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Seasoned gelding attacking the third barrel

1K views 5 replies 3 participants last post by  Cuttinghorsemaniac 
#1 ·
I have a gelding who runs 1d on a regular basis. The last two times I have run him however he has completely plowed over the third barrel. I didn't know where he was hitting until the 2nd time, he skinned himself half way up his neck. He is usually very honest with me and very consistent. I don't know if its something I have done or if he is just saying he is done. Any ideas?
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#3 ·
How long have you been running him? Have you changed your equipment recently? Changes saddles, bits, ect? Riding differently??

If no to the above then I would have a vet check to see if he is sore anywhere. Because if a horse just suddenly starts hitting barrels, blowing barrels, stalling, ect....they are usually sore and usually telling you they hurt.
 
#4 · (Edited)
From what i seen in the video. You did nothing to pull him away from the barrel until it was too late. The first barrel, you did help him out all the way to the barrel, but you stopped riding going to the 3rd and he just cut into it.

His pockets are...very ontop of the barrel. He needs more room.

How often do you work on the barrels? Do you overexaggerate your pockets during slow work? I find when you pick up speed, they tend to cut closer to the barrels.

Like the above poster stated, make sure you rule out pain issues first. Many times thats the reason. When you get into high level competition, these horses go through so much. Many get sore, knock something out of whack or just twist something wrong.

If he were my horse, id have a chiropractor take a look at him first. If hes all clear, time to do some retraining. Slow work. Exercises. A break from running.
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#5 ·
I have been running him once every two weeks this year but he and I have ran together for 4 years. He goes in every 3 months for a complete check up and to get his hocks injected due to major arthritis. There has been no equipment change nothing new at all.
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#6 ·
I can't practice with him a lot cause he will sour. He has proven this in the past. Also he has a paralyzed larynx so too much work will cause him major discomfort. The wider I make the pockets the more barrels he hits. He was a cutting horse so I know he can take the turns.
Health wise he is great. Like I said he is in every 3 months with a equine specialist and he looks him over head to tail. He started diving in on his 2ndback barrel whenever he had had enough. Never has he hit the third barrel. This is completely new.
he is ridden maybe twice a week every week and run only once every 2 weeks. At home we work on slow and and leads and work cattle. He is by no means over used cause I use to ride him 7 days a week all day. I'm just trying to get him to hold out til next year when I have one old enough to push for speed.
Thia is a completely different behavior. He still walks into the arena like usual and hasn't gone off feed. He is still out to pasture with the same group. Absolutely nothing has changed. He has just gone from up in the top 3 for 1d to hitting the third.
I train horses so as awful as this sounds I am truly just a passenger every time I try to help him he just gets mad and does the opposite. I am completely puzzled on this one.
He is healthy and no hurting. I make sure of that regularly. No feed nor tack changes. Style of running is the same. I haven't changed anything cause he likes consistency. I feel lost on what to do for my partner.
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