heavy draft breed......

Answer 3

Any stock breed. I personally prefer quarter horses as I have them, which one I barrel.

I have seen Quarter's/paints,TB's, arabians (which most don't get high mark), Ponies and appy's.

I think it is a good idea to attend a few Barrel racing events/rodeo's and discuss this question with those who own and riding in the event. Get their opinion and discuss it with trainers of theirs.

Ask why?
What their opinion based off of? (personal, professional etc).

I prefer my quarter mare due to she is fast, ready to go at all times, turns smooth and sharp enough, smaller to not have that width of wide turn, but good long stride.

Remember, because it is a breed, quarter, doesn't mean they are the best. Quarter horses along with other breeds are used for other events based on personality and their body type. My oldest gelding and youngest will not run like a barrel horse nor look like a barrel horse. They are pleasure and halter performance.

So, it also depends on the individual horse itself.

Answer 4

I have for years had shows at my ranch and the fastest time I've ever seen was an Arabian mare. Next breed would be the Quarter Horse. There are other breeds that are good, depending upon their bloodlines. I would certainly get a young horse, out of good fast stock, or one that is proven on the barrels.

Answer 5

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Horses: 1) arab X 2) 5 and 6 3) bay and grey 4) 16.2 and 16.3hh 5) 5/10 and 4/10 6) board 7) english This or that: 1) Palomino 2) Bay 3) Black 4) Dapple grey 5) Paint is a breed not a colour so there is no comparision to be made.

Answer 6

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RE:
what is the best horse for barrel racing?
I'm wanting to go into barrel racing but i'm not sure what the best breed is. What should I do?

Answer 7

I wouldn't worry about the horse's breed, but the horse's ability. While Quarter Horses are most commonly seen on the rodeo circuit, this doesn't mean that another breed of horse wouldn't work for you.

Go with the horse YOU feel comfortable riding and that has the best abilities for what you want to do with it.

My dad always taught me that a good horse is a good horse regardless of the breed - over the years I've come to realize that he was right.

Answer 8

Quarter horse...you can also use an Appaloosa.

Quarters are the best (professional), but any stocky breed should work...never seen a Mustang barrel race though!

Answer 9

i have always run quarter horses, but have many friends that run other breeds, i have seen all different breeds run and do great,along with the quaterhorses, i prefer them because of disposition and agility, just remember that every horse is not a barrel horse....i run NBHA and AMERICAN WEST and have seen many good ones and bad ones and i train barrel horses there are many factors in looking for a barrel horse, including confirmaion, disposition,(a horse with an attitude to learn and want to compete) along with good feet and a horse that you can become a team with,and a horse that you can do other things on. my horses are not just barrel horses, i dont let them become arena idiots........they dont get burned out .and it pays off as the mare i have now is a 7yrs old QH that has been doing barrels for 3yrs and has always placed in the top three everywhere i go.i use her for some trail riding also to keep her from burn out, quarterhorses are very versitile horses...good luck on your endeavor...

Answer 10

you can get a quarter horse or a thourabred. i have a quarter horse and i do barrel racing, halter, reining, calf penning, western pleasure, and she is just an all aroung pleasure horse for my family. good luck in finding the right one for you. just be careful and ask alot of questions when you go but that horse, because sometimes people that just want to sell their horse, they will tell you anything and then when you get the horse home and have the vet check done on it, they tell you that you can't ride it because of it being lame. so ask questions about the health and the stability of the legs if they are sound. ask if they have been injured in the past because that will tell you the history of the horse if it will be worth buying or not. take your time in looking because you don't want to buy the first one that you see.