heidiinaz - 2015-12-15 6:51 AM

 This is no way a slam but have you considered maybe this horse is not meant to be a barrel horse? You might be throwing good money after bad on a horse that just is not for barrels. And may be happier and less frustrated with a different horse. 

RacingTheArabian - 2015-12-13 3:00 PM I have been working with my QHx for the last two years. She gets over whelmed easily and she is very sensitive. She likes barrels, she like to go out and do them. I have tried hauling all I can this summer and last and we are only exhibitioning at the moment. She has started to pop up.... Its not bad and its not even big. I'm not handsy with her at all and she has never until a few weeks ago gotten light in the front end. She's getting light because I won't allow her to just go forward and do what she wants and blow past me and ignore what I am asking. She is also one of those horses *figuratively* that you can beat all day. She locks up and will just stand there. So to even try punishing her on the ground working her around etc. She locks up. In the saddle she can do the same thing but its a lot less. I have tried making her work when she rears, small circles or getting off and lunging. But when she knows I'm frustrated/angry and its for punishment she will literally lock up after a couple circles. I had her on a calming supplement a while while back. It seemed to help. I was just wondering if there was any good cheap calming supplement I could try? The one I was using is 60 dollars....... Or any advice?? In 2013 I broke my leg to a rearing horse, broke my femur in two and now I have a rod. So it worries me and makes me a little angry at the same time. I never thought I would have this problem with her. I don't know what more I need to do or less I need to do.

2H~QH - 2015-12-15 12:38 PM

Haven't had time to read all the responses so I'm sure others have mentioned
- lameness exam - specifically hocks, stifles
- have u treated for ulcers?

My take on it is due to the highlighted part - if she wants to go forward and you are making her stand - are you pulling back on her, backing her up at all? Or how do you make her stand? With an antsy horse that wants to dance around or go forward pulling back on them to make them still will eventually make them go up, because you are pulling them back over their hocks and their energy has only one place to go and that is up. I know you are trying to get her to be still because she wants to go forward but you can prevent her from going forward and doing what SHE wants, let her go forward but make her do what YOU want. Try letting her go forward purposefully into small circles, 2 track, move her shoulders around, etc - anything to keep her from backing up and getting over her hocks which makes it easy for her to go up. If she has forward motion she cannot go up.

stayceem - 2015-12-15 12:58 PM

Are you sure she is 3/4 quarter horse? I mean this is no negative way but she carries herself and has the conformation of an arab. I have seen some of these turn out to be nice little horses but they are trained a different way because they are so bendy and they usually wanna fall on their forehand at times. All of which can be altered so they do it correctly just keep it in mind. To me is seems like she is out of position going from 1 to 2... as if she is still learning her basics between the barrels.

I think she looks like she is trying to please. As far as the rearing thing, once you rule out pain... I usually think it related to anxiety. You have to find ways that make barrels fun and stress-free. I guess after I breeze through I never just go stand... I usually walk them around and then make them stand. I could see why that makes her antsy and pop up in the front. And maybe I misinterpreted what you were saying, just my two cents.