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 Elite Veteran
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| After spending a week at a racetrack working with QH racehorses, I can't help but want to find a nice prospect to turn into a barrel horse. Id love to hear all your experiences with this! Advice, tips, anything! Do you see any long term problems with them because they start running so young (2 years old) TIA :) |
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 Expert
Posts: 5290
| IowaCanChaser - 2016-08-22 9:14 AM
After spending a week at a racetrack working with QH racehorses, I can't help but want to find a nice prospect to turn into a barrel horse. Id love to hear all your experiences with this! Advice, tips, anything! Do you see any long term problems with them because they start running so young (2 years old) TIA :)
I have been working with one for exactly 2 years now. WHAT A PROCESS!!!!!!!!!!! I really REALLY REALLY think your experience will be based on the " Breeding" of the colt off the track. That plays a huge part in trainability etc. I bought a Dash TA Fame /Mr. Jess Perry Bred colt 2 years ago. Only had 2 outs at the track and was sound super nice mind etc. etc etc. I actually picked him up at the track itself. He was super laid back and they actually rode him for me in a halter bareback. Got him home and he was totally fine. Never needed to come off the high of feed etc. It was sept of his 3 year old year. Got him broke, started to play on the pattern and he really learned quick and wanted to do it. I let him pick his speed, never pushed him and by Feburary of his 4 year old year he was making rodeo runs and in the 1-2D going great. About 6 months later he started running to the fence past his first barrel. He was such a nice horse Immediatly took to vet for lameness exam. ZERO lameness found. SO what it boiled down to was he was 4, speed got to him despite NOT showing it on outside. He was INTERNALLY a wreck aparently. lol SO I turned him out for 45 days or so and really just started completely over. Like pretended he had never seen a barrel and its been about 6 months now and he is doing awesome again. I switched which direction I run just so those memories are not there but he went from 1d, down to the 4D solid, 3d solid, and now 2D solid again. He simply needed time to mature. A lot of people would not have given him the chance. He will be 1D again eventually but I don't care how long it takes. He is making the same run every time again. so its allllllll good. Bottom line, when you ask for speed eventually they WILL REMEMBER it. lol
Oh, when I started bringing him back slowly after the 45 days vet advised me to use some ACE at barrel races at half to 3/4cc IM an hour before he saw a barrel. Since he was NOT showing outward signs of nervousness this really helped to make is RE-training a relaxing and enjoyable experience.
Edited by FLITASTIC 2016-08-22 11:31 AM
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 634
| Get a very very thorough vet check before you buy anything off the track to make sure they are sound.
I love them though!! |
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  Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | Very thorough vet check-neck too it sounds ask SKM on here. Knees/hocks down would be a must.
I have a mare we bought OTT and she has broken her withers/tail head bone at some point. We bought her as a 2yr old in race training. We were told she was sore in her back with a bad bump and was on turn out. We knew there was more to the story and bought her for a future broodmare so we didn't feel "taken" on the deal. But a lot can go on.
I personally think the best thing you can do is get them home and turn them out to pasture so they can just be a horse. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 399
| I have one and I LOVE how nothing bothers him when we are at shows. BUT he had no idea on how to be a horse, at home he was scared of corn stalks and just strange things like that. He also is terrified of the dark and I cannot get him over it so he has to come in at night or he will run through the fence. He handles big shows just fine but we went to a little jackpot that they had goat tieing and breakaway and you would have thought he was going to die. Mine had to learn how to be a horse and he also is kind of a wimp, he gets just a touch sore and the world is ending he doesnt know how to work through any soreness.
Overall I dont know if I would buy another one simply because I am used to gritty cowbred horses but it has been an adventure so far. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1302
Location: California | I currently have 2. I have owned a few in the past as well. I have had both good and bad luck with them. Most of mine are TB's. TB's are definitely a different breed and have diferent demeanors and require different tactics from what I have found thus far. My current two are exact opposites - one is very easy going and a sweetheart and very trainable. The other is very hot headed and busy and has an attitude to boot. I didn't go out and look for them but they ended up in my lap. I enjoy the challenges I face with them. We will see what they make come next year. Good luck! |
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 Take a Picture
Posts: 12838
| One suggestion is to look on Equibase and see how many outs the horse had. Check the speed indexes for the horse and see if they drop toward toward the end of the horse's racing career. Check to see how many people have owned the horse. Have the horse vet checked. I have one off the track that has a couple of chips in his knee and kissing spines plus a broken rib. The kissing spines may or may not show up in a vet check. The broken rib would not. |
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Posts: 234
Location: Oklahoma | Here is one I have that was at the trainers and owner just go back this past winner, He has his moments but he is very athletic. I have another one that we are now breeding that raced till she was 4 and she is amazing!! I have had relitively good luck with them, I wouldnt hesitate to do it again. Just like any horse purchase just a good vet exam is a most.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFsXSk0s9v4 |
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 You get what you give
Posts: 13030
Location: Texas | I love off the track horses! |
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Posts: 2128
| I have one currently at our place for riding and resale. He is ENOURMOUS!! Has Panama Jet and Chicks Beduino on his papers. He was purchased for a sizeable sum from the race track as a barrel prospect but the owners finances took a dip. This horse was beautiful, a knockout to look at when bought. He was turned out, and dropped a ton of weight. I guess when they live in a stall their entire lives they forget how to be a horse and take care of themselves. He is picking up slowly. Doesnt know much as he is only track broke. He is cheap enough I thought of buying him for myself, although I will need a step ladder to get on. Following this thread! |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 310
Location: North Dakota | 90% of my barrel horses have come off the track. I've had great luck with them. Some things to consider:
WHO trained the horse? Just like barrel trainers have reputations, so do racehorse trainers. If you find a reputable trainer, odds are they took great care of the horse in all aspects from nutrition all the way down to maintenance.
Look over the horses stats on Equibase. This is my go-to background check. You'll find a wealth of knowledge on most horses (unless they only had 1 or 2 starts). Look at more than just how many starts they had, but how long did the trainer give them BETWEEN races. I generally pick mine up as 2-3 year olds, and if they had their legs ran off I pass. I will ride them a month or two to get a feel for what I'm working with athletically and mentally. Then I kick them out for a couple months/over the winter. Then I bring them up and start riding them again.
Did they race on Lasix or need a flipping halter? Flipping halters are a big no-no for me. That means they either flipped in the gates, or have attempted to. Any horse that flips tells me their first instinct is to go up on me, and that just doesn't tickle my fancy.
What distance did the horse do the best at? The longer the distance, the less interested I am. As I want something that did well or tried hard at shorter distances. That generally means they can fire fast which is your goal between barrels. Speed index is nice, but again, a higher speed index in a long race won't trump a lower speed index in a short race for my personal preference.
Some people treat them like a green colt, I take each individual as they come. My last 3 didn't have any problems, so I rode them on the ranch like any other horse. Some I vet checked, some I bought sight unseen. One I watched race on my birthday and prayed the entire time she didn't break down, since I was heading to pick her up two days later ha-ha. I generally have a price range that I'm willing to take the risk on and not vet check. Anything higher than that I will. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 725
| Thanks for all the replies! I'm grateful that I have a good relationship with a few of the trainers, hopefully they can help me find what I'm looking for and know more details about the horses. |
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 I'm Cooler Offline
Posts: 6387
Location: Pacific Northwest | My mare had 7 starts, starting at age 2 and ending at age 4. She's 16 now and has been running barrels at least since she was 7 (that's when my friend bought her and she was finished, and that's who I bought her from 4 years ago). She has no soundness problems. She can be quirky and I think she would have been not so nervous if she had never been on the track, but whoever restarted her did a good job. She is light and responsive, and somewhere between free and ratey when she runs - free into her first but ratey at her 2nd & 3rd. No gate issues, but she can get worked up and I have to find a place to let her park and just stand until our turn. Other than that she's just a normal horse.
ETA Mine did terrible on the track, she never came close to placing. But when I have her in shape and her and I are clicking (which we have NOT been recently) she is typically a 2D horse against tough competition and 200+ entries. To me she does not have raw speed, but she is smooth and when she clocks its because her pattern was effortless and she wasted no steps.
Edited by livexlovexrodeo 2016-08-22 3:22 PM
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Expert
Posts: 5290
| EmtRoper - 2016-08-22 10:05 AM
I have one and I LOVE how nothing bothers him when we are at shows. BUT he had no idea on how to be a horse, at home he was scared of corn stalks and just strange things like that. He also is terrified of the dark and I cannot get him over it so he has to come in at night or he will run through the fence. He handles big shows just fine but we went to a little jackpot that they had goat tieing and breakaway and you would have thought he was going to die. Mine had to learn how to be a horse and he also is kind of a wimp, he gets just a touch sore and the world is ending he doesnt know how to work through any soreness.
Overall I dont know if I would buy another one simply because I am used to gritty cowbred horses but it has been an adventure so far.
OMG YES!!!!!!!! Mine is a big old WUSS when it comes to ANY kind of pain. I am never doing the OTT again. Just way to much work for me. |
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I'm Cooler Offline
Posts: 6387
Location: Pacific Northwest | FLITASTIC - 2016-08-22 1:59 PM
EmtRoper - 2016-08-22 10:05 AM
I have one and I LOVE how nothing bothers him when we are at shows. BUT he had no idea on how to be a horse, at home he was scared of corn stalks and just strange things like that. He also is terrified of the dark and I cannot get him over it so he has to come in at night or he will run through the fence. He handles big shows just fine but we went to a little jackpot that they had goat tieing and breakaway and you would have thought he was going to die. Mine had to learn how to be a horse and he also is kind of a wimp, he gets just a touch sore and the world is ending he doesnt know how to work through any soreness.
Overall I dont know if I would buy another one simply because I am used to gritty cowbred horses but it has been an adventure so far.
OMG YES!!!!!!!! Mine is a big old WUSS when it comes to ANY kind of pain. I am never doing the OTT again. Just way to much work for me.
Mine is not a wuss at all. I actually have to pay really close attention to her because she won't show very many signs that she's sore. One time she pulled back at the trailer and I thought she was fine, until 3 runs later she was progressively clocking slower (no mistakes, just slow) and the last time I ran her and realized " okay something is wrong" was because I noticed I had to actually use my leg to get her towards the gate. Normally I just walk towards it with a loose rein and then when I go two-handed she starts running. That day I felt her slightly try to drift to the right as I was walking her towards it and I had to tip her nose straight when I went to run. A couple massage sessions later she was back to normal.
Her sire is a TB and her dam is a Barrymore daughter.
Edited by livexlovexrodeo 2016-08-22 6:22 PM
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| I once had an owner/trainer of both racehorses and barrel horses who is I guess a pretty big name in the futurity world (not in the futurity world, wouldn't know, met them at the track one night) tell me that an 86 was the perfect speed index to go the barrel pen.
They have enough speed to get the job done, but they said anything faster they had trouble putting a turn on.
Like I said - no personal experience and no idea over what distance that was.
There's one that a friend races who had a 54 speed index and is a bang up rodeo horse, I think the racetrack thing bored him, as most things bore him and he'd rather be eating somewhere, but he can get the job done. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 725
| OhMax - 2016-08-22 8:54 PM
I once had an owner/trainer of both racehorses and barrel horses who is I guess a pretty big name in the futurity world (not in the futurity world, wouldn't know, met them at the track one night) tell me that an 86 was the perfect speed index to go the barrel pen.
They have enough speed to get the job done, but they said anything faster they had trouble putting a turn on.
Like I said - no personal experience and no idea over what distance that was.
There's one that a friend races who had a 54 speed index and is a bang up rodeo horse, I think the racetrack thing bored him, as most things bore him and he'd rather be eating somewhere, but he can get the job done.
That is really good to know! Thanks |
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You get what you give
Posts: 13030
Location: Texas | My OTT has a really high pain tolerance. To the point where she doesn't get THAT lame when she has a hoof abscess, and it's not uncommon for her to not be lame at all and then have one bust out her coronary band, and she's still not lame. She's done that to me three times in the 2.5 years I've owned her. She also has more heart than any horse I've owned so far.
My other OTT that I really had high hopes for had a high pain tolerance. Unfortunately she had a stifle OCD I didn't find and after a year and a half of running she started some bad habits.. took several vet exams to figure it out, finally on a hunch I said hey lets radiograph her stifle and found it. Did surgery but I think it was too late and she was mentally over it. **and coming from being in the veterinary world for a bit and seeing quite a few OCDs here, it's not a race horse thing.. it's a HORSE thing. I've seen OCDs and subchondral cysts in all sorts of different breeds of horses used for different disciplines.** |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 788
| I really think instead of caring what the speed index was, I want to know the trainers opinion of why it was or wasn't very high. I had a colt off the track and he only had like 2 starts and sucked it up! But, when I called the guy who actually trained him, he said he didn't get excited in the gate and was too lazy. He didn't like running in the pack either. But he ended up being a kids barrel horse. I sold him before he was finished so I don't know if he ever really got the chance but he had talent for sure. I did have to turn him out for a while and let him mature mentally and physically after I got him. His knees did this weird popping thing for about 6 months. The vet said it was just his joints maturing, idk but it finally stopped and he was 100%
I think ott horses can make awesome barrel horses you just have to be careful. If you know a trainer then you can probably find a really nice one! |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 878
Location: "...way down south in the Everglades..." | Great advice and suggestions on here...it's definitely helpful that you have some trainers you know. Research prior to buying is huge. I've never taken on one with too many outs, too much risk IMO. Thorough vet check is CRUCIAL...I learned this the hard way with my first one.
My experience with them is a little different as I was picking up OTTB's for hunter/jumpers. But I think one thing you have to keep in mind is they basically need to be brought back to ground zero in training. I started with the round pen and went on from there. The good thing is most things they do well with so it's not going to take near as long as an unbroke colt, but it's important to establish the basics so you don't have holes down the road. Personally I think suppling and flexing is the biggest challenge I had with them. My first time doing it I was worried I would have a run away...totally not the case. But getting her into a decent frame...that was a bigger challenge.
They really are fun though so I wish you luck!
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