How Do I Get My Horse In THe Arena?

Question

my barrel horse refuses to go into the arena at barrel races but she is not arena sour its like she gets so nervous that she doesnt want to go in but after we get her in the aren she runs 16's and 17's on the patterns so what should i do to fix this and exactly why is she doing this?????

Answer 1

I used to have a similar problem with a young thoroughbred, except i was trying to get her into a hunter show ring.

What seemed to work best was when there was practice time in the ring, first get off the horse and lead her in by hand. Get on once you are in the arena and continue working. Once you are done, walk her out while you are still on. Find a warm up ring close by (there is usually one contected to the show ring for hunters) and trot her around, then trot her right into the gate. Try this when there is minimum traffic and then slowly ease her into higher traffic areas. It was a frustrating process, but if you are patient enough to keep getting on and off during practice, it will definately pay off. Now, that horse has no problem, but it did take time.

Answer 2

Check yourself. Are you nervous? Are you anticipating that she's going to refuse? Your horse can sense your muscles tense the slightest bit, which is going to result in refusal. How is she practicing at home? If she's refusing at home also, she's arena sour. How often do you take her on a trail ride and just let her chill out? If a horse is worked on the pattern too much, they're going to get bored or not want to work. If she's fine at home, and you trail ride her often, then it's your nerves you're going to have to deal with.

Before you even get on, do a few stretches. This releases tension and relaxes your muscles. When you're on her back, breathe deeply and concentrate on relaxing. Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. Sit deep in the saddle and lower your hands. Don't look down or rock your body forward; instead look a mile into the distance and try to find your balance.

Horses feel whatever their leader feels. If the leader is nervous, the herd is nervous. If the leader is excited, the herd is excited. If you've ridden your horse for awhile, she may also be reading your body language. She knows how you act just before you run barrels, and may be trying to escape work. Just practice relaxing yourself and don't always make the arena work either. Some days just go in the arena and walk around, let her be calm. If she's fully trained, you shouldn't be running barrels with her more than twice a month. You don't have to 'practice' at home if she's trained. Just maybe refresh her mind the day before the show. If she is not fully trained, then you should be practicing about once or twice a week.

Good luck, sounds like you're doing good on your runs! Keep up the good work, hope all goes well

Answer 3

Sounds like she has a one track mind. Since she is probably wasting alot of energy by being nervous, try going into an arena for other things so she isn't expecting just to barrel race, and walk don't run all the time.

Answer 4

Try backing her in either on her back or off--and you say she is not soured--but she is showing all the signs of telling you see is--I had a mare that used to act horrible --I finally decided she has had enough--she is great on the trails --she in fact was burned out--and was trying to tell me this the only way she could--she would in fact go ahead and do what was asked of her after entering the arena--but getting in was a fight--backing in helped but she got wise to that too--the reason your girl will work for you after going in is because she respects you--so think about returning the favor--

Answer 5

if your horse is like my barrel horse then you should either walk in slowly with somebody and turn to face the barrels and try to keep them steady until u think he/she is ready because a hiper or old horse dosent exactly like to go in the arena

Answer 6

She's not nervous, you are. She reads your body language and takes her queues off you. When you can learn to control your nerves, she will start to enter the arena.

Answer 7

spend a few weeks on just walking her in and out of the arena. just walk in and turn around and walk out. she will get over it soon. just be patient with her.

Answer 8

if she is nervous it may be because you are nervous or the show enviorment is too much stress for her. try taking her to shows w/ out entering any classes and just ride and walk her around.

Answer 9

you have some one help you and lead him in