Why wont my horse turn on the first barrel?

Question

i have been doing barrels with my horse for years but for the past 4 or 5 rodeos my horse will not turn on the first barrel. she will lean into it but then quickly change her mind then run off. she is not being spooked, she just doesn't want to do it. After she is under control and gone through the first barrel she does amazing 2nd and 3rd barrels. i have tried giving her a break and even started doing polls witch she has no problem with. she has no problem doing barrels in practice either. i trail ride her almost every week and sometimes we go weeks without even seeing a barrel. whats wrong with my horse?

Answer 1

All though, totally not my sport, if  i am right, barrel paterns either start right or left, reverse what you train usually.  Also is she on the correct lead approaching, if so, bring her towards on wrong lead, then do a lead change right  before  she rounds the barrel.  Make her listen to you, through her off balance.  This crosses all disciplines, horses, get ring sour, especially those that have been on the circuit for awhile.  They know when they can slack off, let her know it's you that cues her, blow a class, shake her up.  Good Luck.

Answer 2

Perhaps she is getting bored of the sport or just dosn't want to do them anymore. I know i used to have a horse that was really smart and got bored of things quickly, she would figure out how to get out of her pen and do it regularly(every 2-3 days) untill we changed her location. Maybe its just time to retire your horse from that particular event for a while.

Answer 3

My horse did this with me once.  She wasn't burned out and I did other events too with her.  I decided to switch up the course on her and go the opposite way.  So instead of going to the right barrel first I went to the left barrel first.  It worked!!  So from that point on I have always turned her to the left barrel first and she hasnt had any problems with it.  Try That, hope that helps.

Answer 4

Since the first barrel is the opposite turning direction of the second two - I wonder if it has to do with her not seeing the barrel combined with not wanting to do it.  Since she is fine in practice it makes me think she isnt burned out just slightly sick of it.  Maybe you could take her to a run that allows you to go to either barrel first, go to the other one first, and see how she acts.