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Expert
Posts: 4766
   
Location: Bandera, TX | My suggestion to you is to pay for a nuclear scan or scintigraphy for your horse. This will give your vet a starting point as to where the location of the pain is coming from. Talk with the facilty before the scan. I had to have two done on a mare that was doing the "exact" same thing as your mare. The first scan I had not worked her in a while and she didn't have any significant "hot" spots. The second scan she had multiple small hot spots. I felt like I had taken her to the best of the best in the lameness field only to come up with no real answers as to why the mare behaved that way. My vet bills were 20K (and yes the mare was worth it.) She had every thing checked from stem to stern. I bred her and have just now started to leg her back up. I injected many joints to no avail. I had a dynamic scope done to check her breathing and multiple ultrasounds depending on the stage of her cycle to check her repro tract for possible causes.
I was able to try many different saddles and had no changes to her cranky attitude that was developing. She had chiro and masssage from some of the best in the world. I all but flew the mare to Europe...
Be prepared to open the check book, have your daughter ride off pattern and while supervised. Vet bills are cheap compared to medical bills. I'll pray for a knowledgable outcome for you and your horse. |
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Expert
Posts: 4766
Location: Bandera, TX | fatchance - 2015-06-19 6:50 PM Pretty sure he has read everyone's thoughts....time to move on and let him handle this situation, God knows we are not in control of it. 
Amen! |
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 Holy Macaroni!
Posts: 3957
Location: I am not FROM California I just live here! | my bigger question would be how long has this horse been trained on barrels??? Was the horse patterned on barrels before you bought the horse was the horse a finished barrel horse when you bought him???? So many people do not realize how much time it actually takes to make a good solid barrel horse my opinion is 2-3 years of slow work and hauling to be able to call one finished when you start pushing to soon it is way to easy for them to fall apart......JMO |
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 Lived to tell about it and will never do it again
Posts: 5408
| I'm not saying that the horse doesn't have pain issues but I'd sure like to see how he worked if you got that shouldering problem fixed. Coming in wider on a horse that is shouldering isn't the answer. Shouldering will lock a horse up. My sugestion for what is worth would be to get him to square up coming into the barrel the correct way and you might be surprised by the results. |
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 Swiffer PIcker Upper
Posts: 4015
Location: Four Corners Colorado | Everyone here really really wants to help you and your daughter to be successful with this horse if you will listen. Where are you located, maybe someone near you can point you in the best directions of who to go to to help your daughter and her horse! We may come off as harsh but it is because we have all been there at one point in time or another. |
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  Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | My horse that was diagnosed with a broken pelvis was hesitant to go in, then had a nice 1st barrel, would blow his 2nd barrel (or try and stop on the backside) and then was practically a runaway to 3rd and home. If nothing else do a simple and CHEAP rectal exam on this poor fella and hopefully at least eliminiate that. I am seeing a ton of pain and anxiety in that horse's eyes.  |
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Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | I want to add that pelvis injuries are more common than most people think. They can happen from a simple trip or slip at the barrel, in pasture etc. Some are so bad they bleed out immediately and others are mis-diagnosed as back soreness and SI issues etc. My horse was turned out to pasture during the winter I was pregnant. I got him going again after about a 7 month break and he was never lame, just seemed odd when loping smaller circles etc and was very touchy when his back was brushed. Never misbehaved when I was long trotting or running him straight. It took a lot of money and a lot of vets to find out what was wrong with him. He was given just shy of 2yrs off in pasture and is now enjoying his 2nd career as a show horse/ranch horse/pony horse. Just no hard stops or turns are in his future. |
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 Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
Location: Phoenix | I would be xraying joints and lower legs. Ultrasound as well--I say suspensories...my friend had a horse that pretty much stopped at the barrel as well and that's what it was. I would quit doing gymkhana events as well. Give him a break. Let him have some solid time off while you fix him and bring him back in a clean slate. |
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Expert
Posts: 4766
Location: Bandera, TX | wyoming barrel racer - 2015-06-19 11:52 PM I want to add that pelvis injuries are more common than most people think. They can happen from a simple trip or slip at the barrel, in pasture etc. Some are so bad they bleed out immediately and others are mis-diagnosed as back soreness and SI issues etc. My horse was turned out to pasture during the winter I was pregnant. I got him going again after about a 7 month break and he was never lame, just seemed odd when loping smaller circles etc and was very touchy when his back was brushed. Never misbehaved when I was long trotting or running him straight. It took a lot of money and a lot of vets to find out what was wrong with him. He was given just shy of 2yrs off in pasture and is now enjoying his 2nd career as a show horse/ranch horse/pony horse. Just no hard stops or turns are in his future.
I thought that was my mares problem. She has an unusual look to her pelvis (asymmetrical). However the scint didn't confirm a fx. Ironically, her dam became a broodie after a fx pelvis. |
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Expert
Posts: 4766
Location: Bandera, TX | hammer_time - 2015-06-20 3:05 AM I would be xraying joints and lower legs. Ultrasound as well--I say suspensories...my friend had a horse that pretty much stopped at the barrel as well and that's what it was. I would quit doing gymkhana events as well. Give him a break. Let him have some solid time off while you fix him and bring him back in a clean slate.
I was running a little stud horse that I started years ago last summer. He strained his RH high suspensory and had the very same reaction the horse in the video is displaying.
DAD, owner of horse... as you can see so many possible causes to this behavior.
A diagnosis is paramount and if they can't find a cause the horse should be turned out for a rest then brought back slow and with a plan per vets instructions. |
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 Hawty & Nawty
Posts: 20424
| Poster, I hope you'll keep us updated to the progress here. Thank you for putting yourself on the line. So many of us can learn a lot from this and and apply it to our own situations when the occur, so this is a good thing you're doing. I also want to say, that I understand that if you're feeling defensive over this advice, please don't. The comments here are spot on. I've have brought issues to this board and have always walked away better for it.
When I watch the video I see hind end pain. He's avoiding the movement of taking off which requires a push from the hind end...i/e stiffles, hocks, sacrum...etc etc...there is a definate problem and your daughters frustration is only going to result in disaster.
Again, thanks for posting, we sure hope you get this figured out and just put your daughter back on ol reliable until then.
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 Angel in a Sorrel Coat
Posts: 16030
Location: In a happy place | RidenFly - 2015-06-20 6:07 AM Poster, I hope you'll keep us updated to the progress here. Thank you for putting yourself on the line. So many of us can learn a lot from this and and apply it to our own situations when the occur, so this is a good thing you're doing. I also want to say, that I understand that if you're feeling defensive over this advice, please don't. The comments here are spot on. I've have brought issues to this board and have always walked away better for it.
When I watch the video I see hind end pain. He's avoiding the movement of taking off which requires a push from the hind end...i/e stiffles, hocks, sacrum...etc etc...there is a definate problem and your daughters frustration is only going to result in disaster.
Again, thanks for posting, we sure hope you get this figured out and just put your daughter back on ol reliable until then.
Well said Riden. Most on here want the best for your daughter and her horse. And if possible please let us know how what you do works out. |
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 Take a Picture
Posts: 12838
| Did you say that your daughter was working with a trainer? My trainer can tell almost immediately where the problem is. Let your trainerchec k the horse out and see what he/she says.
Kids get frustrated easily and I think that is the problem here. If vet says horse is good to go, I would check kissing spine or EPM. These are easily overlooked. I am also wondering if this horse just has your daughter's number or is not used to a heavy handed rider. Your trainer should be able to pick up on this. Reaming the kid out for the way they ride is pointless...As for the shouldering, I would say this horse probably came with this problem. |
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 Coyote Country Queen
Posts: 5666
| A couple things that I wonder about that I don't think have been mentioned. First, you said that you walked/ trotted for quite awhile, then just recently added some speed. If you went straight from a trot to the speed shown in the videos, I would say that you've skipped a speed. Slow down and make sure the horse and rider are correct at a slow lope, then slowly begin to increase speed to a run. I think there's a lot to be said about riding quietly, and honestly most of the people I see whipping and riding are really hindering their horses or causing issues. The second thing that I want to discuss is your trainer. I obviously have no idea who your trainer is, but if your trainer is allowing your child to ride like this and isn't remedying the current problem, then I suggest you find a new trainer. I see people advertising daily that they are trainers, when in reality they themselves need to find a trainer. Just because a person calls themselves a trainer doesn't mean they are knowledgeable or experienced. Look around at the jackpots and see who consistently wins or places at the top. Someone who rides horses that appear to enjoy their job without issues. Then approach that person and ask for help.
Lameness and training issues are often difficult to diagnose and then correct. I agree that I would be going to a specialist. I haul over 5 hours one way to get to the specialist I use. And it has been worth every penny, mile, and time spent. I'm not saying your vet isn't good, but it might be time to get a different set of eyes and diagnostic equipment on your horse.
If this truly isn't a pain issue, then it is a mental or training issue. And there are not very many young riders who can fix these kind of issues. Send this horse to a reputable trainer. In reality, it might be best to send the horse off to try to get his issues fixed and sell, and find a horse that is more suited for your daughter. Once they develop issues like this it is going to be a long road to keeping the horse correct. And again, something not easy for a young rider to do.
It sounds like you really want to do right by your daughter and the horse, and sometimes the decisions you have to make are difficult. Good luck, and like others have said, I would love to hear updates. |
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Location: NE Texas | kiel53 - 2015-06-19 3:50 PM
I'm pretty sure he is in a jr cow bit . And yes I am well aware of what happens after he stops and we will work on that . But what I was asking is what everyone's opinion is on why he stops at the second barrel . We take very good care of him and he is a very nice horse and we are aggressively going to fix him any way we can . I mean who in there right mind would post videos like this for the world to see . ...Signed one desperate Dad trying to help his daughter and her horse
Kudos for asking for help! He is a very nice horse.... |
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Porta Potty Pants
Posts: 2600
| Sending you positive thoughts to get this fixed! |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1062
Location: Probably On the Road to the Next Barrel Race! | Had a horse that would run 20.5 second poles...stopped turning first barrel , it was kissing spine. |
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