Posted 2016-09-26 12:35 PM Subject: Reasons a horse would start slowing down
BHW New Catch of the Day
Posts: 9884 Location: Missouri
She is only 10, wasn't broke till 4, then started on barrels. After she was running for a year or two she was bottom of the 2D, top of the 3D. Last year she started hitting barrels all the time and we've been struggling all year with that too. Now this year she isn't even 4D. Went to a big show over the weekend that was a 5D, and she was 6D! She's still turning okay so I'm not thinking she's hurting anywhere. She goes in the gate okay. I breezed her twice last week before the show and she ran when I breezed her.
I have been doing some drills and I think I've got the barrel thing figured out, she ran clean over the weekend but geez. She's quick on her feet and super turny but just not running. I even gave her last winter off.
Posted 2016-09-26 12:42 PM Subject: RE: Reasons a horse would start slowing down
Elite Veteran
Posts: 889
My first thought reading this and because I just dealt with the same thing...is a respiratory issue. Have you noticed a change in her breathing? How quickly does she recover after being breezed? Have you noticed any coughing?
I would probably have an in depth conversation with your vet and get a full workup and a lameness exam.
Posted 2016-09-26 12:55 PM Subject: RE: Reasons a horse would start slowing down
BHW New Catch of the Day
Posts: 9884 Location: Missouri
RedHead84 - 2016-09-26 12:42 PM My first thought reading this and because I just dealt with the same thing...is a respiratory issue. Have you noticed a change in her breathing? How quickly does she recover after being breezed? Have you noticed any coughing? I would probably have an in depth conversation with your vet and get a full workup and a lameness exam.
No I haven't noticed any breathing changes. Also to note that I do alot of other things with her. We trail ride frequently. I thought maybe she was just bored, but since we do most of our work outside the arena I'm ruling that out. I hardly ever just lope circles in the arena.
Posted 2016-09-26 1:25 PM Subject: RE: Reasons a horse would start slowing down
Midget Lover
Location: Kentucky
I wouldn't just assume she isn't hurting. I would take her to a good lameness vet. I have a very stoic mare that I went through three vets before someone finally found the issue.
Posted 2016-09-27 8:23 AM Subject: RE: Reasons a horse would start slowing down
Expert
Posts: 1286 Location: Mississippi
She definitely could be hurting even though she isn't showing it. I had the exact problem with my gelding although I thought the slowing down was just from me riding timid. On a whim I took him to a good lameness vet and sure enough, he was hurting. Now a few months after injections, he is clocking again although we are still struggling with barrels down. Sometimes they just have more heart than we give them credit for and could be hurting but still trying hard for us.
Reasons a horse would start slowing down
