Hello,
I am new to this forum. I have been around horses my entire life. We work all of our cattle on horseback. I have trained my fair share of colts and worked with many problem horses for people. But lately I have started to get the idea of barrel racing in my mind. I raise bucking bulls, and strangely I also ride bucking bulls, Lately I have become familiar with the WPRA(womens pro-rodeo Assoc.) they allow women to ride broncs and bulls, however because there is lack of interest starting in 2011 they are taking these events out of their rodeo. I would still like to travel with my husband who also rides broncs and bulls, but I can't stand to watch from the chutes...so barrel racing seems to be my only option other than roping calves.

So I am looking for tips from the pros. On picking out a good barrel horse, training on one, tips on how to achieve the winning edge. When I do things I go full throttle and try to reach the top so I want to know what makes those pros pro? I know a lot depends on heart the horse gives you and heart is something you can't achieve through training they have to have it from the get go. So how do you know if the horse has heart for barrels? Or is it all a gamble in the end...

Thanks
Alyssa

Contact Jimmie Gibbs Munroe at Valley Mills Texas. She can get you started on the right tract and is a Great! person and teacher. She went to the NFR 11 times and won the world in 1975. Her husband is Bud Munroe World Champ Saddle bronc rider. If you want email me at ctrade1@yahoo.com and I'll forward their contact information. She can help you all the way through the process. Good luck!!

I can tell you that yes-you need to look @ breed characteristics/size/shape/gene pool- the same as you do with your cattle breeding program.
Not every horse can be competitive in certain discplines, just as you would never add Holstein blood to your cattle. You wouldn't ask long/lean or gaited horses to do speed.
So, ask or read on popular/successful lineage, for barrel horses.
Years ago it was Dash for Cash and Go Man Go, but that's many years ago.

Why not go with who you see on a regular basis.
I'm sure there are a few riders who follow the same circuit as you, that you can learn from.
As with everything, the best horseman may not always place first, but have a true understanding and feel of animals.

What about team roping as an alternative to barrell racing? Its a little easier to be competative with out sinking tons of cash in a good horse and training.