- 1). Deciding on what you want in a barrel racing prospect is the most important step on the path towards success in the barrel racing world. You need to carefully research bloodlines, as proved runners and barrel horses pass those genes onto their offspring. The most successful barrel horses are usually a combination of racing horse bloodlines and cutting horse bloodlines, which combines the speed and agility necessary to run winning barrel patterns. Research winning barrel horses and their bloodlines to get a feel for what you’re looking for in a prospect and then you can turn to finding one to suit your needs.
- 2). Finding a potential barrel racing prospect can be a complicated and lengthy procedure, but knowing what you want in advance will cut your frustrations. You can look in your local papers, on-line classifieds, local veterinarian’s offices, and local classifieds for potential prospects. Most ads for serious barrel prospects will list a variety of information such as bloodlines, age, height and weight and will at least give you the basics on how to contact the current owner to see the horse.
- 3). Contact the owner and convey your interest in the horse. The owner should gladly arrange a date and time for the two of you to meet and allow you to see the horse, and should more than willingly answer any questions that you may have. Now is the time to address anything that the ad might have left out, and to ask any other questions you might have. If you are unfamiliar with the area, be sure to get directions and be clear as to where you are going and what time you agreed to meet.
- 4). Arrive for your meeting on time and be prepared. Introduce yourself and thank the owner for his time. You will most likely meet the horse unsaddled, which is vital. If the horse is saddled, ask if it would be acceptable to remove the saddle to check the horse’s conformation. Conformation on a barrel horse is very important because a horse with unsoundness will break down over time and will not be rideable. A barrel horse should have a short and solid back, with no indications of sway or weakness. The horse’s front legs should be strong, straight and firm, and the horse should be neither pigeon-toed (toes turn in) nor toe out (toes turn out). The horse’s rear legs should be strong with no sign of cow hocks (hocks turn in) or pigeon-toed structure. There should be strong muscling in the shoulders and rear of the horse with no sign of swelling, bruising or lameness anywhere on the horse's body.
- 5). Determine what kind of personality the horse has. The horse should be pleasant. A good barrel racing prospect is quiet with no signs of fear or fright at basic, everyday objects and circumstances. The horse should not fear humans, nor should the horse be aggressive towards people. You should be able to touch the horse in all areas, including feet, tail and underbelly with no signs of meanness or fright from the horse. The horse should stand quietly while tied up and should not nip or fidget while standing, which burns a lot of energy.
- 6). Assess the horse’s general attitude and conformation and then groom and tack up the horse. If the horse is fairly clean, a quick run over with a soft brush will be enough to remove most of the dirt. If the horse is dirtier, use a stiff brush or curry comb to remove the stuck on mud or grime. Clean the hooves, and check for any spots of softness or lameness from the horse. The horse should stand while you saddle up, and should not bite or kick while you are tightening up or adjusting your tack. Be sure the saddle is fully in place and properly sized for the horse, and put the headstall on the horse. Check the horse’s mouth for soreness or teeth problems, and adjust the gear to fit the horse. Put the support boots on the horse and make sure they fit well.
- 7). Mount up and begin by walking. Walk the horse for a few minutes to get a feel for the horse and his movements. Ask the horse to stop, back up and turn from the walk and assess the horse’s responsiveness and movement. A good barrel prospect should move well off of leg pressure and respond to the lightest of rein contact. Once you’ve determined that the horse responds well, you can move onto a trot, a lope and eventually a gallop if you and the owner are comfortable with it. You want to be sure that the horse continues to stop and turn well with just light cues from all gaits because a barrel horse that refuses to stop from a run can be dangerous.
- 8). Take a test run. If there are barrels already set up, you can take the horse for a quick test run around the pattern. You want a horse who turns lightly with a lot of drive from his hindquarters, who maneuvers well around the barrels. The horse should not push on the reins or fight leg pressure and should guide easily no matter where you ask him to go. Watch the horse for signs of pain or discomfort while running a pattern, and stop if at any time you think you, or the horse, is in danger.
- 9). Complete your test ride and make sure to walk the horse and give her an appropriate cool off routine to avoid soreness and stiffness. Allow the horse to walk calmly for 15 minutes to resume her normal heart rate and breathing before dismounting. Once on the ground, un-tack the horse and check for any dry or sore spots that might indicate a fitting problem. Make sure the horse is not limping or sore in any spots, and groom the horse to remove any dried sweat or dirt. You can rinse the horse off with water if it is an extremely hot and dry day, being sure to do so slowly to avoid startling the horse.
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Ask more questions. If you like the horse and think he would make a good barrel horse for you, now is the time to discuss any remaining questions or concerns that you might have. You should ask the current owner about current riding and feeding routines for the horse and see what the horse is currently eating. Be open to any questions or concerns the current owner might express because he wants to make sure you and the horse are a good match. You can discuss price and payments if you are sure you want the horse. If you are undecided on the horse, you can ask if the owner would be interested in holding the horse with a deposit so that you can think about him and come back and re-ride the horse a time or two to finalize your decision. You can have your vet come out and perform a pre-purchase exam at this time as well, to assure you are getting a healthy horse. Once you’ve made your decision, let the owner know and meet with him to purchase or decline the horse, sign any necessary paperwork, and arrange for travel and transport for your new barrel racing prospect.
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