Scared of the Noise

[Bob Gould]

I have an 8 yr old mare that has been running for 4 years, I have hauled her to ameri-west 4-d and the last two years to amateur rodeos, she has been running in the 1-D and been pretty consistent. she is very broke, but my problem with her now is she is a nervous wreck when I take her anywhere as soon as I unload her she starts freaking out. She is scared of the noise, the bucking chutes, everything. the last rodeo I went to she ran to the first barrel ( right in front of the bucking chutes) stops, starts going backwards toward the second, then freezes up and I could hardly get her to move forward. I have no ideas as what to do and how to fix her, do you have any?????

It really sounds like your horse is experiencing some kind of pain or soreness and she is dreading going away from home and running (competing). Usually when a horse begins to hesitate or refuse to go into the arena they are screaming to you that they can't do this comfortably. Take her to your vet and tell him what you wrote to me. Be sure that he checks her teeth, legs (knees, ankles, hocks and stifles) and her back for soreness. Make sure that your equipment fits her correctly and is not causing her pain or discomfort.

Martha Wright