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 Veteran
Posts: 226
 
Location: Middle Tennessee | I bought a horse who was previously a futurity horse. He is now 8 and has had some time off and has been used outside of the barrel pen. I decided it was time to bring him back into barrel racing. He works GREAT at home, but whenever I take him to a show he blows up! All I take him and do is exhibitions and he cannot handle himself. All I want him to do is walk and trot the pattern and he fights me the whole time wanting to run. But, I let him do this the first time I hauled him and he ran around the arena like a maniac. He never does this at home. I know who trained him and can say this person is not the most gentle or quiet handed trainer. I've seen others from this trainer end up this way. What should I do? Just keep hauling him and showing him he is ok? Try some Quietex or Ace?
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 Expert
Posts: 2276
Location: ohio-in my own little world with pretty ponies :) | Has he been checked by a vet? He probably remembers if from doing futurities. I would hall him and just ride there but don't show him the barrels until he can calm down and slowly bring him back. Start my just riding him and then going to the gate and standing and getting off and reward him for the good behavior and he will associate the arena and alley with praise and then the next time ride him inside and then take him back in. But don't move on until he is good with the previous. I had a mare that acted like that and this was what I did. It took almost the whole summer but now she is the best horse and has no issues!! Best of luck!!  |
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 Tough Patooty
Posts: 2615
Location: Sperry, OK | RodeoGirlJodi - 2014-02-10 9:13 AM I bought a horse who was previously a futurity horse. He is now 8 and has had some time off and has been used outside of the barrel pen. I decided it was time to bring him back into barrel racing. He works GREAT at home, but whenever I take him to a show he blows up! All I take him and do is exhibitions and he cannot handle himself. All I want him to do is walk and trot the pattern and he fights me the whole time wanting to run. But, I let him do this the first time I hauled him and he ran around the arena like a maniac. He never does this at home. I know who trained him and can say this person is not the most gentle or quiet handed trainer. I've seen others from this trainer end up this way. What should I do? Just keep hauling him and showing him he is ok? Try some Quietex or Ace?
If you want to do this.. I would use something that does not affect their muscles, just their minds like Chlorpromazine. Also I have never really had much luck with oral supplements, especially on one with this type of issue. They usually need something a little stronger, at least in the beginning anyway. |
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  Twin Sister to Queen Boobie
Posts: 13315
 
Location: East Tennessee but who knows?! | I would keep hauling and work on getting him to relax. Every time they drag, if you can just walk in and out of the alley way. I think though that some horses have to learn the hard way how to conserve their energy. The only way to do that is let them work as fast as they think they want to go and.then start pushing them when they finally quit so that its now your idea and not theirs. Totally changes the game when that happens.If you could do that off the pattern but in the barrel pen that would be perfect. That way he'd learn that just because there's a set there it doesnt mean he's going to run. Only thing is you've got to be prepared to ride until he runs out of steam and that can take a while. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1857
| Fairweather - 2014-02-10 9:40 AM
I would keep hauling and work on getting him to relax. Every time they drag, if you can just walk in and out of the alley way. I think though that some horses have to learn the hard way how to conserve their energy. The only way to do that is let them work as fast as they think they want to go and.then start pushing them when they finally quit so that its now your idea and not theirs. Totally changes the game when that happens.If you could do that off the pattern but in the barrel pen that would be perfect. That way he'd learn that just because there's a set there it doesnt mean he's going to run. Only thing is you've got to be prepared to ride until he runs out of steam and that can take a while.
I agree with your thinking but i'm wondering if the alley way and the arena should be the resting point. Work him out side the alley way, roll backs, along the fence, large circles, keeping his feet moving at a good rate of speed and then come to the alley way to relax if he doesn't want to then take him back out and work him, bring him back to the alley and allow him the chance to relax and think about it, if he wont settle then repeat. Once he relaxes un cinch walk him out. Then if you can do an exhibition I would cinch him back up and walk the pattern. If he gets pushy and out of control work the fence line and use the pattern as his release. Allow him to work out his anxiety away from the pattern so that he can find reward on the pattern. |
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Twin Sister to Queen Boobie
Posts: 13315
Location: East Tennessee but who knows?! | FlyingJT - 2014-02-10 10:00 AM
Fairweather - 2014-02-10 9:40 AM
I would keep hauling and work on getting him to relax. Every time they drag, if you can just walk in and out of the alley way. I think though that some horses have to learn the hard way how to conserve their energy. The only way to do that is let them work as fast as they think they want to go and.then start pushing them when they finally quit so that its now your idea and not theirs. Totally changes the game when that happens.If you could do that off the pattern but in the barrel pen that would be perfect. That way he'd learn that just because there's a set there it doesnt mean he's going to run. Only thing is you've got to be prepared to ride until he runs out of steam and that can take a while.
I agree with your thinking but i'm wondering if the alley way and the arena should be the resting point. Work him out side the alley way, roll backs, along the fence, large circles, keeping his feet moving at a good rate of speed and then come to the alley way to relax if he doesn't want to then take him back out and work him, bring him back to the alley and allow him the chance to relax and think about it, if he wont settle then repeat. Once he relaxes un cinch walk him out. Then if you can do an exhibition I would cinch him back up and walk the pattern. If he gets pushy and out of control work the fence line and use the pattern as his release. Allow him to work out his anxiety away from the pattern so that he can find reward on the pattern.
I should have been more clear. Rest in the alley, if that doesnt work put him to work in the pen. Sorry I wasn't more clear on that. |
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 No Tune in a Bucket
Posts: 2935
Location: Texas | You might even try to pony him from a calmer horse for a buddy until he can see that the arena is not such a bad place. |
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 Crazy Doggy Mommy
Posts: 1419
Location: Where Governor's make the liscense plates | Are you sure we aren't riding the same horse? haha my guy goes as far as just blowing past the barrels. I had a WPRA rider tell me that I don't trust him and maybe I dont because he has so much power maybe if you could trust him to do his job more it might be better? I have yet to trust but maybe you |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1115
| Clinton Anderson has a Barrel Racing DVD that really helped me with a horse with a blown mind. I had one that was great at home and at the rodeo arena until you took him down the alley. Then he turned into an idiot. I used his method and just took my time and he did come around.
Good luck |
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 Saint Stacey
| My opinion about blown up futurity horses is that they become this way because they are taught to HATE their job. Running barrels is never a good experience for some of them.
While I can appreciate what was mentioned about working outside the arena and letting the alley be a place of rest... JMO but that won't fix a blown mind because you are still forcing the work and bad memories.
You have to calm the mind and gradually show them that the arena is not a place where bad things always happen. You always look for a place to stop. Even if that means the first time you exhibition, the horse is a nut, you look for that ONE small, simple, good thing and you STOP right then and there and you get off. Then you gradually add on.
Once you add on and get a decent pattern as soon a you are done, you get off. You don't walk to the trailer, you don't chit chat with friends and re-live the run you just made. As soon as you get out of the pen, you get off, uncinch, pull boots and hand walk out.
Most people can't rehab a blown mind because they are still forcing work and the horse can't figure out that it isn't always a bad experience. They think wet saddle blankets and work will fix the issue. Rarely is this the case.
Would I use drugs? Absolutely. If a horse is truly blown up mind wise, you'd be stupid not to use chemical help to get over the hump. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1092
Location: OK | If he was ever run hurt, he might remember. In that case, it's gonna take awhile. Like months, or more.
On the point of the difference from home to races, do you ever make runs at home? Maybe he knows that home is always slow, so no nerves there.
I know it's probably not what you wanna do, but as another poster said, some horses really have a problem with you pulling on their face. The more you pull, they more they run through it. If this is the case, have you ever tried really just leaving him alone and letting him work? It's very hard to do, especially after you've had all this happen, but you might give that a try. It will take someone with a video camera and slow motion to convince you that you are still pulling on him if you're like me, but it's worth it if you can get past it.
Only enter in very small pens for awhile so he can't get going so fast. Try to ease him up the alley and gradually let him go to the first and see what happens. Be sure he looks at the first before you let him go.
I have a horse that hates to be pulled so bad, if I pull, sometimes we break the pattern. if I just sit there, scared, but very still and really get my butt down, she will work. |
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 Expert
Posts: 4121
Location: SE Louisiana | Teeth! Check the mouth.....  |
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 Expert
Posts: 2308
Location: Viola, IL | I am with SKM.
I had a mare that had been very sore, for several years. My vet gave her a shot, it was some pyschotropic drug that helped her to get over feeling anxiety and being "blown up" in a sense. It was the best thing I'd ever done. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1131
| When my mare was still hot from competitive trail riding as a 2year old (when we got her, her mind was ruined and she was HOT as a mere 4 year old), we aced her when we first started hauling her to races a year later (just to TO her), because we could not get it through her head that it was not full blow out speed the whole time. Now 3 years later, she is a nice 2D/3D horse who is only getting better more she is ran. It just takes time, don't be afraid to use some drugs to help the process. |
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Veteran
Posts: 226
Location: Middle Tennessee | playinwithfire - 2014-02-10 6:31 PM Clinton Anderson has a Barrel Racing DVD that really helped me with a horse with a blown mind. I had one that was great at home and at the rodeo arena until you took him down the alley. Then he turned into an idiot. I used his method and just took my time and he did come around. Good luck
EXACTLY how he is to the tee. Wonderful at home and at the arena until he goes in the pen. Then all *ell breaks loose. He just becomes uncontrolable running everywhere and plowing barrels. He feels like a bomb under me! We hauled to a local arena for open ride and he worked very well on Quietex paste, somaybe I can wean him off of it eventually. |
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Veteran
Posts: 226
Location: Middle Tennessee | SKM - 2014-02-10 6:37 PM My opinion about blown up futurity horses is that they become this way because they are taught to HATE their job. Running barrels is never a good experience for some of them.
While I can appreciate what was mentioned about working outside the arena and letting the alley be a place of rest... JMO but that won't fix a blown mind because you are still forcing the work and bad memories.
You have to calm the mind and gradually show them that the arena is not a place where bad things always happen. You always look for a place to stop. Even if that means the first time you exhibition, the horse is a nut, you look for that ONE small, simple, good thing and you STOP right then and there and you get off. Then you gradually add on.
Once you add on and get a decent pattern as soon a you are done, you get off. You don't walk to the trailer, you don't chit chat with friends and re-live the run you just made. As soon as you get out of the pen, you get off, uncinch, pull boots and hand walk out.
Most people can't rehab a blown mind because they are still forcing work and the horse can't figure out that it isn't always a bad experience. They think wet saddle blankets and work will fix the issue. Rarely is this the case.
Would I use drugs? Absolutely. If a horse is truly blown up mind wise, you'd be stupid not to use chemical help to get over the hump.
Thank you! Exactly how I feel about it. He is so scared of the first barrel when worked to the right that he will completely stop at a full blown run and pop up in his front end (due to the repeated HARSH jerking to stop and back up at the first barrel for rate). It's sad really. So, I work him to the left and he is much more relaxed at the brrels. |
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