Frustrating

[Bob Gould]

I have a 6 yr old gelding. He is a really nice horse and can work an awesome pattern. Problem is, He'll rate my second and third barrel, but on the backside of both he will get stiff. He doesn't just get a little stiff, he gets so stiff that he will almost run across the pen leaving my second barrel and he does the same thing on the third. He's not sore anywhere and I have tied him around and lunged him, worked him off the fence and slow worked him. He doesn't do it at 3/4 speed, just when I make a run on him. He is really an exceptional horse and when he puts a run together he is awesome, but this doesn't happen very often due to his getting stiff. Can you offer me any suggestions on how to get him to give me his nose? I don't want to give
up on this horse, but this gets frustrating after a while.
Thank you
Stephanie

 
Sorry but I disagree with your statement that he isn't sore - you need to go back over him with a fine tooth comb because he is telling you that something is not right when you add the speed. Have you checked his teeth? Does all of your equipment fit him correctly? Has your vet examined his hocks, knees, stifles and ankles? Does he get sore in his back? Are you sure that you aren't giving him confusing signals when you get to the back of a turn with lot of speed? Answer all of these questions thoroughly before going on.
Martha Wright