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 Veteran
Posts: 237
 
Location: Ava, Missouri | My mare runs to the right and when she leaves the first barrel, she switches correctly to the left lead. But when we start to turn the second, she changes behind and crossfires around the turn. After the turn is finished, she switches back.. She only does this on the second barrel though? 
Any ideas how to fix this? I have tried to fix this for months with no luck.
(She's six years old and still fairly new to the pattern.)
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 Total Germophobe
Posts: 6443
 
Location: Montana | Is it possible since she hasn't been on the pattern for a long timethat she just hasn't learned it yet or doesn't have enough muscle to complete the turn on the correct leads? Other than that I would guess a pain issue, but it sounds to me more like a not enough muscle tone yet for it or needs some more time and patience on it. |
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Veteran
Posts: 237
Location: Ava, Missouri | She's in good shape, used to making tight turns, and has been on the pattern for about 6 months. I just would like to fix it before it becomes muscle memory/habit and is even harder to get fixed. I was guessing pain but not sure where to look. I'm having her adjusted pretty soon, maybe that will fix it. |
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Veteran
Posts: 111
| I had the same problem but figured out i had my inside leg too far back so she thought i was asking her to switch leads as we entered the turn so im careful to keep my inside leg at the cinch thru the turn. |
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 Veteran
Posts: 239
| I'd recommend checking hocks and stifles, the 2nd is the most "complete" turn so if she is hurting on her left hind she may find it easier to cross fire behind 2nd to balance the tension on her hinds.
I had a mare that would start crossfiring when her hocks were hurting. Never did look at her stifles tho, but I am finding now a lot of horses with hock pain also have stifle pain.
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 559
| I too have a 6 yr old that's bad about cross firing .. But only when she gets worked up .. It's been a tough battle :( she's completely sound , no pain .. Just had her looked at a week ago . So it is in her head .. I know she got away with it as a 4 yr old & its been a problem every since .. I'll be watching the post for ideas ! Good luck ! |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 964
Location: Alberta, Canada | Hocks and stifles! My mare started doing that early on as well. So badly that her previous owner pulled her out of training and bred her. I tried to work through it until finally someone told me to get her hocks checked. Got her injected and she hasn't done it since. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1302
Location: California | My 4 year old who is only a year under suddle and new to the pattern does the exact same thing. However, she moves her hip over when I slide my outside leg back on her (how we teach lead departures) and after working for a reined cowhorse trainer and learning how to old my outside leg on one to keep them from switching through the middle, I tried it on her. I just hold my outside leg onto her as I go into the barrel and she never switches. First time I tried it it worked perfectly. Did it a few more times with the same results and can't believe it took me this long to try it! lol
Also adding I had her fully xrayed and a lameness done and the vet said she was sound as could be. |
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Expert
Posts: 2685
| My two experiences with this have been a horse that is sore in the inside hock or a horse that doesn't understand how to use itself correctly in small circles keeping that hip up under them. When my mare is sore (hocks) that's the first thing she starts doing but also a lot of young horses will if they haven't been taught how to keep correct around a barrel. |
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