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Member
Posts: 13
Location: Kansas | I am really needing some help. I got my horse about 4 years ago, he is 18 this year. He used to be a solid 1D barrel horse. The first two years that I owned him I didn't push him in the barrels, because he is my first horse and I was learning to ride on him. Last year I wanted to start to go to barrel races. We go to the left barrel first, because he is a lot faster when we go to that barrel first. But he started to not turn around it and I haven't been able to make him go around it since. I have tried to go to the right barrel first, but when we get to the second barrel (the one that would have been the first barrel if we went left) he still won't turn around it, but he has no problems with any of the other ones. I have made sure that I was pulling him around the barrel, sitting right, and had good hand positions. I have tried exercises to get him to go around, but when we run through the pattern he still does it. He has no issues, his teeth have recently been floated, he is sound, and we can be out in the field and I will let him run and we will make a turn (like we would if going around that barrel) and he does it beautifully. I don't know what to do. Please help us. |
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Regular
Posts: 62
| He might be sore. I would suggest getting a chiro out to look at him if you haven't already. |
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Member
Posts: 13
Location: Kansas | I don't think he is sore, because he will turn in the fields tighter than he does around the barrels, with no problem. Also if we go right first, that would be two left turns, but he has no problem at the last barrel, it is just that one. |
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 Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
 
| JettNJester - 2014-05-18 9:06 PM I don't think he is sore, because he will turn in the fields tighter than he does around the barrels, with no problem. Also if we go right first, that would be two left turns, but he has no problem at the last barrel, it is just that one. They can be sore and only show it on one barrel and in the arena. In all fairness to him, a trip to the vet to rule out any physical issues may be necessary. He is telling you something is wrong by refusing to turn. He may have been blown up in the past and old issues are resurfacing. You won't know though till you rule out a physical cause.
Edited by rodeomom3 2014-05-19 7:00 AM
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 Certified Snake Wrangler
Posts: 1672
 
Location: North MS | Have you tried 4 barrels in the arena and turning them all the same direction? Can do it slow or running. See if it is a pattern thing. Never hurts to get a vet/chiro/dental check as well. |
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 Expert
Posts: 2097
Location: Deep South | I would also get a vet check. Solid 1D 18yo horses don't just stop turning for no reason.
Especially at his age, if you are not performing some sort of maintenance on him already, you should be prepared that it's probably about that time that he's going to need some. It's really not a big deal,most horses do need it, but it's definitely something that has to be kept up with if we expect their bodies to last to the demands of barrel racing.
AFTER seeing a vet I would seek a qualified trainer, to help you get him past the idea that whatever is hurting him has been fixed. He may need a tune-up if this has been going on for a while. |
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  Sock eating dog owner
Posts: 4557
Location: Where the pavement ends and the West begins Utah | I would have his feet checked. You can x-ray or try a new farrier. Make sure his feet are balanced and work your way up. He is telling something just isn't right. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 591
| So you have owned the horse for 4 years and never went to any barrel races until this year? Was he winning 1D races when you bought him or did he win them as a futurity horse? Just trying to figure out the timeline.
Solid 1D horses go from working to not working for 2 reasons 1) they are in pain 2) their rider has "untrained" them. Get to the vet, and find a knowledgeable person to help you. Or if you have a video post it so we have more information to go off of. |
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Member
Posts: 13
Location: Kansas | We went to 4-H barrel races and one or two jackpots and we raced at our horse practice, but last year we started to go to barrel racing series. When he was a younger horse, his first owner would run him as fast and as long as he would willingly go. Then he was sold to a lady who trained him on the barrel pattern. They were winning lots of barrel races. He was then sold to the guy we bought him from and was used at the sale barn. |
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