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 Ditch the Stirrups
Posts: 5369
  
Location: Sorrow Not! Defending against workplace bullies | I have had my so-called barrel horse horse for about 8 yrs. I had been racing my Arab and was so excited to have my first QH bred for running barrels!
Soon after I first sent him to training as a 4 yr old. he came down with a bad respiratory infection and cough. That lasted almost a year, but I finally got him over it by keeping him out 24/7 and being very careful with his hay. However that is not the end of his respiratory issues. He loves to run but last summer he started refusing the gate and bled, bad, after I let him run on a back trail. I have not let him run since.
He also has flat, fragile feet. He was always losing shoes and going lame after trims. I found a great shoer to work with my vet. With Xrays for guidance and pads he was sound. However he then fractured his right front coffin bone in 2012. After almost 4 mos. of strict stall rest the fracture healed. That was about 18 mos. ago. He was doing great but with the cold weather seemed a little off. Today he is noticeably lame at the trot. So I will be taking him back to the vet next week to find out what is wrong...again.
I have always kept very high hopes for him...Ed Wright even said he had a lot of go...! He has the sweetest personality and tons of try. But every time he starts getting fit and faster, he can't keep healthy. He has never been out of the 5d. I love him as a friend but I don't have space for an "extra." And I want him to enjoy his job, not ref:use it.
What would you do? Keep trying to run and medicate for bleeding, foot pain? Or just give up and get a different horse and start all over again?
Any advice is much appreciated. |
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Expert
Posts: 2685
 
| that's rough, I'm sorry.... Honestly, I would move on. 8yrs is a long time. I have only been battling one for 5yrs and we haven't had it as bad as your situation. If you can sell him as a trail horse, do so and go get a SOUND horse. Sounds like you need a confidence boost horse. Something that is just fun to go and do on. |
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 Take a Picture
Posts: 12837
| Instead of pads we use equipak. It really helps. Ask your farrier. I have a shoe outside that has it in it. Will take a picture in the daylight. It is worth a try. Look at Jeffers website for a description. Way better the pads.we use the one with the copper sulfate to prevent thrush. |
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I AM being nice
Posts: 4396
Location: MD | I had a very nice young horse come in a few years back. He was incredibly well bred, built to do the job and came on very quickly. Everything about it came super easily to him. He was clocking less than a second off by the 10th time he ever loped through a set. The problem was, as he progressed, his body just couldn't hold up to him being as awesome as he was. We went to the vet, treated for multiple things, but at the end of the day, there was almost something else happening. Turned him out for a year to allow him to develop more physically (even though he was already 6) same deal. He just couldn't seem to hold together. He was super broke and I loved having him in the program, but this was definitely not his career. Had to cut a TON of losses and found him a home where his job wouldn't require as much of him. |
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Too busy outside!
Posts: 5417
| Sell him to someone who does an event, such as trail riding, that won't hammer his feet and induce bleeding. That's the only way to do right by your "friend." |
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 I'm Cooler Offline
Posts: 6387
Location: Pacific Northwest | I'm in the same situation as you.
My roan gelding is the most accident prone horse ever. I battled cough issues with him for years, and then in 2012 he was diagnosed with inflammatory airway disease (April '12), developed a blood clot in his jugular vein (May '12),and overstrided and bruised his heel so bad I thought he broke it (June '12). I finally ran him again at the end of January 2013 and he bled. Gave him time off and the first time I went to ride him in March 2013 he stepped on something in the parking lot of the fairgrounds and punctured the sole of his foot and was lame for another few months. I haven't ran him or attempted to keep him legged up for barrels since. He's just a trail horse and I keep him in shape throughout the winter by doing normal arena work with him. I still call him my "barrel horse" but I don't really plan on running him.
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Ditch the Stirrups
Posts: 5369
Location: Sorrow Not! Defending against workplace bullies | The crazy thing is, barrel racing has not been what has hurt him. He fractured his coffin bone running in his pasture! And bled running on a trail behind my house. But I'm sure racingis not good for him, so I haven't entered him anywhere since he bled last year.
It's very difficult to get him to slow down, although I have been FINALLY successful last month getting him to walk on a loose rein on trails. He is a very go-go-go type of horse. His sweet nature has made me think he would be good for a kid, but he has too much speed and energy. The one time I let a friend ride him (an experienced rider) she said he took off so fast he threw her back out.
He just loves speed but like the horse wrapsnap described, his body can't hold up.
I will see what the vet says about the equipour(?) shoes and get him xrayed and checked again. He may just end up as my trail horse :)
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Ditch the Stirrups
Posts: 5369
Location: Sorrow Not! Defending against workplace bullies | streakysox - 2015-01-10 10:35 PM
Instead of pads we use equipak. It really helps. Ask your farrier. I have a shoe outside that has it in it. Will take a picture in the daylight. It is worth a try. Look at Jeffers website for a description. Way better the pads.we use the one with the copper sulfate to prevent thrush.
Yes I would love to see a pic! |
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Ditch the Stirrups
Posts: 5369
Location: Sorrow Not! Defending against workplace bullies | livexlovexrodeo - 2015-01-10 11:02 PM
I'm in the same situation as you.
My roan gelding is the most accident prone horse ever. I battled cough issues with him for years, and then in 2012 he was diagnosed with inflammatory airway disease (April '12), developed a blood clot in his jugular vein (May '12),and overstrided and bruised his heel so bad I thought he broke it (June '12). I finally ran him again at the end of January 2013 and he bled. Gave him time off and the first time I went to ride him in March 2013 he stepped on something in the parking lot of the fairgrounds and punctured the sole of his foot and was lame for another few months. I haven't ran him or attempted to keep him legged up for barrels since. He's just a trail horse and I keep him in shape throughout the winter by doing normal arena work with him. I still call him my "barrel horse" but I don't really plan on running him.
Oh no, I remember you posting about this horse before. I always thought he sounded like mine. I hope you have another horse you can race...sorry. |
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Ditch the Stirrups
Posts: 5369
Location: Sorrow Not! Defending against workplace bullies | RoaniePonie11 - 2015-01-10 10:31 PM
that's rough, I'm sorry.... Honestly, I would move on. 8yrs is a long time. I have only been battling one for 5yrs and we haven't had it as bad as your situation. If you can sell him as a trail horse, do so and go get a SOUND horse. Sounds like you need a confidence boost horse. Something that is just fun to go and do on.
Thank you. It is tough to know when to stop trying, especially with one who keeps trying FOR you. I actually have a younger horse I just started patterning. I am taking him to a clinic this month and I am hoping he will be the confidence boost I need. I appreciate your kind thoughts. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1526
Location: Texas | Get something different he is weak. Had a mare the same way and it took her years to get semi right. Get you something else. |
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I'm Cooler Offline
Posts: 6387
Location: Pacific Northwest | ninaom - 2015-01-10 10:21 PM
livexlovexrodeo - 2015-01-10 11:02 PM
I'm in the same situation as you.
My roan gelding is the most accident prone horse ever. I battled cough issues with him for years, and then in 2012 he was diagnosed with inflammatory airway disease (April '12), developed a blood clot in his jugular vein (May '12),and overstrided and bruised his heel so bad I thought he broke it (June '12). I finally ran him again at the end of January 2013 and he bled. Gave him time off and the first time I went to ride him in March 2013 he stepped on something in the parking lot of the fairgrounds and punctured the sole of his foot and was lame for another few months. I haven't ran him or attempted to keep him legged up for barrels since. He's just a trail horse and I keep him in shape throughout the winter by doing normal arena work with him. I still call him my "barrel horse" but I don't really plan on running him.
Oh no, I remember you posting about this horse before. I always thought he sounded like mine. I hope you have another horse you can race...sorry.
I do, I started leasing a horse from a friend about 2 months before all these problems with him started and then I ended up buying her (: I'm sure you will find another horse to race on! Do you still have your arab? |
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 Expert
Posts: 2013
Location: Piedmont, OK | I would move on and find something else. I know it's hard when you have so much time invested in them. I had one that developed ringbone and I tried everything to get him sound but could not keep him sound. I ended up donating him to a riding program for special needs kids where he is walked daily and given lots of love and treats by kids who adore him. |
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 Loves to compete
Posts: 5760
Location: Oakdale, CA | I think life is too short and I would put no longer than 2 years into a horse like this or buy something else and keep him to fix.........
good luck! |
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Take a Picture
Posts: 12837
| OK took a picture now have to figure how to post from my tablet. It is raining and did not want to get my $1500 camera wet. |
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Take a Picture
Posts: 12837
| Trying to post pictures |
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| I just decided last month that im quitting on my good mare. After the past 3 years of hopes, heartache, and disappointment, I'm sticking a bun in the oven and being done with it. Personally I will never try and rehab one for this long again. It's not worth the headache, go find something that's sounds and have fun! You want to barrel race not be a vet 24/7 lol ( gotta say tho I can wrap, stitch, and staple like a pro!) |
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Take a Picture
Posts: 12837
| I emailed the pictures to my laptop. Resized-- all that good stuff. This should work. Pictures of equipak.
 (equipak.jpg)
 (equipak 2.jpg)
 (equipak 2.jpg)
Attachments
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 equipak.jpg (65KB - 162 downloads)
equipak 2.jpg (67KB - 163 downloads)
equipak 2.jpg (67KB - 156 downloads)
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 Am I really the Weirdo?
Posts: 11181
Location: Kansas | I use Equipack on my gray horse. He just has crappy feet and we have battled them off and on his entire career. He's also bled a time or two due to environmental things (dusty hay in the trailer and spending the night in an ammonia-smelling barn at rodeo finals) but is not a true bleeder.
He is a challenge to manage, but he's nice enough that I do what's needed. I keep him in insane shape or he doesn't run. He gets Air Power by Finish Line before we warm up each time, and I try to use Flair Strips for every run to support his lungs a litle bit more. He travels in Soft Ride boots, lives in PHT magnetic bell boots, and I am psychotic about keeping him off pavement and rocks as much as possible. We reset his shoes more frequently than my other horses and he gets Equipack in the front shoes. He doesn't even get ridden if he loses a shoe.....he can't handle it so we don't even try anymore.
I will say that if my gray never clocked better than the 5D with all his issues, he would not still be part of my team. I'd find a kid to lope the pattern on him or something similar that would be easier on his body. Basically if a horse has a lot of maintenance, he better be a 1D/rodeo horse if he wants to stick around with me. It sounds like your horse just physically can't hold up to running barrels. I ran into the same thing with my legs running college track. Made it through two years but I had stress fractures in my shins, bone fragments loose in one foot, shinsplints constantly and at the end of my sophomore year, I decided that I was done tearing up my body for track. I hated losing it as a hobby, but I enjoy being able to get around easily too much to regret giving up on track very much. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1182
Location: Do I hear Banjos? | You know...there are a lot of good solid horses on the market right now. Unfortunately this horse just isn't likely to hold up for the goals/job you have in mind. It's probably best for both of you to move on.
I see a couple of folks suggested selling him as a trail horse. I tend to disagree. Trail often involves a lot of miles over rough terrain (depending on where they live/ride). That job requires a sound solid horse just as a barrel horse needs to be. Doesn't require as much of an athlete per say...unless they compete in distance as we do. But a horse with chronic issues isn't going to hack it in a home that truly rides the trails.
Now...as a pleasure ride horse for someone that only rides now and then and not on rough terrain for miles and miles...well that may be a really good fit. |
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Hungarian Midget Woman
Location: Midwest | Been there, done that, have the T-shirt.
My first horse had ringbone. He was given to me by a family friend, and at the time, it was a great fit. I rode basic hunt seat and dressage. He was beautiful, had lovely gaits, but would come up off with too much work. However, I mostly trail rode, so it was NBD. I was 15 at the time.
As kids do, I moved on with my goals. I wanted to run barrels! At the time, I knew a lot about riding but little about the physical demands of the sport. I patterned him slow, and bless his heart he gave it his all. Unfortunately, I only made one show with him. He pulled up lame after our first show (4H at the fair), and I knew it wasn't fair to ask him to keep doing it, even though he would. I also saw blood trickle from his nose that night (though I had no idea what bleeders were at that time).
Based on the lameness alone, I did the tough thing.... I gave him back to the wonderful woman who had given him to me. She trail rode on him and then kept him retired in the pasture until he had degenerated to where he was no longer comfortable.
I missed him so much. However, I knew I did the best thing I could do for him. Sometimes.... you just have to do the right thing by the horse, even though it hurts.
Plus, it lead me to my current horse, who has tried every discipline with me and is a decent 3D horse. He's been great to get back into the sport with these past few years. Sometimes, things have a way of working out. |
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