Help me find a good barrel horse/prospect

[sassysarah]

Hello horse people!
I'm ISO of a barrel horse. I started doing lessons and I'm looking for something I eventually could be competitive with.
How does this horse look?
Does he have good conformation?

 

[TropicalBabies]

Hello horse people!
I'm ISO of a barrel horse. I started doing lessons and I'm looking for something I eventually could be competitive with.
How does this horse look?
Does he have good conformation?View attachment 1861412

What can you tell us about this horse? How about more photos?

 

[TropicalBabies]

https://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=B1400&title=Evaluating Horse Conformation
Pretty interesting

 

[CJLR]

He looks pretty good to me
He might could use a bit of muscle on his hind quarters. but I think if you rode him and seen how he was on barrels maybe you could tell if he is the right horse for you

He is a vary beuti

 

[CJLR]

Beautiful horse

 

[cassie]

Probably as important as conformation is the will to do the work. I once knew a championship barrel racer. A lot of her success was due the horse she had. He was a one in a million. When she decided to get another horse she bought this horse's younger brother. He had outstanding conformation but as far as being a barrel horse he was a dud. He didn't CARE about running the barrels and nothing could change his little horsey mind.

 

[TropicalBabies]

I think we need more photos and info.
So hows it going @sassysarah ? You still looking or have you fallen for that handsome paint no matter what?

 

[ShrekDawg]

I think we need more photos and info.
So hows it going @sassysarah ? You still looking or have you fallen for that handsome paint no matter what?

X2. Wanting to know haha

 

[ShrekDawg]

Probably as important as conformation is the will to do the work. I once knew a championship barrel racer. A lot of her success was due the horse she had. He was a one in a million. When she decided to get another horse she bought this horse's younger brother. He had outstanding conformation but as far as being a barrel horse he was a dud. He didn't CARE about running the barrels and nothing could change his little horsey mind.

That makes sense. Animals are animals and though they may have the perfect pedigree/breeding or be perfect for the job or whatever, sometimes they just don’t want to and you can’t make them. I’ve known some dogs like that too so seems it happens in all species. Hopefully, if they’re good owners, they’ll listen to them and find them another job or retire them and won’t force them. I’ve known some dogs with excellent breeding, could be top winning show dogs, but they just had NO desire to show, hated being in the ring, so the breeders sucked it up and listened to them and they never got their championship. I imagine similar happens in horses.

Anyway, Sarah has another thread about horse training and she had this other one that she started the lessons with but she sold him for this exact reason: he didn’t want to do the barrels. I think from what I understand he is now in a home with kids being doted on and doing what he loves: trail riding. From what she’s said and from what I’ve seen in her other posts, that horse was amazing and they had a real connection and we all needed thought she’d sell him, especially her, but she didn’t want him to just be a pasture pet and wanted him to be happy so she sold him. I think it was the right move even though it was hard. He is now extremely happy. Anyway, that is why she is now looking for another horse because Lightning didn’t want to do it. I think it’s great she put the horses needs/desires before her own and I think this woman probably did the same?

Anyway, she probably was gonna tell you this herself, but I just figured since she hasn’t been back yet and you mentioned horses not wanting to do barrels, I’d just explain she just dealt with basically the exact situation. Except obviously she isn’t quite at the champion level yet since she just started but same principle, horse didn’t want to do it.

I think though at first he did well and seemed to like it but then I think he didn’t want to go fast? Or something like that.

 

[sassysarah]

That makes sense. Animals are animals and though they may have the perfect pedigree/breeding or be perfect for the job or whatever, sometimes they just don’t want to and you can’t make them. I’ve known some dogs like that too so seems it happens in all species. Hopefully, if they’re good owners, they’ll listen to them and find them another job or retire them and won’t force them. I’ve known some dogs with excellent breeding, could be top winning show dogs, but they just had NO desire to show, hated being in the ring, so the breeders sucked it up and listened to them and they never got their championship. I imagine similar happens in horses.

Anyway, Sarah has another thread about horse training and she had this other one that she started the lessons with but she sold him for this exact reason: he didn’t want to do the barrels. I think from what I understand he is now in a home with kids being doted on and doing what he loves: trail riding. From what she’s said and from what I’ve seen in her other posts, that horse was amazing and they had a real connection and we all needed thought she’d sell him, especially her, but she didn’t want him to just be a pasture pet and wanted him to be happy so she sold him. I think it was the right move even though it was hard. He is now extremely happy. Anyway, that is why she is now looking for another horse because Lightning didn’t want to do it. I think it’s great she put the horses needs/desires before her own and I think this woman probably did the same?

Anyway, she probably was gonna tell you this herself, but I just figured since she hasn’t been back yet and you mentioned horses not wanting to do barrels, I’d just explain she just dealt with basically the exact situation. Except obviously she isn’t quite at the champion level yet since she just started but same principle, horse didn’t want to do it.

I think though at first he did well and seemed to like it but then I think he didn’t want to go fast? Or something like that.

Yes, glad you explained it cause I couldn't have done it that well. Thank you!

Anyway, yes I sold Lightning because I want him to be/do and be used for what he enjoys doing and that's trails! He LOVES trail rides, omgosh! That's actually what he has been used for most of his life... He's not the type of horse you take in the arena, and lope right off on. He will lope if you ask, but he really prefers to walk. He has always done amazing with my 4 year old sister and he was so patient with her!
I was practicing barrels with him for weeks and during that whole time I just felt he had no desire to do it, and it was a chore to him.
He was a totally different horse in the pasture, he would bolt, buck, play, rear, gallop around.
So whatever. Now he's a kid horse and they use him for trails, and a 12 year old rides him.
He is really happy at his new home and is being used for what he loves!

I think we need more photos and info.
So hows it going @sassysarah ? You still looking or have you fallen for that handsome paint no matter what?

I'm still looking, actually.
I didn't want to make a decision on him yet, and I believe they have already sold him.

https://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=B1400&title=Evaluating Horse Conformation
Pretty interesting

That was really interested!
Thanks for sharing that link!