The qualities a good barrel horse need to posses are being athletic, intelligent, and fast. Sound conformation and good temperament is also very important and can make a difference between an average barrel horse and a winner. Barrel racing has been around for a long time, but its popularity and influence have increased over the last few decades. The horses selected to race in the National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) Championships, for instance, have become famous for their athleticism and the competition is now an important part of horse breeding.