[faroutfax]

At our last show Misty had a couple new issues going in the in gate for the afternoon classes (barrels, poles, etc). There was nothing really dramatic, she just didn't want to move forward and a couple times she backed away fro mthe gate. She did go in eventually and got rewarded well.

This is completely new for her, and it only happened in the afternoon, in the morning she just walked through.

I think it is because we have a couple horses at the shows that do not go into the gate well at all (think rearing, bucking, backing into other horses etc). Is it possibly this is why she is not going in?

Any tips to get her in calmly? How about after she is in the gate? I was thinking of doing a small nice WP jog circle before our run.

I want to nip this in the bud

[MI Racer]

When horses refuse to go in the gate, the most common cause is them hurting or being sore somewhere. If this came out of nowhere, she is trying to tell you something. Have the vet and chiro out to rule out pain first.

[faroutfax]

She hasn't been checked out, but she was acting completely fine. I immediately thought pain when she wouldn't go in. But before our next run I double checked saddle fit, jogged her to check for lameness, felt her legs etc etc. and couldn't find anything.

Also she was amazing during the morning (for pleasure etc). It was one of our best rides yet. And she doesn't do any of this at home when we are praticing

Oh I forgot to add it isn't too sudden but this is the first time we really had trouble with her. Last year she was abit hesitant to go in, but a click was all I needed and she went straight in.

[Haas Horse Farm]

Originally Posted by MI Racer

When horses refuse to go in the gate, the most common cause is them hurting or being sore somewhere. If this came out of nowhere, she is trying to tell you something. Have the vet and chiro out to rule out pain first.

Hate to say it but some horses just hate to go in... I have a stallion that hates run in reining patterns... It is not a pain issue or anything else... so IMHO that is not a common cause... LOL Some horses just do not like being judged. Or maybe a better way to put it is the rider hates to be judged and passes those fears on to the horse. The horse is resistant because of the rider.

[MI Racer]

Maybe her back is sore?

How often do you work on the patterns at home or at the show? She could be soured on the pattern also. My mare acts the same way when I work her on barrels or poles too much.

A good way to get a horse calm is to stay calm and relaxed yourself. Loping circles in front of the pattern (where you would normally circle to run) help. Just keep loping until they relax.

After the pattern, just stand up near the arena and let her relax. This way she will realize that being by the arena doesn't mean she'll always have to run.

[faroutfax]

Originally Posted by Haas Horse Farm

Or maybe a better way to put it is the rider hates to be judged and passes those fears on to the horse. The horse is resistant because of the rider.

Now this could be a very likely cause I'm usually excited before we get in (and it helps abit for barrels). Misty is also very very sensitive to body language.

I used to get nervous when we went trail riding and Misty just flipped out with this, to the point where we had to be led down the trail and it was still a disaster. After I figured out it was me, I made a concious decision to just relax and well.. now we go on 4 hour trail rides.

So I wouldn't be suprised if this was the same kind of thing

[MI Racer]

Originally Posted by Haas Horse Farm

Hate to say it but some horses just hate to go in... I have a stallion that hates run in reining patterns... It is not a pain issue or anything else... so IMHO that is not a common cause... LOL Some horses just do not like being judged. Or maybe a better way to put it is the rider hates to be judged and passes those fears on to the horse. The horse is resistant because of the rider.

Yes, the rider can pass their anxiety to the horse, but I don't agree that pain is not a common cause. Just about every horse I see that refuses to go in, you can tell that they are sore either by the way they are warming up, turning, or running.

I know if I was a horse that was sore somewhere, I sure as heck woudn't want to be running a barrel, pole, or reining pattern. All of the events are hard on a horse's back, hocks, and stifles.

[faroutfax]

How often do you work on the patterns at home or at the show?

She only does the pattern 5 or 6 times a year. She is a western pleasure horse usually She actaully loves racing Most of the time I'm asking her to slow down.

A good way to get a horse calm is to stay calm and relaxed yourself. Loping circles in front of the pattern (where you would normally circle to run) help. Just keep loping until they relax.

I'll try this for sure

After the pattern, just stand up near the arena and let her relax. This way she will realize that being by the arena doesn't mean she'll always have to run.

We do that already It is a small show and the only place ot wait is near the in gate. Between runs she just sleeps.

[Haas Horse Farm]

Well I know for a fact that pain is not an issue with my stallion... we always win the warm up. If it is a pain issue it would not matter when you were going in the arena... it would be anytime or any place. That is why I always say check the rider for pain and nerves first. Then check the horse. LOL

BTW My stallion had a total body scan with the vets new xray machine thing and is 100% perfect... Chiro also said there was nothing to adjust. So I think I am safe in knowing what the issues are with my horse.

[faroutfax]

Also to add I usually give her abit of a strech/ warm up outside the ring. It gives us abit of quite time together and for me to see how responsive she is. And on that day she was showing nothing.