Hey, I am Sara Bale, your Equine Coach. You are in the market for a new partner in crime. What are the most important factors you consider when searching for your equine athlete and teammate? Is it bloodline? Is it conformation? Is it the price? Are you searching for a well-seasoned pro? Do you prefer to start them on the pattern yourself? Let’s spill the tea on buying a barrel horse. The horse market can be tricky. Let’s arm you with the knowledge you need to find your next best friend.

1. Your Budget & Financial Planning: I am coming from the highest light and sisterly tough love because I want you to succeed. Success is abundant and achievable for everyone. I am going to share with you what I wish someone had taught me as a teen or in my early twenties. Do your financial planning now. Financial freedom for the ranch, horses, truck, trailer, cruise, or vacation is within your reach. 

• Personal Expense: Set up a spreadsheet of your monthly personal expenses. I can practically hear your groan and feel your eye roll from here. While this feels scary or uncomfortable, your future self will thank you. Grab your bank statement and record each expense and every purchase you make. This process is not to shame you; we are here to learn together.  
• Commit to Your Own Success: Once you record your expenses, rank them. 1. Keep: groceries, cellphone, rent or mortgage, fuel, insurance, and car payments. 2. Change: subscription boxes like Stitch Fix, or several trips to the tack store a month. 3. Stop: What costs can you cut to reach your barrel horse goal? Think about things like Starbucks, having Netflix, Hulu, and Disney Plus. Consider skipping those cute boots when your closet is already full. (I struggle with this, too.) Or eating out multiple times a week. By cutting these items, you bankroll your next rodeo. That’s entry fees, fuel, and money for a hotel. I know this can feel overwhelming. What are two things that you chose to stop today? Now that you have cut out unnecessary expenses. Open a savings account titled something like “Barrel Horse of My Dreams.” What can you put in that account each month?
• Equine Expense & Insurance:
• Next, set up a second spreadsheet for Equine expenses. Such as hay, grain, board, vet bills, farrier, trailer payment, and barrel racing lessons. 
• Pro tip: Include an emergency fund starting at $2,000. If your truck or trailer breaks, or your horse has a medical emergency. 
• Once you have both spreadsheets, consider your expenses. What can you afford for a barrel horse? Have you looked into horse insurance? It works far better than wrapping them in bubble wrap and hoping they don’t hurt themselves again.

2.  Queens Don’t Settle: What are the four things this new horse must have or be able to do to buy the horse? Break out the pen and paper. This barrel horse needs to have fill in the blanks. Be specific. For example, a 3D minimum horse, and loads into the trailer easily. That has been hauled and seasoned on the rodeo trail. Bring that list with you when you are shopping. Be willing to walk away when horses don’t meet your criteria. It is better to put in the work and take your time to find the right partner than to settle and be frustrated in the long run. Baby Flo, Scamper, and Stingray weren’t found the first time Fallon, Charmane, or Lisa went horse shopping.

• Are my Goals Realistic? Am I looking for a 1D horse expecting a 3D price tag? Horses with top training, strong bloodlines, and good confirmation usually enjoy their jobs. As a result, they are often pricier. Is my price point unrealistic? Do I expect a push-button horse with no frustration and no mistakes? If that’s what you expect, grab your pennies and go to the grocery store. The only horse that will make you happy is the one plugged in by the checkout counter.
• Hot Takes & No Brakes! There is no reason to have a dangerous out-of-control horse that will put you in a body cast way before it wins a Barrel Race. If brakes are optional, this train wreck isn’t for you. A horse above your skill level isn’t something you grow or fight your way into. Riding shouldn’t be a fight for your safety. We have all had horses with behavior we weren’t sure how to handle or change. When I’m stuck, I find a knowledgeable trainer. 
• Pause for a Deep Breath and a Dose of Self-Reflection: We often try to “save” horses that are a bad fit for us. When we choose a challenging horse that’s too much for our skill, we risk our safety. We also let the horse down too. It’s not our job to rescue a horse with the loving personality and mental stability of Beth Dutton. Our job is to find a partner who allows us to grow and succeed.

If you find yourself drawn to a horse that needs a lot of work, that’s okay. But be honest with yourself: Do you have the skills and resources to help? Are you willing to pay a trainer for their expertise to teach both of you? Recognizing these truths is self-care and shows a commitment to the horse’s well-being. Don’t buy the horse unless you are ready to invest the time, money, and emotional energy necessary to make it a safe and happy partner.

4. Will This Horse fit the job? Too often we tell the horse what their purpose will be instead of allowing them to tell us. Can I be vulnerable with you for a second? I made this mistake, so you don’t have to. Up to this point, I had learned nothing about horses having a specific job. I used any horse we had in the pasture for show or rodeo. It was my senior year of high school. I made the college rodeo team! I was trying to go from small gymkhanas, county, and fair rodeos to college rodeo. Oh man, did I get an education! My mom passed when I was 18. I was determined to use her gray and white paint, Kip, for barrel racing. My love and sentiment for this horse blinded me; I overlooked his purpose and lack of talent. His conformation was lacking; he had a crooked left hind leg. Making the left lead and left turns feel like driving a 1990 1-ton ranch pickup truck when the power steering went out. He didn’t love barrels. Kip was happiest during trail rides. To my heartbreak and humility, I took some advice from a college rodeo teammate and mentor. I sold Kip as a trail horse to one of my friends. It’s hard when a horse doesn’t fit our intended purpose. We owe it to the horse and ourselves to recognize and listen to where they fit best.

5. Check Please: Your Barrel Horse’s Pre-Purchase Exam

Think of a vet check as the ultimate “due diligence” before you sign the papers. It’s an extra cost that might save you thousands in vet bills and heartache. It may prevent a career-ending injury for your new partner. A vet check is essential to make sure the horse you’re buying can handle the tough demands of barrel racing.

What a Vet Looks for and Why It Matters for a barrel horse:

• A Complete Physical Exam: This is the baseline. The vet will check the horse’s heart and lungs. They will listen for murmurs and any breathing problems. In barrel racing, a horse needs a strong heart and good lungs. To ensure speed and stamina.
• A Detailed Lameness Exam: This is crucial! The vet will watch the horse walk and trot in a straight line and on a lunge line to look for any subtle signs of lameness. They will look for movement inconsistencies that stress from competition might increase.
• Flexion Tests: This is where the vet puts specific joints under temporary stress to see if it causes pain. In barrel racing, joints like the hocks, stifles, and fetlocks face constant pressure. This comes from quick acceleration, sudden stops, and sharp turns. A clean flexion test is a strong indicator that these joints are sound.
• X-Ray Vision: Consider adding x-rays to your exam. We want to look inside the joints that take the most wear. The vet can x-ray the hocks, stifles, and front feet. This checks for arthritis, bone chips, or navicular. Catching these problems early helps keep a horse sound for the long term. It also allows you to avoid serious issues that could end a career.
• Confirmation: The vet will examine the horse’s structure and discuss how certain traits may lead to injuries.
• Long Toe (Under-run Heels): This hoof structure stresses the deep digital flexor tendon and navicular bone, crucial for speedy push-offs and sharp turns in barrel racing. It signals a high risk for navicular disease and heel discomfort.
• Toed-in (Pigeon-toed): Horses with this conformation often “wing out” when moving, causing rotational strain on their knees and ankles. The repeated tension from tight turns can significantly lead to knee arthritis and splints.
• Post-Legged (Straight Hocked): When hocks lack a proper joint angle, shock absorption suffers. This increases strain on joints and ligaments, heightening the risk of hock arthritis (bone spavin), especially from intense stop-and-go movements.
• How a Pre-Purchase Exam Benefits You:
• Save Your Money and Time: The exam costs little compared to what you might pay for future surgeries or treatments for an unhealthy horse. By catching problems early, you can avoid a horse that might need expensive vet bills or an early retirement.
• Peace of Mind: Buying a Barrel Horse is an emotional journey. A pre-purchase exam gives you an unbiased, professional opinion. It helps you distinguish a horse’s emotional appeal from its real ability to be a successful and sound partner.

6. Red Flags Gallop Away! I bring this up because you could be dealing with a horse trader instead of a horse seller. The negative term “horse trader” stems from the historical reality of horse sales. In the past, it was incredibly difficult for a buyer to accurately assess a horse’s worth, health, and true temperament. A clever crook could easily exploit this lack of knowledge to his or her advantage.

It’s time to get out of Dodge if you experience:

• Liar, Liar Wranglers on Fire! The stereotype of a horse trader is a liar. Someone who “pulls a fast one” or hides a horse’s flaws to make a sale. If a potential seller lies, leave them in your dust.
• Rode Hard & Put Up Wet: Before you ride the horse, saddle it yourself. Check for saddle pad marks or if the horse is sweaty before you get there; know that they had to tire that horse before they were willing to let you ride it. That isn’t the safe partner you want.
• The Used Car Salesmen: They will use any means necessary to get a favorable deal. Even if it involves taking advantage of you. They charm, cajole, and put the pressure on to make the sale. When they won’t hear “no,” tell them where they can go!

We learned about budgeting and financial planning. Sticking with our list and not settling. How to check our expectations. The value of choosing a safe horse. Ensuring the horse we choose fits our desired job. How to discover medical secrets. The red flags you will avoid. Now you’re armed with the knowledge to make smart, informed decisions. Finding your ideal barrel horse isn’t about instant gratification. It’s about a patient search for a true partner. It’s an adventure that will build your confidence. Test your patience and ultimately lead you to an incredible bond. Don’t settle, don’t rush, and trust your gut. Thank you for trusting me to guide you as you find your next barrel horse.

I am Sara Bale, your Equine Coach. I’m here to help you every step of the way. Looking for your dream barrel horse? I’m here to make it happen. I will take the time to deeply understand your goals and needs. I will connect you with your ideal partner. I will get you back in the saddle doing what you love. Ready to sell? I’m committed to finding your horse the best possible home. I will handle the entire process with empathy and discretion. Whether you are buying or selling, I offer dedicated support for a 10% commission of the final sale.

My website: www.equinecoachsara.com

My email: sara@equinecoachsara.com

My cell phone: (317) 800-4592