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boon
Posts: 1
| Hi!
I'm having some trouble with my barrel horse. Its been going on for about 2 years now, and I'm so frustrated, nobody has been able to help me.
My gelding tends to run really nice and fast at home, but when I take him to competitions, he wont go in the gate and practically lopes and doesn't have the same enthusiasm as he does at home. I don't over run him or pattern him too much at home, I also don't kick and whip him at the gate, I have someone lead him in while I completely drop my reins. He also seems perfectly healthy and not sore. Just wondering if you maybe have some tips for me?
Thanks | |
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 Take a Picture
Posts: 12841
   
| withatwist1000 - 2015-11-08 12:34 PM
Hi!
I'm having some trouble with my barrel horse. Its been going on for about 2 years now, and I'm so frustrated, nobody has been able to help me.
My gelding tends to run really nice and fast at home, but when I take him to competitions, he wont go in the gate and practically lopes and doesn't have the same enthusiasm as he does at home. I don't over run him or pattern him too much at home, I also don't kick and whip him at the gate, I have someone lead him in while I completely drop my reins. He also seems perfectly healthy and not sore. Just wondering if you maybe have some tips for me?
Thanks
The first thing I would check for is EPM. A check for herpes might be in order. A complete lameness evaluation by a good equine vet really is in order. The paint in my avatar has had EPM for awhile. When EPM is really bothering him this is how he acts. It was hard to even tell he had EPM.
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Veteran
Posts: 285
| Rule out pain. Then I would go to some local jackpots and not run him. Work on going in and out of the gate. Work him away from the arena and then let him rest near or in the arena if possible. Everytime he gives you trouble, take him back and work him. Just keep repeating until he can go in and out the gate with no refusal. He will learn pretty fast he gets to rest at the gate. If he's working nice at home, don't work barrels. Do other things like turning around trees or other exercises. A long nice trail ride to relax. Good luck. | |
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HELP!