SKM - 2016-01-07 5:48 AM I look for a clean neck, a long slooping shoulder, a long humorous. The humorous is pretty important to me because it gives depth from the front of the arm to the elbow and is the one area breeders tend to overlook. I want short cannons, average pasterns that aren't too long or too straight and a good said hoof. I want a short back with a long underline that is at least double the length of the back. I want a big square hip. Long muscular gaskins and low set hocks. Movement is important to me. I want a horse that can really reach up front and travels up underneath itself behind. When they walk, I want that back foot to land ahead of the front foot track. When they lope, I want a flat knee and one that really drives up underneath with the hock. I don't want one that leaves its hocks out behind. I want them to naturally want to engage the hind end when the stop. I don't want one that dumps on the front when they stop. I don't want one that's front endy in a circle. I want one that reaches up and over with the inside hind.

CE's wrapn3 - 2016-01-07 7:30 AM


What is this? I looked it up and all that came up were horse memes lol  

spec - 2016-01-06 11:52 PM

Hey all! I'm new here :) Long story short I've been into horses all my 20 years, kinda did the whole western pleasure gig in high school, got bored, decided I love the thrill of going fast, and here I am getting into barrel racing. I love the horse I ride currently, but he's just not made for it and is getting up there in age. I don't have loads of cash to spend on a finished barrel horse, so I would love to find a young horse with really good breeding that I can finish with the help of a trainer.. so with that, what do you look for in a barrel horse (conformation, temperament, etc.)? Got any bloodlines you love?

SKM - 2016-01-07 6:17 AM

If you go to the Facebook page Hope Delaware Professional Barrel Racer, she has a video of her two horses making runs side by side. One clocks a 14.70 and the other is a 14.71. The one on the left side is a mare that travels like I mentioned. She's just smooth and effortless with no wasted motion. She's like riding in a Cadillac. The one on the right is a gelding. He has a lot of knee. He is very strong and very fast. He just isn't as clean moving as the mare. He's more like riding in a Mack truck and will snap you around.

Both horses have the conformation I described. The made is leaner muscled and not as thick as the gelding. Both are out of the same dam. Both horses are really quick footed.

oija - 2016-01-07 7:47 AM I think you've gotten a couple good comments about conformation but it sounds like (and looks like based on your low post numbers) this is really really new for you. What I've found is that when people start anything new they often don't know exactly what questions to ask. You've asked something very general in terms of conformation, temperament, and bloodlines, but there are a ton of people on here who can give you very SPECIFIC advice based on your actual situation. So here are some questions for you. :) First of all, you say you've done some riding on western pleasure and such but can you give us some more detail. Did you go to a few shows or have you ridden 5 days a week since you were 8? Obviously the more experienced you are the more likely you will be able to handle a horse with a bit more get up and go (better for barrels) but if you are more intermediate and have done a bit of loping but not a ton of galloping you may need an older been there, done that confidence builder who is slower. In that same vein, you mention finishing out a younger horse with the help of a trainer, always a good idea to get help. But have you actually ridden younger horses or broke one before? Or would you just be starting fresh with a trainer? Certainly unbroke 2 year olds are likely to be cheaper than a horse who is 4 or 5 and already started on the barrels BUT if they are too much horse for you based on your experience, it might be better to go with something that was finished but maybe older (like 18+) that could be competitive and really get your confidence up (plus you could be hauling them immediately). Another consideration, do you prefer geldings or mares, horses that are shorter or taller? Also what area of the country are you in? This might allow us to offer you even some specific trainer names to get you started, unless you already have someone in mind (which you might just mention). You also mention starting with a younger horse with good bloodlines because its more affordable. Please realize that 'really good breeding' even in young horses costs money. So maybe some idea of your budget would help and even some idea of your competition budget. You mention being 20 which could mean college, maybe not. If you are in college, usually you have a little less money and time to haul. But if you went ahead and got a solid full time job you are growing in, you may have more options. Anyway, answering a few of these questions might help us help you a whole lot more. :)

spec - 2016-01-07 12:38 PM


Hey there!! Yes I am new to BHW like literally made an account after stalking the forums for a while and not finding the answer to the exact questions I had. I have been riding all my life like I said. I really just rode for fun when I was younger, did games, fun days, showed in 4H, etc.  Never really got "into" any specific discipline until I was a sophomore in high school. I had a friend that was really into WP, so I took a horse I already had that was "pleasure bred", worked with him a lot, and started showing. By my senior year we were showing at local, regional, and state level shows. It was fun for a while but the competition just made me not enjoy things as much as I used to, not to mention you have to spend the big bucks to be successful (which I realize is the same anywhere you cut it with horses, but WP seems to be worse). Too many differing opinions, if's, and's, or but's about it. What I really appreciate about barrel racing is that nobody can argue with the clock. 

I have always kind of dabbled in games...I really thought I was going to get into rodeo in my early teens, I took my gelding and made him a fun little pole bending horse, and would run barrels in local rodeos when they'd come around, but then I got side tracked like I said above. Now he's back in action and I am enjoying just having fun seeing how good he can get. He's old and has been a great horse, so I feel bad exerting him too much too often on something he's really just not built for.

I am currently finishing up my degree at a little college close to home, which has enabled me to continue riding. I am at a dead end job but I've been saving up for another horse for forever now, I would say my ideal price right now would be $5000 give or take. Hopefully once I graduate I should be able to find a better job. I am located in the Midwest. The guy I have always gone to for training help isn't a big name, but he is very trustworthy and has been training horses for a long time. I have friends who are barrel racers and Youtube has been my friend over the years, but I realize I need to find someone who specializes in training barrel horses (and people!) for reference and help when I need it. Haven't gotten that far yet, LOL. That's probably a task I should get on asap.

As for experience goes I have finished a green horse, ridden hot horses, dealt with problem horses, etc. I'm no expertly skilled horsewoman by any stretch of the imagination (although that's the goal), but I would say I am pretty capable, considering my background. I would be open to considering an older horse to get right into the fun stuff like you mentioned, but my only setback would be that I want to be able to be somewhat competitive in the future, just like anyone would want, and I want to have room to grow. I realize a lot of that is possible with a veteran horse, too, but something about me is stubborn and likes doing things myself. I would have good people to go to for help if I ever had troubles I couldn't get over myself. But you all have a lot more experience with this stuff so I am very open to advice. The truth doesn't hurt my feelings so by all means set me straight if my thinking is off!

spec - 2016-01-07 12:38 PM


Hey there!! Yes I am new to BHW like literally made an account after stalking the forums for a while and not finding the answer to the exact questions I had. I have been riding all my life like I said. I really just rode for fun when I was younger, did games, fun days, showed in 4H, etc.  Never really got "into" any specific discipline until I was a sophomore in high school. I had a friend that was really into WP, so I took a horse I already had that was "pleasure bred", worked with him a lot, and started showing. By my senior year we were showing at local, regional, and state level shows. It was fun for a while but the competition just made me not enjoy things as much as I used to, not to mention you have to spend the big bucks to be successful (which I realize is the same anywhere you cut it with horses, but WP seems to be worse). Too many differing opinions, if's, and's, or but's about it. What I really appreciate about barrel racing is that nobody can argue with the clock. 

I have always kind of dabbled in games...I really thought I was going to get into rodeo in my early teens, I took my gelding and made him a fun little pole bending horse, and would run barrels in local rodeos when they'd come around, but then I got side tracked like I said above. Now he's back in action and I am enjoying just having fun seeing how good he can get. He's old and has been a great horse, so I feel bad exerting him too much too often on something he's really just not built for.

I am currently finishing up my degree at a little college close to home, which has enabled me to continue riding. I am at a dead end job but I've been saving up for another horse for forever now, I would say my ideal price right now would be $5000 give or take. Hopefully once I graduate I should be able to find a better job. I am located in the Midwest. The guy I have always gone to for training help isn't a big name, but he is very trustworthy and has been training horses for a long time. I have friends who are barrel racers and Youtube has been my friend over the years, but I realize I need to find someone who specializes in training barrel horses (and people!) for reference and help when I need it. Haven't gotten that far yet, LOL. That's probably a task I should get on asap.

As for experience goes I have finished a green horse, ridden hot horses, dealt with problem horses, etc. I'm no expertly skilled horsewoman by any stretch of the imagination (although that's the goal), but I would say I am pretty capable, considering my background. I would be open to considering an older horse to get right into the fun stuff like you mentioned, but my only setback would be that I want to be able to be somewhat competitive in the future, just like anyone would want, and I want to have room to grow. I realize a lot of that is possible with a veteran horse, too, but something about me is stubborn and likes doing things myself. I would have good people to go to for help if I ever had troubles I couldn't get over myself. But you all have a lot more experience with this stuff so I am very open to advice. The truth doesn't hurt my feelings so by all means set me straight if my thinking is off!

SKM - 2016-01-07 6:48 AM I look for a clean neck, a long slooping shoulder, a long humorous. The humorous is pretty important to me because it gives depth from the front of the arm to the elbow and is the one area breeders tend to overlook. I want short cannons, average pasterns that aren't too long or too straight and a good said hoof. I want a short back with a long underline that is at least double the length of the back. I want a big square hip. Long muscular gaskins and low set hocks. Movement is important to me. I want a horse that can really reach up front and travels up underneath itself behind. When they walk, I want that back foot to land ahead of the front foot track. When they lope, I want a flat knee and one that really drives up underneath with the hock. I don't want one that leaves its hocks out behind. I want them to naturally want to engage the hind end when the stop. I don't want one that dumps on the front when they stop. I don't want one that's front endy in a circle. I want one that reaches up and over with the inside hind.