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boon
Posts: 2
| Hi there, brand new barrel racer here looking for some advice.
So last year i completed my first season of barrel racing with my provinces association. I was lucky enough to have my friend take me since i didn't have my own trailer. I love barrel racing, and though i don't have any plans of making it big i definitely want to continue competing and doing better.
About 5 months ago i started a new job, make good money for where i live, and can finally put some barrel racing dreams into a reality. My first step this spring will be getting a new truck and trailer!
I own two horses. A coming 15 yr old ottb mare and a coming 3 yr old qh gelding. i was planning to run my mare this year again, since my colt is too young and not broke yet. However, this winter i have noticed her condition has gotten a bit worse. The last season i had a saddle that did not fit her, and pinched. I bought another, it also did not fit her. I have a better fitting saddle now but it definitely caused some problems and i am planning to get a chiropractor out. I also now believe she is having issues with her hocks ? She has always been a little creaky there, but lately it has been super bad cracking and her hind legs are not reaching forward as nicely and her stride seems too short. She seems very stiff. I plan to have a vet check her out when she gets her vaccines. She is also very under muscled right now as we had forest fires so she sat for a while and then i kind of took a break from riding as i adjusted to my new job. As for barrels, we are finally having some nice fluid turns, but we have no speed and have not even hit the 4d yet. I was planning to put her on a fitness schedule and then once she is fitter working on out speed. But My worry is that barrels is going to be to hard on her. I am going to get her the care she needs, but i do not want to push her to do something she can't or that may hurt her. I have waited so long to be able to barrel race, i am so sad i may need to put it off for another year. I have had this mare 6 years and dreamed about barrels since the day i got her.
My little qh is my future prospect. He may or may not turn into a good barrel horse. He is grade, but has a great personality which is why i wanted him as my first project.
I really dont want to put off barrels again, so i really don't know what i should do ! Should i try to make it work with my mare, even if we keep loosing, or sell one or both of my horses and try to save enough to buy another that will for sure be a half decent barrel horse? Neither of my horses are worth much money but i love them both dearly especially my mare. Or should i just put it off for another year, while i wait to see how my colt turns out?
Also has anyone had any experience with hock or joint issues that were fine with maintenance ? I looked into hock injections but of course i wont know what is needed until the vet comes.
Edited by Barrelbabe97 2017-12-14 3:05 PM
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 Expert
Posts: 2097
Location: Deep South | At 15 years old, and especially coming off the track, I would expect your mare to be needing some maintenance. Have a reputable equine lameness vet look her over. Injections are not a big deal, most people going down the road use them.
I wouldn't make a decision until after a vet appt. | |
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 Own It and Move On
Location: The edge of no where | I definitely wouldn't jump to that conclusion before her vet appointment. Injections really aren't a big deal at all especially in a horse her age. You might be shocked at the change a bit of maintenance makes in her. Hocks/stifles are extremely common. | |
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boon
Posts: 2
| Sorry, not trying to jump to conclusions. Im just wondering IF it comes to that, and also if she will need extra maintenance to be comfortable on barrels vs less to be trail or light arena sound if it is worth doing since she is not a winning horse or anything.
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Member
Posts: 5
| If you enjoy competing on her, don't be afraid to inject. And... if you have a good lameness vet, you might be given ideas on how to strengthen muscles as well to help her. And there are supplements that help. I noticed you said you live in a 'province'. Check out Herbs for Horses, it's a Canadian product and barrel racers here in Alberta have quit injecting by feeding the HYLACARE product. If you're in Alberta, let me know and I can give you the name of a dealer who's also an equine therapist. Good Luck :-) | |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 534
Location: Ohio girl moved to PA | At her age its normal for there to be some maintence thats gonna be needed, especially with her being off the track. If you have fun on her and you love what youre doing and she needs injections then i would say inject! My main mount is a grade pally, Hes a solid 4D barrel horse and a solid 2D pole horse. We arent the fastest and we wont ever be, but we have so much fun doing what we do, he needed hock injections this past summer and you can bet i got them for him. His whole attitude turned around and were back to him feeling great again! Dont be afraid to take a break from barrel racing either, i know you just finished your first season and im sure you have the itch to keep on going but, sometimes a break to save/recoop/ whatever the reason is a good thing!! If shes under weight/muscled then i would up her food intake to get her back up to where shes needed to be. DAC supplements are my absolute favorite and they helped my guy so much!! Get the vet check, . and save for a saddle that fits her properly. Saddle fit is a HUGE deal and will make so much of a difference in her. My guys get chiro'd and massaged atleast once a month. Good luck :) | |
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