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Member
Posts: 28
| This season has been probably the best for me and my gelding! We've been kicking butt, winning a lot of races, and setting records. I was wondering when we were going to start hitting a bump, and we sure have hit a big one. :(
Last weekend my gelding was starting to take the second barrel and third barrel a stride past it. Nothing uncontrollable. Still worked normal, still clocked fast and won so I wasn't to concerned.
However this weekend was totally different. Saturday he almost went all the way to the fence, but I luckily got him back on track. My friends said he was getting his head up to high in the air and so I put a tie down on him to maybe help him collect. Today it just got worse. Perfect second barrel, but He blew all the way to the fence and it was like I wasn't there, ran through the bit and down the fence. I put another bit on him, and just slowly cruised through a pattern at the end of the race today and he was fine, snappy and good turns.
On the other hand, I feel like something's off. He doesn't seem to want to bend as much to the left side (as in flexing) and he wasn't to happy about picking up the left lead going in tight circles.
My question is, has anyone had a problem like this occur?
I've gotten a custom saddle fit to him.
His teeth were done in April
He was chirped/massaged last week.
I had his hocks and knees xrayed last year and said they looked awesome (maybe it's changed a lot since then?)
He's not lame. Been acting perfectly normal except for that barrel.
He's perfect for slow work, only seems to happen when I'm really asking for speed (rate issue possibly?)
Has been checked for ulcers, doesn't have any but is on meds to prevent them.
Sorry for the long post but I'm just at a lost to where to begin with this issue. I don't want to keep pushing him and get him developing bad habits.
Thank you all for your help! |
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Veteran
Posts: 233
| He hurts. Get to a good lameness vet. Maresy wasn't lame either, just heavy on the forehand, until suddenly she was indeed very lame. |
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 Owner of a ratting catting machine
Posts: 2258
| Get an emergency trip to vet tomorrow morning and scope him. Good chance he bled. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 534
Location: Ohio girl moved to PA | Something is definitly hurting him. Hocks can change very quickly. My horse was running fine for over a year then boom started having gate issues and not firing, gave him time off, didnt help. Went and got x-rays done, he had inflammation in his hocks, got injections and hes back to himself! |
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 Born not Made
Posts: 2937
Location: North Dakota | Do not run him again. Take him to a good lameness vet. Something hurts. My guess would be something in the back end (maybe hocks) if he's not wanting to get down and turn. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 950
Location: MO | Hocks! Had the exact same thing happen to a horse of my SO's last year. 3rd barrel was his best and at that time, it became his worse. He would try to turn but would end up lunging out and blowing out of the third. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 333
| If it's not hocks or teeth, and say you have a bleeder that you believe is under control, what would be the next thing to look for? Mine doesn't go to the fence, but pockets for a turn and then flings her head out and up and the back side. She'll then turn.
Is it normal to feel the bones of the withers only on one side? My horses pertrude on the left and i can't feel them on the right. I'm wondering what it could be, if anything. Her withers were very sore a couple years ago from a treeless saddle (since changed). I am hoping for an x-ray this week.
Edited to add that the OP...my horse had started to do the same thing when her withers were sore..just haven't gotten her quite back to turning that barrel...so proceed with caution on continueing to run.
Edited by powerstroke power 2017-08-21 11:48 AM
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