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 Expert
Posts: 1261
  
| I did well with this mare last year a d won quite a bit of money then I had a baby and some time off to heal from cesarean and it was really hard to get myself back to riding at the level I was and now that I can able to do what I need to to ride her the dang mare is spooking at everything! She's always been a extra spooky horse but before I was able to talk to her and push her to get through the pattern. Now she slams on the breaks at a dead run if she sees anything scary and refuses to go on for a second I am pushing as much as I can to keep forward motion and spurring her and tapping with a crop and nothing is helping. We do time only runs and she works great then when the actual run comes suddenly she gets spooked on one of the barrels and there goes my money down the drain. She's done this at the last three races we have gone to. I don't know what to do anymore. Doesn't happen at home doesn't happen in time onlys. I have done crazy amounts of desensitization and it doesn't do anything to help at all. I have done leadership exercises with her, no help. I can't afford to keep running when there is 0 chance at making any money back. I have finals is 2 weeks and I don't know if I should even take her. I do have the option of borrowing a horse. |
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  Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | I would probably just sell her. It sounds like you have done a lot for her and she isn't getting better. It could be she feels your lack of confidence...who knows. But when they aren't fun anymore, why keep them? |
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 Experienced Mouse Trapper
Posts: 3106
Location: North Dakota | spooky or naughty?? Be realistic with yourself.....is she feeding off you? After all that you say you've done, something else is amiss....my thoughts, ulcers (her and maybe you :)) soreness.....was she like this before?? If not, there is a few things you can try. For ulcers, try giving her uguard (it's a cheap antacid you can find on places like stateline tack) for a couple days before a race, if she's better on the ugard, she probably has ulcers. If she's sore, you can bute/banamine her off and on and a few days before a race and if she's better, she has soreness somewhere.....ultimately she needs to go to the vet. Good horses don't go bad just because they've sat around for awhile. Many times it can be attitude-you can't tell me they won't get lazy if given the option-or they really can loose their work ethic, but, given enough time and conditioning those things should go away, unless there is something physically wrong. Have you had anyone else ride her to give their opinion? |
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Expert
Posts: 1261
| I have definitely thought about it especially when I walked out of the arena in tears because I was so frustrated that she had done it again when we just had a beautiful time only run and I paid a lot to run and I don't have a lot of money being a stay at home mom with a young baby. It's not fun at all anymore. The problem is the horse was given to me by a very generous person and I don't think it would be right for me to sell her but if I give her back it's 2+ years of hard work and nothing to show for it. I have a little money saved but it won't buy me another horse that's ready to run or is probably even broke. |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | wishes4kissez - 2014-09-15 3:20 PM
I have definitely thought about it especially when I walked out of the arena in tears because I was so frustrated that she had done it again when we just had a beautiful time only run and I paid a lot to run and I don't have a lot of money being a stay at home mom with a young baby. It's not fun at all anymore. The problem is the horse was given to me by a very generous person and I don't think it would be right for me to sell her but if I give her back it's 2+ years of hard work and nothing to show for it. I have a little money saved but it won't buy me another horse that's ready to run or is probably even broke.
I would talk with the person/friend that gave you this mare and asked them what you should do with her. They may want her back are tell you to sell her, who knows untill you have that talk with them, good luck  |
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Expert
Posts: 1261
| I don't think she is sore I have had the chiropractor check her and she never finds anything. Maybe ulcers I don't know. She certainly eats well and is not thin! It's always a banner or a white door or an open door with sunlight or something she sees behind a barrel that stops her in her tracks. Of course the barrels are never in the exact same spot during time onlys and I have noticed at home if we move something in the arena to a different place than the last time she was in their she gets really stupid about it. But after the spook she will go on make beautiful fast turns and run home just fine its just that coming to a complete stop mid run definitely puts us out of they money. I did have my friend that is a trainer ride her the very first time we were having this issue. She was slightly better with her but still the issue was there I think she was a little better because she's quicker with the crop and has more grr than I do. After she rode her I was able to get her through a run without a complete stop but she slowed to a very slow lope still. I do get nervous before I run usually but this certainly isn't helping my confidence any. I try really hard to take a deep breath and relax and talk to her. |
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Experienced Mouse Trapper
Posts: 3106
Location: North Dakota | Maybe she needs a dose of vitacalm to help get her through a few good runs so that you feel confident?? It is a magnesium supplement that helps with anxiety but is no where near as tough as Ace, but along the same lines. (Maybe you need it too??)  |
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Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | I didn't mean to be so blunt with my first post but I had 2 c-sections so I know what it is like to try and ride like you did before. I also lost a lot of nerve when I look over and see those 2 beautiful boys that need me in their life. I won't put up with a lot of crap off a horse anymore. I have a 4yr old that is a snorty turd on the ground but will tolerate just about anything when I am on him. He's actually quite lazy. But given too much time off and I have to see him acting like an idiot as I brush him gives me doubts about my sanity every time lol. I have a 3 yr old that had 30 days put on him in April and did buck once at the beginning but was great after that. I rode him a handful of times and loved him when I got him home and then he got wire cut on a front foot, soon after that another horse bucked me off and then when I could finally ride again, the 3yr old got kicked in the thigh and was lame again for awhile. Now that he and I are both good to go, I am too chicken to get on him just because I know he bucked way back when. I'm going to find some sucker that will get on him and just walk/trot him around in the arena and if he does good, I will get right on.
Bottom line, it just isn't worth it if they are always breaking your heart. If she puts down a good run in a time only and acts goofy during your run, I doubt ulcers. But who knows. I do sell Calming Cookies and will gladly send you some samples to try if you think they would help to mellow her out. No drugs, just give them a sense that all is well in the world. THE is the company if you want to ask around about them. Just pm me an addy and I will send you some. Now if Bob would create "no buck" cookies I would have some of my confidence back lol |
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Expert
Posts: 1261
| That sounds great! I had her on MSM for awhile not because there was an issue but because after my other horse got hurt I was super paranoid that it would happen again and I wanted to prevent it. Anyway she was absolutely nuts while she was on it. Took her off and she was her normal self again and the lady I bought it from said something about magnesium doing that to some horses in rare cases?
I guess it maybe worth a shot? |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1056
| i would be afraid she would wind up in a killer pen if you sold her. |
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 Party Girl
Posts: 12293
Location: Buffalo, Wyoming | Have you had her eyes checked? You said if you move something she spooks? Maybe she has a cataract or something that she can fully see. If she gets used to something being there and then it is changed and she gets spooky that would be the first thing I would check. |
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 Special Somebody
Posts: 3951
Location: Finally horseback again.... | UTAHCANCHASER - 2014-09-15 4:43 PM Have you had her eyes checked? You said if you move something she spooks? Maybe she has a cataract or something that she can fully see. If she gets used to something being there and then it is changed and she gets spooky that would be the first thing I would check.
My thoughts as well.
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 Sock eating dog owner
Posts: 4557
Location: Where the pavement ends and the West begins Utah | Sounds like the horse needs to be seasoned and a lot of wet blankets for the both of you. If she was good and sweaty and listening before you run ... you may have a very willing horse. |
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 Not Afraid to Work
Posts: 4717
| My horse does that exact thing in tiny indoors. Its those dark, 13 sec patterns ... and I havent figured out the magical cure. Hes a solid 2d horse, 3d at big shows ... I just dont run him in those pens. He will run in other indoors that are well lit and not so claustrophobic.
No advice as I can literally drive him as hard as i want and he could just throw me over his head he hits the brakes so hard. |
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Party Girl
Posts: 12293
Location: Buffalo, Wyoming | stayceem - 2014-09-15 4:21 PM My horse does that exact thing in tiny indoors. Its those dark, 13 sec patterns ... and I havent figured out the magical cure. Hes a solid 2d horse, 3d at big shows ... I just dont run him in those pens. He will run in other indoors that are well lit and not so claustrophobic. No advice as I can literally drive him as hard as i want and he could just throw me over his head he hits the brakes so hard.
I have a horse that is exactly this way.... He does have a a cataract. That is why I suggested the OP have her horses eyes checked. |
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 Queen Boobie mascot
Posts: 706
Location: Mayerthorpe Alberta | so much helpful advice has been given. I have no words of wisdom but just wanted to tell you that I feel bad for you and hope you get things figured out. Stay strong and keep your chin up! Dang horses anyways. If they could only literally tell us what is going on. |
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10D Crack Champion
| UTAHCANCHASER - 2014-09-15 4:43 PM Have you had her eyes checked? You said if you move something she spooks? Maybe she has a cataract or something that she can fully see. If she gets used to something being there and then it is changed and she gets spooky that would be the first thing I would check.
I was wondering about vision and also hearing. Just somethings to check. |
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Not Afraid to Work
Posts: 4717
| UTAHCANCHASER - 2014-09-15 5:35 PM
stayceem - 2014-09-15 4:21 PM My horse does that exact thing in tiny indoors. Its those dark, 13 sec patterns ... and I havent figured out the magical cure. Hes a solid 2d horse, 3d at big shows ... I just dont run him in those pens. He will run in other indoors that are well lit and not so claustrophobic. No advice as I can literally drive him as hard as i want and he could just throw me over his head he hits the brakes so hard.
I have a horse that is exactly this way.... He does have a a cataract. That is why I suggested the OP have her horses eyes checked.
I thought about vision also... I did have him checked with the basics eye work but never anything extensive. I guess I just chalked it up to 2 arenas he hates and Im not a huge fan of them either so it wasnt heartbreaking |
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Expert
Posts: 1261
| I will have her eyes checked I didn't think of that but I have noticed she is much spookier on one side than the other so maybe there is an issue with it. I always felt like she was kind of OCD and didn't like when things we different but maybe it is her eyes? |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 975
Location: The barn...where else? SW Missouri | Canchasr1 - 2014-09-15 4:49 PM UTAHCANCHASER - 2014-09-15 4:43 PM Have you had her eyes checked? You said if you move something she spooks? Maybe she has a cataract or something that she can fully see. If she gets used to something being there and then it is changed and she gets spooky that would be the first thing I would check. My thoughts as well.
Mine also. |
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