Hello everyone!

What is your experience with cowbred barrel horses? The good bad and ugly? Any advice and tips?  I just bought a 2 y/o filly with Freckles Playboy, Doc o Lena and Dual Pep on papers. Shes wicked smart and quick on her feet with just 90 days under saddle. I've started many barrel horses just looking to see other people's experiences with them!

Thanks in advance!

LOVE LOVE LOVE them!!! THey are usually very " Ratey" barrel hunting fools! THey love a JOB and usually have a wonderful work ethic. Depending on how they are bred they may be a hair shy of speed but not by much. Think of Lisa Lockhardt " Louie". Perfect example. There were pictures of him floating around when he was a rained cow horse. 

I love them! I have to ride the cowhorses as thats what is readily avaliable to me at all times, but I enjoy them a lot. Usually good minds, temperment and work ethic. 

Ditto to all of this. Built to last as well. My guy is very deceiving when he runs and always surprises everyone. He doesnt look fast but he has a stride!

I ride mostly cowbreed  horses, only my 4 year old is run. 

I love my cowponies, we ranch and rope as well so it's a good fit for me. I wouldent say I have to have them, I love running breed too but it's what I grew up with and had so it's what I used and I really love them. The horse in my profile is pretty much all cow, shes out of a genuine peppy / FM mare I own and played with a bit on barrels and by a older style cow stud with a small shot of run back a bit (truly truckle).

Shes a rocket ship, a hair faster than her mom but not quite as slingshoty so my back likes that lol. 

Love then.

we also rope so we like multi purpose.  Not that any horse can’t be multipurpose - we have a head horse bred like a racehorse and he loves his job.  But we prefer some cow.

I love my cutting reject - he's bred pretty similar to your guy. Took me a long time to get with him, they're so stinkin quick! My guy also stands up on just about anything - he's not one to get super into the ground but he snaps right around the barrels and rarely has trouble with the ground. So much fun and I'd love another one. 

I love them! Only downfall is they are normally very push style. 

Why would being push style be a downfall? Some prefer that over a free runner. Me included. I like one I can come running from the back 90 and I know they will turn. 

I honestly don't find them needing to be pushed, some kinda cow the barrel really hard and need rode past but are really free and easy to send running. Like other than that one spot I dont find really needing to push mine at all. 

I was gettting at some people don't like push style and was meaning you really have to push them past the barrel. I know my mare will knock on the backside every time if I get lazy on her just bc she has so much turn to her. 

My mare is cow on top and race on bottom. She's SUPER ratey, which I love, but it's definitely been a challenge for me! She is the first one I've finished myself and I've been used to riding those "automatic" horses. I've defnitely had to step up my jockey skills to "push" her around that barrel, while keeping myself balanced, hands quite, and eyes forward (or else she'll overturn). For me it's easier to hang on for dear life! Haha! 

I have a very well bred cow mare and she is push style but so easy to ride. She does her job and you stay out of her way. 

Here is a good article for you.

https://barrelhorsenews.com/barrel-racing-articles/breeding-bloodlines/dual-raised/