12 of The Most Popular Horse Breeds For Barrel Racing

Barrel racing is a popular rodeo event where horse and rider race a cloverleaf pattern around three barrels to try and get the fastest time. This breakneck equestrian sport requires speed and agility. The most popular horse breeds for barrel racing run in the money consistently, which means they win their riders’ checks and qualify them for larger races. Every horse on our list shares similar traits, so let’s run through those as well as the 12 most common breeds you see running barrels in competitions today.

Characteristics of a Good Barrel Racing Horse

A fast horse isn’t the only thing you need to run barrels. The most common characteristics of a good barrel racing horse are:

• A calm temperament
• Agility
• Speed
• Eagerness to learn
• Fearlessness
• A will to win

While you want a horse to get you across the finish line quickly, you also need them to be agile enough to whip it around the barrels and have the stamina to kick it into third gear at the very end. What 12 horse breeds have all of these traits in common? Let’s begin with the most popular horse breed used for barrel racing: the Quarter Horse.

1. American Quarter Horse

Running barrels isn’t for the faint of heart. That’s why the durable, dependable, and downright athletic Quarter Horse ranks number one on our list of the most popular horse breeds for barrel racing. They consistently win money and qualify their riders for pro rodeo events where the competition gets tougher but the checks get bigger.

2. Paint Horse

Similar to the Quarter Horse, Paints are a popular horse breed for barrel racing mostly for their sturdy build, intelligence, and agility. If you want a horse to bring you around those barrels quickly yet safely, you want a Paint. They take their job seriously and are eager to please their rider.

3. Appaloosa

The Appaloosa is another popular breed to use for barrel racing because these horses have the most “get-up-and-go” out of all of the breeds! Quick on their feet and trainable, they are fun to use for a variety of Western events like pole bending, cutting, and barrel racing.

4. Mustang

Swift and with the right conformation to excel in the sport, Mustangs are a popular horse breed for barrel racing. Beyond their physical capabilities, this breed does well running barrels because they have the drive to win. This is the hallmark of a great barrel racing horse.

5. Thoroughbred

Thoroughbreds are known for their speed, which makes them a great racing breed. However, if you train them to run barrels, they become formidable competitors against some of the more common breeds like the Quarter Horse. Thoroughbreds have a great work ethic, so trainability is another reason this is a popular horse for the sport.

6. Australian Stock Horse

This breed’s ancestry traces back to the Quarter Horse, which is why it’s on our list of the most popular horses for barrel racing. Hardiness, intelligence, and a kind temperament make the Australian Stock Horse a natural athlete for this rugged sport.

7. Appendix Quarter Horse

Another crossbreed with the most popular horse breed for barrel racing is the Appendix Quarter Horse. With Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse bloodlines, they are known to be fast and have a calm demeanor. It’s no wonder this breed is seen in rodeo arenas across the country!

8. Pony of the Americas

Youth barrel racing is a great way for junior riders to race against the clock against competitors their own size. Pony of the Americas is a common breed to use for this! Gentle, nimble, and bred for speed, this makes the POA one of the most popular horse breeds to use for barrel racing.

9. Arabian Horse

You might think of an Arabian as a beautiful dressage horse, and you’d be right! But they are also a hardy breed, suitable for the toughness of equestrian events such as endurance, eventing, and even barrel racing. Arabians have stamina, speed, and a natural ability to perform. These are all traits you want when you’re running barrels to win money.

10. Friesian

A strong willingness to learn and a sturdy frame make the Friesian a surprisingly popular horse breed for barrel racing. It is one of the smaller draft breeds, so those tight turns aren’t as big of a problem for them. Their gentle demeanor and eagerness to please also make Friesians fun to compete with.

11. Gypsy Vanner

Are you surprised to see another draft breed on our list? The Gypsy Vanner, like Friesians, is considered a pocket-sized draft. This means they are hardy yet quick enough to compete with the lighter breeds. Gypsy Vanners are also intelligent and kind-natured, which are desirable traits of good barrel racing horses.

12. Clydesdale

The last breed on our list of the most popular horses for barrel racing is the Clydesdale. If you didn’t know, draft horse barrel racing is a thing! And the Clydesdale excels at it! They are surprisingly fast, clever, adaptable, and eager to learn. All of these traits make for a great barrel racing horse.

Summary of the Most Popular Horse Breeds For Barrel Racing