I know this topic has been exhausted, but im curious...

Is it possible to have a 1D/2D barrel horse that does not require hock or stifle injections to be compettive (comfortably)?

Im not talking about having zero maintennace 1D horses just ones that dont require injections to clock whether they are 5yr old or 17. Is that just so unheard of now a days?

Thanks in advance!

Considering that horses were not meant to be ridden, let alone competed on, I would say YES. Horses are supposed to graze and walk around with short bursts of energy if there is a preditor or something. We ask them to be ridden regularly to stay in shape, train, haul. We mess with their natural diet etc. I cannot think of any TRUE 1D ( Not back yard small races) horse that didn't need some injecting to stay at that level. I would argue even 2D, 3D horses need the same.

Factor 1. Conformation of horse.

Factor 2. Size of jockey 

Factor 3. Frequency of performance 

I would say that's pretty unrealistic. It of course would depend on the horse if they have good genetics/conformation etc. and how often you compete, but I would say most horses, especially 1D would need some type of injections eventually. 

Yes it is possible.

I think it would be VERY rare to find a top horse that hasnt been injected. And if they havent, it's probably because they havent been vetted properly. Most horses that run in the 1D are owned/ridden by knowledgable people who understand that these animals are athletes and we cant expect them to perform to the best of their ability without a little help. It is what it is. My 7 year old required several injections last year after showing me she wasn't comfortable and now she is running better than ever. On a similar notw, a close friend of mine has a horse that is 16 this year and she has been a competitive 2D horse her whole career. She never took her to a lameness vet until the end of last year and turns out the mare had an old fractured heal and had been running through the pain.

Yes and no. If you have an EXTREMELY stoic horse, they might perform at the 1D level. But that doesn't mean they are 100% comfortable doing it. It just means they ignore the pain. I don't know of one single barrel horse that doesn't get some benefit from hock injections. There is nothing natural about barrel racing. Horses were not designed to turn 3 very tight circles while running. It's a lot of wear and tear on them.

Now I know people will come out of the woodwork and say, "I have a 1D barrel horse that requires nothing". Blah blah blah. While in those people's eyes they might not "require" it, that certainly doesn't mean they wouldn't benefit from them or appreciate the relief injections can give.

Ive had one horse in my life that never needed them he ran till he was 22yrs old. Was checked every 3 months by very top performance vet. He was 1/2D horse until about 17 then 3d horse till we put him down from freak tumor. Charmayne rodeo on him, he was tuff as nail, sound as can be, great big bone and big feet. One of the most sound horses I have ever owned. Past every vet check with flying colors. I had one other that was sound same thing big feet and bone. He did not need injections until a freak accident, then needed stifle and hock, then he blew his stifle out and was retired. Every other top horse and mediocure horse I have had have all needed some sort of injections.