Stiff in the turns....

[~Kara Elaine~]

I just bought a horse that had an exceptional futurity carrer. I bought the horse about a month ago and have been having problems getting him around his barrels. He runs in and rates but he wont bend his neck or body on the back side. he becomes stiff and pushes on the bit so i have to muscle him around. he is extremly light mouthed and bends both directions awsome when at a lope but as soon as he turns at a run its like he forgets. i have entertained the fact he could possibly be sore and need a chiropractor, possibly hock injections, or a good dentist. He is only five so it has been hard to think he already needs maintaince? i have tried almost every bit in the book...

[Bob Gould]

I guess the first question I have to ask is "Did you run this horse before
you bought him"? and did he work then or not????  Has he made any good
competitive runs since you have owned him?  Did you vet check him before you
purchased him???
Martha Wright

[~Kara Elaine~]

yes but they had him on 18% grain and straight alfalfa so i ran him once and couldnt get him to calm down. I had him vet checked and he was fine. i didnt have xrays done but he is sound. he made a decent run after i had him a week and got him off the hot grain but we fell on the third barrel. we hit really hard. he never acted stiff afterwards so i thought he was fine. but that could have thrown him out..... do u think it is a medical problem or is it training?