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Veteran
Posts: 184
 
| Hey,
I'm honestly about to pull on my hair out, scream in a pillow, and eventually give up after a year of trying. My horse and I can not seem to see eye to eye anymore. Every time he comes out of the alley way to the first barrel, as soon as I as for the turn, he throws his head back and rears up as high as he can before flipping over. Running to his second and third are perfect until the last rodeo, he tuned before I even got close to the third barrel. He doesn't do this all the time, just randomly. We can have a whole month of great runs and then we are right back to an even more extreme melt down in the arena. He seems to only do this in rodeos where he has been before. He does the same thing at home in the practice pen. Here is a list of what I have been done to try and help the problem.
1. Several different bits
2. New custom fit saddle
3. Hock & Stifle injections
4. Previcoxx
5. Change feed and ulcer guard
6. Given a few weeks off the pattern which helped for maybe two or three runs
7. Teeth float
8. Through vet exam
If anyone has any idea on how to help me regardless if it hurts my feelings, PLEASE tell me!! When we run a good pattern together, we are in the top of the 1D but then he will randomly just explode out of no where with me and I end up getting hurt. I bought this horse as a yearling at a very very high price and cannot afford to replace him at this point. |
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Expert
Posts: 1561
 
| si or pelvic injury |
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Veteran
Posts: 231
Location: Nashvegas | Do you, by chance, have a video you can post? |
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Veteran
Posts: 184
| Itsme - 2014-09-21 4:38 PM
si or pelvic injury
I'll see if I can talk to my vet about it and get him to come out for x-rays. What is "si?" |
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| How old and how long has he been running? |
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Veteran
Posts: 184
| OhMax - 2014-09-21 4:43 PM
How old and how long has he been running?
He is a 6yr old and running since last year. He was brought along very slow and was used as a back up roping horse on the side. He saw barrels maybe once a week. Its only been the last 4-5 months I've asked for more speed which didn't add or lessen the problem but only made it more random. I asked for more speed because I was having such a hard time motivating him through the back-side of the barrel. I've never used a whip on him and it doesn't seem to matter what bit he has. A smooth two-piece snaffle or a gag bit with more leverage. |
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 Texas Tenderheart
Posts: 6715
Location: Red Raiderland | It sounds like you need to see a different lameness vet for a different perspective. He sounds SORE, very sore and dangerous.
Can you post a video? |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 371
Location: California | OK..this is exactly what we went through for 2 years. EXACTLY! We went thru him with a fine tooth comb and a couple different vets and they found nothing. He had no lameness at all and the only symptom was that first barrel (rearing) and perfect 2nd and 3rd barrels. Finally someone suggested we get a nuclear bone scan done on him. Very pricy but he was insured and so we did. Turned out that he had a torn hind suspensory ligament. We did stem cell on it and rehabbed him for about 7-8 mos and he came back awesome. Ran many years and is still running today. So, if I were you, I would ultrasound the hind suspensory ligaments and I bet you'll find something. Good luck |
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 A Barrel Of Monkeys
Posts: 12972
Location: Texas | Are you giving him enough room going into the barrel to be able to get around it? You could be going too straight into the first barrel.
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Veteran
Posts: 184
| I'll take him to the vet tomorrow and keep you all posted on his condition. Im hoping that he hasn't torn anything.....  |
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Duct Tape Bikini Girl
Posts: 2554
| Sounds like a flat refusal to turn that direction. When I had a horse that refused to turn the first, it ended up being a serious navicular issue. Went to many vets before the actual problem was diagnosed. Good luck & don't get yourself hurt. |
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 Expert
Posts: 2097
Location: Deep South | I would definitely say pain related and I would keep digging for answers as long as I could afford to.
Four different vets saw my 1D gelding multiple times and were convinced it was something in his hind end (tried hocks stifles SI hips etc) years and thousands later when the problem was finally found, it was in his front feet all along. Arthritis in both front feet was causing the soreness in his back end.
If his front end hasn't been as thoroughly examined as his back end I would want that done.
And as other posters mentioned it's hard to catch strains in the suspensories until they've torn, but they are very painful regardless. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 502
Location: United States | Stay safe. I have a mare that wants to work the pattern, loves it, but when she gets close to the first barrel she steps to the left or runs to the 3rd. kinda leaps/lounges. Navicular also. Took a while to diagnose because she swapped leads in the hind on the backside of the first (if she worked it) and we kept thinking it was hind end. Dont overlook front feet. Good luck. |
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Blessed 
Location: Here | ktbeasleyze - 2014-09-21 6:10 PM I'll take him to the vet tomorrow and keep you all posted on his condition. Im hoping that he hasn't torn anything.....
I assume you are going to the right barrel first. Look at hocks stifles feet get digital xrays. if sounds like your horse is screaming he hurts.
Good luck tomorrow |
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Veteran
Posts: 184
| Update!!!!
He has an issue with his jaw that apparently causes a lot of pain when the bit is pulled on the right side. Vet recommended switching to a side pull. Our first run with that set up was perfect without any issue but I'm not totally convinced just yet. Time will tell. Thank you! |
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Expert
Posts: 1561
| ktbeasleyze - 2014-09-23 7:54 AM
Update!!!!
He has an issue with his jaw that apparently causes a lot of pain when the bit is pulled on the right side. Vet recommended switching to a side pull. Our first run with that set up was perfect without any issue but I'm not totally convinced just yet. Time will tell. Thank you!
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  Angel in a Sorrel Coat
Posts: 16030
Location: In a happy place | I hope this is the answer. Please keep us updated. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 887
Location: MN | ktbeasleyze - 2014-09-23 7:54 AM Update!!!! He has an issue with his jaw that apparently causes a lot of pain when the bit is pulled on the right side. Vet recommended switching to a side pull. Our first run with that set up was perfect without any issue but I'm not totally convinced just yet. Time will tell. Thank you!
I was just about to suggest trying a hack. I have been working with one all year and after going through possible pain I figured out she just doesn't like bits! Vet commenting on a scar in the corner of her mouth that I never noticed turned that light bulb on. |
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 Experienced Mouse Trapper
Posts: 3106
Location: North Dakota | ktbeasleyze - 2014-09-23 7:54 AM
Update!!!!
He has an issue with his jaw that apparently causes a lot of pain when the bit is pulled on the right side. Vet recommended switching to a side pull. Our first run with that set up was perfect without any issue but I'm not totally convinced just yet. Time will tell. Thank you!
I would fire my dentist-my thoughts were someothing in the mouth-hack or sidepull would be what I would try also and until you see someone who specializes in equine dentistry work on a horse, you have NO idea who does a good job and who doesn't! Mouth pain can be a HUGE problem! |
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Veteran
Posts: 184
| So now I'm about to really cry. We went to a nice local jackpot and he went around the first barrel but fought my hands and tried to go back home before getting him to come back. He then turns before he ever gets close to the second barrel....what do I do!?!?!! |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | ktbeasleyze - 2014-09-27 4:28 PM So now I'm about to really cry. We went to a nice local jackpot and he went around the first barrel but fought my hands and tried to go back home before getting him to come back. He then turns before he ever gets close to the second barrel....what do I do!?!?!!
Do you have anyone near you that can help you with him? He sounds burned out to me, sorry  |
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 Queen Boobie mascot
Posts: 706
Location: Mayerthorpe Alberta | It is possible that he is still hurting somewhere or perhaps is expecting it to hurt. If only they could literally talk to us and tell us what is happening! |
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Veteran
Posts: 184
| I really have run out of ideas at this point. I've tried doing practice runs at home which are always perfect and then he just loses it at the actual barrel race. |
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Expert
Posts: 2685
| ktbeasleyze - 2014-09-27 5:14 PM
I really have run out of ideas at this point. I've tried doing practice runs at home which are always perfect and then he just loses it at the actual barrel race.
exhibitions? How does he do if you run an exhibition? My step mom grew up on a horse that would work great at home and exhibitions and only run off during a comp run. Just a thought if maybe the nerves from you are the trigger?
I know with my mare that sometimes would turn the first barrel correctly, she would make a good run every exhibition and playday and home run but comp run she felt my nerves and "expecting the bad first barrel" and would act up. |
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Veteran
Posts: 184
| Vet had another through exam and said he isn't hurting anywhere. Not even any mild back pain...nothing. I vet wrapped the hackamore so now I'm gonna try and run it with a bozo side pull with no vet wrap and see if that works. He is a great horse that will run a pattern full blast in a rope halter at home. Even his exhibitions at barrels are exactly the same. Yesterday he even came home and ran right into the fence. I couldn't get him to listen to my hands at all. But then I can take him home, move cows and rope with just a halter. I'm so confused and I don't think its nerves because he just acts up the entire time at barrel races. |
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 Member
Posts: 23
| Try giving him some time off from barrels! And by time I mean TIME! Your horse is burnt out and needs to be a horse. Try giving him like six months out of an arena and away from barrels! trust me it really makes a difference. |
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 Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
Location: Phoenix | Mine was the same way....you could run him in a halter and have the prettiest pattern at HOME--go elsewhere and he forgot what he was doing until he saw the 2nd barrel. I just turned him into a rope horse and he loves his life now. Sometimes they just don't like barrels. |
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 Owner of a ratting catting machine
Posts: 2258
| I finally get to a point anymore that when one makes me start doubting myself and giving my confidence a run for it's money, they get on the trailer to go live at somebody's else's house. Permanently. For every good one that lays down their life every run, no matter the circumstance, there's ten with no heart. Sometimes me and the horse just can't connect, and they go on to be successful elsewhere. I don't begrudge them that chance! I don't fight it anymore, I let them go work for someone else. They ultimately make the call to stay or go. Sounds like your gelding would like a new home. |
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 Fact Checker
Posts: 16575
Location: Displaced Iowegian | lkrose44 - 2014-09-28 12:35 PM Try giving him some time off from barrels! And by time I mean TIME! Your horse is burnt out and needs to be a horse. Try giving him like six months out of an arena and away from barrels! trust me it really makes a difference.
I agree.....to continually run a horse that "may" be hurt or has been hurting, is just turning that horse into a "counterfeit", which is what he is right now. Horses have memories......MAYBE try NOT running barrels and either turn him out for a long period of time or do another event. |
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | NJJ - 2014-09-28 4:24 PM lkrose44 - 2014-09-28 12:35 PM Try giving him some time off from barrels! And by time I mean TIME! Your horse is burnt out and needs to be a horse. Try giving him like six months out of an arena and away from barrels! trust me it really makes a difference. I agree.....to continually run a horse that "may" be hurt or has been hurting, is just turning that horse into a "counterfeit", which is what he is right now. Horses have memories......MAYBE try NOT running barrels and either turn him out for a long period of time or do another event.
Ditto  |
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Veteran
Posts: 184
| Thank you guys for the help and I may just give it up for a while if he doesn't show any improvement soon. He has soon much talent and speed that I just don't understand anymore. Time will tell. |
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | ktbeasleyze - 2014-09-28 4:42 PM Thank you guys for the help and I may just give it up for a while if he doesn't show any improvement soon. He has soon much talent and speed that I just don't understand anymore. Time will tell.
Set up poles and play with him on them or go team penning, give him something else to think about. |
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Fact Checker
Posts: 16575
Location: Displaced Iowegian | Southtxponygirl - 2014-09-28 4:45 PM ktbeasleyze - 2014-09-28 4:42 PM Thank you guys for the help and I may just give it up for a while if he doesn't show any improvement soon. He has soon much talent and speed that I just don't understand anymore. Time will tell. Set up poles and play with him on them or go team penning, give him something else to think about.
**** LIKE ***** |
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Common Sense and then some
Location: So. California | ktbeasleyze - 2014-09-28 6:09 AM Vet had another through exam and said he isn't hurting anywhere. Not even any mild back pain...nothing. I vet wrapped the hackamore so now I'm gonna try and run it with a bozo side pull with no vet wrap and see if that works. He is a great horse that will run a pattern full blast in a rope halter at home. Even his exhibitions at barrels are exactly the same. Yesterday he even came home and ran right into the fence. I couldn't get him to listen to my hands at all. But then I can take him home, move cows and rope with just a halter. I'm so confused and I don't think its nerves because he just acts up the entire time at barrel races.
Did this exams include xrays? Maybe you need to take him to another vet... The horse is telling you that something hurts and my suggestion is that you listen. |
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Rearing a first barrel???