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When you look at horses for sale, you may be looking for
a horse that will be good with the kids. You might be looking
for a horse that you can bring into the racing world. But
some of you will be looking for something more specific; those
of you who have seen barrel racing at rodeos or even on television
events might be thinking that barrel horses may be a great
option.
Contrary to what some people believe, not every horse is
an ideal candidate for barrel racing. Though there are fewer
particulars than there are when looking for a Thoroughbred
that will be a winner on the race track, there are a number
of different characteristics that will be found in great barrel
horses. Temperament can play a role in the success of barrel
horses just as much as the horse's skills, character, training
and lineage.
You read that right - even with barrel horses, you'll find
that one of the major considerations that many buyers have
is the lineage of the horse. A barrel horse's bloodlines can
help to identify how successful past generations in the line
were, what the horse was bred for and can provide a sense
of what the horse will be able to accomplish during the race.
Of course, more than the bloodlines, most buyers find that,
with barrel horses, it is about the build and health of the
horse. A good barrel horse has legs that are straight, and
if you're buying a horse that's already been raced, you will
want to be sure that its legs are free of any bumps or external
scars. It's important to be sure that the horse's hooves are
healthy, that its back is strong and that the horse is flexible
and athletic.
To some extent, you will be able to tell whether or not
horses for sale are healthy based on looks, however, before
you make a commitment to making a purchase it is usually a
good idea to have a veterinarian check to make sure that there's
nothing underlying that cannot be seen by the human eye.
If barrel horses have been worked with by trainers to get
them ready for the sport, you will want to gather information
about the trainers and their experience. The trainers, much
like the horse's lineage, can tell you a lot about whether
the horse that you are looking at is going to be ideal when
you're looking for barrel horses that you will be able to
take around the country to ride at events with the hopes of
- someday - competing in some of the sports' biggest competitions.
On the other hand, if you only plan to participate in a
race or two during the local rodeo season, you're likely to
find that you are looking for a very different horse. Yes,
the animal's health and build will still be important to you,
but you won't want to focus as much on professionally trained
barrel horses. Choosing a horse that is good for overall riding
as well as barrel racing can, quite possibly, save you $20,000
or more.
In either case, you are going to want to focus more on the
health and build of the horse than on the coloring and markings
- characteristics that those who are looking for a horse for
afternoon rides can focus on a bit more. When you are looking
at horses for sale and trying to find barrel horses, you'll
want to focus your attention on Quarter Horses which are great
at running at high speeds in short bursts, or, if you prefer,
Pintos and Paints.
Whichever horse you choose as your barrel horse, it is important
to recognize that you won't just be heading into the ring
to compete. In order to keep barrel horses ready - and to
get them ready if they haven't previously been used for barrel
racing - you are going to need to focus on building the horse's
lung capacity with long trotting on a regular basis. A good
goal to set for barrel horses that you are conditioning is
the ability to keep a fast pace for six to eight miles at
least three days a week.
To that end, keep in mind that conditioning barrel horses is
not just exercise for them; it's also exercise for you.
About the Author
Phil Wiskell is a writer for HorseClicks.com, popular classifieds
of horses
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