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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 559
 
| I have a 4 yr old mare that I bought 2 months ago . She's been cross firing leaving her 2 nd & 3 rd barrel . Is there any exercises I can do to fix this ? I feel she doesn't have enough strength to stay correct , so she cross fires & tries to leave the turn too soon instead of finishing her barrels. She doesn't usually do it loping circles .. Only if she gets hot & strung out . Advise please :) |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 559
| Anyone ? |
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 Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
  
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | Spirals. Everytime she swaps behind, stop her and start over. Anything else that builds her strength is good: ground poles and cavalettis, hills, shoulder-in/out exercises. Make sure she is moving freely in the front end and pushing from behind. You see a lot of horses make that mistake when they slow their front end down, which in turn causes a step out in the rear. That's where getting one "in the bridle" is helpful. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 448
Location: lone star state | I'm having the same problem currently with a green horse. I'm gona set up poles today and teach him the pole pattern to see if that helps him stay collected. Also figure 8s. I'm open to see what others may have done to help with this problem. Its frustrating.... |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 330
| My gelding does this when his hocks start bothering. The cross firing was actually one of the first things that prompted an exam and xrays, where we discovered some arthritic changes in the left hock (and the left lead is where he would cross fire and pick up the right lead in the back instead).
ETA: He just turned 8. I noticed it as an issue when he was 6.
Edited by SuckerForHorses 2014-09-30 9:52 AM
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  Northern Chocolate Queen
Posts: 16576
Location: ND | Saddle fit. My 4 year old couldn't hold her leads at all last year, changed her into a better fitting saddle & she hasn't had a problem since. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 559
| SaraJean - 2014-09-30 10:22 AM
Saddle fit. My 4 year old couldn't hold her leads at all last year, changed her into a better fitting saddle & she hasn't had a problem since.
I'm afraid this is part of my problem .. I am looking into a better saddle pad too . I think I'm going to try a 5 star .. Any suggestions on good saddle pads ? I'm not sure what thickness to get in the 5 star |
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Northern Chocolate Queen
Posts: 16576
Location: ND | Fancy Lass - 2014-09-30 10:38 AM SaraJean - 2014-09-30 10:22 AM Saddle fit. My 4 year old couldn't hold her leads at all last year, changed her into a better fitting saddle & she hasn't had a problem since. I'm afraid this is part of my problem .. I am looking into a better saddle pad too . I think I'm going to try a 5 star .. Any suggestions on good saddle pads ? I'm not sure what thickness to get in the 5 star
All my good horses ride in 5 Stars, I don't use anything else on them. If saddle fit is the issue switching pads most likely will not help with the cross firing though. I have 6 of the 5 Stars in my barn from 1/2 inch to 1 inch. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 559
| SaraJean - 2014-09-30 1:24 PM
Fancy Lass - 2014-09-30 10:38 AM SaraJean - 2014-09-30 10:22 AM Saddle fit. My 4 year old couldn't hold her leads at all last year, changed her into a better fitting saddle & she hasn't had a problem since. I'm afraid this is part of my problem .. I am looking into a better saddle pad too . I think I'm going to try a 5 star .. Any suggestions on good saddle pads ? I'm not sure what thickness to get in the 5 star
No , I know :) I'm going to switch saddles too.. But I also want a good pad . Think ill do the 7/8 inch 5 star :) |
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Young horse cross firing .. Help !