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Veteran
Posts: 184
 
| Hey,
I'm honestly about to pull on my hair out, scream in a pillow, and eventually give up after a year of trying. My horse and I can not seem to see eye to eye anymore. Every time he comes out of the alley way to the first barrel, as soon as I as for the turn, he throws his head back and rears up as high as he can before flipping over. Running to his second and third are perfect until the last rodeo, he tuned before I even got close to the third barrel. He doesn't do this all the time, just randomly. We can have a whole month of great runs and then we are right back to an even more extreme melt down in the arena. He seems to only do this in rodeos where he has been before. He does the same thing at home in the practice pen. Here is a list of what I have been done to try and help the problem.
1. Several different bits
2. New custom fit saddle
3. Hock & Stifle injections
4. Previcoxx
5. Change feed and ulcer guard
6. Given a few weeks off the pattern which helped for maybe two or three runs
7. Teeth float
8. Through vet exam
If anyone has any idea on how to help me regardless if it hurts my feelings, PLEASE tell me!! When we run a good pattern together, we are in the top of the 1D but then he will randomly just explode out of no where with me and I end up getting hurt. I bought this horse as a yearling at a very very high price and cannot afford to replace him at this point. |
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Expert
Posts: 1561
 
| si or pelvic injury |
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Veteran
Posts: 231
Location: Nashvegas | Do you, by chance, have a video you can post? |
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Veteran
Posts: 184
| Itsme - 2014-09-21 4:38 PM
si or pelvic injury
I'll see if I can talk to my vet about it and get him to come out for x-rays. What is "si?" |
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| How old and how long has he been running? |
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Veteran
Posts: 184
| OhMax - 2014-09-21 4:43 PM
How old and how long has he been running?
He is a 6yr old and running since last year. He was brought along very slow and was used as a back up roping horse on the side. He saw barrels maybe once a week. Its only been the last 4-5 months I've asked for more speed which didn't add or lessen the problem but only made it more random. I asked for more speed because I was having such a hard time motivating him through the back-side of the barrel. I've never used a whip on him and it doesn't seem to matter what bit he has. A smooth two-piece snaffle or a gag bit with more leverage. |
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 Texas Tenderheart
Posts: 6715
Location: Red Raiderland | It sounds like you need to see a different lameness vet for a different perspective. He sounds SORE, very sore and dangerous.
Can you post a video? |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 371
Location: California | OK..this is exactly what we went through for 2 years. EXACTLY! We went thru him with a fine tooth comb and a couple different vets and they found nothing. He had no lameness at all and the only symptom was that first barrel (rearing) and perfect 2nd and 3rd barrels. Finally someone suggested we get a nuclear bone scan done on him. Very pricy but he was insured and so we did. Turned out that he had a torn hind suspensory ligament. We did stem cell on it and rehabbed him for about 7-8 mos and he came back awesome. Ran many years and is still running today. So, if I were you, I would ultrasound the hind suspensory ligaments and I bet you'll find something. Good luck |
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 A Barrel Of Monkeys
Posts: 12972
Location: Texas | Are you giving him enough room going into the barrel to be able to get around it? You could be going too straight into the first barrel.
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Veteran
Posts: 184
| I'll take him to the vet tomorrow and keep you all posted on his condition. Im hoping that he hasn't torn anything.....  |
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Duct Tape Bikini Girl
Posts: 2554
| Sounds like a flat refusal to turn that direction. When I had a horse that refused to turn the first, it ended up being a serious navicular issue. Went to many vets before the actual problem was diagnosed. Good luck & don't get yourself hurt. |
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 Expert
Posts: 2097
Location: Deep South | I would definitely say pain related and I would keep digging for answers as long as I could afford to.
Four different vets saw my 1D gelding multiple times and were convinced it was something in his hind end (tried hocks stifles SI hips etc) years and thousands later when the problem was finally found, it was in his front feet all along. Arthritis in both front feet was causing the soreness in his back end.
If his front end hasn't been as thoroughly examined as his back end I would want that done.
And as other posters mentioned it's hard to catch strains in the suspensories until they've torn, but they are very painful regardless. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 502
Location: United States | Stay safe. I have a mare that wants to work the pattern, loves it, but when she gets close to the first barrel she steps to the left or runs to the 3rd. kinda leaps/lounges. Navicular also. Took a while to diagnose because she swapped leads in the hind on the backside of the first (if she worked it) and we kept thinking it was hind end. Dont overlook front feet. Good luck. |
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Blessed 
Location: Here | ktbeasleyze - 2014-09-21 6:10 PM I'll take him to the vet tomorrow and keep you all posted on his condition. Im hoping that he hasn't torn anything.....
I assume you are going to the right barrel first. Look at hocks stifles feet get digital xrays. if sounds like your horse is screaming he hurts.
Good luck tomorrow |
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Veteran
Posts: 184
| Update!!!!
He has an issue with his jaw that apparently causes a lot of pain when the bit is pulled on the right side. Vet recommended switching to a side pull. Our first run with that set up was perfect without any issue but I'm not totally convinced just yet. Time will tell. Thank you! |
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Expert
Posts: 1561
| ktbeasleyze - 2014-09-23 7:54 AM
Update!!!!
He has an issue with his jaw that apparently causes a lot of pain when the bit is pulled on the right side. Vet recommended switching to a side pull. Our first run with that set up was perfect without any issue but I'm not totally convinced just yet. Time will tell. Thank you!
 |
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  Angel in a Sorrel Coat
Posts: 16030
Location: In a happy place | I hope this is the answer. Please keep us updated. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 887
Location: MN | ktbeasleyze - 2014-09-23 7:54 AM Update!!!! He has an issue with his jaw that apparently causes a lot of pain when the bit is pulled on the right side. Vet recommended switching to a side pull. Our first run with that set up was perfect without any issue but I'm not totally convinced just yet. Time will tell. Thank you!
I was just about to suggest trying a hack. I have been working with one all year and after going through possible pain I figured out she just doesn't like bits! Vet commenting on a scar in the corner of her mouth that I never noticed turned that light bulb on. |
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 Experienced Mouse Trapper
Posts: 3106
Location: North Dakota | ktbeasleyze - 2014-09-23 7:54 AM
Update!!!!
He has an issue with his jaw that apparently causes a lot of pain when the bit is pulled on the right side. Vet recommended switching to a side pull. Our first run with that set up was perfect without any issue but I'm not totally convinced just yet. Time will tell. Thank you!
I would fire my dentist-my thoughts were someothing in the mouth-hack or sidepull would be what I would try also and until you see someone who specializes in equine dentistry work on a horse, you have NO idea who does a good job and who doesn't! Mouth pain can be a HUGE problem! |
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Veteran
Posts: 184
| So now I'm about to really cry. We went to a nice local jackpot and he went around the first barrel but fought my hands and tried to go back home before getting him to come back. He then turns before he ever gets close to the second barrel....what do I do!?!?!! |
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