Are you new to this sport? Well, barrel racing is an equine event whereby a mounted rider attempts to complete a series of sharp turns around three barrels.
The three barrels are always arranged in a triangular pattern. A rider emerges victorious if they finish their final maneuver around the third barrel in the shortest time possible.
If you want to succeed in this rodeo event, then one thing you should consider is your horse breed. It’s a good idea to learn more about the best barrel racing horse breeds. To help you get started, we have compiled a list of breeds that are often ranked as the best barrel horses.
Best Barrel Racing Horse Breeds
1. Quarter Horse
- Height range: 57 to 64 inches
- Weight range: 900 to 1,250 pounds
- Origin country: United States
- Characteristics: Short, stocky with a lot of muscle development, wide heads and broad chests
Quarter Horses – especially the American Quarter Horse – are the perfect example of exceptional barrel racing breeds. Over the years, they have taken the top spot in several prestigious barrel competitions.
However, this doesn’t come as a surprise, given their physique. Quarter horses are faster than any other breeds you’ll come across.
To put things into perspective, Quarter horses clock in at 55 mph. Meanwhile, the fastest thoroughbred achieves a maximum speed of 44 mph while the average horse can only run at 27 mph. This explains why most renowned barrel Quarter horses come from the racing world.
Another reason that makes Quarter horses fit for barrel racing is their good conformation.
They’re fairly short and compact. But, they have straight legs, ample muscling and strong hindquarters – all of which enable them to excel in this sport. And when it comes to temperament, Quarter horses are smart, calm and easily trainable.
2. Australian Stock Horse
- Height range: 56 to 66 inches
- Weight range: 1,200 pounds
- Origin country: Australia
- Characteristics: Sloping shoulders, deep-chested, sturdy quarters and pronounced withers
The Australian Stock Horse Society alleges that these are the most versatile horses. Granted, these horses participate in multiple disciplines, ranging from eventing to show jumping, polocrosse, and dressage. And, this same horse has been proven to excel in barrel races.
The Stock Horse is particularly revered for its peaceful temperament, which balances well with its witty nature.
Factor in their athleticism and agility, and you have a versatile horse that’s guaranteed to excel in any barrel competitions.
That said, Australian Stock Horses weren’t always as agile as they are today. Breeders achieved this by introducing the Quarter horse genes into this breed, sometime around the 1900s. This enhanced not only their dexterity but also their stamina.
3. American Appendix Horse
- Height range: 60 to 68 inches
- Weight range: 900 to 1,200 pounds
- Origin country: United States
- Characteristics: Muscular but fairly compact with smooth, clean lines
The American Appendix was developed by crossing American Quarter Horses with Thoroughbreds. Given that this breed has Quarter horse blood flowing through its veins, it’s no wonder it makes such a great barrel racing horse.
The Appendix Quarter horse gets its friendly temperament from the thoroughbred and its agility and impressive speed from the Quarter Horse. Thus, it’s not surprising to discover that it was bred for racing from the get-go.
However, barrel racing isn’t the only sport where this Quarter horse excels. Its warm and easy-going temperament makes it equally suited for recreation, shows and general riding.
4. Pony of the Americas
- Height range: 46 to 54 inches
- Weight range: 1,000 to 1,200 pounds
- Origin country: United States
- Characteristics: Short with a deep chest, sloping shoulders, partly-colored skin and striped hooves
These horses are pretty short, averaging just 51 inches. But, don’t be fooled by their height. They’re one of the fastest horse breeds, and they have incredible stamina. These two aspects are the core reason why Pony of the Americas excel in barrel racing.
Another fun fact about this breed is that its creation wasn’t intended. More specifically, Pony of the Americas came about when a Shetland Pony stallion was crossbred with an Appaloosa mare and other Arabian horses.
Not long after that, breeders experimented with other breeds, including a Quarter Horse, Thoroughbred and Welsh Pony.
This explains why its physical traits look so similar to these breeds. Its head is as delicate as that of the Arabian horses. Its body is as brawny as that of Quarter horses and it shares Appaloosa’s coat pattern which is heavily spotted.
The temperament of the Pony of the Americas is another reason why they’re good barrel racers. Specifically, these horses have an extremely calm demeanor. Thanks to this, they’re not easily spooked during trail riding or when riding alongside other racing horses. This also makes them excellent trail riding breeds.
5. American Paint Horse
- Height range: 56 to 64 inches
- Weight range: 950 to 1,200 pounds
- Origin country: North America
- Characteristics: Brawny, wide chest, powerful hindquarters and a low center of gravity
A common misconception about the American Paint Horse is that it’s a recent breed. But the truth is that a horse breed with the same coat patterns was found in cave paintings that date as far back as 4500 BC.
Recommended Reading: The Most Beautiful Horse Paintings
Now, like the majority of horse breeds in America, the Paint Horse is a descendant of the horses introduced by the Spanish Conquistadors.
As time went by, a few of the horses escaped and started wandering like the wild herds that once dominated the plains of the Wild West.
Other Paint horses, however, were domesticated and later crossed with breeds like Thoroughbreds and Quarter horses. This cross-breeding is what produced the American Paint Horse that you see today.
There are a couple of reasons that make Paint horses ideal for barrel racing. They’re great runners and thanks to their flashy colors, they quickly draw attention to themselves.
Paint horses are also fairly easy to maintain/train and they live to be about 30-31 years old. So if it’s time to learn barrel racing, you’ll find the paint horse incredibly easy to train and groom.
Learn More: American Paint Horse Facts
6. Arabian Horses
- Height range: 57 to 61 inches
- Weight range: 800 to 1,000 pounds
- Origin country: Middle East
- Characteristics: Small head, wide nostrils, radiant eyes, and a short back
Arabian horses are among the most prominent breeds worldwide, especially when it comes to barrel horse racing. Intriguing though is the fact that their origin has remained shrouded in mystery.
One school of thought has it that Arabian horses were created by Prophet Mohammad. As the story goes, Prophet Mohammed decided to keep these horses enclosed for a whopping 7 days without offering them any water. As soon as the enclosure was torn down, the horses made a run for the water station.
Whether the legend is true or not, remnants of this breed have been found in ancient cave paintings. More importantly, these horses are among the best breeds for barrel racing. Their lightweight profiles enable them to turn swiftly without knocking down any of the barrels.
Ease of training is another aspect why these horses are considered the best breed for barrel racing. They’re intelligent so they’re able to pick up commands pretty fast; making them a great companion for inexperienced riders. They are however, one of the priciest horse breeds.
7. Appaloosa
- Height range: 57 to 64 inches
- Weight range: 950 to 1,250 pounds
- Origin country: North America
- Characteristics: Small but well-refined head, erect ears, short, straight back and a deep chest
Were you aware that this gaited horse breed, Appaloosas, originally came from Russian Don horses. Unfortunately, the population of this breed declined considerably around the 19th century.
In a bid to increase the Appaloosa numbers, breeders decide to introduce the Quarter horse blood. Appaloosas were already versatile horses. But injecting the traits of Quarter horses boosted their versatility and agility, resulting in one of the best horse breeds for barrel racing.
And let’s not forget that Appaloosas are one of the most beautiful spotted horse breeds. They have show-stopping spotted coat patterns that are sure to grab the attention of everyone around them.
8. Thoroughbred
- Height range: 61 to 68 inches
- Weight range: 900 to 1,400 pounds
- Origin country: United Kingdom
- Characteristics: Chiseled head, long neck, deep chest, modest depth of the hindquarters and a lean body
Right from the beginning, the core reason for developing Thoroughbreds was to create a horse breed that would thrive in racing and jumping. In fact, the most successful racehorse in history is a thoroughbred stallion called Eclipse. This horse ran a whopping 18 races throughout its lifetime and won each one.
Another fun fact about thoroughbreds is that they were developed from a mixture of breeds. The founding stallions were predominantly Arabians. However, the ancestral mares constituted a blend of oriental horses with other European breeds.
The history of the Thoroughbred is certainly intriguing. But, it’s their speed that makes them some of the best barrel racers in the horse world.
Another interesting fact about the Thoroughbred is that it’s the only breed that prohibits horses created through artificial insemination to be registered.
Read our complete guide for more interesting Thoroughbred facts!
9. Grade Horses
- Height range: 57 to 68 inches
- Weight range: 900 to 1,500 pounds
- Origin country: Varies depending on an individual horse
- Characteristics: Also varies depending on the parents breed
Did you know that some equine sports only allow purebred horse breeds to take part? Fortunately, this is not the case here, meaning you can use just about any horse breeds for barrel racing.
If you own grade horses, this will be great news considering the breed has no specific parentage.
Grade horses are named so because their parentage is either completely unknown or constitutes heavily mixed breeds. This means that if you’re lucky, you could end up with one that has good barrel racing traits. However, this also means that not all Grades make the best barrel racing horses.
10. Mustangs
- Height range: 56 to 60 inches
- Weight range: 800 pounds
- Origin country: Western United States
- Characteristics: Muscular bodies, narrow chests, short backs with circular hindquarters
These are feral horses that like to live free and wild. As such, you’ll likely find them roaming in the wilderness.
Having adapted to the wild style of living, they’re fast and agile horses. Their speed and agility can be attributed to their lightweight profiles. Most Mustangs weigh less than 1000 pounds. Read our article explaining how much horses typically weigh for perspective.
Every once in a while, the Bureau of Land Management drives herds of these horses together, and puts them up for adoption.
Although Mustangs have several traits that make great barrel racing horses, they require training. The good thing is that once they’ve mastered the required skills, they can be used in other disciplines, including western riding.
How to Pick a Good Barrel Horse Breed
If you’re looking for great barrel racers, consider the following:
Agility
Barrel racing is the sort of activity that blends speed and athleticism.
The ideal barrel race horse should be fast enough to get to each barrel, swift enough to make those sharp turns and powerful enough to transition from the turns. So to excel in this sport, be sure to look for the most athletic horses.
Sound Conformation
Another trait you should look for in a barrel race horse is sound conformation. Conformation simply refers to how well put together a horse breed is. It encompasses aspects such as muscling, bone length, and angles of the breed’s joints.
To find the ideal riding horses for barrel racing, be sure to look for one with good conformation. Without this, the horse breed will be at a higher risk of injury and more difficult to train.
And if subjected to intense training, such a barrel racer will be vulnerable to lameness. For instance, you should never go for an off track thoroughbred. This is a thoroughbred that was initially used as a racehorse but has since retired. Using such a horse for barrel racing can cause it more harm than good.
Here are a couple of traits found in the most successful barrel horse:
- A long neck and short back for optimal balance
- Straight front legs
- The length of the neck should be 1 ½ times that of the head or at least ⅓ of the horse’s body length
FAQs
What breed of horse makes the best barrel racer?
Quarter horses are the most competitive barrel racers. Their success in this sector can be attributed to their speed, agility and cordial temperaments.
If a quarter horse isn’t available, the next breed you should consider is a thoroughbred. Thoroughbreds are almost as fast and agile as their counterparts. So even though the American Quarter Horse is ranked the fastest horse, the Thoroughbred follows very closely.
What size horse is best for barrel racing?
Another commonly asked question is whether barrel horses ought to be a particular size. So are small horse breeds better than big horse breeds when it comes to barrel racing?
Well the truth is that you can choose a horse of any size to participate in this activity. In fact, some breeds are less than 56 inches whereas others are over 64 inches. But a good barrel racing horse is usually about 60 inches tall.
Is there a particular horse breed that’s considered the best barrel horse bloodline?
The DM Sissy Hayday is considered to have one of the best barrel racing horse bloodlines.
A Quarter horse breed, it’s won numerous competitions throughout its career. In fact, Sissy and its rider held the crown as The Women’s Professional Rodeo Association World Champion, between 2018 and 2020.
Are Morgan horses good for barrel racing?
If you own Morgan breeds, you might be wondering whether they make good barrel racing horses. Well the truth is that they provide a modest performance in this sport, but they’re more suited for beginner riders.
Barrel racing horses ought to be fast. And as seen in breeds like quarter horses, some average speeds of up to 55 mph.
Unfortunately, Morgan horses aren’t that fast, averaging just 20 mph. However, they are compact, versatile, and friendly, which makes them ideal for other equine activities like dressage and show jumping. See our recommendations of the most fantastic horse breeds for dressage for more options.
What gender of horse is best for barrel racing?
Stallions are the most preferred gender for nearly all horse racing events. There are two reasons that explain this situation. For one, male horses are inherently stronger and sturdier than mares. The majority of male horses are also taller – a factor that enables them to make longer strides.
Also Read: Average Horse Height - How to Measure
The second reason why stallions are alleged to be better racing horses is the fact that they don’t experience hormonal interference. Similar to humans, mares go through periods sometime between spring and autumn.
As a result, mares can have unpredictable behaviors and temperament during this time. Don’t get me wrong – not all female barrel horses exhibit this uncertain behavior. But since most riders are looking for a sure bet, they prefer to use stallion barrel racing horses.
What is a good barrel racing time?
On average, these athletic horses complete the routine within 18 to 30 seconds. But a good barrel race horse can finish in as little as 15 seconds, especially if paired with experienced riders.
One horse breed that broke the record was a Quarter horse named Dillion. Along with the horse owner Carlee Pierce, the two achieved a time of 13.46 seconds.
Conclusion
The best barrel racing horse breeds are fast, agile and intelligent. Their speed and agility allows them to make sharp turns and maneuvers around the barrels. Meanwhile, their intelligence enables them to learn routines in a timely fashion.
Examples of horse breeds that make great barrel racers are the Australian Stock horse, Quarter horse, Appaloosa, American Appendix, and Paint horses among others listed here.
