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 Veteran
Posts: 197
 
| My daughter's barrel horse rings his tail and quits running at the exact same point every time he makes a run. In the poles it's after he turns the end pole and half way home, he shuts down and rings the tail. In the barrels, he runs hard to one and two, then on the way to the third he rings it once, and then after he turns the third barrel he rings it three or four times depending on the distance home. And he looks like he is slowing down to a high lope (might be an exaggeration) but she's like 3 two tenths off of winning times in both events and it is definitely costing him winning it. I've had his whirlbones injected which is what the previous owner suggested. A friend was watching yesterday and said it's almost when he really stretches out to run hard.. I've had a few things suggested but thought I needed some other advice. Here are the suggestions:
bean him
maybe his muscles are contracting
Selenium??
Thanks for any advice. I just would like to provide him some relief if he is hurting, he is such a sweet horse and tries so hard.
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 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9992
  
Location: Kansas | sounds like he is in pain. Have you had a chiro out? |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 456
Location: SW MO | I would agree with the other poster- has everything been evaluated for pain? When you palpate his muscles over his back/loins are there any soreness areas? Did this just start or is it a newer thing? |
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Veteran
Posts: 197
| He has done this for quite awhile, we have had him injected a few times. And yes he has been to a chiropractor and has even had acupuncture in the past few weeks. If I could post a video it may be easier to understand, just not sure how to attach a video. It's amazing to see him from the beginning of his run to the end. He's not a bleeder, he doesn't seem to be having respiratory issues.. I believe it is a muscle issue but obviously I don't know that for sure. His soreness seems to be right over his hip, behind the saddle.....Someone suggested Grand Meadows Premium Plus products.... or Healthy Coat.... |
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Expert
Posts: 4766
Location: Bandera, TX | Did you do a BAL to rule out the fact that he's not a bleeder. I had three vets scope my horse and said he wasn't bleeding., Took him to a race after I gave him the year off and Vet scoped him said no he didn't bleed and I said we're still doing a BAL he sure enough had bled.
Most often at that point of the race he slows like that he's bleeding. |
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 Take a Picture
Posts: 12841
| If you have not cleaned his sheath it is certainly could be a problem. I clean mine abuot every 3 months. |
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Veteran
Posts: 197
| We are going to do that ASAP because he was out yesterday morning and it looked bad, my daughter (whom is 17) tried to grab it (she wants to be a doctor so it didn't gross her out at all) but he put it away! She was not a happy camper! I would be so excited if that was the issue.... Thank you. |
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Veteran
Posts: 197
| I have not done a BAL, so you are correct, I cannot rule that out 100%, the symptoms just seem to be pointing at a muscle issue, but it could be something completely different. Thank you for the suggestion.
I appreciate everyone's suggestions! There are days that I am glad that my horses cannot talk, but in this case I wish they he could just tell me where his pain was.. |
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Common Sense and then some
Location: So. California | How is his bloodwork? Did you check mineral levels?
Test for PSSM (simply hair test, $40)
What are you feeding? |
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Miracle in the Making
Posts: 4013
| are ypu leaning forward a a lot if so sit up and let hhim run up in bit are you kicking too hard moving to much
my son was and he quit the above and boy did the times get faster |
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Expert
Posts: 4766
Location: Bandera, TX | Work that horse pretty hard and draw blood 6 hours later and do all that Anna Marie suggested as well. If you have rock hard muscles don't think you have an uber fit horse you have problems! |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | You really need to post a video of her running this horse, theres some really good eyes on here that may beable to spot a problem.  |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1034
| uno-dos-tres! - 2015-10-19 1:39 PM
Did you do a BAL to rule out the fact that he's not a bleeder. I had three vets scope my horse and said he wasn't bleeding., Took him to a race after I gave him the year off and Vet scoped him said no he didn't bleed and I said we're still doing a BAL he sure enough had bled.
Most often at that point of the race he slows like that he's bleeding.
She beat me to it. Most bleeders just do so internally or barely show anything in the nose. The blood that comes out is only the tip of the iceberg. It definitely makes them shut down. I'd have him checked. |
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Red Bull Agressive
Posts: 5981
Location: North Dakota | Now since I'm sure everyone above me has mentioned a different physical ailment, I'll offer another alternative. Does your daughter use a whip/quirt or kick really hard (aka "starfish") on the way home? Does she pull up really hard after? I know that I have seen many horses shut down because their rider is trying too hard to hustle them and hurts them or p!sses them off. Or they anticipate having their mouth rammed on to stop. Not saying she does this, but without seeing her I would have no idea. |
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Veteran
Posts: 197
| Thank you all so much for your suggestions. I am going to attempt to post a video here in a moment. We are going to have some blood work done. We thought that it might be the way she kicks and whips, we took all of that away last weekend and he did the same exact thing. And she doesn't stop him hard either....at least I'm not totally clueless, I have thought of all of these ideas. |
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Veteran
Posts: 197
| It's not allowing me to upload the video. If somebody will private message me, I will email them the video and they can attempt to upload it. Would love to hear your ideas! |
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | Giving you a bump up maybe someone will help you to post a video, I dont know how to post videos either  |
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Veteran
Posts: 197
| I might have figured out how to do this.
Pole video - https://youtu.be/y8wgoqbdE5w
barrel video - https://youtu.be/69H__W2wbVE
I hope this works!
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | Was kinda hard for me to see, but the only time I saw her wring her tail was when your daughter used her whip coming out of the second barrel and then coming home wringed once are twice and it looked like she was spuring the mare. She made a nice run, since you took off the spurs and took away the whip last week it just may take a few runs for the mare to relax and knows there is no whip and spurs.. Good move to get these off of the mare.
But thats what I saw, the video was kinda dark, there is some Eagle eyed women on here and will beable to see more and help you out I'm sure. But getting rid of the whip and spurs was the way to go. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 434
Location: Northwest Florida | It looks like a negative response to the whipping and kicking to me. It wouldn't hurt to leave the whip at home for a few trips and see if he improves. Between the second and third, it looks obvious that as soon as she whips him is when he swishes his tail.
I had one that would swish his tail when I was kicking (no whip) and it actually turned out to be ulcers. Once that problem was addressed he hit a whole new gear! I'm sure you've already ruled that one out though.
Good luck!
***Edited to say- I didn't see that you had already taken away the whip and spurs! This is great. Hopefully with time that help out.
Edited by BigStarBound 2015-10-20 9:51 AM
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Veteran
Posts: 197
| I'm trying to find some outdoor videos that will be a little more clear to see. I chatted with the previous owner and she definitely thought there was an issue because they used spurs and whipped going into the barrels and never had him ring his tail. |
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | On the poles the only time I saw the tail wring was when she was coming home and your daughter was kicking. Nice pole run, this gelding is really nice... |
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Veteran
Posts: 197
| Thank you. and yes he only does it on the way home, with the exception of right before the third barrel. She has whipped going to one and two before and he never rang the tail. He is having blood work done today at noon, so maybe we will figure something out. He is a very nice horse, just need him to finish. Great personality and a heart of gold. |
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | bagshaws - 2015-10-20 9:56 AM Thank you. and yes he only does it on the way home, with the exception of right before the third barrel. She has whipped going to one and two before and he never rang the tail. He is having blood work done today at noon, so maybe we will figure something out. He is a very nice horse, just need him to finish. Great personality and a heart of gold.
Well sounds like your doing what you can to find out if theres a problem. Good luck |
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 Expert
Posts: 1612
Location: Cocoa, Florida | I'm the queen of tail ringers I swear, have had 2 of them really bad checked from head to toe, including ovaries, hocks, feet, chiro, massage, magna wave, saddle fit, teeth, etc! Watched videos over and over and realized anytime I put my foot (I usually wear bumper Spurs) into these mares for any reason the tail would swish. I'm not a big starfisher (lol) or kicker, I'm not an overly aggressive rider I just try to stay up with my horses but using leg cues for anuthing would set them off. Now I know a 1d horse in this area that will flat outrun everyone and rings that tail like you wouldn't believe. But I he's stopping or slowing down I would def think something is up, it's always a guessing game which sucks but it could be something minor to something major! |
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Veteran
Posts: 197
| Took horse the vet yesterday, hopefully got some answers. He was sore in his joints from head to toe, except the hocks, they were good. All four ankles showed tenderness. He gave him an injection of Legend and said that it would go directly to where ever he was hurting. They did it through an IV. I have never used Legend and don't know much about it. He also put him on Prevocox daily for one month. He said that he is not used up by any means, but that he is going to require maintenance. I just want him to be pain free, if that's maintenance, then so be it. The vet was amazed at how well he still runs with as much pain that showed in all of his tests.
Thank you everybody that offered suggestions, let's hope this will help. |
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 Own It and Move On
Location: The edge of no where | bagshaws - 2015-10-21 9:58 AM Took horse the vet yesterday, hopefully got some answers. He was sore in his joints from head to toe, except the hocks, they were good. All four ankles showed tenderness. He gave him an injection of Legend and said that it would go directly to where ever he was hurting. They did it through an IV. I have never used Legend and don't know much about it. He also put him on Prevocox daily for one month. He said that he is not used up by any means, but that he is going to require maintenance. I just want him to be pain free, if that's maintenance, then so be it. The vet was amazed at how well he still runs with as much pain that showed in all of his tests. Thank you everybody that offered suggestions, let's hope this will help.
He and your daughter look like a great team! I bet he really starts working his butt off with some pain management, looks like a super nice horse. |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| bagshaws - 2015-10-21 9:58 AM
Took horse the vet yesterday, hopefully got some answers. He was sore in his joints from head to toe, except the hocks, they were good. All four ankles showed tenderness. He gave him an injection of Legend and said that it would go directly to where ever he was hurting. They did it through an IV. I have never used Legend and don't know much about it. He also put him on Prevocox daily for one month. He said that he is not used up by any means, but that he is going to require maintenance. I just want him to be pain free, if that's maintenance, then so be it. The vet was amazed at how well he still runs with as much pain that showed in all of his tests.
Thank you everybody that offered suggestions, let's hope this will help.
The legend iv only works for max 3 days.
Previcoxx is an antiinflammatory and when you quit using it, the pain will come back. IMO this just masks the problem.
My question, did the vet xray, if not find a different vet, go get X-rays so you know what is going on in the joint.
I would also be looking at feet, as I haven't seen a horse be sore in all joints except hocks that didn't have foot issues. (All joints include, coffin, pastern, knee, on all four legs, stifles.)
I would also be investing in pentospan, or glucosamine iv, and be giving these every 3-7 days, much better for the body then previcoxx |
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Ringing of tail