horse problems?

Question

i got a hot little mare almost a year ago. i got her calmed down and workin the barrels really good. we did good in local runs so i took her to the 2006 SC 4-H State show and got the high point for speed events. she did good at local shows after that, too. i took her to a nbha show and we made a b line for the gate after the first barrel and tried to duck the second. well, that sucked. but wait!!! it gets worse!!! after she did the same around the fist, the next time she totally bulldozed the second! i took her home and she worked fine so we went to another show. the first time she made a p-u-r-d-y first barrel, but ducked the second. the next time she tried to duck the first and the second. i haven't had the nerve to deal out more entry fees and my trainer thinks shes just tired of it so i've stuck to the trails cause she tends to get realy hot when she gets bored. what do you think the problem? so u think she's done for good or is my trainer is right?

Answer 1

It isn't just barrels- you can run into this with doing too much of any demanding sport. I have a dressage horse, and to keep her fresh and having fun, I will enter speed shows (barrels and poles). We are the slowest horse with a collected uphill canter and always are double the time of the next slowest horse, but she has the time of her life and loves doing it. I will also take one day off and jump, or another day and just go on trails. A couple times, I will just tack her up and sit on her talking to friends, maybe walk around a bit. I make sure that most of our rides are relaxing and fun.

First of all- you need to calm her down and get her to do other things. Your trainer is right. If you work on other things she may be able to go back to barrels. Try going over ground poles or some jumping for fun. Trails are a good idea, so stick with that. Next time she sees a barrel pattern- just walk or trot it. You can also do work in the arena with the barrels up- but completely ignore the barrels to not make her think you are going to force her to go fast and run around them every time she sees them. Next time you go to a show, do exhibition first and make her walk and trot around them. Only run her once that day and praise her (words and treats) if she does it- doesn't matter if she knocks down barrels, just if she runs the pattern.
Good luck.

Answer 2

I would check her back for soreness. If her back is sore she could be ducking out to avoid the pain of turning a barrel. An ill fitted saddle could be the problem. If it's not her back, give her a little while off of even looking at the pattern. Go trail riding or work in the arena without the pattern set up. There are other exercises that will help barrel horses that can be done without the barrels you know. If you would like some examples of these exercises drop me an e-mail and I'll explain some of them.

Answer 3

There can be a solution to your problem but it may take alot of time. It sounds like shes soured to that 2nd barrel. i suggest that you work your pattern just in a walk until you have any little quirks worked out. Then at a trot, then at a lope. The main purpose of this is to make sure that you have her full attention at all times and at all speeds. You can also do trail exercises in the arena using pvc pipe, tired, beams, and anything else you can use to set up a pattern and walk your horse through. Doing this will teach your horse to pay attention to you and what you ask at what time.

Also tape your runs, and sit down with someone who also runs barrels to evaluate how you and your horse respond to eachother. Make sure that you also point out the things that you may be doing wrong. You could be pulling back too soon, or just expecting her to do to much on her own. Whatever you do, don't run her and run her until she gets it right, this will cause her to blow up and can cause you serious harm. Which I'm sure you probably are aware of.

I hope whatever you decide works just remember to stay patient and that it will take a lot of time and frustration from the both of you.

Answer 4

Apparently, if she is doing fine at home but acting up at the shows, she has an issue away from home. Could you practice run at the shows before your actual run? How about riding her around the place before taking her into the arena? I think your trainer might have a point, but ask yourself - are you more nervous at shows than you are at home, and could you be transferring your nerves to her? If she isn't bored with barrels at home, then she wouldn't be bored with barrels just at shows.

Answer 5

It could something happened at one of your shows that your not realizing. It could also very well be that your trainer is right. If she does get hot easily then she's probably thinking "ok I'n running them perfect now, so let's move on to something else" and when you didn't she tried to find something else to do. When you practice you are keepin her mind focused because you are really focused. I'm not sure how to fix it, but my best guess for you would be to evaulate the problem and really try to identify what the problem is, or if it's deeper than what we're thinkin. The way I would try to fix it is ride exactly like you do in practice and find ways to catch her attention while your competing. She may be feeling like the cars goin, but there's no driver. Remember to cue her at the barrels to make sure she knows that your still with her.

Answer 6

Check with your vet first see if there is a medical problem first, but I think your trainer is correct. Try some different activities with your mare, also some slow work may be in order.

Answer 7

well first i would like to point out that halfway through the video you were on the wrong lead. its very important that you pull her back and start on the right lead. when you come up toward the fence make sure you use a lot of leg to push her away for it. and turn her head to the inside. make sure she is looking in the direction she is going. my horse used to do this too. and when he ran to the fence i would kick him untill he ran from the fence and did what i asked him to. he got over the habbit pretty quick when he relized i was in charge and not messing around. good luck

Answer 8

I think when you let a horse get it's way it has the upper hand and maybe she is just tired of it so why don't you go there earlier and play with her take her around them both ways just let trot around them some but maybe you just relaxing and have some fun with her i thank she will come around i thank it is good that you take her on trial rides just have fun with her and i thank you make it fun for you & and her i thank yall will be O.K

Answer 9

i'm betting she's just bored - this happens with horses at my barn every once in a while (it's an english barn though) so we just work on some difficult stuff but i i don't know what kind of difficult stuff you can throw into barrel racing . . .

Answer 10

it all depends like how long its been before you had her on her last race how long its been since youve practiced with her or shes probly used to your trainer do u ride her when u train her?