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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 324
| Okay here's the situation. My horse, Takara, has been my "only" horse for the 4 years I've had her. I say "only" lightly because I've had other horses but she has been the only one I've been able to run consistently until very recently because none of the others have worked out. For 3 years she and I have competed in barrels and poles in High School Rodeo which are 2 day events and we run 4 times per weekend, and NBHA most other weekends. Before I get bashed on for having used her so hard, I want everyone to understand my position. She was my very first horse, I've had a gaited horse (could NOT be used for barrels/poles), a nice quarter horse who contracted EPM and tried running me through a wall, a rescue horse who I broke but was forced to sell, and now, finally a horse that I can rely on to run other than her. For the past several months I have noticed her unpleasant mindset toward barrels and poles. She now resents them whereas she used to love her job. She is not blown up, we've tried giving her time off, had her vetted, her teeth done, and she's checked out 100% on everything. I have come to the point where I have to be mature enough to realize she simply just does not want to run anymore. So the obvious answer is to retire her right? Well here's the situation behind that... My dad (the checkbook) has made it clear that if she no longer has a purpose (meaning that I am no longer running her) that he will sell her. Since that is not an option, can anybody help me? Maybe another use for her? Is there any way to get her to love running like she used to? Thank you for reading, I know it's very long but I'm desperate to keep my horse and more importantly, make her happy again. | |
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 Cyber World Challenged
Posts: 2526
  
Location: My Own Little World | I can understand why you'd want to keep such a nice horse that has given you so much. Here's my take on the situation. If she previously was running well and now has a bad attitude, she has something wrong somewhere. I know you said you had her to the vet, although, without knowing your vet, I'd say get your horse to a vet that is a performance horse expert. Ask the top riders in your area who they use. THEN, if that good vet says she's fine physically, I'd get to a trainer and have them coach you while riding this horse. It may be something you are doing.
If the horse is truly perfect physically and a trainer says you are riding her perfectly, then if you are not wanting to give her up, you will need to change diciplines. Maybe jumping? Not hunters but jumpers. If your heart is in barrel racing, then it may be the best thing to sell her to someone that will use her for something else. I know that's hard but even the NFR girls sell big time horses. They go on to have wonderful lives and homes. Just a thought | |
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  Twin Sister to Queen Boobie
Posts: 13315
 
Location: East Tennessee but who knows?! | I agree that sometimes pain issues can be difficult to detect. Pain is a common reason that horses quit working, whether it's lameness or tack fit. The other is that they get burnt out.
What is your warm up like at the rodeos? Do you take her on the pattern at all before you run? A finished seasoned horse, IMO, needs to stay off the pattern unless you're running a competition run because they know their job. Warm up needs to be completely off the pattern. If you go in the pen prior to a run, just relax and make it enjoyable. You want her to associate that pen as a nice place to be -- she'll know what she needs to do when it comes time.
As far as other things she can do, roping is always an option. Cattle sorting is another. I sort on my barrel horse, and have shown in him ranch trail. Ranch & Stock Horse Events are another option. They look for a horse that moves forward. Extreme Cowboy Races. Jumping is also another possibility. Endurance. | |
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