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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 349
 
Location: texas | forgot to add, I tried ACE as well from my vet, didn't work, just made her drunk...
try arguing w a 900lb drunk lol....
I also WALKED lots and lots and lots and lots of patterns at home, stay calm and cool, just walk no rush...
Started back doing exh before my runs as well, try to out think them bc they always a step ahead, they think they gonna make a HAUL BUTT IN THERE run everytime, well fake em out, just haul to a race a trot a set and go home.....
This worked w my little firecracker and she is grdtr FLIT TO KILL on top and grdtr of FLAMING JET on bottom, so we have lots of gooooooo.... | |
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 Expert
Posts: 1718
 
Location: Southeast Louisiana | I agree with what others have said about doing some training with your horse along with whatever calming supplement works for you. I used the calming cookies more as a training aid. It helps them learn that the arena can be a calm place. Ideally, you wean them off and you eventually won't have to use any supplements. My gelding was the same way as you described. Calm until he realized the other horses were making runs. I pretty much treated the alley way like it was part of the performance. I expected certain behavior from him in the alley way as much as I expected a smooth run. You can't duplicate that during exhibitions. I just had to approach the performance with the attitude that I was just going to have to burn some entry fees until my guy got it right. | |
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 Hugs to You
Posts: 7551
 
Location: In The Land of Cotton | My personal experience is - if a horse checks out vet wise and everything is okay - it usually is the rider communicating the nervousness to the horse. Or, the horse has been run so many times at home that they just can't relax. It is always go, go. Never just calmly walking the pattern.
Try relaxing exercises for yourself and your horse. They work. | |
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 Am I really the Weirdo?
Posts: 11181
Location: Kansas | OP - You've seen me run some pretty hot ones over the last few years, so I'll share a little more and maybe that will give you some other ideas. Knowing what I do about your situation this year, I highly doubt that your horse is sore, crazy, or anything besides READY TO RUN. Odds are you're inadvertently giving her some cue to get amped up more than what you really want.
Matt and I both hand walk our Jokers until we're almost up, then we step on and head to the alley. My Joker takes off when he takes off and I just roll with it because he's solid and is going to go work no matter how we approach the alley. By hand walking them, we reduce the amount of our nerves that they feel and that keeps the horse calmer. On Sunday, I about got launched into a panel by Clifford when he got way too wound up going to the alley, and I think I caused part of it by getting on too soon. He completely freaks if you sit around near the arena on him, and I watched Matt run the drag before us so we were in the barn and we both got too nervous. I really should just warm him up away from the arena, tie him back up and walk away for a couple minutes, then come back, grab him and trot to the arena just in time to run because my nerves cause him to get nervous too. (Perhaps I should be eating the Quietex instead....LOL)
If she's just a little nervous, maybe try finishing your warm up by hand walking or standing beside her for a few minutes. If that's still not quite enough help, get a big oral syringe and give her some Maalox (I think I give between 20-40 cc when I am ready to start warming up). It's cheap, easy to find and is the first "calming/jitters" product I try on any horse. | |
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| There is a woman vet who has made her own essential oil blend for horse. It works really well on my horse. I think you google womenandhorses.com. She sells it on her website. For myself I found a blend called Believe and it really helps with my nerves. | |
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 Veteran
Posts: 120
Location: The Great Midwest | Thank you for all of your replies. I went to a three day race this weekend and I actually did an exh Friday because it's been since sept since I got to run. and ran the other two. I normally don't do exh with her as any pattern training I do when I can get to an arena. That being said, I hardly get to run the pattern it's just mostly slow work. Also I've had this mare 3 years and have had aprox 50 or so runs on her at the most because of life and my mothers passing. She was actually pretty much ok for the practice run, still got a little nervous. Saturday she spun a couple times then trotted right in. Then Sunday my husband came down and was able to walk us in and she did one spin and he grabbed her rein and she settled right down and went in. Almost saying "ok dad Ill settle down". I do run her in a hack (pozzi hack). I feel like this year is just getting started for me as Ive hardly competed. I have a jackpot this weekend and will probably do one or two exh at a walk or trot.
I know I need to work on my self, i do tend to get pretty nervous! | |
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Veteran
Posts: 120
Location: The Great Midwest | Thanks Mel!
Yes I do get pretty nervous, I sware I'm a little add to lol. I've always thought about hand walking, I may try that this weekend as there is a jackpot a windmill and there is hardly any room to ride there anyway. Where can you purchase Malox?
And yes Will is FAR from over worked... Lol she's a little under worked right now! I still don't want to call her seasoned even after three years, not because of her, just because lack of experience.
Edited by Willow55 2014-11-11 3:34 PM
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Hungarian Midget Woman
Location: Midwest | Willow55 - 2014-11-11 3:32 PM Thanks Mel! Yes I do get pretty nervous, I sware I'm a little add to lol. I've always thought about hand walking, I may try that this weekend as there is a jackpot a windmill and there is hardly any room to ride there anyway. Where can you purchase Malox? And yes Will is FAR from over worked... Lol she's a little under worked right now! I still don't want to call her seasoned even after three years, not because of her, just because lack of experience.
It's a human medicine. Walgreens, cvs, etc. | |
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Hungarian Midget Woman
Location: Midwest | I'd vet her first. If she vets clean, get yourself some Xanax for you to take. Nerves can be felt by the horse if you feel jittery. :)
Edited by barrelracr131 2014-11-11 3:46 PM
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Am I really the Weirdo?
Posts: 11181
Location: Kansas | Willow55 - 2014-11-11 3:32 PM Thanks Mel! Yes I do get pretty nervous, I sware I'm a little add to lol. I've always thought about hand walking, I may try that this weekend as there is a jackpot a windmill and there is hardly any room to ride there anyway. Where can you purchase Malox? And yes Will is FAR from over worked... Lol she's a little under worked right now! I still don't want to call her seasoned even after three years, not because of her, just because lack of experience. I buy Maalox at Walmart. Honestly with as little as you have gotten to go this year, I would try hand walking her before you run instead of just sitting on her, and when you do get on, stay relaxed. You have probably seen me sitting on Cliff with one hand on his butt and the other on his neck, talking to him. If I'm talking to him, I'm breathing and not tensing up. It is a NIGHT AND DAY difference with Joker if I am nervous or if I'm relaxed. Hence why I am usually having a conversation and not looking at the barrels at all as he heads through the alley LOL. And really, I think if she's working good, don't mess with an exhibition. IMO that will make one silly pretty quickly if they don't really need it. Or if you do, go really slow. I spent $10 on one exhibition this year ($5 for the exh and $5 for a fine when it took over 60 seconds) with Cliff because I kept stopping and waiting for him to relax in the arena.
Edited by rodeowithjoker 2014-11-11 4:09 PM
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 Off the Wall Wacky
Posts: 2981
Location: Louisiana | Nita - 2014-11-11 2:11 PM I agree with what others have said about doing some training with your horse along with whatever calming supplement works for you. I used the calming cookies more as a training aid. It helps them learn that the arena can be a calm place. Ideally, you wean them off and you eventually won't have to use any supplements. My gelding was the same way as you described. Calm until he realized the other horses were making runs. I pretty much treated the alley way like it was part of the performance. I expected certain behavior from him in the alley way as much as I expected a smooth run. You can't duplicate that during exhibitions. I just had to approach the performance with the attitude that I was just going to have to burn some entry fees until my guy got it right.
THIS. T-Bo was starting a habit of slinging his butt around heading to the alley. Think side pass 90mph to the alley and then sling his butt, not cool. I had been just going along with it, and one run it cost me bc he slung me around when he took off and I lost both my stirrups in the alley. Next run, I set his butt in the ground and made him get back under himself. Horses are too big to act like that, imo. I kinda rocked his world making him stop and get right in the alley, but I stopped a habit from continuing to worsten. And we were in slack so it wasn't a huge deal.
He is the type that just wants to go run, he doesn't refuse or act out. He had just been getting a little more dramatic about his entrance LOL.
Several people mentioned hand walking, or just getting off for a few minutes before you run. This hasn't helped T-Bo. If anything he anticipates the run as soon as I climb back up now. So my last two runs I tightened my saddle without getting off, easier said than done LOL. That is a cue he looks for.
Once we get up to the arena, he actually prefers to stand still and chill rather than keep moving.
You just have to figure out what works for you and your horse, and you have gotten some good suggestions!
Good luck!!
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 Total Germophobe
Posts: 6443
Location: Montana | rodeowithjoker - 2014-11-11 3:06 PM Willow55 - 2014-11-11 3:32 PM Thanks Mel! Yes I do get pretty nervous, I sware I'm a little add to lol. I've always thought about hand walking, I may try that this weekend as there is a jackpot a windmill and there is hardly any room to ride there anyway. Where can you purchase Malox? And yes Will is FAR from over worked... Lol she's a little under worked right now! I still don't want to call her seasoned even after three years, not because of her, just because lack of experience. I buy Maalox at Walmart. Honestly with as little as you have gotten to go this year, I would try hand walking her before you run instead of just sitting on her, and when you do get on, stay relaxed. You have probably seen me sitting on Cliff with one hand on his butt and the other on his neck, talking to him. If I'm talking to him, I'm breathing and not tensing up. It is a NIGHT AND DAY difference with Joker if I am nervous or if I'm relaxed. Hence why I am usually having a conversation and not looking at the barrels at all as he heads through the alley LOL. And really, I think if she's working good, don't mess with an exhibition. IMO that will make one silly pretty quickly if they don't really need it. Or if you do, go really slow. I spent $10 on one exhibition this year ($5 for the exh and $5 for a fine when it took over 60 seconds) with Cliff because I kept stopping and waiting for him to relax in the arena.
I just want to say hand-walking has helped me and my mare A LOT with gate issues! If I can warm her up, then stay off of her till the drag before my run, then we do SOOO much better. She isn't one to act like an idiot, though, she just wouldn't go through the gate if I stay on her too long. But it has improved going through the gate and our runs both! And I only have about 14 competition runs on her. Also, I find that exhibitions or time onlies don't help before a run (at least with me and my mare), it actually made our problems worse. Have fun and good luck! | |
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 Peecans
| Not sure this is up your ally but this was a pretty good thread a bit ago with essential oils and pre jitters http://forums.barrelhorseworld.com/forum/forums/thread-view.asp?tid...
I hope the links live. | |
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Expert
Posts: 3514
| I use Mellow. It helps one relax without taking away the run. | |
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Veteran
Posts: 120
Location: The Great Midwest | mtcanchazer - 2014-11-11 4:20 PM
rodeowithjoker - 2014-11-11 3:06 PM Willow55 - 2014-11-11 3:32 PM Thanks Mel! Yes I do get pretty nervous, I sware I'm a little add to lol. I've always thought about hand walking, I may try that this weekend as there is a jackpot a windmill and there is hardly any room to ride there anyway. Where can you purchase Malox? And yes Will is FAR from over worked... Lol she's a little under worked right now! I still don't want to call her seasoned even after three years, not because of her, just because lack of experience. I buy Maalox at Walmart. Honestly with as little as you have gotten to go this year, I would try hand walking her before you run instead of just sitting on her, and when you do get on, stay relaxed. You have probably seen me sitting on Cliff with one hand on his butt and the other on his neck, talking to him. If I'm talking to him, I'm breathing and not tensing up. It is a NIGHT AND DAY difference with Joker if I am nervous or if I'm relaxed. Hence why I am usually having a conversation and not looking at the barrels at all as he heads through the alley LOL. And really, I think if she's working good, don't mess with an exhibition. IMO that will make one silly pretty quickly if they don't really need it. Or if you do, go really slow. I spent $10 on one exhibition this year ($5 for the exh and $5 for a fine when it took over 60 seconds) with Cliff because I kept stopping and waiting for him to relax in the arena.
I haven't done an exh. on her since prob 2012. Friday was our first one and I just did that because I wanted a "remember how to do this run" since it had been a while and I didn't want to spend another $45 open fee so $5 was much more appealing.
To be honest the worst time she has ever had going in the gate was about a week before my mother passed. She was on hospice and the jackpot was only 2 miles from my parents house, the arena I ride at every week and I wanted a slight break to get my mind off of things. Well it just made things worse. She was horrible and our run was not the greatest either. So coming to the conclusion...Its probably me. Because the best run we've ever made was last august and we had been going about every weekend for a little while and she walked right in, I was confident, I sat up and actually rode and everything was great.
(Hand in palm)
I've decided to just let this year go and start fresh this spring, that way it gives me time to work on myself! | |
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 Veteran
Posts: 232
Location: Winging It in KY | readytorodeo - 2014-11-12 12:59 AM I use Mellow. It helps one relax without taking away the run.
What is Mellow? Is this a type of oil blend? | |
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Am I really the Weirdo?
Posts: 11181
Location: Kansas | Willow55 - 2014-11-13 10:25 AM mtcanchazer - 2014-11-11 4:20 PM rodeowithjoker - 2014-11-11 3:06 PM Willow55 - 2014-11-11 3:32 PM Thanks Mel! Yes I do get pretty nervous, I sware I'm a little add to lol. I've always thought about hand walking, I may try that this weekend as there is a jackpot a windmill and there is hardly any room to ride there anyway. Where can you purchase Malox? And yes Will is FAR from over worked... Lol she's a little under worked right now! I still don't want to call her seasoned even after three years, not because of her, just because lack of experience. I buy Maalox at Walmart. Honestly with as little as you have gotten to go this year, I would try hand walking her before you run instead of just sitting on her, and when you do get on, stay relaxed. You have probably seen me sitting on Cliff with one hand on his butt and the other on his neck, talking to him. If I'm talking to him, I'm breathing and not tensing up. It is a NIGHT AND DAY difference with Joker if I am nervous or if I'm relaxed. Hence why I am usually having a conversation and not looking at the barrels at all as he heads through the alley LOL. And really, I think if she's working good, don't mess with an exhibition. IMO that will make one silly pretty quickly if they don't really need it. Or if you do, go really slow. I spent $10 on one exhibition this year ($5 for the exh and $5 for a fine when it took over 60 seconds) with Cliff because I kept stopping and waiting for him to relax in the arena. I haven't done an exh. on her since prob 2012. Friday was our first one and I just did that because I wanted a "remember how to do this run" since it had been a while and I didn't want to spend another $45 open fee so $5 was much more appealing. To be honest the worst time she has ever had going in the gate was about a week before my mother passed. She was on hospice and the jackpot was only 2 miles from my parents house, the arena I ride at every week and I wanted a slight break to get my mind off of things. Well it just made things worse. She was horrible and our run was not the greatest either. So coming to the conclusion...Its probably me. Because the best run we've ever made was last august and we had been going about every weekend for a little while and she walked right in, I was confident, I sat up and actually rode and everything was great. (Hand in palm ) I've decided to just let this year go and start fresh this spring, that way it gives me time to work on myself!
don't give up on 2014 just because of one little hiccup. You've had a really challenging year in life, and you deserve to do some fun stuff! (besides make beautiful tack that I drool over on Facebook every day) If you want to go run barrels, go! The next time I see you, I'm going to distract you from getting nervous. I may look like an idiot dancing in the holding pen but hey whatever it takes LOL. just remember my favorite quote of 2014 - "No matter how this run goes, they'll still let me enter next weekend!" Barrel racing is supposed to be fun so if you're going to go, go with a good attitude and try to have fun.
(not really sure when I turned into the BHW Cheerleader but that is what this post looks like. now where are my pom poms.......LOL) | |
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Veteran
Posts: 120
Location: The Great Midwest | rodeowithjoker - 2014-11-13 9:35 PM
Willow55 - 2014-11-13 10:25 AM mtcanchazer - 2014-11-11 4:20 PM rodeowithjoker - 2014-11-11 3:06 PM Willow55 - 2014-11-11 3:32 PM Thanks Mel! Yes I do get pretty nervous, I sware I'm a little add to lol. I've always thought about hand walking, I may try that this weekend as there is a jackpot a windmill and there is hardly any room to ride there anyway. Where can you purchase Malox? And yes Will is FAR from over worked... Lol she's a little under worked right now! I still don't want to call her seasoned even after three years, not because of her, just because lack of experience. I buy Maalox at Walmart. Honestly with as little as you have gotten to go this year, I would try hand walking her before you run instead of just sitting on her, and when you do get on, stay relaxed. You have probably seen me sitting on Cliff with one hand on his butt and the other on his neck, talking to him. If I'm talking to him, I'm breathing and not tensing up. It is a NIGHT AND DAY difference with Joker if I am nervous or if I'm relaxed. Hence why I am usually having a conversation and not looking at the barrels at all as he heads through the alley LOL. And really, I think if she's working good, don't mess with an exhibition. IMO that will make one silly pretty quickly if they don't really need it. Or if you do, go really slow. I spent $10 on one exhibition this year ($5 for the exh and $5 for a fine when it took over 60 seconds) with Cliff because I kept stopping and waiting for him to relax in the arena. I haven't done an exh. on her since prob 2012. Friday was our first one and I just did that because I wanted a "remember how to do this run" since it had been a while and I didn't want to spend another $45 open fee so $5 was much more appealing. To be honest the worst time she has ever had going in the gate was about a week before my mother passed. She was on hospice and the jackpot was only 2 miles from my parents house, the arena I ride at every week and I wanted a slight break to get my mind off of things. Well it just made things worse. She was horrible and our run was not the greatest either. So coming to the conclusion...Its probably me. Because the best run we've ever made was last august and we had been going about every weekend for a little while and she walked right in, I was confident, I sat up and actually rode and everything was great. (Hand in palm ) I've decided to just let this year go and start fresh this spring, that way it gives me time to work on myself!
(not really sure when I turned into the BHW Cheerleader but that is what this post looks like. now where are my pom poms.......LOL)
Thank you Mel! That would be awesome!
With everything going on I've forgetten how to have fun, but I need to!
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Am I really the Weirdo?
Posts: 11181
Location: Kansas | Yes, you do need to have fun. I've missed you at the barrel races this year. | |
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Veteran
Posts: 223
Location: Louisiana | cuckleburr - 2014-11-13 11:58 AM
readytorodeo - 2014-11-12 12:59 AM I use Mellow. It helps one relax without taking away the run.
What is Mellow? Is this a type of oil blend?
I also have one the Equine Natural Care "Mellow" formula and I have to say that it has done him a world of good. | |
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