If you were to ask most people about the best breed for barrel racing, the Quarter Horse would likely be their immediate response due to its popularity. However, popularity does not always equate to being the best choice. It is true that if you are a professional competitor, almost all horses used in barrel racing are Quarter Horses. But what if you are just starting out or only interested in competing at local events or rodeos? In these situations, the Quarter Horse is still the preferred breed, but it is not the only option available. That is why we decided to explore some of the other top breeds for barrel racing, just for fun.
11 Best Horse Breeds for Barrel Racing
1. Quarter Horse
Height: Horses typically range in height from 14hh (56 inches) to 16hh (64 inches), although they can be as tall as 17hh (68 inches). Color: While horses can be any color, sorrel is the most common. Character: The Quarter Horse is known for being highly sociable and possesses a calm temperament. Additionally, they have ample energy and are easily trainable. Country of Origin: The Quarter Horse hails from the USA.
The most commonly chosen breed of horse for barrel racing is the American Quarter Horse. Nearly every professional barrel racer chooses this breed as their mount. This breed is known for being exceptionally fast, with the ability to reach speeds of up to 55 miles per hour. On average, they maintain a speed of 27 miles per hour.
While speed is advantageous in a race, the ability to make swift turns is essential for a proficient barrel racer. The quarter horse’s agility is a key factor in their superiority within the realm of barrel racing. Their exceptional maneuverability enables them to execute precise turns, effectively reducing the overall time spent and securing victory in barrel races.
Quarter horses possess strong muscles and compact bodies, making them athletic animals. Moreover, their ability to reach high speeds in a short distance is enabled by their robust hindquarters. Additionally, their ease in training is attributed to their calm temperament and receptive nature.
2. Appendix Quarter Horse
An appendix quarter horse is a viable alternative for barrel racing. These horses are produced when a registered quarter horse mates with a registered thoroughbred. The offspring, known as an appendix quarter horse, are well-suited for the sport of barrel racing.
By combining both quarter horses and thoroughbreds, this mixture produces another horse breed that is ideal for barrel racing. The amalgamation of athletic genes from these two breeds results in a horse that excels in speed when running the barrels.
Appendix quarter horses possess a greater range of options when it comes to their size and color compared to regular quarter horses. They can be tall in stature, which could result in slower speed when navigating a sharp bend. Nevertheless, despite this distinction in size, appendix quarter horses are still among the top eleven breeds of horses used for barrel racing.
3. American Paint Horse
The American paint horse earned its rightful name due to their coat colors, which give the appearance of being splashed with various colors of paint. Native American tribes held paint horses in high regard as a source of pride.
American paint horses are a good choice for barrel racing due to their intelligence and speed. Their ability to quickly pick up speed over short distances and promptly learn how to execute tight turns sets them apart.
American paint horses are well-known for their ability to be easily trained for various tasks. They are particularly renowned for their proficiency in ranch work and providing enjoyable experiences for riders, including activities such as barrel racing.
4. Thoroughbred
The height of a Thoroughbred horse is typically between 15.2hh (61 inches) and 17hh (68 inches). The most common colors for Thoroughbreds are bay, brown, and chestnut, although any solid color is allowed. Thoroughbreds are generally hot-blooded and can be spirited, although not all horses possess this trait. Due to their temperament, they may be challenging for inexperienced riders. Thoroughbreds are known for their hard work ethic and high intelligence. They originated in the United Kingdom.
The thoroughbreds, which are known for their stamina and speed, are the ancestors of numerous contemporary athletic horse breeds. These lean, tall, and athletic horses are utilized by skilled riders in barrel racing.
Inexperienced riders may encounter difficulties while engaging in barrel racing on a thoroughbred horse due to the challenging nature of handling such horses. Thoroughbreds possess a tremendous amount of determination and passion, qualities that can greatly benefit barrel racing if appropriately directed by a skilled rider.
It is not recommended for inexperienced horse handlers to attempt barrel racing with a thoroughbred horse, as it requires effectively controlling the horse’s energy during the race to ensure everyone’s safety.
5. Arabian
Arabians have a height range of up to 16hh (64 inches), with an average height of 14.3hh (57 inches). The most common colors for Arabians are black, brown, bay, chestnut, and grey, although any solid color is acceptable. While Arabians have a reputation for being somewhat hot-headed, this is not always true as they are generally gentle horses who enjoy human companionship. Arabians originate from the Arabian peninsula.
The Arabian breed, which can be traced back to the ancestors of the athletic thoroughbreds, has been utilized in races and battles for thousands of years. In present times, Arabian horses have an innate knack for racing.
The Arabian breed possesses a light build which enables it to execute quick turns. If a horse is only capable of running fast without being agile in its turns, it is not suitable for barrel racing. The Arabian’s speed, agility, and impressive endurance make it a suitable candidate for excelling in barrel racing.
If a beginner rider encounters an Arabian horse, they may face difficulties due to their occasional hot-headedness. The temperament of Arabians varies depending on individual horses, nevertheless, these intelligent creatures can be easily trained.
6. Appaloosa
Appaloosas catch the eye with their stunning beauty. Their strong presence and distinctive spotted coats give them an air of majesty. Each appaloosa horse possesses a unique pattern, ensuring that your appaloosa stands out amidst a crowd.
The appaloosa breed was at risk of extinction during the late 19th century, prompting breeders to crossbreed them with quarter horses. This crossbreeding yielded an improved barrel racing horse, combining the appaloosa’s beauty and versatility with the quarter horse’s athletic ability, resulting in the perfect barrel racer.
Height: The Appaloosa’s height can vary, with some individuals reaching up to 17 hands high (68 inches), while most fall between 14.2 hands high (57 inches) and 16 hands high (64 inches). Color: Appaloosas are well-known for their distinct spotted coat pattern, as well as having striped hooves and mottled skin around their eyes and muzzle. Furthermore, they possess a white sclera (the tough, white portion around the outer edge of the eye, derived from the Greek word skléros meaning hard), often referred to as a human-like eye. Character: Renowned for their endurance and versatility, Appaloosas have a friendly and kind nature. Due to their ability to be handled by both adults and children, they are ideal family horses. Country of Origin: The Appaloosa breed originates from the United States.
7. Paint Horse
Paint Horses typically have a height ranging from 14 hands high (56 inches) to 16 hands high (64 inches), with the possibility of being taller at times. Their coats are predominantly white, often combined with another color, and typically display one of three coat patterns, known as tobiano.
The Paint Horse, originating from the USA, possesses gentle traits and is renowned for its intelligence. These horses are exceptionally strong and agile, while also displaying great elegance.
The Paint Horse, like many horses in America, has its origins traced back to the horses brought by the Spanish Conquistadors. Over time, some of these horses escaped and became part of the wild herds that once roamed the plains of the ‘Wild West’. Some of these horses were eventually domesticated and crossed with Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds, resulting in an agile cattle horse that is excellent around children. Many Paint Horses are also dual registered with the American Quarter Horse Association, making them a preferred choice for barrel racing due to their combination of speed, agility, and distinctive coat.
Paint Horses are extremely popular for both pleasure riding and ranch work because of their stock-type build. Additionally, they are known for their high intelligence and ease of training, allowing them to excel in various disciplines.
8. Australian Stock Horse
Height ranges from 14hh (56 inches) to 16.2hh (66 inches). Any color is acceptable. Known for its stamina and admired for its calm temperament and bravery. Originates from Australia.
Due to its temperament, endurance, agility, and speed, the Australia Stock Horse is occasionally known as the Australian Quarter Horse. The breed traces its lineage back to the horses that arrived in Australia in 1788 aboard the First Fleet, a fleet of 11 ships that departed England in 1787 with the purpose of establishing a penal colony in Australia. Similar to the ancestors of the Quarter Horse, these horses were predominantly of European descent.
The Australian Stock Horse, from its inception, has had to adjust to its surroundings and weather conditions, resulting in its development as a resilient and durable breed. Additionally, it has transformed into a highly perceptive horse that does not react impulsively to potential threats, but instead evaluates the situation.
9. Pony Of The Americas
Height: The majority of ponies range in height from 11.2hh (46 inches) to 14hh (56 inches) Color: The coat of these ponies is typically spotted, and it is sometimes referred to as Appaloosa coloring due to its similarity to the mottled skin characteristics of larger Appaloosa horses. Character: The Pony of the Americas is known for its gentle nature and impressive speed. These ponies possess great stamina and display a strong willingness to perform. Country of Origin: The Pony of the Americas breed originates from the United States.
The Pony of the Americas came into existence by chance when a Shetland Pony stallion accidentally bred with an Appaloosa mare. The foal that was born had a black ‘smudge’ on a completely white coat, which inspired Les Boomhower, a lawyer and horse breeder, to develop a new breed. Boomhower’s goal was to establish a Western utility pony that possessed a colorful coat, and he set out to accomplish this by creating the breed.
Initially, Appaloosa and Arabian horses, as well as the Shetland Pony, were utilized during the early days. However, as time passed, the decision was made to exclude the Shetland Pony from the breeding program in order to enhance the height. This alteration raised the original maximum height limit from 13hh (52 inches) to its current measurement of 14hh (56 inches).
10. Clydesdale
The height of most horses ranges from 16.2hh (65 inches) to 18hh (72 inches), although some may be taller. Any solid color is permissible, though bay is the most frequent, typically accompanied by white markings on the face, legs, and occasionally the underside. Clydesdales, originating from the United Kingdom, are intelligent and trainable horses with a friendly and gentle temperament, making them easily manageable even by children.
The popularity of heavy draft horses as riding horses has significantly increased in recent years, and this includes the Clydesdale. Although they are large, they are surprisingly fast, making them suitable for barrel racing even though it may seem unusual.
These heavy horses, which are now called Clydesdale despite being bred in Lanarkshire instead of Clydesdale, are descended from European heavy breeds that were brought to Scotland. They were bred by crossing them with local horses in order to create a powerful workhorse that could easily pull heavy loads on Glasgow’s cobbled streets and also work on distant farms.
11. Mustang
When people think of barrel racing, the first horse breed that usually comes to mind is not a mustang. Mustangs are a type of horse that live freely in the Western United States and they are descended from horses that were brought to the Americas by the Spanish.
The feral horses seen here are the offspring of domesticated horses. Horses are creatures that possess high intelligence and are responsive to authority. Once trained, a mustang can become an excellent horse for barrel racing.
Mustangs, which are small and agile horses, possess strength and have a friendly disposition. They are always prepared to acquire new knowledge and are able to swiftly navigate around barrels.
What makes a horse a good barrel racer?
Whether you are participating in barrel racing for fun or as a professional, it is important to consider certain qualities when choosing a suitable horse. While agility and speed are undoubtedly vital, the horse’s conformation is equally significant. Numerous experts emphasize the significant impact a horse’s personality has on its success.
Agility – Horses must possess the ability to turn sharply and quickly, with a minimum distance of 60 feet separating each barrel, in order to prevent any harm to themselves or their rider.
The horses not only have to make sharp turns around the barrels, but they also have to do it at extremely high speeds. This is especially true when you take into account that they need to finish the pattern in approximately 18 seconds.
A horse’s conformation, which includes their muscle and bone structure as well as proportions, plays a crucial role in their ability to shift weight effectively when making tight turns around the barrels. An ideal conformation would consist of sturdy legs, powerful hindquarters, and well-developed rump muscles.
Experts believe that a horse’s level of success can be determined by their love for the sport and their eagerness to learn.
What is a good barrel racing time?
Typically, the majority of riders will complete the course in a time ranging from 15 to 30 seconds. However, skilled riders strive for a time under 18 seconds. In 2011, the record time of 13.46 seconds was achieved by Dillion, a Quarter Horse, and his rider Carlee Pierce.
