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| Just bought a mare, a month ago. had her vetted and she was completely sound no lameness. she had been off for about 6 months, so when i got her of course she needed a little tune up. well, for a week or so she got to where if you grab her (running) she would climb up the backside of a barrel and root at the bit real bad, I've tired in a lot of different bits just seeing what works the best for me and her, and as of now its been a bonnet, and a o ring smooth, with a metal nose band. with this being said I've had no problems with her rooting but now she doesn't want to finish her second barrel, she is really strong and pulls on me. she is naturally a stiffer type mare but i think she is "to" stiff.
Im open to suggestions on getting her to bend and flex more. she slow works perfect. I've been riding her around in a lumis draw bit and draw reins. just working on bending and flexing.
i have videos but don't know how to attach them, if you PM me i can text them to you. |
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 Texas Tenderheart
Posts: 6715
  
Location: Red Raiderland | I know you said you had her vetted but climbing a barrel is usually a good indication of hocks and/or stifles being sore. You said she hadn't been worked for 6 months so maybe you are just getting the soreness to come out. Once those issues or any other issue(physical) is figured out you will just have to start working on slow work to get her to start picking up parts of her body. Once she is able to do this at a walk, then trot, then lope then finally full speed it will do wonders. She also may not be a real bendy horse so adjustments can be made then.
I have a mare that is just not super bendy and never will be but I do daily exercises on the trail to get her to be soft and stay soft. She only sees a barrel rarely at the house. |
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| I was thinking the same thing, but then again its only been a month. she is a open horse, she's been doing this awhile. she was trained by one of the best, she can slow work just as good as any horse. she has no problem a lope doing everything correctly, but the harder i push her the worse it is. its gotten better, sense the first run i made on her of course but still not what she should be running. i normally don't work my open horses at home, but with her its just at a walk. otherwise all i do is ride around in the pasture and work on getting her to bend and flex more. |
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Queen Bean of Ponyland
Posts: 24955
Location: WYOMING | Without a video or even with I would agree with a bonnet but I prefer a draw with that, but thats just for my hands and style riding (not a fan of ring bits). Second I would really really watch my hand placement and entry point to the barrel. Ive seen more stiffen up and blow off due to bad hands and starting your turn too soon than anything. They get crowded and hurried and have no choice.
If it really is a horse issue then I would make sure I have control of the hip. You should be able to slide your leg back and move that hip a step in or out at any speed. This is taught in baby steps but maybe you can already do this with your horse. Bend comes from behind up thru the ribs so taking that step with the hind end frees their hip up to let them bend thru the ribs. I would move that hip a step in, move their shoulder a step out then while they are in motion from this push their ribs in a bit. Its kinda a feel thing but you should be able to feel them soften in the middle which is what a lot of "bend" is for me. |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| This is my opinion
A month of owning the horse and it had the previous 6 months off, this horse should not be doing the barrels.
This horse should be legged up properly
You may have caused a tendon or ligament injury as these wouldn't have been conditioned.
I would be taking the horse to the vet and getting a thorough vet check including X-rays and ultrasound |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 509
| When i look at a horse that's been off 6 months I'm suspicious, I've had horses pass vet checks and things showed up shortly after,I'd get one fit before I'd even look at a barrel I'd put 60 days of legging up, your causing more problems and making your horse sore. |
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 Take a Picture
Posts: 12842
| If I grab mine they will head somewhere I don't want them to go. Have you tried letting her turn by herself then lightly picking up to help finish the turn? |
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getting a horse to bend more