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 Regular
Posts: 52
Location: North Dakota | I have a horse who has been having problems taking the first barrel (right side) he doesn't seem to be flexing/moving very well. I have taken him to a chiropractor, massage, and had teeth worked on and nothing has helped. His second and third are perfect and slides right around but don't know what else I could do to try and fix his first. I was at a barrel clinic this fall and the instructor suggested getting injections in his hips. I've never had to do this with a horse and was wondering what others think of this would it be something to try or is there anything else we can work on or do to fix the problem. I've also tried different bits and nothing has helped? Suggestions and thoughts?!?! |
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 Born not Made
Posts: 2931
  
Location: North Dakota | Do you have a video you can show us? |
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Regular
Posts: 52
Location: North Dakota | Umm I might let me look and see if I can figure out how to post it on here!!! |
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Regular
Posts: 52
Location: North Dakota | Ttp |
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Regular
Posts: 52
Location: North Dakota | http://youtu.be/EuFfKZJqNbg here's the best video I have of his first barrel |
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 Experienced Mouse Trapper
Posts: 3106
Location: North Dakota | He is in the wrong lead coming into the first and never switches, so first I would lope some nice collected circles before I attempt to head to the first then as I approach the first I would aim more towards the 3rd barrel thus creating a bit of a bigger pocket, stop him and get him to relax when my hips get between the first and second barrel, then continue on from there. The "setting" excercise can be done on all 3 barrels and should be done at a walk, trot and then a lope to instill rate and rider awareness. He needs a lot more collection and you need to be able to handle/manuever him easier, so more circles/moving feet work, sidepassing, two tracking etc. |
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Regular
Posts: 52
Location: North Dakota | Thanks for the input!!! We will try some exercises when we ride again this weekend!! |
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 Scorpions R Us
Posts: 9586
Location: So. Cali. | Yes, I would work on the correct lead and proper approach to the first. But I would suggest a lameness exam if not already done. His tail tells me something hurts.
Best of luck! |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1092
Location: OK | Maybe he has a hock/stifle/? problem on the right side, or maybe he's just a lot stronger on one side than the other. Some horses, team roping or ex race horses for example, are usually worked in only the left lead, so they are really strong and coordinated on that side and getting them to take the right lead and hold it is an act of congress at first. It helps to get them in the right lead a lot and just lope until they get stronger. Make sure you do equal work on each lead, each direction.
He also doesn't seem to want to finish the turn in a lope on the other barrels, so loping circles like a spiral, starting big and getting smaller, then going back out, can help that. You also might need to just hustle him a little on the back side of the turn.
Without knowing him, it's hard to tell if he doesn't know where to put his feet there or if he's just being lazy there.
Is he young or old? Previous training? My rule is, if I have a problem, vet first. Get the xrays and KNOW he doesn't need injections, etc. THEN if it's not that, do massage, chiro, etc. If he has arthritis or something, all those chiro/massage trips are a waste of $ if you don't first treat the original problem causing the soreness.
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 Tough Patooty
Posts: 2615
Location: Sperry, OK | Looks like he has something going on in the hindend to me.. even on the second barrel, he hops and then drops the lead on the back side of the barrel... usually a pain related issue. I would take him for a lameness eval and see if hocks/stifles/SI are sore. Agree with the others about the correct lead and angle going into the first. |
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Regular
Posts: 52
Location: North Dakota | He is only 8!! Before we got him he was used lightly for team roping on the head side!! The first summer she hauled him he did excellent so I'm not wondering if somthing didn't get thrown out of wack or an injury out in the pasture!! No my next ? Is anyone famaliar with any good reputable vets in the Dakotas? Our local vet isn't very horse savvy!! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1092
Location: OK | It may not be an injury. Sometimes, and at different ages, the hocks will fuse. It's a common thing that just needs some maintenance to get through it. Once they are fused, you're home free... I don't know about reputable vets in your area, but just make sure to just get the x-rays! Good luck :) |
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 Expert
Posts: 1218
Location: Great NW | I agree there is something going on in his hips or hocks. he is trying his body just won't let him do it. |
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 Chasin my Dream
Posts: 13651
Location: Alberta | I didn't read the other posts so apologize if I'm repeating....
Was I seeing correctly that you switched hands at the last minute coming to the first and had outside contact as pulling his head to the outside of your turn????
I would go back to slow work and getting yourself and him understanding proper body position going into every barrel. Have you watched any of Dena Kirkpatricks stuff, you tube it, she talk about how to get proper barrel position. Your horse seems confused to me and a tad wound up, slow down and get things right then move to a trot etc
Off pattern flat work is also great to work on flexing and collection and understanding where your horses body is.....you can use a thousand different bits but if you don't understand what the mechanics are of what you want the horse to do its all useless....
Barrel Positin
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=P0_-AcSQDgk
Approach to 1st
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rEBaO_67K1g
Speed to 1st
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hNEWBc_LPE4
Edited by dream_chaser 2014-01-23 1:26 PM
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Queen Bean of Ponyland
Posts: 24953
Location: WYOMING | I kinda feel like he is missing some basics because I see issues on all 3 turns with his response to you, just worse on #1. Do you have any videos of you just loping circles, asking for flex, stopping, etc? |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | You need to teach rate at the barrels, on the first there was no rating at all. |
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Experienced Mouse Trapper
Posts: 3106
Location: North Dakota | Where in ND are you located? |
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 Regular
Posts: 62
| I know I'm repeating what's already been said but you didn't have the correct lead coming in. Also, I'm seeing no bending at any of the barrels. Seems to me like you need to go back to some basics. If he can't complete a barrel a lope then you need to start slow again. Start by flexing and getting him to bend his body into a c shape so it makes it easier for him to get around barrels. Do lots of circles around barrels or anything for that matter.
I also agree with everyone else on the hind end problem. Would definitely get that checked out.
Hope it helps!! |
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Regular
Posts: 52
Location: North Dakota | Thanks for all the info and insight!! I scheduled X-rays for Monday to try and eliminate the hock issue!! We are located in NW North Dakota for the lady that asked!! This horse has potential and we are willing to take the time and money to get him straightened out!!! |
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Pig-Bear Dog Lover
| Something is definitely off in his back end... |
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