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 Member
Posts: 40
Location: Laramie, WY | Has anyone ever used Focus or Relax by Oxygen to help calm and/or relax a horse before a barrel race?
I am a little bit of a nervous person before a race...however, I have a horse that must feel my nerves at times and then he gets nervous and doesn't want to go forward or through the gate.
I don't usually get that nervous on him...however we haven't gotten to go that much this year....& he's gradually gotten worse.
Would you have any other suggestions on what to do or what to give him before a race?
Edited by WyodivaSS 2015-09-29 1:24 AM
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 695
 
Location: Missouri | I have not used those but we use Animal Element In the Zone paste and we love it! you can PM me for more info about it if you would like. Love the price as well!
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With God all things are possible
Posts: 3917
 
| Relax is great I have mare gets too wound up in alley the relax helps her wait on me to start her I give 2 hrs out
U need take eye dropper of rescue remedy it will calm u. Get at health food store |
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With God all things are possible
Posts: 3917
| Relax is great I have mare gets too wound up in alley the relax helps her wait on me to start her I give 2 hrs out
U need take eye dropper of rescue remedy it will calm u. Get at health food store |
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 Experienced Mouse Trapper
Posts: 3106
Location: North Dakota | Search for Chill Ultra, I give about 15 ml dose an hour before a run. The paste is easier than the liquid. |
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 Jr. Detective
Location: Beggs, OK | Many times a gate issue stems from soreness somewhere. My daughter's mare is on fire right now and working really hard, but Saturday she started getting anxious at the gate again. Took her to the vet today and she's sore in both hocks and her left stifle. Her turning style is one that is going to be hard on her. She gives 100%....if your horse is sore and you mask it with calming supplements instead of fixing the issue you can count on the issues getting worse, or never seeing his full potential. They always figure out a way to save themselves from the pain. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1514
Location: Illinois | I had bad gate issues for 2 years, my horse would smash me against a wall/fence every time. Even tried climbing over a truck to get away from the arena once. After trial and error and vet bills I was at a loss for any soreness, even did a full ulcer treatment. After over $2,000 a friend suggested an equipment change. Switched my spurs from ones that were about 2" but not sharp to bumper spurs and haven't had a gate issue since. They completely stopped. He was just getting so mad from my spurs when I kicked that he didn't want to do it anymore. Now his whole demeanor has changed and he's moved up a division, running faster and turning better than ever. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1034
| Yes. I used OxyGen's Jailbreak paste. She had ulcers and it helped her a lot. She walked right in like a pro, but if I don't use it she spins, rears, and high speed backs.
I've also changed her warm up routine. I hand walk and jog her in the parking lot or away from the warm up pen. That place gets her juices flowing and that's where it starts. We don't even go near the hubbub and noise until it's game time. I walk her up, have a calm trusty friend hold her while I get on, and my friend walks her until she starts running down the alley. |
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Member
Posts: 40
Location: Laramie, WY | (Another Has Been)...Thank you, I will PM u later.
Edited by WyodivaSS 2015-09-29 7:17 PM
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Location: U.S. | I have had good luck with THE calming cookies |
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Member
Posts: 40
Location: Laramie, WY | ladyjockey - 2015-09-29 7:57 AM
Relax is great I have mare gets too wound up in alley the relax helps her wait on me to start her I give 2 hrs out
U need take eye dropper of rescue remedy it will calm u. Get at health food store
Thank you! I ordered some relax!!! Going to try it this weekend! I will also go to our local health store and get me some of that stuff to help my nerves!!!! Im already on stress and anxiety meds...however, I'm pretty confident on this horse, so I was bummed that he started getting nervous with me & then not wanting to move forward to enter the gate...instead he backs up and acts like a poop...but when he finally gets to open gate, he's fine! He HATES the crop whip, can't use that... It makes things worse. The best thing I've found for now is to not get on him too soon and to have someone by me to help keep him calm and then walk beside me on foot with him to gate entrance. |
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Member
Posts: 40
Location: Laramie, WY | HorseMommyFiveO - 2015-09-29 7:04 PM
Yes. I used OxyGen's Jailbreak paste. She had ulcers and it helped her a lot. She walked right in like a pro, but if I don't use it she spins, rears, and high speed backs.
I've also changed her warm up routine. I hand walk and jog her in the parking lot or away from the warm up pen. That place gets her juices flowing and that's where it starts. We don't even go near the hubbub and noise until it's game time. I walk her up, have a calm trusty friend hold her while I get on, and my friend walks her until she starts running down the alley.
That sounds just like what I go through, except he has just started to refuse to move forward to the gate...doing the back up thing!!! However, having a friend help this past wknd really made a difference. He has had ulcers too...I maintain it with The Smartpak Gastronomic Gut Ultra & Omeprazole powder and paste on race days. Adding in the Equisure on race days too.
I have also used the Jailbreak...& liked it!
I will definately keep the warm up routine thing in mind and try that too.
Thanks! |
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Member
Posts: 40
Location: Laramie, WY | JLazyT_perf_horses - 2015-09-29 4:28 PM
I had bad gate issues for 2 years, my horse would smash me against a wall/fence every time. Even tried climbing over a truck to get away from the arena once. After trial and error and vet bills I was at a loss for any soreness, even did a full ulcer treatment. After over $2,000 a friend suggested an equipment change. Switched my spurs from ones that were about 2" but not sharp to bumper spurs and haven't had a gate issue since. They completely stopped. He was just getting so mad from my spurs when I kicked that he didn't want to do it anymore. Now his whole demeanor has changed and he's moved up a division, running faster and turning better than ever.
That's great! glad things improved. I don't wear spurs at all and especially with this horse! However, I'm going to try and NOT have the crop whip on saddle this time to see if that helps...I think he's terrified of it. |
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Member
Posts: 40
Location: Laramie, WY | rachellyn80 - 2015-09-29 4:10 PM
Many times a gate issue stems from soreness somewhere. My daughter's mare is on fire right now and working really hard, but Saturday she started getting anxious at the gate again. Took her to the vet today and she's sore in both hocks and her left stifle. Her turning style is one that is going to be hard on her. She gives 100%....if your horse is sore and you mask it with calming supplements instead of fixing the issue you can count on the issues getting worse, or never seeing his full potential. They always figure out a way to save themselves from the pain.
This horse is totally sound...so don't think it's that. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1034
| WyodivaSS - 2015-09-29 7:29 PM
HorseMommyFiveO - 2015-09-29 7:04 PM
Yes. I used OxyGen's Jailbreak paste. She had ulcers and it helped her a lot. She walked right in like a pro, but if I don't use it she spins, rears, and high speed backs.
I've also changed her warm up routine. I hand walk and jog her in the parking lot or away from the warm up pen. That place gets her juices flowing and that's where it starts. We don't even go near the hubbub and noise until it's game time. I walk her up, have a calm trusty friend hold her while I get on, and my friend walks her until she starts running down the alley.
That sounds just like what I go through, except he has just started to refuse to move forward to the gate...doing the back up thing!!! However, having a friend help this past wknd really made a difference. He has had ulcers too...I maintain it with The Smartpak Gastronomic Gut Ultra & Omeprazole powder and paste on race days. Adding in the Equisure on race days too.
I have also used the Jailbreak...& liked it!
I will definately keep the warm up routine thing in mind and try that too.
Thanks!
I use EquiSure, too. 2 or 3 times a week and The day before, day of, and day after race day or any time she gets in the trailer. Stuff is magic.
I had ulcers myself when I was young and didn't know how to manage my own stress. Stress can still make me lose weight (darn) but I've got a handle on it now and more insight to my horse from first hand experience. Download a meditation app and just take 10 minutes a day. Go to a shooting range and ask for stress drills and breathing exercises. Start running yourself - a great stress reliever, mind clearer, and boy will you understand your equine athlete's needs better! You CAN control your nerves! |
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