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 Expert
Posts: 1889
   
Location: Texas | My 2-year-old Appendix colt (now gelding) is not going to be a barrel/race horse as planned. He is ignoring his papers (Seattle Slew/Truckle Feature). He is a super laid back, sweet, goofy, lanky boy who will probably mature about 15.2-15.3 hands. Anyone have any experience/suggestions on how I should market him? I'm thinking as a hunter/jumper or even as a trail horse for a weekend rider that wants to put the time into him. He is a lovely mover. He has not been started under saddle yet as I like to wait till they are 3, especially for Appendix horses.
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Hungarian Midget Woman
 
Location: Midwest | Why won't he make a barrel horse? |
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Expert
Posts: 1889
Location: Texas | He is really laid back and just isn't interested in running. Guess you could say that he doesn't have a competitive spirit. I'd really like him to have a career he enjoys. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 629
| I don't know the horse, and maybe you have some kind of intuition that I don't. He is your horse after all.
However, I wouldn't count him as a barrel horse prospect just yet if he's not even been under saddle. My cow mare was as easy going as they come. She is and has always been the slowest jogger on the planet, from the day I first sat on her. However, she's my 2/3D barrel horse. She has a heart the size of Texas, but you'd never know it until you sat on her. In the pasture, she stands in the stall, in the shade, loves to eat and just be still. She does not race around, chase, play, nothing. |
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| I agree with Cheryl. My sister has a mare that even after she was broke and on the barrels just didn't seem to want to move past pleasure speed. But then, one day she realized she liked to run barrels and wow, what a change. She was bred to be a barrel horse, but not until late into her 3 year old year did she show any life. Ed Wright told my sister that one day she would find her run and he was right! Your colt may or may not ever find his run, but if you like him then maybe wait until after he is broke to decide. He may show you want he wants to do. |
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Meanest Teacher!!!
Posts: 8555
Location: sunny california | i have had a few that early on I thought i had them pegged. One I would have bet a million dollars he would not make a barrel horse due to laziness. He knows how to get down to buisness now. did not happen until he was over 4 almost 5. i mean he was so lazy I had to work at him to keep a trot or fast walk until he was 3 almost 4. |
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  Keeper of the King Snake
Posts: 7622
Location: Dubach, LA | Samantha Buncher on FB. She can sell anything. Sky High Equestrian. She handles English and Western.
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 You get what you give
Posts: 13030
Location: Texas | You can try dreamhorse. Although I agree with the others it's hard to count one out before you even start them under saddle. Lazy and calm to me sounds like a pretty stable mind. Better than starting out with a hot fractious horse that has no reason to be. Conformationally to me I could see him leaning toward the English disciplines but again...unless you've just got your mind made up he won't be anything, I wouldn't count him out yet. |
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 Expert
Posts: 3782
Location: Gainesville, TX | Like most everyone else has said, I wouldn't rule him out til you've rode him. And yes, some of them can be late bloomers.
However, if you've got your mind made up and there may be some things we just don't know or can't consider yet, he looks built to make a decent hunter/jumper. I'd prefer to see him move honestly to see if he has a nice low sweepy stride like his leg and neck set seems to promise. But if he did move that way he might be a nice candidate. That being said for AQHA showing hunter/jumpers, most of the top ones are 16hh+. That doesn't mean he might not still make a very nice local or amateur show pony. He could earn his full registration in the show ring then. If he moved that way, Western Pleasure might not be a bad option either.
You could also sell him to the English crowd to use in non-AQHA events (FEI stuff). He'd be given a few more opportunities to move freely and they love the dark colored horses with minimal white like he has. He probably wouldn't ever jump super high or get off the flat a ton if he stops at 15.3 but could still make a great weekender.
If he is super laid back, a trail pony or endurance horse might also be good options for him.
There are tons of great jobs for horses these days. Dream Horse and Equine Now are great listing sites. You can still list on Facebook or Craigs List too.
Best of luck!
Edited by oija 2015-07-07 10:05 AM
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 Shoot Yeah
Posts: 4273
Location: Where you need a paddle... Oregon! | If he's as laid back as you say, try to get him with a good mounted shooting trainer. If he will accept gunfire, and even have some speed in there that could show itself, he might make somebody a really nice horse. Even if he's not the competitive type, a new shooter will like that because they need to go slower at first until they get comfortable and until they learn to handle their guns. He might start speeding up about the time the shooter is speeding up. Mounted shooters, in my experience, LOVE their horses and really like to create a long-term partnership with them. The also typically do a lot of trail riding and horse camping, which keeps that horse happy and doesn't burn them out. A good mounted shooting home is a great place for a horse. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 679
Location: KS | I have a mare who is is the slowest walker. I'm always way behind on trails because she likes to take her time. She is the same with her trot and canter, but she has placed in 1D open and youth. Mostly 2D/3D horse. She can get up and go once she sees those barrels, but you would NEVER EVER guess that just by riding her on trails or warming up. She is so laid back and chill, but a heck of a barrel horse. (Note: we don't drug her or anything.) Just grain, hay and salt blocks. Hopes this helps. He might be one heck of a barrel horse too.
Edited by ACowgirlsLastRun 2015-07-07 11:39 AM
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Addicted to Baseball
Location: Where the stars at night are big and bright, TX | Trainers know the easiest way to success is pick a horse who wants to do what you want to do. Otherwise, sell asap and let them find their different path with someone else. I do not beliving in waiting one out i.e., letting them "mature" into having a heart for it. While their peers are on the path to their calling in life, older and still not moving in a specific direction decreases their value. I ride jumpers and while I do wait for the physical demands for the older they get, we still read the horse and work them towards where their talent lies. He may do well marketed to trainers or owners who want to bring a hunter horse along.
Edited by Tilt The Kilt 2015-07-07 11:55 AM
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 Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | He sure might mature and come to his speed. He looks very growthy for a 2yr old and most of mine we raise have excellent minds and aren't a bit flighty or speedy acting. But as soon as you ask them, they take off like a rocket.
But if you are sure he can't run, I would try for a HUS horse. He isn't going to be tall enough to command the big dollars but he is built very similar to what they like, he's got the popular color and Seattle Slew is a wonderful TB cross to produce the big winning HUS horses. Must be something with the movement he sires or maybe even mind set.
Edited by wyoming barrel racer 2015-07-07 2:27 PM
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Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | and size isn't eveything, I have seen a lot of youth and amatuer horses that are no bigger than 15.3 win lots of Circuit awards and even do well at World.  |
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 Expert
Posts: 5293
| psaaat - 2015-07-07 4:32 AM
My 2-year-old Appendix colt (now gelding) is not going to be a barrel/race horse as planned. He is ignoring his papers (Seattle Slew/Truckle Feature). He is a super laid back, sweet, goofy, lanky boy who will probably mature about 15.2-15.3 hands. Anyone have any experience/suggestions on how I should market him? I'm thinking as a hunter/jumper or even as a trail horse for a weekend rider that wants to put the time into him. He is a lovely mover. He has not been started under saddle yet as I like to wait till they are 3, especially for Appendix horses.
I agree, I would hate for you to count him out and then have to out run him some day! LOL But give him a job like running barrels and that might light his fire. You can tell by his eye he is just as you described!! Sweet and Kind. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1430
Location: Montana | I'd also agree with those who suggested giving him some time under saddle before you assume he won't run. The best ones are laid back and fast.
Our Seattle Slew son is a stud so he's always up for that . . . but otherwise is still amazingly sweet and kind. He won a race at Belmont, so he can run. But he's good just getting petted too.
I admit I opened this thread because I was hoping someone was going to have a bunch of great advice about how to actually sell a hunter/jumper etc prospect. Like magic websites! Or magazines. ;-) I haven't tried to market one in ages and have to learn something about it. We'll keep most of his fillies, but our SS son is 16.3 and I have to sell his colts too . . . . |
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 Born not Made
Posts: 2937
Location: North Dakota | I was going to say the same thing the others said: You don't know he won't make a barrel horse.
My old horse (1D locally) was like a western pleasure horse. Ho-hum and laid back, and dragged his feet. He didn't even really look like he was moving all that fast on the pattern but he could cover ground and clock. Quite enjoyed it too.
My colt who is 4 this year is SUPER laid back. I love him. So quiet and smooth. The last time I ran him before I discovered an injury, he had a little "spark" to him and finally seemed to understand what was going on. Placed in the 4D. He's only going to get faster as he figures out what is going on, and learns how to run.
Obviously, he is your horse and you can do as you wish, but I would not say they "won't make a barrel horse" jhust because they are quiet and laid back. |
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Common Sense and then some
Location: So. California | You know your horse best. He does have long pasterns and is built more Tbish.. And you describe "lovely movement". Does he have more of a floaty trot? I would market him as HUS, English pleasure, dressage, etc... With that color and breeding, he should sell quickly if priced right. Good luck! |
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 Independent Cuss
Posts: 3978
Location: Dearing, GA | Sorry if I'm mimicking an earlier post, but if you haven't started him under saddle how do you know he's not competitive? |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | If hes not even broke yet how do you know he wont make a barrel horse, I would rather have them layed back when being broke, these seem to learn and take things in better. |
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