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 Hummer's Hero
Posts: 3071
  
Location: Smack Dab in the Middle | I'm seeking training suggestions for a "rehab" project...
Blown up barrel horse...been vetted (by more than one good lameness vet) and treated and he is sound...took him to a clinic that helped TREMENDOUSLY--most of the time. But one thing that I cannot figure out is his approach to his third barrel. He is really "turny" and wants to turn his second. Send him to the third and he will get just about to the point of where he rates, and he wants to turn left. Kinda duck it, I guess. Does not happen in slow work, and doesn't happen every time, but way too often. If I can hold him in there, he smokes his turns, so it's not like he refuses to turn. He does have A LOT of anxiety, though it's getting more and more under control. It does play a part in whether he can make a run or not...if I lose him at the gate, I may as well forget. If he can keep focused, he will at least try to work.
But the third barrel thing really has me stumped. I cannot figure out WHY he wants to turn before we get there...therefore I'm having trouble fixing it. Any suggestions are welcome. |
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 Veteran
Posts: 110
| Maybe he just lacks confidence and needs you to be more aggressive? |
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| I would look into something to work on the anxiety and see if the runs get more consistent...
I can't stand a horse who is bad at the gate and I think it feeds soooo many more issues. |
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Hummer's Hero
Posts: 3071
Location: Smack Dab in the Middle | OhMax - 2016-08-11 11:50 AM
I would look into something to work on the anxiety and see if the runs get more consistent...
I can't stand a horse who is bad at the gate and I think it feeds soooo many more issues.
I'm getting a handle on it. When we started, he would run away from the gate (and over people and whatever was in his way). Now, he will go in, usually quietly and straight. He's even been very calm in the holding area during exh. Tuesday night he was calm for exh and worked really well, so I entered him. He was 2nd out after the drag and got anxious in the hold pen and I lost his focus. I'm sure that I'm a factor, but I try not to add to it. |
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Hummer's Hero
Posts: 3071
Location: Smack Dab in the Middle | camillamarie - 2016-08-11 11:38 AM
Maybe he just lacks confidence and needs you to be more aggressive?
He definitely lacks confidence--and so do I in him for that matter, but I'm trying very hard to not get in his way. I was babysitting him too much for sure for a while. I'm a rather aggressive rider, but I don't whip and spur exactly, just ride with my body pretty aggressively.
I do ride him in a treeless right now, and I'm wondering if he is just feeling too much. Don't get me wrong, it's an issue he came to me with, but I wonder if it's part of not finding the fix for it. |
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 Coyote Country Queen
Posts: 5666
 
| Are you treating for ulcers? I had an anxious horse several years ago that I would assume based on his behavior and body condition had ulcers. I treated with THE Gastroplus and it made a huge difference. I would dose him prior to runs after the initial treatment, and he was so relaxed. Prior to that he was a bear at the gate. I might have interpreted what you wrote wrong, but it sounds like there was a pain issue that was treated. I think that anytime you have a pain issue you need to treat for ulcers.
Another thing I like to do with an anxious horse is to warm up away from the arena, then hand walk until it's our turn. Even if there is a holding pen I will stay off until right before it's our turn.
I'm sure you have been, but lots of slow work. I would be tempted to cut out all speed and work only at a walk, stopping and relaxing at any point in the pattern when you feel him getting anxious.
And something to consider is really take a good look at how you're riding. Are you staying forward and riding for that extra stride around the barrel to keep him moving forward? If you have videos, see if you're possibly doing something different when he starts the turn too early. Look at body and hand position. |
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