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Veteran
Posts: 121
Location: SK | I've had this horse about a year now. He is a 12yr old Quarter Horse who was running 2D/bottom of 1D before I bought him. I talked to girls who've watched him from the beginning and they've never seen him act like this. This summer/fall I tried running him at everything from jackpots to college rodeos and nothing changed. Have been having regular chiro treatments and have had him at the vet so this soreness should not be an issue. Gave him 3 months off and came back slow. Tons of slow work it seemed and then started hauling him to jackpots and loped him through the pattern during time onlies and sometimes in the jackpot just at a lope... the first few times he took a couple times circling each barrel but had since then gone to 3 jackpots and loped through a gorgeous pattern. Last night I did my time only and he worked SO NICE, went to attempt my first run with just still loping to first (problem barrel) and he was a little nervous going in but overall wasn't too bad considering we haven't made it through a pattern with a time in a year. Chose to still take my second run because I know he could do much better. He was a total wreck!! Back to exactly what he was doing before, nervous/not wanting to go in and then tensed up and goes sideways coming into first. I feel like I've tried everything and have worked my ass off to try and get with this horse. He is so wonderfully broke that it's really hard to think about selling him but if I can't get him figured out soon something has to change. He came to me after I lost my previous horse in a horrible colic accident just after I had got him running awesome. This horse was the first horse of many trials that I jumped on and made a run on the first try (though not at a jpt cause it was the middle of winter). Anyone have suggestions of what this could be or what I could try differently? I really really love this guy and he's got extreme wheels I'm just not sure what I'm missing. |
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 Tried and True
Posts: 21185
  
Location: Where I am happiest | Stop making all those runs. Leg him up, go to the barrel race, make your ONE competition run and let him be done! If he was 2D bottom of 1D before he knows his job!!! Most horses cant take what your doing by going in multiple times. Time only are for babys. Just get on with it. |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| What exactly is the horse doing, running up the wall, knocking, etc?
The horses who are a ball of nerves, I give omeprazole treatment for 30 days, then the morning of competition. If you are not doing this, I suggest looking into it.
Also what type of vet did you take this horse to, I know in Alberta there is one vet specifically who people loves, but he tends to inject without xraying first (I prefer to find the problem, and not inject blindly) and if you went to the local cattle vet, I suggest going to a real equine vet.
Have you spoke to the previous owner, saddle fit, bit, have you rode with her? If you haven't I would start there. |
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Veteran
Posts: 121
Location: SK | cheryl makofka - 2015-03-01 7:48 AM
What exactly is the horse doing, running up the wall, knocking, etc?
The horses who are a ball of nerves, I give omeprazole treatment for 30 days, then the morning of competition. If you are not doing this, I suggest looking into it.
Also what type of vet did you take this horse to, I know in Alberta there is one vet specifically who people loves, but he tends to inject without xraying first (I prefer to find the problem, and not inject blindly) and if you went to the local cattle vet, I suggest going to a real equine vet.
Have you spoke to the previous owner, saddle fit, bit, have you rode with her? If you haven't I would start there.
I was doing time onlies as I had been suggested to try going slow in a competition like atmosphere to get him relaxed and see the pressure not be so bad... He runs up the wall or just stalls out and swings his butt around. I've had him to an equine vet in MB as well as the local vet that I and many others have used for horses for a long time. I never got anything injected as neither seen the need to at this time. Saddle fit is good, she had a Martin rep come out and measure him and I went out and ordered the exact same saddle. Bit is the same she's used on him all the time she rode him. I am unable to ride with her as we are in different provinces 8+hours away. I've tried talking to her and she's suggested drills but it hasn't done anything.
Appreciate the feedback! I'm always learning and every horse is different so I appreciate hearing words from other people. |
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Expert
Posts: 1477
Location: In the land of peanuts and cotton | Don't get mad at me but he's acting exactly like one I bought. He was a 1D proven rodeo horse. When I bought him I only loped trough the barrels once because of weather. First show I look him to two weeks late he completely spazed out. I tried everything just like you have. Turned him out 3 months. Took him to a show and he came very close to flipping over more than once. I only made 2 complete runs on him in the 5 months I had him. I didn't do slow work either. The problem was he was completely blown up. Come to find out he was like that before I bought him but I wasn't told and the videos were edited. I sold him and the lady left him turned out for 2 years legged him back up and took him to a show and he flipped over on her. He is now a very expensive pasture pretty. Your May be blown up too. Some times it is fixable but most of the time it's not. I would seriously consider sending him somewhere to be roped on for a while. |
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Veteran
Posts: 121
Location: SK | TessBelle - 2015-03-01 8:15 AM
Don't get mad at me but he's acting exactly like one I bought. He was a 1D proven rodeo horse. When I bought him I only loped trough the barrels once because of weather. First show I look him to two weeks late he completely spazed out. I tried everything just like you have. Turned him out 3 months. Took him to a show and he came very close to flipping over more than once. I only made 2 complete runs on him in the 5 months I had him. I didn't do slow work either. The problem was he was completely blown up. Come to find out he was like that before I bought him but I wasn't told and the videos were edited. I sold him and the lady left him turned out for 2 years legged him back up and took him to a show and he flipped over on her. He is now a very expensive pasture pretty. Your May be blown up too. Some times it is fixable but most of the time it's not. I would seriously consider sending him somewhere to be roped on for a while.
Definitely doesn't make me mad at you at all! It could be exactly that, of course I am hoping not but it could be a very real possibility. He is quiet enough outside the arena to be a kids horse or would make an awesome ranch horse if I decide that route, unfortunately I'm not in a situation to send him away and get him back if he goes he would be gone for good but it's another option that's crossed my mind a few times. I should also mention that at the last fall college rodeo I ran him in poles just for fun, we had worked them at home a few times and just wanted the rodeo to be fun. He was a totally different horse, walked in the alley and took off like an old pro both days. |
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 Total Germophobe
Posts: 6437
Location: Montana | ThreeCorners - 2015-03-01 7:42 PM Stop making all those runs. Leg him up, go to the barrel race, make your ONE competition run and let him be done! If he was 2D bottom of 1D before he knows his job!!! Most horses cant take what your doing by going in multiple times. Time only are for babys. Just get on with it.
This exactly!!! My mare is this way...if you try to time only her, then compete on her she will refuse the gate and have a TERRIBLE pattern for the competition. I'd love some days to have a time only before a competition run (for me, not for her), but she does so much better if I just take her, compete on her, then go home...no time onlies. She is on her game, goes in the gate great, works an awesome pattern. |
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Expert
Posts: 1477
Location: In the land of peanuts and cotton | Hudley_SK - 2015-03-01 9:22 PM
TessBelle - 2015-03-01 8:15 AM
Don't get mad at me but he's acting exactly like one I bought. He was a 1D proven rodeo horse. When I bought him I only loped trough the barrels once because of weather. First show I look him to two weeks late he completely spazed out. I tried everything just like you have. Turned him out 3 months. Took him to a show and he came very close to flipping over more than once. I only made 2 complete runs on him in the 5 months I had him. I didn't do slow work either. The problem was he was completely blown up. Come to find out he was like that before I bought him but I wasn't told and the videos were edited. I sold him and the lady left him turned out for 2 years legged him back up and took him to a show and he flipped over on her. He is now a very expensive pasture pretty. Your May be blown up too. Some times it is fixable but most of the time it's not. I would seriously consider sending him somewhere to be roped on for a while.
Definitely doesn't make me mad at you at all! It could be exactly that, of course I am hoping not but it could be a very real possibility. He is quiet enough outside the arena to be a kids horse or would make an awesome ranch horse if I decide that route, unfortunately I'm not in a situation to send him away and get him back if he goes he would be gone for good but it's another option that's crossed my mind a few times. I should also mention that at the last fall college rodeo I ran him in poles just for fun, we had worked them at home a few times and just wanted the rodeo to be fun. He was a totally different horse, walked in the alley and took off like an old pro both days.
He's sounding more and more like mine. I used mine for flag presentations and he was a perfect genial man every time. If you are interested in the roping just find someone who ropes a few times a week. Most of the ones I know would do it for free just to have a chance to practice without working there horse too much. |
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Veteran
Posts: 264
| ThreeCorners - 2015-03-01 8:42 PM
Stop making all those runs. Leg him up, go to the barrel race, make your ONE competition run and let him be done! If he was 2D bottom of 1D before he knows his job!!! Most horses cant take what your doing by going in multiple times. Time only are for babys. Just get on with it.
Agree with this 100%. My finished horses would do everything you are describing if I were to go back and forth with speed. If you are sure he is sound then go to the race run him and put him away. He sounds like he knows his job.
Also, record your run and see what YOU are doing. Are you tensing up? Are you hanging on his face? Make sure you are riding him correct. |
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Veteran
Posts: 121
Location: SK | I video every 'run'. I don't see that I change the way I ride when I ask for slow or when I ask for faster. I have put a couple other girls on him in the fall and he did the same, mind you not at a jackpot just at another arena other than home. But they all worked the pattern before they ran. |
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 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9991
 
Location: Kansas | ThreeCorners - 2015-03-01 8:42 PM Stop making all those runs. Leg him up, go to the barrel race, make your ONE competition run and let him be done! If he was 2D bottom of 1D before he knows his job!!! Most horses cant take what your doing by going in multiple times. Time only are for babys. Just get on with it.
agree |
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 Expert
Posts: 1857
| Stop running him so many times! I wouldn't even let him look at a barrel unless he's going in to make a competitive run, even if you are just trotting or loping through... just ride to keep him legged up. go to a jackpot make a run, even if it's half speed to make sure he doesn't blow the first, get off and go home. let him enjoy it, not dread it! |
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 Good Grief!
Posts: 6343
Location: Cap'n Joan Rotgut.....alberta | imo..hes sore
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I Really Love Jeans
Posts: 3173
Location: North Dakota | I purchased a gelding that is the perfect lesson horse for basic riding. Anyone can ride him if they can sit up. If you take him anywhere near an arena with a show going on he turns into a monster that will do anything he can to bolt away from the arena. If you try to turn him back to the arena he will spin in the air and either fall on you or run away with you. He was simply blown up being pushed to run barrels. He is happy to push cattle and ride in the pasture all day but he will never be a safe barrel horse. My point is that some horses are just better trail horses etc.....I would get another horse and let this one go as a trail horse to someone!!!!!!! |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 425
Location: California | So he goes perfect for time only but freaks for the run?
How to DO you feel before an actual run vs time only? Could it be that you are nervous & making the horse nervous?
I noticed you mentioned "pressure of the run". A horse is not going to know the difference between time only & competition other than one is going faster. The only different mind set is you. I tend to get nervous AFTER a run (lol I know, doesnt make sense) but I notice that in my horse... calm going in & nuts until I get off or relax.
If he was "blown up" I'm not totally sure he would want to run at all, time only or not? Maybe just keep the running relaxed & work on other things in the meantime. |
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Veteran
Posts: 121
Location: SK | ccarpe18 - 2015-03-01 10:46 PM
So he goes perfect for time only but freaks for the run?
How to DO you feel before an actual run vs time only? Could it be that you are nervous & making the horse nervous?
I noticed you mentioned "pressure of the run". A horse is not going to know the difference between time only & competition other than one is going faster. The only different mind set is you. I tend to get nervous AFTER a run (lol I know, doesnt make sense) but I notice that in my horse... calm going in & nuts until I get off or relax.
If he was "blown up" I'm not totally sure he would want to run at all, time only or not? Maybe just keep the running relaxed & work on other things in the meantime.
Okay so if it is me what are some ways I can help with my nerves before I run? I have never been nervous on any other horse I've run even when I was running for my saddle, it was no big deal. I've had a pretty stressful last 2 years and just finishing my degree in the next two months and a recent breakup has added stress as well. I think that I put it away in the back of my mind when I run but maybe I don't. Already thinking about it for the last few days I'm going to not touch a barrel for two weeks until the next chance we have to make a run. I'll warm him up and then get off and wait until just before I run to get back on and maybe this will help.... he is the only horse I run so I often will just sit on him the entire jackpot normally. I have found myself needing to take deep breaths in the alley/right before I go but I think I need somethings to do before that point. What are some tips I can use to try and mentally calm myself? |
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 Expert
Posts: 3815
Location: The best kept secret in TX | Hudley_SK - 2015-03-01 8:18 PM I've had this horse about a year now. He is a 12yr old Quarter Horse who was running 2D/bottom of 1D before I bought him. I talked to girls who've watched him from the beginning and they've never seen him act like this. This summer/fall I tried running him at everything from jackpots to college rodeos and nothing changed. Have been having regular chiro treatments and have had him at the vet so this soreness should not be an issue. Gave him 3 months off and came back slow. Tons of slow work it seemed and then started hauling him to jackpots and loped him through the pattern during time onlies and sometimes in the jackpot just at a lope... the first few times he took a couple times circling each barrel but had since then gone to 3 jackpots and loped through a gorgeous pattern. Last night I did my time only and he worked SO NICE, went to attempt my first run with just still loping to first (problem barrel) and he was a little nervous going in but overall wasn't too bad considering we haven't made it through a pattern with a time in a year. Chose to still take my second run because I know he could do much better. He was a total wreck!! Back to exactly what he was doing before, nervous/not wanting to go in and then tensed up and goes sideways coming into first. I feel like I've tried everything and have worked my ass off to try and get with this horse. He is so wonderfully broke that it's really hard to think about selling him but if I can't get him figured out soon something has to change. He came to me after I lost my previous horse in a horrible colic accident just after I had got him running awesome. This horse was the first horse of many trials that I jumped on and made a run on the first try (though not at a jpt cause it was the middle of winter). Anyone have suggestions of what this could be or what I could try differently? I really really love this guy and he's got extreme wheels I'm just not sure what I'm missing.
Do you maybe have a trainer anywhere close to you?
If so, see if they will let you get on one of their horses and make a run or two and see if you have any areas in your riding that need to be improved. I am not trying to be mean or pick on you by any means, please don't think that at all, but I know when I was having problems in the arena with my horse the best thing that helped me was finding a trainer who would work with just me for a few months to improve my seat. handling, horsemanship and cues. I then brought my horse to the trainer after the few months off and worked with the trainer and my horse together and it made all the difference in the world. I kept getting in the way of my horse and made him mess up runs all the time. I kept blaming my bit, my saddle, my horse... But it was me.
Just something to think about. Try and be open minded to the possibility of areas of improvement in your own daily riding and apply those to your riding style in the arena.
Hugs and good luck  |
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Expert
Posts: 3815
Location: The best kept secret in TX | Hudley_SK - 2015-03-04 12:10 PM ccarpe18 - 2015-03-01 10:46 PM So he goes perfect for time only but freaks for the run?
How to DO you feel before an actual run vs time only? Could it be that you are nervous & making the horse nervous?
I noticed you mentioned "pressure of the run". A horse is not going to know the difference between time only & competition other than one is going faster. The only different mind set is you. I tend to get nervous AFTER a run (lol I know, doesnt make sense) but I notice that in my horse... calm going in & nuts until I get off or relax.
If he was "blown up" I'm not totally sure he would want to run at all, time only or not? Maybe just keep the running relaxed & work on other things in the meantime. Okay so if it is me what are some ways I can help with my nerves before I run? I have never been nervous on any other horse I've run even when I was running for my saddle, it was no big deal. I've had a pretty stressful last 2 years and just finishing my degree in the next two months and a recent breakup has added stress as well. I think that I put it away in the back of my mind when I run but maybe I don't. Already thinking about it for the last few days I'm going to not touch a barrel for two weeks until the next chance we have to make a run. I'll warm him up and then get off and wait until just before I run to get back on and maybe this will help.... he is the only horse I run so I often will just sit on him the entire jackpot normally. I have found myself needing to take deep breaths in the alley/right before I go but I think I need somethings to do before that point. What are some tips I can use to try and mentally calm myself?
This is going to sound weird but I count objects to keep my mind calm. LOL
I count until I get bored or I find something interesting to look at or an interesting person to watch. I also have books downloaded onto my phone to keep my mind off things until I run. It helps believe it or not. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1440
Location: Texas | Sounds to me like he is sore. Have hi back xrayed for ks. That is what my horse was doing |
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It is what you think it is
Posts: 1176
Location: Eastern Kansas | My gelding starting acting the same way, come to find out he had EPM. He was very sore and just did not feel well. Once I had him treated, he was back to his old self again and back to running 1d 2d times. Good luck. Hope you find out what is bothering him. |
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