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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 669
  
Location: Central Texas | bscanchaser - 2014-10-17 1:29 PM
FLITASTIC - 2014-10-17 12:24 PM
Whats wrong with showing a horse you bought 2-3 weeks ago? If its a finished 1-2D horse then shouldnt be a problem. If I bought a 1D horse, tried the horse, I would expect to be able to enter them same day as purchase if necessary. My guess is the horse may have been drugged DURING the sales process, now has worn off.
Why is it that the horse is always DRUGGED in these situations? I have taken several blown up 1-D horses from people who couldn't ride to the horses style and within a short time the horse has gate issues. From my experience, 95% of the time the horse is having gate issues because of the rider. Some people are not able to understand what each horse needs or doesn't need; the rider has no feel for soundness or anxiety issues and just keeps pounding away doing the same thing that the horse doesn't like. The OP states this horse has a history of gate issues- I would imagine its the riding style that is setting him off not that he was drugged by the previous owner.
I am going to agree in part with alot of this. I have a horse that you can sit in the alley way all day long and the horse will go to sleep, however I also have a gelding that is totally different in temperament, if you sit in or around the alley before your run he turns into a basket case. I tried doing all the things that have suggested on here to calm an alley anxious horse, it did not work for him, only made him worse. I did this because it had been drilled into me that your horse must be calm and settled anytime you are near the alley or you have a crazy barrel horse. The more i did these things the more it caused him to start jumping up and whirling, not wanting to enter the alley. Then I realized, you know what I don't like sitting in the alley or near the alley myself all that much either so why should I force my horse who doesn't want to and in the process turn him into an un useable barrel horse. I warm him up off by ourselves somewhere, then head towards the alley a run or two before my turn but stay just far enough away to keep him settled, make my run and then leave and go cool him down somewhere else. Works just fine for him. I can put my 9 year old niece on him after that and he is as calm as can be. Got rid of the ucler issues as well by changing my routine. Horses are not one size fits all just like people aren't. Take some time to figure out what works for him and see if you can figure it out and of course absolutely rule out pain or ulcers. That can cause any horse to refuse or act up. I also agree, under normal circumstance, that if a horse is a finished horse regardless of the D it runs in, you should run as soon as you feel comfortable, that's what a finished horse is for. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 678
Location: Canada | I would be careful accusing someone of drugging a horse because it has alley issues. I bought one that apparently had NO alley issues what so ever but after bringing him home he started refusing at the gate and balking. As it turns out he's a horse that needs to build a relationship with his rider and now that we have that he's good to go for me and gives me everything he's got.
I've also bought horses with known alley issues totally prepared to work on them but bring them home and the alley issues are gone completely for me. Just a change in rider/ feed or way of doing things was all that was needed.
Horses like people can change for the good or bad in their new environments so before jumping to conclusions give the horse time to get settled. Most people take almost a full year of riding their horse (some less) to truly figure out how to work as an effective team the compliments one and other.
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Location: Keeping up with the numbers! | Just for clarification....Showing horse...I interpreted as showing to sell the horse. Which is why I was confused I thought the poster was showing the horse to a buyer after only owning 2-3 weeks. Running the horse in mind would be taking to a jackpot or rodeo and making a run. And yes, if I purchased a finished horse I would expect to be able to go and make a run. |
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| i didn't come to this group to be bashed about my horse, obvsly i want to FIX what is wrong or i wouldn't be asking for help from such rude people that don't know me nor my horse. (doesn't apply to everyone) i am trying my best to fix everything. i know he is sound i know he is utd on teeth feet etc. he has been vetted and nothing was found. i don't ride him because his pervious owners didn't either, that wasn't something i just decided to do. And he is on a round bale 24-7. he doesn't have ANY grass. i will treat with ulcers tonight. his feed is max 13.0 starch. Also i was just told, literally just told 5 mins ago by a old old owner that had him (years ago) that when she got him his feet where bad. he had x-rays done and he had some changes to the coffin bone but everything was fixed there when he got him. I called and made ANOTHER appointment with 2 different vets to get 2 different options. I'm not trying to drug him, i have a terrible anxitity disorder so i know what its like to be nervous, i take a prescribed medicine and i don't consider myself "drugged" when i need to take my medicine. Also i never said he was FINE till i got him, his ex ex old owners had the same problem, (which i think i already mentioned this) she said he was dangerous. but she fixed him. after she sold him, she says she didn't know what happen to him. So he has had this problem before. No i am not trying to sell him. Not yet at least. Yes i should be able to run him now or whenever, doesn't matter if I've owned him for 1 week or 10 weeks. i paid over $15.000 for this horse, so yes i wanted to run him whenever i could. Had i known he was going to try to kill me, maybe i would i have reconsidered. please let me clarify.. He is SOLID, FINISHED. makes the SAME run EVERYTIME. no blowing off barrels so taking steps by barrels. NOTHINg. its getting him into the arena is the problem. so please if anyone has any other ideas. and doesn't want to be rude to me, please again, help me. |
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 Miss Laundry Misshap
Posts: 5271
| Could very well be your anxiety is transferring over to him. After you warm him up, get off of him until it's time to go into the arena, then he won't be able to feel your anxiety. |
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| that is exactly what i do. when i get to a barrel race i warm up away from the arena, as far as i can get get. take him to the trailer, loosen his cinch, then when its my drag i had walk and 1 or two before i get on and go. like i said though, I've never had a terrible problem with him until yesterday. normally he'll spin 1 time and walk right in. yesterday it was really bad with him rearing taking off to the trailer etc |
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 Scorpions R Us
Posts: 9586
Location: So. Cali. | Barrelhorsehelp1 - 2014-10-17 1:12 PM that is exactly what i do. when i get to a barrel race i warm up away from the arena, as far as i can get get. take him to the trailer, loosen his cinch, then when its my drag i had walk and 1 or two before i get on and go. like i said though, I've never had a terrible problem with him until yesterday. normally he'll spin 1 time and walk right in. yesterday it was really bad with him rearing taking off to the trailer etc
How many times have you personally made a run at a race on this horse?
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Scorpions R Us
Posts: 9586
Location: So. Cali. | Generally you can not treat ulcers in a short period of time. If the horse does infact have ulcers it can take time to heal them, that means time away from barrel racing.
He absolutely could be a bleeder, as mentioned, remember they do not always bleed out/visible. He could be internally bleeding and dreading going into the arena because of it.
Yes, with the second/third opinions from a good lameness vet.
And, when you find what the problem is, give him time to realize it has been fixed. This will not be an over night cure.
I too purchased a gate soar 1D barrel horse. Even if you headed in the generally direction of the arena the horse began to come undone. Chiro, Ulcer treatment, & Hock Injections followed with time helped her. |
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| yesterday was the 2nd time. I've taken him 1 other time to a rodeo just to hang out while i ran another horse. (which he was fine) i even rode him around just walking letting him get a good look and he was fine. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1857
| Can you give him another job for awhile? And why did they not ride him during the week? I can only imagine how boring it would be to walk and trot circles everyday... I'm not attacking you, just wanted to know if they gave you a reason as to why? If he were mine I'd get him out doing something else during the week, maybe a couple days take him into the arena and work on drills, keep things nice and calm... |
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Scorpions R Us
Posts: 9586
Location: So. Cali. | Barrelhorsehelp1 - 2014-10-17 1:21 PM yesterday was the 2nd time. I've taken him 1 other time to a rodeo just to hang out while i ran another horse. (which he was fine) i even rode him around just walking letting him get a good look and he was fine.
This would be make think its nerves. Not to point fingers and we can all say we dont get that nervous, but we all know when we hear our name called we get a little shiver. I had a gelding who I ran for years, the only time he ever refused the gate was when I got nervous, completely flat out not going in, not if someone tried to lead him or with another horse. As soon as I got the mental game undercontrol, we were set.
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 Party Girl
Posts: 12293
Location: Buffalo, Wyoming | Barrelhorsehelp1 - 2014-10-17 2:12 PM that is exactly what i do. when i get to a barrel race i warm up away from the arena, as far as i can get get. take him to the trailer, loosen his cinch, then when its my drag i had walk and 1 or two before i get on and go. like i said though, I've never had a terrible problem with him until yesterday. normally he'll spin 1 time and walk right in. yesterday it was really bad with him rearing taking off to the trailer etc
When you go to the arena does he usually have a buddy horse walk with him to the alley? If not maybe try that.
But like others have said check for ulcers or bleeding or something of the sort that you can't visually see on the outside. |
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| i will admit i get nervous. just as you said, everyone does. but i do try to keep himself under control knowing how he is. but after yesterday i am more scared than nervous. he will hurt someone. and the didn't ride him because he is just such a handful, he is still hot even outside of the arena, it is the most annoying thing trying to trail ride a horse that does nothing but wants to run. |
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Expert
Posts: 1857
| Barrelhorsehelp1 - 2014-10-17 3:29 PM
i will admit i get nervous. just as you said, everyone does. but i do try to keep himself under control knowing how he is. but after yesterday i am more scared than nervous. he will hurt someone. and the didn't ride him because he is just such a handful, he is still hot even outside of the arena, it is the most annoying thing trying to trail ride a horse that does nothing but wants to run.
pony him? anything to give his mind something else to think about...
Edited by FlyingJT 2014-10-17 3:33 PM
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 Ima Fickle Fan
Posts: 3547
Location: Texas | Barrelhorsehelp1 - 2014-10-17 3:29 PM i will admit i get nervous. just as you said, everyone does. but i do try to keep himself under control knowing how he is. but after yesterday i am more scared than nervous. he will hurt someone. and the didn't ride him because he is just such a handful, he is still hot even outside of the arena, it is the most annoying thing trying to trail ride a horse that does nothing but wants to run.
I'll offer the lamest advice possible... Just ride him for a while. Don't enter. Just take him out and build a relationship. Start off slow. He senses your fear and is feeding off it. I know you said the previous owners didn't ride him and just stuck on the walker. That doesn't mean you need to the same.
My hubby has a young horse that he claims is a "dead head." I had never gotten on this horse before until the other night. "Dead head" would NOT be my description of him. But he was feeding off my nervous energy. I would get comfortable with the horse first. Then go from there. It may be nothing more than your nervous energy. |
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 Angel in a Sorrel Coat
Posts: 16030
Location: In a happy place | Nateracer - 2014-10-17 3:06 PM Could very well be your anxiety is transferring over to him. After you warm him up, get off of him until it's time to go into the arena, then he won't be able to feel your anxiety.
I would have to agree with Nate.
And like another poster said just take him and ride for a few months just in the pasture.
I sure hope this all works out for you. |
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 Dancing in my Mind
Posts: 3062
Location: Eastern OH but my heart is in WV | I bought a horse a few years ago, that I was told that "would go any speed I wanted him to and was quiet." Boy, did I get a rude and DANGEROUS awaking at my first show with him. The arena did not have a alley and you had to walk in and get lined up. I still remember him on both hind legs and leaping. Come to find out later the horse was totally blown-up on the barrel pattern and it did not matter if the arena had an alley or not. That first summer all I did was work on shoeing issues and just hauling to shows and walking around the arena. If we entered, we only ran poles (more like a fast lope). He was fine to warm-up, and walk quietly in/out, but he knew when it was go time. We also spent the summer trail riding but that was a totally new concept to him too. I don't know what the special change was but I noticed a HUGE difference in him when he started to trust me.
Fast forward to today, my 13 year old daughter now runs him. We have learned that he is NEVER going to be a horse to "hang out" around the arena and he has to be led in, or he is not going. He runs fine once he is in there. He will still walk in/out all day long if there are other horses in there BUT when it is just him with ANY objects in the arena, someone better be leading him (He once had tried to blast in full speed during a trail class). He is a DEAD head in the arena when warming-up or working some refresher exercises.
Really started to figure out this year that making sure he is chrio before each show, is a HUGE factor with him. He will REALLY get upset at the gate when his hip is out. We have also learned, you do his warm-up, run and put him up. He is not a horse you go in an lope a bunch of circles on while the tractor drags and he is not ran unless it is for the points or money. No exhibition runs, unless he has not been run for a while, then it is one and done. I was always taught, once a horse is finished you don't work the pattern and you keep them tuned up out on the trail.
It has been three years and we are still trying to figure this horse out at times. Sometimes it takes time for the horse to trust you and get to know each other. It may take a while of trial and error to figure it all out with him, not to mention a LOT of patience. Just be careful and I wish you lots of luck. It can be done!!! |
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 A Barrel Of Monkeys
Posts: 12972
Location: Texas | I wish I had an answer. I retired a winning horse due to alley issues. Seemed a waste, but I'd tried everything I knew to try.
Things I would look at:
Front feet
EIPH
Ulcer issues
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Sock Snob
Posts: 3021
| My horse has gone to 6 vets before we found out what is wrong and in process of fixing now. Could be as suttle as his feet not really level making him sore. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1034
| sorrel horse ranch - 2014-10-17 4:20 PM
Nateracer - 2014-10-17 3:06 PM Could very well be your anxiety is transferring over to him. After you warm him up, get off of him until it's time to go into the arena, then he won't be able to feel your anxiety.
I would have to agree with Nate.
And like another poster said just take him and ride for a few months just in the pasture.
I sure hope this all works out for you.
I would agree that your own anxiety could be making it worse. Your horse will pick up on you so much more than any of us realize I think.
Rather than fight your own nature and his at the same time to the detriment of you both, I'd say cut your losses before you two have a bad crash, he scares you enough to effect your confidence, or he ends up hurt or permanently damaged. Buy something with more of a quiet, calm nature and ENJOY the sport you've chosen. Plus, it would give him a chance with a calmer rider who may be able to soothe him when he's like that. |
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