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 Member
Posts: 25
Location: Alaska | Has anyone ever had experience with a barrel horse that will only run in a indoor arena? When my gelding runs in an indoor arena he usually places first or in the top of the 1D. When we run in an outdoor arena, he will not go around the first can at anything faster than a hand gallop. If I let him have any speed, or pick his own pace, or don't hold him up going to the first barrel he throws an epic tantrum behind the barrel (just once), when I get him collected up, he then will continue on with the pattern and turn 2 and 3 perfectly. If I start over - he turns the first can like an angel - again this ONLY happens in an outdoor arena. Also - he schools perfectly outside. Only during a completion in an outdoor arena will he flip out behind the first barrel, and only once (sometimes I just take him back through the pattern and hope I don't get in trouble with the rodeo team).
He is 8, so he is old enough to know better. He has been doing this stunt for a long time now. It is actually why I currently own him. :) Lucky ME!
We have been doing this for a while, so I have absolutely been to multiple lameness vets in several different states, I have tested for everything under the sun (TWICE), chiropractic adjustments every two weeks, massage, nutrition, ulcers, x-rays, teeth, feet, bone scans, scoped for bleeding, injections, animal communicators, calming paste, drugs, you name it, we have done it.
The problem is..... If he runs at his top performance on a Wednesday in the indoor, but then will not turn a can on a Saturday outside, this can't be pain. It has to be a mental block. Has anyone had this same situation, or know someone who has?
I would love to hear any ideas or thoughts anyone has to offer, and if by chance someone figures this out, or helps us through this, they will be my all time favorite human for LIFE! | |
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Expert
Posts: 1409
 
Location: Oklahoma | Set him up for success only run him inside. Some will only run outside and not inside. | |
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Member
Posts: 25
Location: Alaska | I should have added my location because that does create a little issue. We live in Alaska, so there is only one indoor arena that we run in and we only run there a couple times a summer. If I only ran him in the indoor arena I would only barrel race 3 to 4 times a year, and I would not be able to enter any rodeo's or jackpots. I simply would have to just quit him and get a different horse if I chose this route.
I am curious however about your last sentence, do you know of horses who will only run in one or the other? I understand a horse excelling and being better or liking one or the other, but do you actually know of barrel horses that will run in one, and refuse to turn the cans in the other? I feel like we are the only ones...... | |
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Go Get Em!
Posts: 13503
  
Location: OH. IO | Have you tried him on the left barrel first outside?if he only does it once,enter in exhibition and get the crap run out of the way lol | |
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Go Get Em!
Posts: 13503
Location: OH. IO | have you tried blinkers(blinders ) outside? | |
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Regular
Posts: 65
| I have one that doesn't like to run outdoor much. We have ran indoor so much over the last 3-4 years due to outdoor shows get rained out & I go to a lot of 2 & 3 day shows that are indoor he's just use to them & feels secure. He goes outdoor & I have to get 1 or 2 warm ups on him & then he's a better. Still not like indoor but better. He is 7. I mainly run him where I know I can get the better runs on him.
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Expert
Posts: 1409
Location: Oklahoma | 907brlrcr - 2018-06-28 7:44 PM
I should have added my location because that does create a little issue. We live in Alaska, so there is only one indoor arena that we run in and we only run there a couple times a summer. If I only ran him in the indoor arena I would only barrel race 3 to 4 times a year, and I would not be able to enter any rodeo's or jackpots. I simply would have to just quit him and get a different horse if I chose this route.
I am curious however about your last sentence, do you know of horses who will only run in one or the other? I understand a horse excelling and being better or liking one or the other, but do you actually know of barrel horses that will run in one, and refuse to turn the cans in the other? I feel like we are the only ones......
Yes! and me also! lol I do better inside bc I have no peripheral vision or depth perception. My horse does most the work as far as his pockets but I have to have something to judge by and the walls are so much easier for me! I have to make myself go outside! and I thought it was my horse that didn't like outside but it was me lol He runs the same inside or outside. But there is horses that do better inside or outside. I have a friend that can win at rodeo than jp. she always tells me set your horse up for success. that's always stuck with me I have one arena that like a home arena that I will always go back to if I need a confidence run. Where you are I don't know what to tell ya as far as arenas goes. Are you apprehensive bout running outside and your horse is getting the vibe from you? | |
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 Expert
Posts: 1395
Location: Missouri | Turnburnsis - 2018-06-28 7:39 PM
Set him up for success only run him inside. Some will only run outside and not inside.
I was going to suggest this til you mentioned your location being an issue.
I have a horse that runs better outside, in covered but open arenas, and will do ok in an indoor if the set up is right. If it's not, and she feels too cramped, she's not going to run hard at all, and I'll have a heck of a time getting her deep enough into the turns. It's not pain, it's just her preference. She's older so I do my best to just deal with it. | |
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Member
Posts: 25
Location: Alaska | I have tried running to the left outside, but he will still refuse the can going to the right. That is why I thought it had to be pain, but it clearly is not pain, it is something mental with that particular barrel and only when outside.
SO this weekend we were at a smaller rodeo. Friday we had a jackpot and Saturday was the rodeo (outside). We decided to try blinders. I was nervous because he runs like a freight train and I didn't know how we were going to handle things if he could not see the barrel once he got past it. He was very timid and cautious with the blinders on, but he also seemed very relaxed. Friday night we took it easy but he did great. He did not even think about throwing a fit behind the first can. Saturday night I let him go and he was a little wide on the cans but he did great. He was depending on me to guide him around each barrel which was wonderful, but a little different than how he usually runs. We came in 3rd, so it was a success. :)
So for now Blinders (blinkers) are going to be what we use for the outdoor races, and hopefully he will not catch on to my new trick and spoil all my excitement! Fingers crossed!
Thank you all for your ideas. | |
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 My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
Location: Arkansas | Love your update  | |
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Veteran
Posts: 111
| Weird question, but at the outdoor arenas you're running at, are the stands or the bucking chutes consistently on the same side as the first barrel? Mine hates running into the bucking chutes, so 1st or 2nd can be hairy outside, depending on which side they end up being on. Maybe that's why the blinders helped? | |
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Member
Posts: 25
Location: Alaska | We have about 8 different outside arenas we run at, and I would say the majority of the time the first can is towards the stands. He will flip out either way, but maybe that is why the blinders are working?? I wish he could talk and tell me! This guessing game is making me a little crazy. I think time will tell. | |
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 I hate cooking and cleaning
Posts: 3310
Location: Jersey Girl | 907brlrcr - 2018-06-28 8:02 PM Has anyone ever had experience with a barrel horse that will only run in a indoor arena? When my gelding runs in an indoor arena he usually places first or in the top of the 1D. When we run in an outdoor arena, he will not go around the first can at anything faster than a hand gallop. If I let him have any speed, or pick his own pace, or don't hold him up going to the first barrel he throws an epic tantrum behind the barrel (just once), when I get him collected up, he then will continue on with the pattern and turn 2 and 3 perfectly. If I start over - he turns the first can like an angel - again this ONLY happens in an outdoor arena. Also - he schools perfectly outside. Only during a completion in an outdoor arena will he flip out behind the first barrel, and only once (sometimes I just take him back through the pattern and hope I don't get in trouble with the rodeo team). He is 8, so he is old enough to know better. He has been doing this stunt for a long time now. It is actually why I currently own him. :) Lucky ME! We have been doing this for a while, so I have absolutely been to multiple lameness vets in several different states, I have tested for everything under the sun (TWICE), chiropractic adjustments every two weeks, massage, nutrition, ulcers, x-rays, teeth, feet, bone scans, scoped for bleeding, injections, animal communicators, calming paste, drugs, you name it, we have done it. The problem is..... If he runs at his top performance on a Wednesday in the indoor, but then will not turn a can on a Saturday outside, this can't be pain. It has to be a mental block. Has anyone had this same situation, or know someone who has? I would love to hear any ideas or thoughts anyone has to offer, and if by chance someone figures this out, or helps us through this, they will be my all time favorite human for LIFE!
Have you tried doing an exhibition when you are running outdoors? Sounds like he needs to see things first outdoors. | |
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Member
Posts: 25
Location: Alaska | During the rodeos and the jackpots we don't have the option to do an exhibition. Unfortunately. | |
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