new barrel horse what should i get?

Question

i am looking at getting a new barrel horse.
whats the best height for a barrel horse?
do buckskins and palomino make good barrel horses?
mare or gelding?
best breed for the job?

thanks :^)

Answer 1

I have to ask, have you ever run barrels before? That makes a huge difference with the horse you get.

Goto www.barrelhorseworld.com and get a good look at what is on that site. If you are wanting to really compete and kick some booty then pay attention to the blood lines and you will see what is winning.



Buckskins and Palominos make wonderful barrel horses if they have the right conformation and mind. But to be honest, color doesn't win, the horse does.



Gender does not matter but do take into thought that a mare is more tempremental.



QH, Paint, Appaloosa, OTTB, TB..they all make great barrel horses. I would get a horse that has some kind of running blood. An appendix QH is one that has one QH parent and on TB parent and they are really nice. I have an OTTB and a QH and they are both great horses.



You really don't want one that is 14hh, that's just not tall enough to keep up, they can turn a nice barrel but they get beat between them. 15hh and up is better.



EDIT: okay if you wanna go pro then you need to really look at the website I gave. Find one that you don't have to train on but it will cost a pretty penny! You should be able to find whatever your wanting on there. If you need any help just ask and I'll do my best.

Answer 2

Im not an expert on barrel racing or anything, so i dont know the best height for a barrel horse, but i do know that Buckskins and Palominos can make awsome barrel horses if they have the conformation or bloodlines.



And if i were you, i'd go with a gelding. When a mare comes into season, it may affect her performance.



Alot of people use Quarter horses. But some use off the track Thoroughbreds to do the job, they have the speed for it.



Well hope this helps a bit

Good luck with your Barrel Horse

:)

Answer 3

Reliable Barrel Horses

Answer 4

Okay



1) Height- Height is associated with build and length of the animal. A short horse (around 14.3) will probly have a shorter body and compact muscling. Shorter horses are often good for gaming, though they have a shorter stride, they have less body to maneuver around a barrel and can beat larger horses. Avoid a very tall horse (16-17hh) because they are often longer and have more body to maneuver around the barrel and it can be more difficult to get a faster time. However, it is often what the rider is able to get out of the animal and also the horses mentality.



2) Color- Color has no affect, like previously said, get whatever you like if it makes that much of a difference to you.



3) Gender- Avoid a stallion because they can be unruly and select show grounds don't allow them. Its preference. In my expereince, a gelding is more reliable because they have a more consistant personality and performance. However, a mare is more intuitive, and might be a better choice if you don't mind dealing with the heats on occasion. I prefer mares, but that is me. Some people say mares are not good to work with when in heat. But my horse is a mare and when she is in heat she just seems to have more energy, and might get pissed off more easily...but that just makes her faster! so if you can handle it it could be better.



4) Breed- A small Quarter horse is always good. However, some other breeds to think about include: Arabians (high spirited and can be very fast) Appaloosas (often have a good build for gaming) QH x TB cross/Appendix (often have the speed) and I've even seen some speedy Paints.

Answer 5

You want a shorter horse (around 14.3-15.3 hands) with a short back, longer legs and good balance.



Hahaha---colour makes absolutely NO difference in the quality of the horse what so ever.



Quarter horses are the most popular--if you are looking to get into pro rodeo and barrel racing, I would say (if you can handle it), get an Appendix Quarter Horse--they will have the muscling of the QH and the speed of a TB---hybrid barrel horse if you invest in the right bloodline---a horse that is going to take you to the pros isn't going to be cheap at all...you're looking at, at least $30,000 or above (and $30,000 is a bit on the low end of the price scale..)



I actually prefer geldings (although my past 2 barrel horses have been mares...but good mares at that)----with mares you gamble with them being "moody" when they're in heat....which seriously cramps your competition style, I've been lucky to not have "moody" mares, but I know a lot of people who have moody mares and they consistantly have to withdrawl from competition because the horse just will not cooperate during that time of their cycle...



For this reason, geldings are much nicer, and generally a LOT more reliable....I would strongly advise against a stallion, as they are incredibly hard to train, work around, stable, and control....a gelding is definitely your best bet, unless you are purchasing a seasoned barrel mare and you are certain she will not become moody on you...



Have you rodeoed before? How long have you been barrel racing?

Answer 6

Color has no effect, its just personal preference. For height I would say around 14 hands, horses that are shorter tend to do better. Choose one with a shorter neck line. Some thing about getting around barrels faster? I say Quarter Horses are better because they are more even tempered and are generally faster when it comes to "sprinting." I would l also choose a gelding because unlike mares, they don't need to be taken out of a competition when they are in their cycle. Then again every mare is different when they are in heat, some are mean and some you can never tell. It just depends on the mare. However it does depend on when the gelding was gelded too. If they were gelded late, they would still have the stallion attitude, but if they were gelded at the "right time" then you should be fine. It all lies on preference. Best of luck to you in making your decision.

Answer 7

You are looking for a horse that will give you his/her neck willingly, Color doesn't matter, You may want to consider a taller, less stocky (knock over barrels) quarter horse, Dash For Cash, Zippo Pine Bar, Two Eyed Jack are a few very popular bloodlines in quarter horses that barrel racers look for. Geldings and older mares seem to be the most popular choices. Good Luck

Answer 8

14.3-15.3 (You don't want too tall or too short. Too tall is hard on their knees when leaning, and too short has shorter slower strides)



Color isn't a factor?



Mare's and geldings can do be equally good. Just don't get a stallion.



Quarter Horses, are the most popular. Appendix's can do great too (I have two Appendix barrel horses). And I know a girl with a Thoroughbred barrel horse... Kate Keeney owns Hope to Burn. It's a beast.

http://216.116.225.82/stories/2007/10/30/oth_149809.shtml

Answer 9

Okay. I used to do barrel racing, but then I switched barns and started jumping.



Anyway, back to your subject.

The best height is between 14.3-15.3 hands, but it really doesn't matter as long as the horse can pick its back feet up and rotate them around the barrel. [Hard to explain]

Color doesn't matter, but if those are the colors you want then yeah, it doesn't matter.

It doesn't matter if its a mare or gelding. Its what you prefer.

The best breed is definitely a Quarter Horse. They somehow are able to pick up their back and rotate it very quickly around the barrels. However, Paints are also quite successful at this, too.



I hope I helped.

Answer 10

colour has no affeact what so ever on the horses preformance

Try to get a small compact yet verry fast quarter horse- they are the very best for speed, tight circles and quarter mile tracks (hence the name "Quarter Horse")

GEnder doesn't really matter either its just personall preferance



Geldings are like horse-puppies most of the time, you can't breed them or anything



DON"T GET A STALLION unless you know how to handle one avoid stallions at all costs



Mares get in heat once in a while and can either be quite cranky or extremely affectionate, but you get foals when the horse is retired