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 I Drink Whiskey in Boys Shorts
Posts: 1882
   
| whammo77 - 2015-04-12 1:16 AM Thank you all for your responses. I apologize to all of you for not responding sooner... it's been a VERY busy week. I DO realize that my original posting was somewhat "misinforming", and I DO apologize. As I said, the whole "horsemanship" gene totally skipped me.... So I am doing the best I can. I'm sorry, as much as I would like it to be different, I'm just a "mechanically" minded type of person. So I will probably say some stuff that is totally stupid. Sorry. I haven't gotten to thoroughly read every response. I hope to tomorrow.... but a quick "browse" and response is as follows: "Rox" is 10 y/o mare. We have had her 3 years, and she has always been like this. Yes, I have videos, and will be happy to share. I'm out of my element here, and that's why I came in here. I mean, technique sorts of stuff, I can "kinda" see.... But when I can see that the horse is kind of "loafing along" and it seems like it's from a lack of energy, I don't know what to do. When I feel like that, I grab a bottle of 5-hour-energy. It doesn't make me wide-eyed or crazy, it just helps me to function a little bit better on those "down days". So I'm not trying to change Rox, I'm just trying to make her feel better. Rox is a super good horse. I know that. I've been around horses all my life, and although I am horse-stupid, I can see she is a good horse. Likewise, I can see that although she posts some decent times, she's not living up to her potential. Likewise, I can see that even when she has just been raced, when she comes out of the arena she is ready to fall asleep (which she does, which I know is a little unusual). Because of that, I'm thinking (and hoping) that maybe she is just short on some nutrients, or vitamins, or something? I mean, I don't want her to run a barrel race and then come out and be totally out of control.... but at the same time, (along with her typical lack of energy) I find it odd that she can run her butt off, and then 3 minutes later be pretty much sound asleep. People, and animals, need a "cool down time" (typically). But she comes out of the arena, and her head drops and she is pretty much OUT. Because she is so "sane", I want to give her 100 chances. As I said before, there are times she can "blow the doors off" an arena.... but those days are few and far between, and in 3 years she's NEVER been able to put up a good time on the 2nd day of a 2-day race. She either goes out and "loafs" along, or she bowls over all the barrels. Like I said, I'm realistic... she will NEVER win a national race.... but at the same time, locally, she SHOULD be taking down some 1D races. And, on RARE occasions, she has. But MOST of the time she loafs and either ends up in the 2d or 3d. So no, I'm NOT trying to make her "HOT" or "CRAZY", I just want her to feel better and perform better. With that, I know that someday, to keep moving up the "ladder", we will have to move on. But for now, she is capable of doing a lot more than she is giving........
Something is amiss somewhere in this horse judging by what you just said there. There is pain or discomfort somewhere. How is she entering the arena? Does she go in fairly easy or refuse? | |
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 Having Smokin Bandits
Posts: 4572
Location: Woodstown, NJ | I was hoping you were going to say she's 25. But she's 10. I don't think you're necessarily asking for her to be a 1D horse, even though we all want to do the best that we absolutely can, but you just want her to wake up. Lazy is one thing but is sleepy normal? Is it normal for a horse who didn't act this way with the old owner? If she was always like this, then I'd be more inclined not to worry so much. But since she wasn't like this in the past, it makes me think something is wrong. You can tweak her diet but the diet sounds pretty good. You said you have had the vet out. Did he do bloodwork? Someone mentioned checking for thyroid problems and other things. I would do that if you haven't. | |
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Red Bull Agressive
Posts: 5981
Location: North Dakota | Is it possible for horses to get hypothyroidism? Cause I have that and your horse sounds like me. Maybe look into that. Nutritionally, I've heard of Red Cell making horses quite energetic, mayhaps try that instead of the 747. I've fed that and it certainly did not make my horses hyper or more energetic. | |
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 I Chore in Chucks
Posts: 2882
Location: MD | sounds like a quiet lady to set a kid on top of. I bet you'd have people jumping like bunnies to get her for their beginner barrel racers. | |
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 Living within my means
Posts: 5128
Location: Randolph, Utah | Id take a dead head 2D horse over my crack head that has potential but can't seem to relax enough to use the talent!
Want to trade?? Lol | |
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| I had a horse that would give me a 1D time once a year and then after that the barrels became his target. He was an ex- turnback horse and that is all he wanted to do. He became my brother's calf horse and even then you had 5 or so calves a week he would work and then no more. Good thing my brother loved riding bulls way more than roping. This horse would work cattle all day long, arena work - not so much. We have had 2 horses like this, both cutting bred. Maybe she is trying to tell you she'll work but she is bored with it. | |
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 Expert
Posts: 2013
Location: Piedmont, OK | She may be at the maximum for her God given ability. But I would strongly suggest Animal Element Performance Detox which may get out any toxins. I would also suggest Product X - it puts the pep in my horses step every time! | |
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 Dancing in my Mind
Posts: 3062
Location: Eastern OH but my heart is in WV | If nothing else works, you can send her my way. One of the best horses, I ever rode was the same way. Sleep outside the arena, go in smoke the run and right back down again. Loved that little horse. | |
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Regular
Posts: 55
| Long trotting and breezing your horse can speed them up. Also, getting them a little excited in the alley way with a bat.
I would also try running her with out the spurs, we have horses that will literally stop running with them.
I don't know hold old your daughter is but also make sure she is doing the same thing on every run, sometimes kids & teens will forget once they get into the alley way. I'm dealing with this right now with my sister.  | |
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Meanest Teacher!!!
Posts: 8555
Location: sunny california | soonergirl98 - 2015-04-13 8:50 AM
She may be at the maximum for her God given ability. But I would strongly suggest Animal Element Performance Detox which may get out any toxins. I would also suggest Product X - it puts the pep in my horses step every time!
I would rule out ulcers/hindgut ulcers as DE can aggravate them . mine had a systemic reaction to animal element and all 4 legs swelled up like elephant stumps then we were on laminitis watch. scared me half to death. | |
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Member
Posts: 16
| Thank you so much for the reply. I have had her blood checked, and at the moment she is slightly anemic. However, I don't think she normally is (we've had her tested before and she's never showed up with any form of anemia until now). Her teeth were floated and the guy missed her very back tooth which was very sharp and stabbing into her upper gum. Our vet thinks this caused pain (obviously) which stressed her out which led to ulcers which led to the anemia. We are currently treating her for the ulcers, and when she is well we are going to have her blood retested. So for the moment we have dropped off of grains and are mainly sticking with letting her free graze and have hay until she feels better, as not to further bother the ulcer condition (along with giving her U-guard for the ulcers).
I completely understand your condition.. I have a form of narcolepsy which keeps me feeling tired all the time. So I think (on some level) that I understand how the horse feels. So I don't want to just "pawn her off" on someone else. I really want to find some sort of medication or feeding regiment that will help her. As I said previously, she has days when she can blow the doors off the arena, and then days where she is really hard to motivate (which is very similar to my form of narcolepsy). It's just hard to give up on such a level-headed horse with tons of potential that clearly has something (in my mind) that isn't quite biologically right. | |
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Member
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| barbarajean9219 - 2015-04-13 3:34 PM
Long trotting and breezing your horse can speed them up. Also, getting them a little excited in the alley way with a bat.
I would also try running her with out the spurs, we have horses that will literally stop running with them.
I don't know hold old your daughter is but also make sure she is doing the same thing on every run, sometimes kids & teens will forget once they get into the alley way. I'm dealing with this right now with my sister.
My daughter is 18, and has been barreling for over 10 years. I video just about every run she makes, and then we watch it at home to see what mistakes were made, what she did right, body position, where her (my daughter) eyes are looking when turning, etc etc.
We've tried the mare without the spurs and the whip.... she REALLY just putts around without them. Now in saying that, she's the type of horse that if you show her you have a whip (and let her know you have spurs on), she is like "OH SH*T!" and she tries a lot harder (even tho she still isn't giving it her all). So you don't have to beat her half to death or really dig in with the spurs... just knowing they are present and reminding her that you have them is enough MOST of the time.
It's kind of like loading in a trailer... once in a while she'll get in the mood where she's like "Na, not in the mood". All it takes is for me to pick up a blade of grass and act like I'm going to put it to her butt and she's like "Ok, in the trailer I go!". I don't know if her previous owner was very aggressive with a whip or what, but any anything (even a blade of grass) in your hand motivates her to move.
As far as the alleyway... the mare is really super cool headed... so the start-off is pretty much always the same... they walk up to the entrance of the alleyway and stop, the horse looks back as if to say "Just tell me when", and my daughter will give her a "reaffirming rub" on the neck, and then follow up with a light spur and yell "let's go!". No two starts are ever identical.... but they're pretty close.
We tried for a while (at the behest of the trainer) to have her come in to the alley with a running start, but that made things worse. We just couldn't get her to keep from blowing the first barrel to pieces. Either she'd over shoot or she'd plow down the barrel. She just seems to be happier having that moment to stop, take a deep breath, and then go.
And although I have been misquoted as saying I wanted her to be "wide-eyed and nuts" when she is done running the pattern, I still find it odd that when she comes out and is brought to her "rest area" that her head just drops down (dang near to the ground) and she's ready to sleep. She's in good enough shape that she isn't breathing real hard, but the adrenaline from the run (I would think) would keep her a little more "hyped" and "focused" for at least a few minutes.... but it just doesn't. They walk out, go to the trailer, stall, or whatever, and then my daughter hops off, and down goes the head and she's in sleepy land.... you're talking less than 60 seconds.... | |
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Member
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| JcNhEmI - 2015-04-13 9:24 AM
Id take a dead head 2D horse over my crack head that has potential but can't seem to relax enough to use the talent!
Want to trade?? Lol
Yeah, ummmm... we already have one of those (a paint mare)... all the god-given speed and talent you could ever ask for... and on trails, doing tricks, or whatever, she is the most awesome horse you could ever ask for. Our granddaughters ride her and everything. But man, when she knows it's time to barrel she gets so hyped up and goes completely out of her mind! I don't think we need another one lol! | |
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Member
Posts: 16
| soonergirl98 - 2015-04-13 10:50 AM
She may be at the maximum for her God given ability. But I would strongly suggest Animal Element Performance Detox which may get out any toxins. I would also suggest Product X - it puts the pep in my horses step every time!
If it weren't for the fact that I've seen her do so much better, I'd probably agree. Her problem isn't speed, athleticism or being out of shape, it all comes down to being tired all the time which makes her (understandably) lazy. When she's feeling peppy, she can win/place in the 1D (in the local arena) which is a very low 15. | |
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Member
Posts: 16
| GLP - 2015-04-13 9:54 AM
I had a horse that would give me a 1D time once a year and then after that the barrels became his target. He was an ex- turnback horse and that is all he wanted to do. He became my brother's calf horse and even then you had 5 or so calves a week he would work and then no more. Good thing my brother loved riding bulls way more than roping. This horse would work cattle all day long, arena work - not so much. We have had 2 horses like this, both cutting bred. Maybe she is trying to tell you she'll work but she is bored with it.
I'm SLOWLY catching up with replies!
I know what you're saying... all animals can get bored with work... just like people. But she's a deadhead in every facet of her life, except on those rare occasions... :(
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| Crowned Image - 2015-04-13 8:42 AM
sounds like a quiet lady to set a kid on top of. I bet you'd have people jumping like bunnies to get her for their beginner barrel racers.
If the kid didn't mind a 45+ second pattern, then yes, she would lol. She's definitely collected and calm. I don't know that a kid could motivate her to even do the pattern tho loll | |
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Member
Posts: 16
| SmokinBandits - 2015-04-12 9:23 PM
I was hoping you were going to say she's 25. But she's 10. I don't think you're necessarily asking for her to be a 1D horse, even though we all want to do the best that we absolutely can, but you just want her to wake up. Lazy is one thing but is sleepy normal? Is it normal for a horse who didn't act this way with the old owner? If she was always like this, then I'd be more inclined not to worry so much. But since she wasn't like this in the past, it makes me think something is wrong. You can tweak her diet but the diet sounds pretty good. You said you have had the vet out. Did he do bloodwork? Someone mentioned checking for thyroid problems and other things. I would do that if you haven't.
What an awesome level-headed non-judgmental response. THANK YOU!
I keep using the term "locally", because YES, she has the ability to be a 1D horse "locally". Regionally, NO. Nationally, H*ll NO.
I've played/coached/refereed soccer for most of my life. In saying that, I can "realistically" judge a person's soccer ability. To that same degree, I can judge/acknowledge/realize this horse's ability. She's not EVER going to win the national championship. So I'm not being unrealistic in what I believe and KNOW she can do. If I had to judge her on a 1 to 10 scale, I've seen her run regional races and she's a solid 6 to 8 regionally. She's NOT the horse to run a regional race and take 1st in the 1D. Not going to happen. She IS the horse that (if she tried) could place (or come d*mn close) in the 2D regionally (if she gave it her all).
I'm glad you caught on about what I said regarding the conversation I had with the original owner. According to her, this is a horse that loved to run, jump, buck and just have a great time in the field. Likewise, the owner's sister (who was also a barrel racer) got thrown several times from her bucking (as did the owner). That is SO NOT the horse that we have now. She is low-key, tired, sleepy, mosies around and really doesn't give a crap. When she's being SUPER lazy she will "attempt" to buck, but it is so half-hearted and pathetic that she couldn't throw my 5 y/o granddaughter. I was in total disbelief that we were talking about the same horse, so I asked if she had any pictures of her when she was younger.... she sent a couple of pics to me, and there is NO mistake that it is the same horse. So either the the original owner is full of crap, or something has changed.
From my other posts tonight you can see that we've done blood work and the results, but no, I have NOT tested for thyroid. That's a good next step.
Thanks for your very intelligent and thought-out response. Of every response I've gotten (no disrespect to anyone else because there have been some great responses), you REALLY seem to understand what I'm talking about. You seem to realize that I realize that the horse DOES have it's limitations, and that I just want her to wake up, and that I'm NOT trying to turn her in to some kind of "psycho-horse". Some people have taken what I've said SO FAR out of context.... but it seems like you get what I'm saying. Thanks for chiming in!
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| Full of Beans - 2015-04-12 4:11 PM
whammo77 - 2015-04-12 1:16 AM Thank you all for your responses. I apologize to all of you for not responding sooner... it's been a VERY busy week. I DO realize that my original posting was somewhat "misinforming", and I DO apologize. As I said, the whole "horsemanship" gene totally skipped me.... So I am doing the best I can. I'm sorry, as much as I would like it to be different, I'm just a "mechanically" minded type of person. So I will probably say some stuff that is totally stupid. Sorry. I haven't gotten to thoroughly read every response. I hope to tomorrow.... but a quick "browse" and response is as follows: "Rox" is 10 y/o mare. We have had her 3 years, and she has always been like this. Yes, I have videos, and will be happy to share. I'm out of my element here, and that's why I came in here. I mean, technique sorts of stuff, I can "kinda" see.... But when I can see that the horse is kind of "loafing along" and it seems like it's from a lack of energy, I don't know what to do. When I feel like that, I grab a bottle of 5-hour-energy. It doesn't make me wide-eyed or crazy, it just helps me to function a little bit better on those "down days". So I'm not trying to change Rox, I'm just trying to make her feel better. Rox is a super good horse. I know that. I've been around horses all my life, and although I am horse-stupid, I can see she is a good horse. Likewise, I can see that although she posts some decent times, she's not living up to her potential. Likewise, I can see that even when she has just been raced, when she comes out of the arena she is ready to fall asleep (which she does, which I know is a little unusual). Because of that, I'm thinking (and hoping) that maybe she is just short on some nutrients, or vitamins, or something? I mean, I don't want her to run a barrel race and then come out and be totally out of control.... but at the same time, (along with her typical lack of energy) I find it odd that she can run her butt off, and then 3 minutes later be pretty much sound asleep. People, and animals, need a "cool down time" (typically). But she comes out of the arena, and her head drops and she is pretty much OUT. Because she is so "sane", I want to give her 100 chances. As I said before, there are times she can "blow the doors off" an arena.... but those days are few and far between, and in 3 years she's NEVER been able to put up a good time on the 2nd day of a 2-day race. She either goes out and "loafs" along, or she bowls over all the barrels. Like I said, I'm realistic... she will NEVER win a national race.... but at the same time, locally, she SHOULD be taking down some 1D races. And, on RARE occasions, she has. But MOST of the time she loafs and either ends up in the 2d or 3d. So no, I'm NOT trying to make her "HOT" or "CRAZY", I just want her to feel better and perform better. With that, I know that someday, to keep moving up the "ladder", we will have to move on. But for now, she is capable of doing a lot more than she is giving........
Something is amiss somewhere in this horse judging by what you just said there. There is pain or discomfort somewhere. How is she entering the arena? Does she go in fairly easy or refuse?
I've already answered this in my other posts tonight, but your reply deserves a response. She is calm and cool. She's never a freak. She's cool headed. She walks right up to the alleyway and never acts up. She doesn't crow-hop, spin, side-step, or anything. She just walks up calmly and waits for instruction... | |
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Member
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| Swannranch - 2015-04-05 2:02 PM
whammo77 - 2015-04-03 9:34 PM We have a great little 10 y/o QH sorrel mare that we use for barrel racing. She has a very sound mind, good speed and great bloodlines. We've won a lot of races with her. The big problem is tho, she is a dead head. I have never seen a horse as lazy as she is. We've tried just about everything we know to try to give her some pep in her step. but nothing is working. Currently, she is on 4 scoops of Omelene 200 per day, 1 scoop of Ultium, 2 ounces of liquid 747, and 2 cups of Farnam Weight Builder, a little bit of alfalfa (plus regular hay and all day grazing ) and she's STILL a dead head. We've had her blood checked, we've had her worm checked (and went ahead and followed up with a power pack even tho the results were negative ), we've had her teeth checked, we've had her scoped, we've had her back checked.... I don't think there's much of any stone we've left unturned. There's just nothing wrong with her that any vet can find. When we got her, we knew she was a "push style" horse, but good lord. I've never seen a horse run a barrel race and then come out and want to go to sleep. Our other horses are all "amped up" after a race and their eyes are wide and all that good stuff. She just comes out and is like "Ok, that's over, time for a nap"...... One thing I might note is that her original owner found us on FB and was telling us about her and how she was from a colt up until she sold her around age 6 or 7.... rambunctious, liked to run and buck (playing ), etc... and we were like "Are you SURE we are talking about the same horse???" We've tried so many (safe and all natural ) concoctions that everyone SWORE would get the dead head out of her, and nothing works. The gentleman who helps my daughter train has been training probably longer than I've been alive, and came up with our current feed routine and swore it would 'bring her to life'. NOPE!!!! After several months of this regiment, STILL no change. Even he is baffled. I've seen a lot of people worried on these boards about trying supplements for fear of making their horses "hot". At this point I don't think shooting her up with speed would make her "hot" (even tho I would NEVER do that! ). You can see in her eyes that she's a happy horse, We've had her checked from stem to stern and can find no sore spots or anything that seems to bother her. No ovary problems, no tenderness anywhere. So we're at our wits end. I will not give her anything unsafe (drugs or whatever ), but I could sure use some recommendations from someone who has dealt with a horse like this. She has so much more to give, if only we could find a way to get her to kick it in to high gear. I have absolutely NO clue if this might have anything to do with it, but all of our horses are mares, and as it turns out, so are our neighbor's horses. Bring a male horse around and they all go nuts, EXCEPT her. In fact, I have never seen her demonstrate ANY signs of being in heat, which I find a little odd.... (she's never been bred either, by the way ). Thanks in advance for your consideration!
You're like the master of misunderstanding, mis-quotations and putting words in to people's mouths... Nothing at all to offer other than twisting what people say....
And no, my horse is not "Board". She's flesh and blood. The trees on my property ARE "BOARD" tho... or they will be, maybe, if I cut them down and make something out of them, like maybe a table? I AM getting BORED reading your mis-quotes tho!
But for you, just to make you happy..... yes, I want to shoot my horse up with heroin, make her wide-eyed and bushy-tailed, and run her a$$ off until her heart explodes because that is what would make me most happy. Geeeeeeeeeeeez.... There's ALWAYS one....... ALWAYS..... I don't know why, but there always is......
If that great big yellow light bulb above your head hasn't flickered on by now after my having apologized and having attempted to clarify EVERYTHING I have said, then please, PLEASE don't respond.... just leave the responses to those who actually get what I am talking about and want to help. Thank you!
Edited by whammo77 2015-04-16 11:49 PM
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