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![](<a href="http://s1033.photobucket.com/user/andersmk5/media/horse/20141010_173339-1_zpsv5eadqyj.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1033.photob) Regular
Posts: 76
| So I bought a 9 year old mare as a barrel prospect.
Then later found out the previous owners ran her on barrels with no prior training and shes only green broke.
For the past year she has been in dressage training. Now shes ready to start on barrels but we have some obstacles to overcome.
1) gate issues only if the barrels are set up.
2) once shes in the arena. She is HOT. Walking is almost impossible for her. Shes determined to stay near the gate. And if you manage to get her away from it, she makes a run for it if given a chance.
3) she will freeze and not move, if you try to get her moving she starts bucking
THESE ISSUES ARE ONLY PRESENT IF BARRELS ARE SET UP. OTHERWISE SHE IS AN ANGEL UNDER SADDLE
Ive been lunging her around the barrels almost everyday getting her to relax and walk calmly near them. Shes gotten much better with that.
Looking for any other ideas to change her mind and get her thinking that they are not a punishment, they do not mean we are running full speed, and that they are not scary |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
  
| It is going to take a lot of time, dedication, repetition, and experience to get the horse back as it sounds like the horse has been blown up.
Firstly I would have a thorough vet check done to ensure there is nothing causing this horse pain.
I would put the horse on ulcer meds the treatment dose for 30 days, and preventative dose while I ride.
If the horse likes to stay by the alley, I would be doing majority of my hard work by the alley so she understands it is no longer a comfort zone. I would work on circles, turns, stops, back up, side passing, reverse arcing.
When her body relaxes, then I would ride her up to the first barrel at a walk, the first day stop and get off loosen the cinch put her away.
The second day I might walk her around the barrels once, then stop at first get off loosen cinch.
These horses are not easy as you need to be able to feel their body language to make the decision to push forward or to back off, as these horses can be dangerous if pushed too hard. |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| You might want to look at calming herbs/meds/drugs to assist in the retraining |
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Regular
Posts: 76
| Thanks! Ya when I bought her she wouldnt go on one side of their arena. The owners told me that none of their horses would go on that side and that they believed some animal lives in the patch of trees (i should have thought about that more). Well now I realized with how their arena is set up that would have been the starting gate...
Then a few weeks after buying her I casually asked if any of them have ever done barrels. She preceded to tell me about how they would get friends together and run barrels, and whenever one of their other horses would get near a barrel they would blow a horn causing the horse to rear, ruining the girls time. They thought that was hilarious....Im guessing they did the same with my mare...
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Regular
Posts: 76
| Im trying to take it slow which is why I had her in dressage training for a year hoping it would help. Shes to smart and is a thinker. She fine until we go around the barn corner and she sees the barrels then her personality does a 180'. When trying to get her into the arena she has bitten people, bucks, rears..... |
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 Not Afraid to Work
Posts: 4717
 
| Not to be the bearer of bad news but sometimes its best if the horse never revisits its past abuse. I wouldnt get too high of hopes about her being your next barrel horse. I'm not saying it cant be fixed because some can but sometimes its harder on both horse and rider than it is beneficial. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 742
| stayceem - 2014-09-28 11:19 PM Not to be the bearer of bad news but sometimes its best if the horse never revisits its past abuse. I wouldnt get too high of hopes about her being your next barrel horse. I'm not saying it cant be fixed because some can but sometimes its harder on both horse and rider than it is beneficial.
I have to agree. Don't get too invested and take care of yourself and don't get hurt |
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 Expert
Posts: 1631
Location: Somewhere around here | Elsa5 - 2014-09-28 8:53 PM
Thanks! Ya when I bought her she wouldnt go on one side of their arena. The owners told me that none of their horses would go on that side and that they believed some animal lives in the patch of trees (i should have thought about that more). Well now I realized with how their arena is set up that would have been the starting gate...
Then a few weeks after buying her I casually asked if any of them have ever done barrels. She preceded to tell me about how they would get friends together and run barrels, and whenever one of their other horses would get near a barrel they would blow a horn causing the horse to rear, ruining the girls time. They thought that was hilarious....Im guessing they did the same with my mare...
That's awful! People like that shouldn't ownhorses  |
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 ...Dot Dot Dot...
Posts: 2062
Location: SW New Mexico | kramerica - 2014-09-29 10:55 PM
stayceem - 2014-09-28 11:19 PM Not to be the bearer of bad news but sometimes its best if the horse never revisits its past abuse. I wouldnt get too high of hopes about her being your next barrel horse. I'm not saying it cant be fixed because some can but sometimes its harder on both horse and rider than it is beneficial.
I have to agree. Don't get too invested and take care of yourself and don't get hurt
Agreed...
I too have spent years trying to rehab abuse cases... there's always the flashbacks.. maybe ..not so often but for a barrel horse.. this particular animal.. will cost you lots of time..
I'm getting older, and IMO ..my time and money are better spent on something that doesn't carry so much baggage...
I like my self and my horses...to enjoy barrel racing! :)
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