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Location: midwest mama | My daughter has a barrel horse that is insecure. He's one of those ones that absolutely has to have another horse around or he's not okay. He doesn't go totally crazy or anything, but he definitely is looking around and whinnying if he can't see another horse. If he's out in the pasture and the other horses go away, he runs around like crazy calling for them. She is constantly having to get his attention when she is wanting to work with him. He has one of those high pitched whinnys that is like fingernails on a chalkboard.
He is a VERY nice 1D barrel horse and everything else about him is wonderful - he is kind, sweet, very personable and is good with shoeing, bathing.......just about anything - as long as there is at least one other horse around.
When she hauls him by himself he does paw in the trailer, but doesn't whinny or act silly otherwise. Once she is at the race and unloads him, he's great and just stands at the side of the trailer and sleeps although he does lack some confidence when she runs him.
My question is, how much would you all put up with when he acts like this? Would you sell him?
How can you remedy something like this? It is making my daughter crazy and having an insecure horse like this is one of her pet peeves. |
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 Dog Resuce Agent
Posts: 3459
 
Location: southeast Texas | Only you and your daughter can decide what you all want to put up with. Would she be happy with a 3D well mannered horse? Vs what she has now?
My gelding is fine as long as you haul him alone. Or haul an extra horse if you are riding two. He would dig a hole to China if you brought only two and rode off on the other horse.
Ive tried a lot of different remedies, but they stressed him out. Hauling alone was his fix. He will even buddy up at a show if I hang with certain horses too much. |
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Member
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| My horse had similar issues... I got her a Mini and haul It with her and it solved all my problems. and the mini don't eat hardly anything! cheap easy solution! |
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 Midget Lover
Location: Kentucky | I would get him a mini, or a hauling buddy. |
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Veteran
Posts: 113
| You are describing 80% of horses out there....Just haul him alone! Keep him in a dry lot by himself while you are riding/competing on him. When you give him time off then turn him out. This is what I do with all my barrel horses when they are competing. |
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 Underestimated Underdog
Posts: 3971
Location: Minnesota | My horse is like this. He will call for his buddy the second they leave each other's sight. The first couple weeks were rough but he has learned that even if he throws a fit he still is going to work. I kept everything consistent and now he's better. Trail riding is still rough but in the arena he's paying attention. I think a mini is also a good idea. |
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 I Chore in Chucks
Posts: 2882
Location: MD | a schedule might help you. regular hauling alone for a few weeks. ride at the same time for the same amount of time each day. if he's smart enough to have manners he's smart enough to figure out he'll get back to his buddies.
my boy is the same way if I haven't used him for awhile, the first few rides are a nightmare, but if I stay on schedule life gets 1000 times easier. He'll holler and get scared and be upset the whole ride, and it's annoying to say the least.
but if he's a true 1d horse... he could be the Tasmanian Devil and I would probably let it go. If she's that unhappy because he's talkative when away from buddies, a well mannered (in all aspects) slower horse might be her solution? |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 494
| My mare sounds like your horse but is probably 10x worse. Cannot be separated from other horses. She becomes dangerous to herself and people but she is a VERY competitive 1D horse so I put up with it. Ive tried stalling/hauling by herself but nothing worked because I had to eventually give up because she was risking her health. You have to have a plan for where you are going to tie, warm up, stall, etc.. But like the above poster said, 3D for a well mannered one, or quirks to win? |
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 Famous for Not Complaining
Posts: 8848
Location: Broxton, Ga | You might want to try some supplements I have had some success with B1 with my mare.
You'd be surprised what I put up with but if they do their job around the barrels I do. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 477
Location: Lost in the swamps | Every horse has their qwirks, And in the end it's up to you where you to draw that line.i have one that is a little insecure, will whinny for his buddy and paw a bit when we seperate them but he isn't super bad and stops. He is sometimes get a wild hair and is spooky and will set back. Will try a half ass buck when his sacrum/illium is out and I accidentally bounce on him when stopping. He was 10 times worse than this when I first got him. I figured and later confirmed he was abused. I couldn't lift my leg a hair off his side with out him goosing( he expecting A sharp stab with a spur) that took me 3 months of rubbing him with my feet to get that out of him. when asking to lope to the right.he would kick his leg out.(that's when I know his sacrum is out)I couldn't pop up real quick after cleaning out his feet he would think I was goin after him to beat him. Prior owners didn't understand and were intimidated by his behavior and didn't want to or know how to deal with it. Having patience and understanding of what's going on mentally and physical and appropriate correction to deal with certain behavioral issues is a must. I dealt with all of this for a 3 d horse on a good day! Lol! But he's so fun and consistent!
Edited by imturnin3 2015-04-14 10:47 AM
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 Veteran
Posts: 246
Location: Idaho | I was going to suggest a mini but several people have mentioned it. How old is this horse and how long have you had him. I had an outside horse that I knew had herd bound issues. I tried to keep him alone and he nearly torn my place apart. I put him with a mini and problems solved. Now... if i left the mini when i rode away, he was fine. But if the mini left him, we was a nut. It sounds like an issue you might have to manage, something that will likely never be "fixed". But for true 1D horses, people have done some crazy things :) Id say if he is older and you have had him for years, you wil probably just have to manage him. If he is younger and you havent had him long, there might be some things that can be fixed but itll take a while. As someone else said, its up to you and your daughter as to how much you will put up with :) Good luck! :) |
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 Go For It!
Location: Texas |
My suggestion is to trade your daughter's horse for a friend's well mannered 4d horse. (Don't tell her it's only temporary. Sometimes we don't appreciate what we have until it's gone. :)
Good luck!
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 654
Location: Scurry, TX | if the horse is good every other way and solid running, get him a goat or a pony for company. Its not that big of a deal |
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Expert
Posts: 1543
Location: MI | Warwick Schiller has some very good videos on confidence and 'separation anxiety' - although really, he ignores the calling and whinnying and puts them to work, shows them that he is the leader, and they get out of it with consistency and ignoring the attitude.
When my gelding was 2 I sent him to be started under saddle by an awesome cowboy who had done training with Buck Branaman and other types. He kept him in his own pen with a close neighbor (round pen panel separating), off grain, and after he worked him he would tie Grim up while he worked the other horse. He was consistent, and he said that Grim hollered like a mad man for about a week, but after that stood quietly and calmly.
At home, I'm not nearly as consistent. He'll call a little, but it's not bad, and under saddle his attention is on me. If he starts getting more upset, I fall back to the groundwork and try to be more consistent again. For us, it works. |
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 Owner of a ratting catting machine
Posts: 2258
| Honestly, I've gotten rid of two very nice competitive horses in the past because they make me crazy. They were both very self destructive at the trailer alone, or sometimes even with a buddy. Alone in a stall at a big barrel race was quite frightening for all of us.
It's just not worth it to me to constantly be catering to an idiot that can't pull themselves together. I just like to enjoy myself without constantly being angst out along with my horse, plus they do make 1D horses that aren't silly and self destructive.
If barrel racing were my job, and I had a high powered something that was carrying me to big places like NFR, winning BBR Finals, the Elite, blah, blah, blah, I would certainly be making the necessary adjustments to keep them happy. However. I'm Betty Barrel Racer, and I don't have time for stupid. |
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Location: midwest mama | Thanks everyone for all of the replies.
This horse is 10 years old.
Honestly, I didn't post this question because my daughter is a whiner - she is very grateful for what she has. I wanted to see if anyone had some solutions as she is very confused. Some people say "just suck it up and let him do it or get him a buddy if he's a 1D horse," and some people say "do not go there and be an enabler or you will regret it forever." So we wanted to get some additional opinions from people who have been in the same situation.
The problem we have with a mini is that this horse is on irrigated pasture a decent amount of time and we have heard that minis cannot be on rich pasture all that much. We didn't want to make the problem worse by having the horse go to pasture if the mini can't, and we don't want the horse to have to stay off the pasture just because the mini can't be on it. Unfortunately we don't have a dry lot right next to the pasture so they can at least be next to each other.
Anyone else? |
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Location: Texas | We sold an awesome mare, because she was a nut case if she was by herself. You could never take her to pen cattle or catch a bull if you didn't have another horse with you. She drove us crazy! All of our other horses do great alone and some work better alone. Yes, they do like seeing other horses but don't go insane if they are by themselves. I feel your daughters pain, but have no advice, we obviously took the easy way out and sold ours. It definitely not something that all horses do. |
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 Tough Patooty
Posts: 2615
Location: Sperry, OK | OldSchoolCowgirl - 2015-04-15 2:47 PM Thanks everyone for all of the replies. This horse is 10 years old. Honestly, I didn't post this question because my daughter is a whiner - she is very grateful for what she has. I wanted to see if anyone had some solutions as she is very confused. Some people say "just suck it up and let him do it or get him a buddy if he's a 1D horse," and some people say "do not go there and be an enabler or you will regret it forever." So we wanted to get some additional opinions from people who have been in the same situation. The problem we have with a mini is that this horse is on irrigated pasture a decent amount of time and we have heard that minis cannot be on rich pasture all that much. We didn't want to make the problem worse by having the horse go to pasture if the mini can't, and we don't want the horse to have to stay off the pasture just because the mini can't be on it. Unfortunately we don't have a dry lot right next to the pasture so they can at least be next to each other. Anyone else?
so buy the mini a grazing muzzle. |
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Veteran
Posts: 113
| OldSchoolCowgirl - 2015-04-15 2:47 PM
Thanks everyone for all of the replies.
This horse is 10 years old.
Honestly, I didn't post this question because my daughter is a whiner - she is very grateful for what she has. I wanted to see if anyone had some solutions as she is very confused. Some people say "just suck it up and let him do it or get him a buddy if he's a 1D horse," and some people say "do not go there and be an enabler or you will regret it forever." So we wanted to get some additional opinions from people who have been in the same situation.
The problem we have with a mini is that this horse is on irrigated pasture a decent amount of time and we have heard that minis cannot be on rich pasture all that much. We didn't want to make the problem worse by having the horse go to pasture if the mini can't, and we don't want the horse to have to stay off the pasture just because the mini can't be on it. Unfortunately we don't have a dry lot right next to the pasture so they can at least be next to each other.
Anyone else?
I wouldn't get a mini, might as well have another barrel horse to haul along if you are going to take a "buddy" for him. Everyone wants their horses out on pasture, but honestly my horses work so much better when they are lotted up. When they are out on grass all they want to do is be out on grass, their heads aren't in the game. They can go out and chill in the pasture when I am not hauling them, but other then that I need them to be focused on their job. |
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I AM being nice
Posts: 4396
Location: MD | I have one. He is a weaver. He is terribly insecure. Horrible if left at the trailer by himself, etc... He's a beast in the arena, so I deal with it. There are times that I will let him have his temper tantrums at the trailer and suck it up. At bigger shows, I might cater to him a bit more in order to keep him at his mental best. At the end of the day, it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks, or says. I'm the only one who HAS to deal with him. |
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Veteran
Posts: 120
| Itsme - 2015-04-14 7:12 AM
This was my laugh for the day...bahahahahaahaha LOVED IT!!!!! |
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 Crazy Doggy Mommy
Posts: 1419
Location: Where Governor's make the liscense plates | Honestly that horse would be spending a lot of time being tied away from other horses if it were mine. If he gets so distraught that he's dangerous and just hollering I personally wouldn't feel safe with my child dealing with it. I would make time being with other horses difficult and being away easy for them. Imo |
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I AM being nice
Posts: 4396
Location: MD | FirstFirewater - 2015-04-15 4:53 PM
Honestly that horse would be spending a lot of time being tied away from other horses if it were mine. If he gets so distraught that he's dangerous and just hollering I personally wouldn't feel safe with my child dealing with it. I would make time being with other horses difficult and being away easy for them. Imo
and you would have a completely fried, worthless critter on your hands awful quick like... |
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  Twin Sister to Queen Boobie
Posts: 13315
Location: East Tennessee but who knows?! | grinandbareit - 2015-04-15 9:47 AM My suggestion is to trade your daughter's horse for a friend's well mannered 4d horse. (Don't tell her it's only temporary. Sometimes we don't appreciate what we have until it's gone. :) Good luck!
Exactly.... for this reason.
How can you remedy something like this? It is making my daughter crazy and having an insecure horse like this is one of her pet peeves.
I'm going to be blunt.... your daughter doesn't deserve a 1D horse if she already has a pet peeve about horses that are insecure. Sorry, but she doesn't. She needs to become a horseman first.
When I was her age, I would have given my eye teeth for a decent horse and would have loved every single minute of working through issues. Tough times are what builds character. If she's winning, even if it's on a horse with some issues, she's not going to learn anything.
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 Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
Location: Phoenix | If I had a horse like this I would be putting him in a pen by himself, no grass/turnout, and giving him to 2-a- day workouts until he got over his issue. |
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| I have had Tremendous results with a magnesium supplement by Performance Equine for my mare. She came to me with a LOT of issues including zero self confidence, high anxiety, being herd bound, very very nervous, weaving & stall walking, terrified of everything. This horse was given to me "with issues", so I sorta figured I was in for a project. I seriously would give the Performance Equine websight a look, their products have turned my mare's life around. She's sane, has focus, has a great desire to work & please, and even though she still has her moments of pawing or getting impatient at a race, she's turned into a great partner :) |
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Famous for Not Complaining
Posts: 8848
Location: Broxton, Ga | WrapSnap - 2015-04-14 6:38 PM
FirstFirewater - 2015-04-15 4:53 PM
Honestly that horse would be spending a lot of time being tied away from other horses if it were mine. If he gets so distraught that he's dangerous and just hollering I personally wouldn't feel safe with my child dealing with it. I would make time being with other horses difficult and being away easy for them. Imo
and you would have a completely fried, worthless critter on your hands awful quick like...
Agree if it's their personality you can tie to a tree all day and it will not change a thing. At least that's what I've found.
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I AM being nice
Posts: 4396
Location: MD | hammer_time - 2015-04-15 8:55 PM
If I had a horse like this I would be putting him in a pen by himself, no grass/turnout, and giving him to 2-a- day workouts until he got over his issue.
Hope you've got a crap ton of money to spend on Gastro Guard and vet bills when the ulcers and isolation cause him to crash through the pen in the midst of his crazy colic episode!
The fact of the matter is, these horses are not for most people. They darn sure aren't going to work for you if you are a control freak, have a short fuse, or lack patience. They are not for those who think of their horses and riding as peaceful therapy. It has been my experience though, that if you treat them as the individuals that they are, many of them channel that energy into being amazingly hard working athletes. |
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Expert
Posts: 1561
| I believe thats why we have so many 3d horses running, people nit pick at everything and try to make horses place their feet here or there, turn with this or that style, make a horse act a certain way, basically take all the horses natural abilities away from them.
Do you know why most of the best horses have quirks? Because the trainers and riders allow them to be horses and use their natural abilities to perform at their best. Basically treating them like a individual instead of a cookie cutter horse.
Just my opinion from the outside looking in.... |
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 Expert
Posts: 1482
Location: on my horse | I used to have a really competitive, really herd bound gelding. He wasn't 1D consistently, but he was at the top of my riding ability at the time and was winning me money so I put up with his weirdnesses. My priorities changed and I eventually sold him.
My advice to you and your daughter is not to get him a buddy but to keep managing his behavior like you have been, he sounds like he hauls alone fine and hopefully his confidence running when he's alone will pick up. If not and her priority is to win and go down the road then I would consider a buddy.
The rest of my advice is for you guys to look at your priorities, is winning and being very competitive the top of you guys' priority list? If so then it sounds like this horse isn't dangerous and that you guys are managing him properly and his insecurities are just a part of his personality, which is what makes him the athlete that he is. If your priority is to go out and have fun and this horse is driving you both nuts let him go to somebody who won't be bothered by his insecurities as long as he keeps being competitive at their level.
If you go about working on removing his insecurities he may improve and stay consistent as a competitor or he may get less insecure and also less competitive. It's a fine line to walk, and like a lot of other posters said consistent handling is key.
If he was mine, at this stage in my life if I didn't fear for my safety I would keep him and be happy to cater to his weirdnesses. |
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The Resident Destroyer of Liberal Logic
Location: PNW | WrapSnap - 2015-04-15 9:12 PM
hammer_time - 2015-04-15 8:55 PM
If I had a horse like this I would be putting him in a pen by himself, no grass/turnout, and giving him to 2-a- day workouts until he got over his issue.
Hope you've got a crap ton of money to spend on Gastro Guard and vet bills when the ulcers and isolation cause him to crash through the pen in the midst of his crazy colic episode!
The fact of the matter is, these horses are not for most people. They darn sure aren't going to work for you if you are a control freak, have a short fuse, or lack patience. They are not for those who think of their horses and riding as peaceful therapy. It has been my experience though, that if you treat them as the individuals that they are, many of them channel that energy into being amazingly hard working athletes.
This x 1million.
The good ones are quirky. They aren't for everybody. |
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I AM being nice
Posts: 4396
Location: MD | I think that what some don't seem to realize is that this isn't a behavior issue, it's a personality issue. They are not buddy sour. They are not herd bound. They have separation anxiety. The thought that taking a horse like this and penning it off somewhere by itself, or leaving it tied somewhere that it could not see other horses and letting it sort itself out would work is crazy. To think that you could work them all multiple times a day and make them too tired for this sort of behavior is brutal. To me, that would be like smacking a paranoid schizophrenic every time you walk by them in order to "desensitize" them and make them not be paranoid. |
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 Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | smh on alot of responses here..!!
agree with Andy (wrap).and these type horses you cant have ego trips.. and power trips.. . 
Edited by Bibliafarm 2015-04-16 1:19 AM
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Location: midwest mama | WrapSnap - 2015-04-16 1:00 AM
I think that what some don't seem to realize is that this isn't a behavior issue, it's a personality issue. They are not buddy sour. They are not herd bound. They have separation anxiety. The thought that taking a horse like this and penning it off somewhere by itself, or leaving it tied somewhere that it could not see other horses and letting it sort itself out would work is crazy. To think that you could work them all multiple times a day and make them too tired for this sort of behavior is brutal. To me, that would be like smacking a paranoid schizophrenic every time you walk by them in order to "desensitize" them and make them not be paranoid.
THIS!!!! ^^^^
The insecurity issue with this horse is definitely a personality issue, not a behavior issue. He has the sweetest personality in the world and tries to please as much as he possibly can. The separation anxiety is something that he really cannot help, so I honestly do not think that it can be "trained" out of him.
I should have clarified that my daughter is an adult, and she is not spoiled in the least. She actually was a top rider and then took 15 years off to raise her family and is just getting back into barrel racing again. I think she is more sensitive to this horse's issue because at this time she herself doesn't have the confidence she used to.
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1131
| We nipped this in the butt real quick with the mare I race. She was stupid when we first got her, but about 4 come to jesus meetings about it and she straightened up. We only have to have the annual reminder now, but that's a mare for you, always pushing buttons.
Honestly, It drives me CRAZY when my horses talk at all when I'm on them, and they get a swift jerk and kick for it even now. If he paws when the other horse leave the trailer, hobble him. Jerk on him if he talks. As long as you are consistant with punishments and swift with rewards when he doesn't do it, then he will learn quick what is and isn't ok. My gelding gets hobbled front and back feet at the few races I take him to, plus tied up in the stall, he is a wall climber though. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 618
| My boy has separation anxiety issues. When he was at the track they moved him to the end of the barn row and insolated him from even seeing outside or other horses, compounding his issues. He fretted so badly he lost weight. Thankfully his owner cared enough to bring him home. I've owned him for 4 yrs and he still has it although he is MUCH better. He HATED being stalled and would bite and kick when it was feeding time. I kicked his a$$ out of the barn and fed him in the pasture with a mare. He still would still stand and kick at nothing, charge the fence if the other horses came near his bowl. It is just him. I now have him in a stall/run at night , turnout during day and he will still bite at other horses or kick when other horses walk by but ONLY WHEN ITS FEEDING TIME. He pulls back from the trailer but only the trailer which means I have to babysit him at barrel races. My point he's a 1d horse and will do whatever I ask when I ask in the pen. He has no alley issues and he knows he can trust me! He is quirky about some stuff but I it's just him. I've really spent alot of time learning what makes him tick and I don't try to "fix" him. I work for his breeder and he has ALWAYS been this way, even as a baby he would kick out his right leg at feeding for no reason, like he has tourette in his leg. |
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 Saint Stacey
| After reading all these replies, I am very thankful we ended up with our little Vegas horse because most of you would have blown her mind. Instead she has a home were she has other horses to be with and her very own mini pony to haul with. She isn't forced into solitary confinement to "make" her behave and "get over it". She is kept as happy as possible. Guess that explains why she loves her job and continues to keep working and winning. Vegas fretes if she's left alone. If a person is with her, she's fine. But if you leave her all alone she worries and will wash out. Hence why we got her a pony. He hauls with her and is stalled with her on the road. He keeps her calm and happy. I find it ironic that the people advocating a Tough Love type of approach are the ones posting for help when their horse stops working. That comment wasn't aimed at anyone in particular, but if the shoe fits....
Edited by SKM 2015-04-16 7:28 AM
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 Sock eating dog owner
Posts: 4557
Location: Where the pavement ends and the West begins Utah | I am with wrap snap and hammer. This horse needs to be out on all day trail rides and tied up by himself. A horse that is worked and trained and groomed up tied to a trailer has no time to be an idiot. |
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I AM being nice
Posts: 4396
Location: MD | cow pie - 2015-04-16 7:17 AM
I am with wrap snap and hammer. This horse needs to be out on all day trail rides and tied up by himself. A horse that is worked and trained and groomed up tied to a trailer has no time to be an idiot.
Whoa, whoa! You are with Hammer then.... definitely not me. Go back and re-read! I DO NOT advocate such treatment of this issue! |
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Expert
Posts: 1611
| Sounds like the horse needs crazy meds. Flame away if you want. We've got 2 in the barn on them as well as myself. Keeps them manageable, calm, and ulcer free without the meds they get ulcered up, poor the sweat, brake trailer ties, and the list goes on. On meds they are relaxed and calm. I dunno if they hear voices or see imagery boogers but whatever the case they are normal with their meds 
And I don't wanna hear the , "well I'd tie them to the patience post and they'd learn" mentality or the "wet saddle blankets." Its not a training, pain, or patience issue. Anyone who has one of the truly loopy ones knows that you can ride them til they are about dead, give them a year or two or turnout, be slow and easy...IT DOES NOT MATTER they will go back to being a bear. If you think your gonna "cowboy them" think again! These are horses with huge hearts and grit, they'd rather fall over dead than back down. Some horses need their anxiety meds JUST like people do!!
Edited by astreakinchic 2015-04-16 7:42 AM
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| astreakinchic - 2015-04-16 7:34 AM
Sounds like the horse needs crazy meds. Flame away if you want. We've got 2 in the barn on them as well as myself. Keeps them manageable, calm, and ulcer free without the meds they get ulcered up, poor the sweat, brake trailer ties, and the list goes on. On meds they are relaxed and calm. I dunno if they hear voices or see imagery boogers but whatever the case they are normal with their meds
And I don't wanna hear the , "well I'd tie them to the patience post and they'd learn" mentality or the "wet saddle blankets." Its not a training, pain, or patience issue. Anyone who has one of the truly loopy ones knows that you can ride them til they are about dead, give them a year or two or turnout, be slow and easy...IT DOES NOT MATTER they will go back to being a bear. If you think your gonna "cowboy them" think again! These are horses with huge hearts and grit, they'd rather fall over dead than back down. Some horses need their anxiety meds JUST like people do!!
Can you pm me what meds you have found work on your horses? Thanks |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1028
| My futurity colt for this year is just like this. He does NOT like to be left alone and would whinny for his buddies, develop ulcers, and paw a hole to China all day if somebody would've just "tied him up alone and let him think about it". Like WrapSnap said, his isn't a behavioral issue, it's just his personality. He's finally gotten to the point he won't whinny while we're riding, but for a long time he would. I always haul another horse with him, keep hay in front of him, etc.
The reason I put up with him.. he's insanely talented. Easily the nicest, most hard working horse I've ever been around. He'd do absolutely anything I ask him to, so in turn, I'll do whatever I have to for him to make him comfortable. |
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Owner of a ratting catting machine
Posts: 2258
| astreakinchic - 2015-04-16 7:34 AM
Sounds like the horse needs crazy meds. Flame away if you want. We've got 2 in the barn on them as well as myself. Keeps them manageable, calm, and ulcer free without the meds they get ulcered up, poor the sweat, brake trailer ties, and the list goes on. On meds they are relaxed and calm. I dunno if they hear voices or see imagery boogers but whatever the case they are normal with their meds
And I don't wanna hear the , "well I'd tie them to the patience post and they'd learn" mentality or the "wet saddle blankets." Its not a training, pain, or patience issue. Anyone who has one of the truly loopy ones knows that you can ride them til they are about dead, give them a year or two or turnout, be slow and easy...IT DOES NOT MATTER they will go back to being a bear. If you think your gonna "cowboy them" think again! These are horses with huge hearts and grit, they'd rather fall over dead than back down. Some horses need their anxiety meds JUST like people do!!
I agree with this. Meds helped my sweet nutsy guys a lot. I just couldn't live the lifestyle. I agree cowboying these horses just tortures them. There's really no fix, you end up catering to them 24 hours a day. If they're a nice horse that works well, it's a lot easier to find them their enabler(not being negative, all nutsies need an enabler, ha ha). They just don't fit me at all, so I don't own any. I've owned two, and I'm just not cut out for them. |
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Expert
Posts: 1611
| classicpotatochip - 2015-04-16 10:05 AM
astreakinchic - 2015-04-16 7:34 AM
Sounds like the horse needs crazy meds. Flame away if you want. We've got 2 in the barn on them as well as myself. Keeps them manageable, calm, and ulcer free without the meds they get ulcered up, poor the sweat, brake trailer ties, and the list goes on. On meds they are relaxed and calm. I dunno if they hear voices or see imagery boogers but whatever the case they are normal with their meds
And I don't wanna hear the , "well I'd tie them to the patience post and they'd learn" mentality or the "wet saddle blankets." Its not a training, pain, or patience issue. Anyone who has one of the truly loopy ones knows that you can ride them til they are about dead, give them a year or two or turnout, be slow and easy...IT DOES NOT MATTER they will go back to being a bear. If you think your gonna "cowboy them" think again! These are horses with huge hearts and grit, they'd rather fall over dead than back down. Some horses need their anxiety meds JUST like people do!!
I agree with this. Meds helped my sweet nutsy guys a lot. I just couldn't live the lifestyle. I agree cowboying these horses just tortures them. There's really no fix, you end up catering to them 24 hours a day. If they're a nice horse that works well, it's a lot easier to find them their enabler (not being negative, all nutsies need an enabler, ha ha ). They just don't fit me at all, so I don't own any. I've owned two, and I'm just not cut out for them.
Exactly! And some ppl can deal with them and some can not!!
Some ppl also make nice calm horses into these kinds of horses but unless you are in the barn day in and day out dealing with that horse don't make a snap judgment that the person "created the monster" when your at a show.
Some people just don't want to cater to them and thats understandable. Its all a question of what you wanna put up with and if they run a time I'll put up with A WHOLE LOT. |
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 Poor Cracker Girl
Posts: 12150
Location: Feeding mosquitos, FL | I always say that horses at my house earn privileges. If they are talented and working, I will put up with some serious shenanigans.
My open mare can be cinchy, food aggressive, bossy and opionionated under saddle and worries if she's by herself tied at the trailer or in a stall where she can't see. All of which drive me absolutely bonkers. BUT she's wicked fast, supremely easy to ride and takes good care of me when I have an off day. So, in turn, I spend my life making sure that Lucille is happy. If that means taking thirty minutes to saddle her or feeding her first or making sure she always has a friend somewhere in the vicinity, that's what I do. It's all a trade off. |
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Veteran
Posts: 120
| I might be missing something but from what I read, what is the problem with this horse? Except that he's a horse. Horses are just like people. All have different personalities. MOST will have some herd issues. Instinctually they are born to be part of a herd. They look to the dominant horse for direction and protection as they are at the bottom of the food chain. We are asking horses to all kinds of things out side of their natural God given behavior. It is our job to know our horses personalities and how we can best take care of them. I am baffled by some of the responses here....makes me feel very sorry for their horses. You have a 1D horse.....that horse is working for you. I'm not sure how much confidence he is lacking if he's running in the 1D but if you daughter is a little less confident herself, maybe that's what she's feeling. He sounds like a nice horse......how much? :-) |
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Expert
Posts: 1611
| banjomia - 2015-04-16 10:59 AM
I might be missing something but from what I read, what is the problem with this horse? Except that he's a horse. Horses are just like people. All have different personalities. MOST will have some herd issues. Instinctually they are born to be part of a herd. They look to the dominant horse for direction and protection as they are at the bottom of the food chain. We are asking horses to all kinds of things out side of their natural God given behavior. It is our job to know our horses personalities and how we can best take care of them. I am baffled by some of the responses here....makes me feel very sorry for their horses. You have a 1D horse.....that horse is working for you. I'm not sure how much confidence he is lacking if he's running in the 1D but if you daughter is a little less confident herself, maybe that's what she's feeling. He sounds like a nice horse......how much? :-)
I always ask that at the show while the owner is PO'd that the horse just dented their new trailer LOL
Or when one is rearing and refusing the gate and they are flocking on it. I'm not one bit ashamed to walk up as soon as they come out the gate after its cheating barrels and say how much when I can visibly see its a pain issue. |
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Saint Stacey
| I think people fail to get the concept that horses are herd animals. Their instinct is to be in a herd where there is safety in numbers. Being a herd animal is also what gives them such a strong flight response. Expecting a horse to be happy being alone and forcing them to "deal with it" is like expecting a dog to live on a vegetarian diet. Some horses have a stronger herd instinct than others and are timid enough that they feel like they need a herd in order to survive. I think horses would be a lot better off if people understood this concept and worked with it instead of against it. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1131
| TrackinBubba - 2015-04-16 10:18 AM
I always say that horses at my house earn privileges. If they are talented and working, I will put up with some serious shenanigans.
My open mare can be cinchy, food aggressive, bossy and opionionated under saddle and worries if she's by herself tied at the trailer or in a stall where she can't see. All of which drive me absolutely bonkers. BUT she's wicked fast, supremely easy to ride and takes good care of me when I have an off day. So, in turn, I spend my life making sure that Lucille is happy. If that means taking thirty minutes to saddle her or feeding her first or making sure she always has a friend somewhere in the vicinity, that's what I do. It's all a trade off.
True, I put up with DeeDee's quirks. She's cinchy, bossy, and easily ****ed off, but she will win me all around awards anywhere I take her, so I put up with her. haha I only have a few things that will make me send them down the road, and those things are excessive talking/pawing (past the point of fixing), extreme gate sourness, and counterfit broncs.
By the way, Ace/Rompin cocktail works wonders on the bat **** crazy gelding I used to run. haha, he had to be blindfolded to get near the arena, though. He is the one who taught me what I should send down the road. haha because he was all of the above, plus a wall climber, cribber, and VERY studdy. Now he is a pretty pasture ornament @ 26 years old. Don't tell him though, he still thinks its 1992. haha |
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Location: midwest mama | banjomia - 2015-04-16 9:59 AM
I might be missing something but from what I read, what is the problem with this horse? Except that he's a horse. Horses are just like people. All have different personalities. MOST will have some herd issues. Instinctually they are born to be part of a herd. They look to the dominant horse for direction and protection as they are at the bottom of the food chain. We are asking horses to all kinds of things out side of their natural God given behavior. It is our job to know our horses personalities and how we can best take care of them. I am baffled by some of the responses here....makes me feel very sorry for their horses. You have a 1D horse.....that horse is working for you. I'm not sure how much confidence he is lacking if he's running in the 1D but if you daughter is a little less confident herself, maybe that's what she's feeling. He sounds like a nice horse......how much? :-)
I am the OP, and this horse is definitely not off his rocker or anything. Although his separation anxiety does cause him to be ulcer prone and it has to be managed.
The main problem for my daughter is that she is just getting back into barrel racing after a 15 year lay off, and she lacks confidence herself. She feels that this horse would do better with a confident rider as he needs someone strong to trust. And maybe she would do better with a horse that already has a lot of confidence so SHE would have someone strong to trust. Both of them having anxiety issues just makes them feed off of each other all the more. LOL
He is definitely the type of personality that will not tolerate getting after him hard because of this - doing that would either make him fight back, or hurt his feelings and he would just quit all together. I just wondered what you all would tolerate in order to have a talented 1D horse. :) |
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Location: midwest mama | banjomia - 2015-04-16 9:59 AM
I might be missing something but from what I read, what is the problem with this horse? Except that he's a horse. Horses are just like people. All have different personalities. MOST will have some herd issues. Instinctually they are born to be part of a herd. They look to the dominant horse for direction and protection as they are at the bottom of the food chain. We are asking horses to all kinds of things out side of their natural God given behavior. It is our job to know our horses personalities and how we can best take care of them. I am baffled by some of the responses here....makes me feel very sorry for their horses. You have a 1D horse.....that horse is working for you. I'm not sure how much confidence he is lacking if he's running in the 1D but if you daughter is a little less confident herself, maybe that's what she's feeling. He sounds like a nice horse......how much? :-)
I am the OP, and this horse is definitely not off his rocker or anything. Although his separation anxiety does cause him to be ulcer prone and it has to be managed.
The main problem for my daughter is that she is just getting back into barrel racing after a 15 year lay off, and she lacks confidence herself. She feels that this horse would do better with a confident rider as he needs someone strong to trust. And maybe she would do better with a horse that already has a lot of confidence so SHE would have someone strong to trust. LOL
He is definitely the type of personality that will not tolerate getting after him hard because of this - doing that would either make him fight back, or hurt his feelings and he would just quit all together. I just wondered what you all would tolerate in order to have a talented 1D horse. :) |
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I AM being nice
Posts: 4396
Location: MD | OldSchoolCowgirl - 2015-04-16 8:17 PM
banjomia - 2015-04-16 9:59 AM
I might be missing something but from what I read, what is the problem with this horse? Except that he's a horse. Horses are just like people. All have different personalities. MOST will have some herd issues. Instinctually they are born to be part of a herd. They look to the dominant horse for direction and protection as they are at the bottom of the food chain. We are asking horses to all kinds of things out side of their natural God given behavior. It is our job to know our horses personalities and how we can best take care of them. I am baffled by some of the responses here....makes me feel very sorry for their horses. You have a 1D horse.....that horse is working for you. I'm not sure how much confidence he is lacking if he's running in the 1D but if you daughter is a little less confident herself, maybe that's what she's feeling. He sounds like a nice horse......how much? :-)
I am the OP, and this horse is definitely not off his rocker or anything. Although his separation anxiety does cause him to be ulcer prone and it has to be managed.
The main problem for my daughter is that she is just getting back into barrel racing after a 15 year lay off, and she lacks confidence herself. She feels that this horse would do better with a confident rider as he needs someone strong to trust. And maybe she would do better with a horse that already has a lot of confidence so SHE would have someone strong to trust. Both of them having anxiety issues just makes them feed off of each other all the more. LOL
He is definitely the type of personality that will not tolerate getting after him hard because of this - doing that would either make him fight back, or hurt his feelings and he would just quit all together. I just wondered what you all would tolerate in order to have a talented 1D horse. : )
I am going to tell you the same thing that I told the owner of my horse that is like this. The geldings owner has ridden for years, but is still somewhat new and lacking in confidence as a barrel racer. They had seen the struggles that I have gone through in bringing this horse back from a myriad of issues. They were convinced that they wouldn't be a good owner for him because they didn't have the skill set yet to be able to manage him properly under saddle. These horses require two things more than anything else. Those two things are love and understanding. They need to know that you care for them, that you think that they are worthy, especially in moments where you would like to let them know that they are acting like a dink. They need you to understand that they are trying as hard as they possibly can. You have to show them that you respect and appreciate how hard they are trying to be good. If you can provide them with those two things, you are giving them the best shot that they could ever have. |
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Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
Location: Phoenix | I guess I wouldn't put up with a whole lot then! Just being honest. We've had a couple like that pass through our place and to me it shows a lack of respect. I get that it's a personality thing....but if behavior/personality didn't improve with a consistent schedule, maybe a little extra round penning, Being nice and not getting frustrated/bonding with the horse..I'd send it on its way. I can tolerate a certain level of buddying, but they'd best knock it off once the buddies are out of sight and focus on me. |
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Location: midwest mama | Anyone else? |
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 Quarter Horse HIstorian
Posts: 2878
Location: Aubrey, Texas | Since you asked, I will put up with a lot if one is talented and tries hard. (I WON'T tolerate a counterfeit one!). However, in your daughter's case it sounds more like a question of the horse fitting her- and vice versa. If your daughter is truly not enjoying the experience and gaining confidence along the way, she might be better off with a more laid-back, been there-done that horse. It's supposed to be fun! |
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Insecure Barrel Horse - How Much Would YOU Put Up With?