Running my mare?

Question

so ive been doing barrel racing for a long time but my old barrel horse is in retirement and this year im using a 9 year old mare. the problem im having is i know she can go fast but i cant get her to move i know shes holding back. shes not a lazy horse she just wont run for me. any advice

Answer 1

Could be a saddle problem. It may be that the saddle is not a good fit or that it is too far forward and pinching or placing pressure on the horse's upper shoulder area when flexing around the barrels. I know a lot of people will disagree but I think a good saddle fit should be different for barrel racing horses and that there should be extra flare at the front of the tree bars to allow comfortable flexing without pinching or placing restricting pressure on the upper shoulder area when diving into the barrel pocket. I also think you will get much better performance with a flex tree saddle rather than the traditional rigid tree. So it may be that the horse is just not comfortable with the saddle fit.

Answer 2

Saddle problem. Or a health one... have your vet check it out

Answer 3

SHOT HER

Answer 4

You might like my answer But I think she is done running

Some barrel horse's Just stop , For allot of reasons

They get tired of packing some one around that ,he has to do all the work

Just like show jumpers they start Stopping ,

The rider is not doing their Job and after awhile they Just quit "

Because,, they hurt and are just plain tired of it period

I am NOT attacking you

I have seen this before

she is nine !!!



She just doesn't want to do it

and if you whip and spur her she will fight back

she has already  figured it out ,, so

TRY To redo her by riding trails , let her have some time off !

And maybe take a few leesons

Not that you need them,  

But to maybe see if Your ridding the way you should be !



and learn to help your new horse like what she id doing O.K.

Answer 5

How do you know she's holding back?

One thought comes to mind: if she runs fast in her pasture but not under saddle.  This could be due to tack not fitting, discomfort somewhere (the extra weight making it a problem), or rider not balanced.  It's as easy as if a rider isn't balanced the horse is working harder to rebalance for the rider and then can't go as fast.

I'd suggest getting a good trainer to evaluate her.