Posted 2018-04-06 3:18 PM Subject: Buying a horse question!
boon
Posts: 4
Hello! I am looking for some advice. I recently retired my barrel mare, I've had her for over 15 years. This is the first time I'll be looking for a new horse. :( I have found a 7 year old gelding I am interested in. He has 90 days of barrel training. From the videos I've watched, he looks like he has a good handle on the pattern. My question is, what do prospective buyers look for when looking at a barrel horse that isn't finished? I'm pretty sure you could pattern a pleasure horse after 90 days, but there would be zero speed. I don't want to buy a horse and have him be great on a pattern but never get out of the 4D times.
Posted 2018-04-06 3:43 PM Subject: RE: Buying a horse question!
The best bad guy on the internet
Posts: 3519 Location: Arizona
Are they trained in other disciplines, such as roping, poles, etc? If he has had 90 days of training, what stage of training is he on, can you make a run on him or his he just loping the pattern? You can tell if a horse is going to have speed or not just by taking him through the pattern. What is his breeding?
Posted 2018-04-06 4:00 PM Subject: RE: Buying a horse question!
Popped
Posts: 20421 Location: LuluLand~along I64 Indiana
i want to find a horse that has been trained like i ride. that understands what im trying to tell him with cues that im used to giving. each trainer does it a little differently. sometimes i can see what i am looking for in the video. but for me a short ride on the horse will tell the tale for sure.
Posted 2018-04-06 4:06 PM Subject: RE: Buying a horse question!
boon
Posts: 4
He is not currently training on any other disciplines. His papers have Streakin Six on there twice. His Sire and Dam are My Streakin Dancer and Jetting Angel. I'm not sure that they are putting any speed on him. They had a video of him just going through the exhibition barrel pattern at a race just to introduce him to different grounds, horses, noises.
Posted 2018-04-06 6:04 PM Subject: RE: Buying a horse question!
Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
What was he doing prior to the 90 days on the pattern?
If a horse has a good handle, a good mind, and is in good hands - you should be able to haul him after 90 days in a legitimate program and start to enter. I started my gelding on the pattern when he was 7 and started hauling him around the 90 day mark.
Ultimately what I look for is the same regardless of if the horse is finished or not - how does he feel, how does his training compare to my style? How does he accept a new person not familiar with him? Does it make him nervous and flighty or is he fairly forgiving and willing? What’s my overall gut feeling?
Buying a horse question!
