Help! please

[ashjam91]

Hi my name is Ashley, I'm 13yrs old and love to barrel race. I'm having a problem getting my horse to go into the arena he gets really excited and starts rearing up. can you give me any help?

[Mandrake]

You will have to work with him and train him not to get excited. It will have to most likely be a slow building process. Like walking and watching near or at the edge of the arena when no one is there, then when there is some action in it, then hand walking him in and out while there are people/horses in the arena. Maybe try to identify whatever it is that is spooking him and work specifically to "desensitize" him from it

Have you noticed specifically what he gets spooked at. Once you identify what it is that he doesn't like then you can work with him to overcome that fear. Little bits at a time !

[ashjam91]

Thanks for your input.. He does great when I practice 3-4 times a week but when we go to rodeos or gymkhana and all the people and commotion thats when he looses it

[Mandrake]

I would work on hand walking him around events and people, start far away then work closer and closer. The more exposure the better and just work your way gradually until he's desensitized

[ashjam91]

THANKS FOR YOUR HELP ..I'll try it