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Member
Posts: 42
| I am new to the barrel racing world. I am a very experienced rider . train all my own horses. I still ride daily but with small kids it has been difficult, now that there getting older i want to break into something new. i would like some input on some blood lines that i should look at . I have a good eye for horses and know what i like and don't like . I have done a few play days but i am looking to get above that. Where should I start?
I'm looking to buy my first barrel prospect , just don't want to throw away a lot of money......I want advise.
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 575
| My advice would be, learn from my mistakes, and don't buy a prospect as your first barrel horse.
I did, and I made so many mistakes, and it took me a lot longer than I would have liked to really figure out the game. And I still don't have it figured out all the way! I would buy something finished, maybe older, that you can learn on and get a feel for what a good, solid run is.
I was in a very similar situation to yours, and I wish that I would have bought something to teach me, instead of me trying to teach a colt, while trying to figure the whole barrel racing thing out. I had lot's of wasted money on 'runs' that were.... lacking, purely from my lack of knowledge as to what made a solid barrel horse. Just my two cents!!
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 Not Afraid to Work
Posts: 4717
 
| What type of horses do you ride now? I think that would be helpful for me to give any advice. For example, I prefer more of a cow/run cross. Training obviously is a big factor but there are different styles in the bloodlines. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 878
Location: "...way down south in the Everglades..." | I agree with rpreast in many ways...it definitely wouldn't hurt to get a been there done that horse to learn on first. Years ago, I went from A circuit hunter shows to this game and despite being an extremely experienced rider, I had a HUGE learning curve. If you can afford (time and finance-wise) two then you could get a young prospect (yearling/2 year old) that you could work with on the backburner. Bloodlines you'll find so many differing opinions. Personally, I'd recommend looking for something with Firewater Flit close in there...well minded and more user friendly than a lot of the other lines out there. Good luck and welcome to the barrel life! |
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 Expert
Posts: 2097
Location: Deep South | I completely agree with buying something finished. It's incredibly difficult to teach a horse a proper turn until you yourself know what a proper turn should feel like. You first barrel horse shouldn't be about pedigree. Once you know more about what type of barrel racer you are, what you like in a barrel horse, then you will know what characteristics to look for in a prospect and papers can help you find that. |
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Member
Posts: 42
| I like the more cowy/run. I had a bay mare that was more cowy with a little speed in there, she was catty and a quick learner but was on that back burner for so long that i ended up selling here last summer . |
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 Tried and True
Posts: 21185
 
Location: Where I am happiest | Agreed! Buy a horse going that you can go to races next week on. Go to clinics next week on. Buy a nice horse you fit with NO gate issues, or barrel hitting issues, or soundness issues. Just a nice 3D level horse would be perfect. You can pick up checks at the races, and really learn to ride a barrel horse and most of all, have fun doing it. |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | I think any good minded horse would make a good barrel prospect no matter whats on the papers, its how they were broke and started to see what kind of prospect they will make. If your wanting to train your own barrel horse find a good minded one with a good handle and go from there.
The papers your showing are nice, I would think a good prospect, good luck  |
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 Hog Tie My Mojo
Posts: 4847
Location: Opelousas, LA | I agree with the others about buying an older, finished horse to go run next week. Often some of the older horses can be yours for about what a nice prospect would cost you.
?If you do go the prospect route, then I would look more at the individuals conformation and mind than the papers.
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Not Afraid to Work
Posts: 4717
| missbiz - 2016-09-08 10:23 AM
I like the more cowy/run. I had a bay mare that was more cowy with a little speed in there, she was catty and a quick learner but was on that back burner for so long that i ended up selling here last summer .
I guess I am the odd man out but if you genuinely know how to put a good foundation on a horse and none of us can say you do or don't. But if you truly can, I don't think training a horse on the pattern is all the difficult. I believe any well broke horse can lay down a respectable barrel pattern. If it were me, I would tend to stay away from all running blood (the papers you posted) if you are used to a more cowy working type horse. I think finding something with barrel blood or cow/run cross would be the best fit. You don't want to be out of your element on all levels. Get a type of horse you are used to. Obviously horses are how you train them for the most part but there are certain bloodlines that are known to be hard workers, better minded than others.
Maybe consider a sunfrost type horse? |
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Member
Posts: 42
| where can i learn the most about cowy/run type bloodlines? is it best just to put on here and get other peoples opinions of what they have learned and encountered .
I know basic "big" names but some i've never heard of ..... thoughts?
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1096
| I wouldn't be worrying about top notch bloodlines at this point. I'd be looking for a seasoned prospect that is very forgiving if you don't ride every run "perfectly". I'd probably look around locally for a horse, one that I could try out to see if it even fit my riding style. Another thing to consider would be finding someone who has been running barrels for a long time. They could help in your search for a horse that would be a good fit for you.
Papers are nice but for just getting started a solid, consistent horse is the best. |
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Tried and True
Posts: 21185
Location: Where I am happiest | Alot of todays designer barrel bred bloodlines were cow/run crosses. Some cow horse breeding, and some race horse breeding to give both the desire and ability to turn, and the speed needed to clock. Alot of the straight race bred horses can really run, but dont necessarily want to turn, and their hocks are to high off the ground to be good at turning a barrel. |
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Not Afraid to Work
Posts: 4717
| Well there are so many... I personally like Docs Prescription, Peppy San badger, Hollywood Dunit, Doc Olena horses for my "cowside." (to name a few)
I also like the Sunfrost Bloodlines.
I love Streakin Six for run, Bug Alive in 75, Dash for Perks..
Then you have your Frenchman's Guy, Firewater Flit, Dash Ta Fame horses that are a hot commodity but not crazy expensive if its a generation or two back.
I think finding a horse you like that seems bred to do it, people could gladly give you opinion.
Is there a specific name you have heard of?
some of my favorite stallions are Firewater Finale, Manor's Nick Bar, Lions Share of Fame, Streakin Jet, Streakin Ali |
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 Saint Stacey
| I'm a HUGE Takin On The Cash fan. We have two own get. At first glance paper wise, the horse you posted is right up my alley. I prefer all run. I personally think it's ludicrous to claim you need cow to quiet them down and add turn. I've seen plenty of hot cow breds too that would make a hit running bred seem like a dude string plug. But to each their own.
I went to Equibase and looked at the record on this horse. He either, A: has zero athletic ability. B: had a REALLY bad trainer or C: is sore or crippled. I'm leaning more towards C because most of the comments for his 9 outs were Broke awkwardly. He had a ridiculously low speed index so I'm not sure why they would have tried him 9 times? I'd have quit him after 2 or 3. But again, to each their own.
Bloodlines I really like: Bully Bullion (especially on the maternal side, he threw a lot of rate and turn in his colts), Dash Ta Fame (they are born broke and want to turn), Takin On The Cash (that Dash For Cash/Easy Jet cross just really worked for various disciplines), Ivory James (the race people prefer the colts over the fillies. The fillies tend to be a little too laid back and easy going to really succeed on the track).
Biggest issue for me is conformation. I love a great set of papers but the conformation must be just as great or it's a deal breaker for me. |
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Member
Posts: 42
| saint stacy are you commenting on the papers i posted above?
What is a good speed index ?
Edited by missbiz 2016-09-08 7:31 PM
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Saint Stacey
| missbiz - 2016-09-08 6:29 PM
saint stacy are you commenting on the papers i posted above?
What is a good speed index ?
Lol! Yes, commenting on the papers you posted. You don't necessarily need a high speed index for a barrel horse. It's more important where they break and where they are at the first and second call. An 80 is average and gets an ROM. This horse had someone like a 53. I could probably run a 53 (okay, not really but he didn't break any speed records). He broke slow (almost always last) and never gained much in what should have been fairly easy races.
If you go to Equibase.com and put the name in, you can view his charts from his 9 outs. |
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Member
Posts: 42
| yes thank you for the info....i did not know that you could check on that . I figured it out .Thank you.
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Saint Stacey
| Yep. I love Equibase! Let me know if you need help reading the charts. |
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Member
Posts: 42
| Saint Stacey. I am not aware of what some of the terms (comments) mean on the races .
Even Effort
No factor
Lacked response
broke out
could you define a few of these for me ...thanks |
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Industrial Srength Barrel Racer
Posts: 7268
| Buy an older, finished barrel horse. You will have a THOUSAND times more fun, (and probably a lot more success).
Edited by Griz 2016-09-09 11:10 AM
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Saint Stacey
| missbiz - 2016-09-09 9:26 AM
Saint Stacey. I am not aware of what some of the terms (comments) mean on the races .
Even Effort
No factor
Lacked response
broke out
could you define a few of these for me ...thanks
Even Effort basically means just that, an even effort. He never really dug in and tried.
No Factor means he never stood a chance. He got outran and was never a contender in the race.
Lacked Response means when the jockey asked for more speed, the horse gave the jockey nothing.
Broke Out means he didn't run straight.
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