Qualifications of a Barrel Racing Horse

Barrel racing is primarily a female rodeo event during which riders race around a series of barrels. The rider who posts the best time wins the event. Although the skill of the rider is very important in obtaining a good time, a horse with certain characteristics will help a skilled rider do better in the event.

  1. Legs

    • The legs and leg health of any horse is important, but in order to be qualified as a top of the line barrel racer, a horse needs to have top-quality legs. They should be straight without any bowing of the leg and have straight knees. If the horse has racing experience, be sure to check for scarring and any unusual bumps or protrusions that may be indicative of past injuries. Such incidents could prevent it from performing at a high level in the future.

    Agility

    • Agility is at least as important as the speed of the horse for barrel racing. A concern may arise if a horse is fast but not agile as it will not be able to make the tight corners included in the race, which will end up costing the racer time. In addition, if a horse isn't agile enough and knocks barrels over, a penalty is applied which costs the rider further time. Good barrel racers need to be able to turn quickly and respond precisely to rider direction.

    Speed

    • A horse needs to be fast in order to come up as a strong barrel racer. However, it can be difficult to judge how fast a horse is if you are buying a young horse instead of an experienced racer. When a young horse is involved, lineage is very important. A horse that comes from parents with a racing or barrel racing history stands a better chance of having the genetic material that will make for a fast horse as it matures.

    Breed

    • Certain breeds of horses have genetic characteristics that make them better barrel racers. Appaloosa and quarter horses are both horses that will perform well in barrel racing. Foot and leg characteristics make these horses sturdy enough that they shouldn't get injured easily and will be able to perform well for a longer career of barrel racing.