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Elite Veteran
Posts: 825
  
| Ok first I want to say that this horse is not sore. I have had him gone over. Now the issue.....
He does not refuse. In fact it is quite the opposite. Obviously when I am ready he knows. And takes OFF!!! I can not just get him to walk up. And when I say take off its all out around corners all of it. He would start to the first from the trailer if he could. Warming up etc he is wonderful, you would never ever think it. Any ideas of something I can do? I do tons of slow work riding in the pasture, I have done exhibitions and just went in slow, nothing seems to work when it comes to actual go time!! I am so frustrated, because I don't want something to happen and one or both of us get hurt!! Thanks in advance. |
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 The One
Posts: 7846
 
Location: South Georgia | How about after you warm him up, you dismount and wait to get back on until you are near the alleyway? |
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 Georgia Peach
Posts: 8291
Location: Georgia | I have a mare that is similar. She would take off from the back forty if I let her. Problem is she is already a free runner so if I let her do that then she gets strung out and doesnt always shift down for her first barrel. Plus she has this tendencey to want to take off sideways and im not about that. So over the years I have attempted to hold her as long as I can, even making her stop and stand in the chute. She is pretty light in the face and not a powerhouse so she is easy to control. It's worked ok for the most part. However, I will say that over the years she has become extra enxious around the gate. To the point she will be shaking and even spin before going in the gate now. And I honestly think this is because I have tried so hard to get her to relax and settle down. I sometimes wish I had just let her be and then she wouldnt have this built up anxiety about it. Thats my 2 cents. If he is being dangerous, then I dont blame you and I would definitely try to do something about it. But if you can find a happy medium and he still gets to run like he wants, let him be. |
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Veteran
Posts: 252
| I personally don't ask my horses to "walk up" the alley flat footed. The horses are ready to run and anticipating it and I feel it is easier on them to start back further and let them go a little faster than a walk to the alley.... but it does all depend on the horse I am riding. But generally, I go from a trot to a lope to letting the horse run... or with the calmer horses, I will slow lope up to the point in the alley where I want to let the horse run from.
I also believe that it is easier on the horses physically if they build up speed vs going from a walk to a dead run. Just my opinion.  |
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 BHW Resident Surgeon
Posts: 24404
Location: Bastrop, Texas | I have a few thoughts, but first I have a couple questions:
1.) What is your method/routine for warming up?
2.) When you are waiting to run, where do you position yourself? Do you stand back in the corner of the warmup area? By the alley? Outside of the arena?
3.) Would you say your horse is real “sensitive” or hyper reactive?
4.) How would you describe YOURSELF, as a rider, in anticipating a run? Do you get anxious/nervous? Do you feel your heart pounding, etc...? |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 825
| 1) Just normal warm up, I long trot and lope him. Then go back and forth from walking and standing quiet somewhere.
2) As far as waiting to run it all depends on where I'm at. Usually but for the most part I will stay kinda to the back of the warm up area or the side of the arena. I try not to sit like right net to the alley unless there is no way around it.
3) As far as him, no hes not sensitive really I wouldn't say or hyper active. Aware yes, very aware.
4) As far as me, I'm a very calm rider. yes I am competitive so I get some adrenaline going when I am ready, but I try to keep my heart rate as easy and level as possible for this reason. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 825
| BFN - 2019-01-24 10:51 AM
I personally don't ask my horses to "walk up" the alley flat footed. The horses are ready to run and anticipating it and I feel it is easier on them to start back further and let them go a little faster than a walk to the alley.... but it does all depend on the horse I am riding. But generally, I go from a trot to a lope to letting the horse run... or with the calmer horses, I will slow lope up to the point in the alley where I want to let the horse run from.
I also believe that it is easier on the horses physically if they build up speed vs going from a walk to a dead run. Just my opinion.
I totally get what you are saying, and maybe when I said walk up I didn't phrase it right. Because you are right as far as gathering up speed. But with him it is a big ol eff ya and off we go!! lol. |
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 Expert
Posts: 4632
| Does the horse smoke the pattern??? If so, I would just leave them alone. Maybe pony to warm up off another horse, saddle up and get on about one drag before you run. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1335
Location: Missouri | So if you are in a holding pen, what would you do? What would he do? Is he still charging the alley or is it just as soon as you ask him to move when it's your turn? |
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| When you had him gone over did you include a scope for bleeding?
I ask because it can be such a funny thing. I have heard of bleeders behaving this way at the gate on occasion - they want to work, they love their job, but the anxiety of bleeding can also make them want to just get it over with. I never think it’s a bad thing to rule it out in general.
I would work on a clear cue. At home in the arena or pasture - if your hand is down on her neck that’s her cue to walk. Flat footed, not allowed to go any faster, period. And then you need to come up with a clear “go” cue. And train it. Work on it. Right now I’m asking you to walk, now I’m asking you to go fast. Make sure she understands and responds, the same you would train any other cue.
Generally mine will walk if I’m one handed and my hand is down on their neck, I’m relaxed and breathing (breathing is important!). If I pick up both reins but my upper body and seat are still back and upright, we trot - doesn’t mean it’s a soft trot, if we’re in an alley we’re on the muscle. When my hands and upper body go forward we go.
It’s not perfect, some situations are different. If there’s no holding pen and it’s a wide open “back 40” to the arena - I know I better have someone walk us in or walk with us on a horse. But by the same token I’ve also handled those situations without someone there when I was at the top of the drag and positioned myself accordingly while the tractor was running, dropped the reins and stood there until they opened the gate, turned and off we went.
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 825
| MOGirl07 - 2019-01-24 11:40 AM
So if you are in a holding pen, what would you do? What would he do? Is he still charging the alley or is it just as soon as you ask him to move when it's your turn?
He is a cool as ice. Its only when I go to go in when its my turn |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 825
| FLITASTIC - 2019-01-24 11:28 AM
Does the horse smoke the pattern??? If so, I would just leave them alone. Maybe pony to warm up off another horse, saddle up and get on about one drag before you run.
Yes supper nice. But that is also a thought. I have just stood next him, and that woks little. But he still does it going in. |
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Expert
Posts: 1335
Location: Missouri | ready2rodeo - 2019-01-24 11:53 AM
MOGirl07 - 2019-01-24 11:40 AM
So if you are in a holding pen, what would you do? What would he do? Is he still charging the alley or is it just as soon as you ask him to move when it's your turn?
He is a cool as ice. Its only when I go to go in when its my turn
So, could you stand close ish to the entry to the alley and him still be chill? That way at least you are close when you cue him to go. If so, and he is working well for you, I may let it go. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 327
| My horse is similar to this. If I try to hold him back he will pop up. He is 18 years old and I’m not going to change him. What work best for us is to have a routine that I do the same every time. I get him warmed up, then get off , hand walk him while I’m waiting for my turn, once the horse before me goes in I stop kind of by entry To the alley, get on, put my rubber bands on and take a deep breathe and off we go. He is the type that hunts the barrels so that’s never an issue for me, the more speed he has the better.
He isn’t the first horse I have rode like this and find it easier sometimes not to pick at them as long as they do their job. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 825
| bbennington - 2019-01-24 1:33 PM
My horse is similar to this. If I try to hold him back he will pop up. He is 18 years old and I’m not going to change him. What work best for us is to have a routine that I do the same every time. I get him warmed up, then get off , hand walk him while I’m waiting for my turn, once the horse before me goes in I stop kind of by entry To the alley, get on, put my rubber bands on and take a deep breathe and off we go. He is the type that hunts the barrels so that’s never an issue for me, the more speed he has the better.
He isn’t the first horse I have rode like this and find it easier sometimes not to pick at them as long as they do their job.
This I might have to try. Like I said I have gotten off of him and just stood, but not over by like where I would be going in. Loving the responses!! Giving me lots of good ideas and things to think about for sure to try!! |
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 Saint Stacey
| My daughters mare is the same way. It started when she was 4. My daughter sort of created the beast. The first time it happened, I told her she needed to stop in NOW. The next time it happened, she needed to stop her, even if it meant blowing a run. Her response...she’s winning so that’s what matters. 6 years later...if she tries to complain about it, I just hold up my hand and remind her of how this was created. You aren’t stopping this mare when she breaks now. And if you did, you’d take all the try out of her and scare her. She’s extremely timid and aggressive at the same time.
My daughter tries to stay one handed as long as possible. You go two handed, the mare breaks. Side gates are a challenge. Try to keep her nose, and eyes, cocked towards the fence. The second she’s sort of facing the pattern, she breaks. The pickup men at rodeos are her best friends. She won’t break as quick if a pickup horse is in the alley with her. But my daughter has also almost gotten tangled up in their ropes on the saddle too. It is frustrating.
You just try and be smarter than the anything you are dealing with.
https://www.facebook.com/GrcRunningQuarterHorses/videos/141317250874...
Edited by SKM 2019-01-24 4:02 PM
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 616
Location: London Ontario | I have the same problem. I will however take this issue rather then a horse that refuses. We mostly rodeo so I usually have my boyfriend stand beside us on his hazing horse and will "pony" us up 3/4 up the alley depending on the set up. He stays on my right(runs right first) to keep her calm. |
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 Queen Bean of Ponyland
Posts: 24879
Location: Florida | They can feel the anticipation within your body. They get used to routines. Change up your routine, change up yourself. If you stand then walk circles, if you walk then stand. If you enter on the right then enter on the left. You can back in if needed. You have to find a way to change your anticipation also. Get off and stand. Deep breathing for a while. Try anyway to keep the adrenaline to a low.
Sometimes scoring is the worst for this kind of horse. If you score then quit. Show up to the arena in time to run. He's sitting thinking about his run, keep his mind occupied on something else before your run. |
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 I hate cooking and cleaning
Posts: 3071
Location: Jersey Girl | My mare kind of does the same. My routine is to long trot her, then I get off and stand with her away from the arena. At the end of the drag before mine, I get on and go to the holding pen. She can be a little wound up but I can normally get her to stand until our turn. She can get pretty amped up tho. |
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 Ms. Elvis
Posts: 9605
Location: Running barrels or watching nascar | OhMax - 2019-01-24 9:42 AM
When you had him gone over did you include a scope for bleeding?
I ask because it can be such a funny thing. I have heard of bleeders behaving this way at the gate on occasion - they want to work, they love their job, but the anxiety of bleeding can also make them want to just get it over with. I never think it’s a bad thing to rule it out in general.
I would work on a clear cue. At home in the arena or pasture - if your hand is down on her neck that’s her cue to walk. Flat footed, not allowed to go any faster, period. And then you need to come up with a clear “go” cue. And train it. Work on it. Right now I’m asking you to walk, now I’m asking you to go fast. Make sure she understands and responds, the same you would train any other cue.
Generally mine will walk if I’m one handed and my hand is down on their neck, I’m relaxed and breathing (breathing is important!). If I pick up both reins but my upper body and seat are still back and upright, we trot - doesn’t mean it’s a soft trot, if we’re in an alley we’re on the muscle. When my hands and upper body go forward we go.
It’s not perfect, some situations are different. If there’s no holding pen and it’s a wide open “back 40” to the arena - I know I better have someone walk us in or walk with us on a horse. But by the same token I’ve also handled those situations without someone there when I was at the top of the drag and positioned myself accordingly while the tractor was running, dropped the reins and stood there until they opened the gate, turned and off we went.
My run cue is two hands on the reins, similar to a steering wheel. If I'm not ready to pull the trigger yet, I'll sometimes have one hand on the rein and the other on their hip. As long they go in and run the pattern, I don't pick on them but I do like to score in the gate or at the first barrel. |
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Alley Issue
