Hi:

I have a 5 year old Appaloosa. We got her when she was 4 years old and had to break her ourselves. Would she be a good barrel horse and if so how do I start teaching her?

Four or five years old is a good age to start your training for any event – your horse should be fully mature physically and should also be mentally ready to accept training if she has been started with the right basics. If she is an athletic horse with a willing attitude that likes doing the things that you ask her to do, then she should make some kind of a barrel horse. It all depends on how much time and effort you wish to put into her training…

Martha Wright