First time my family has came across this issue, but we have a 3 year old thats training right now, and they started gate training here recently. She has talent, but when the gate flys open she just stands there. Other experienced stable mates are going to the gate with to help, but still wont budge is a sound horse and training everyday, but this is something that Ive never experienced and hope it can be fixed. Has anyone else went through this and is there a chance my horse may never learn?! I know shes young but shes usually super fired up anytime shes in a confined space I cant imagine her not breaking. Thanks you guys in advance and have a great day!
I am sorry to say, but I have never seen a horse who stands in the starting gate after the bell rings, to be cured of that. Unless you go the more controversial route as they used to do in the “old days” when the whip was brought out with the bell. I have no good ideas for you, except to send her somewhere where she can start without the gate first, meaning at a local hunt meet and see if the excitement of racing appeals to her so much that would be more encouraged when starting from the gate in company again. That was tried with the horse that I knew about and did not succeed in his case, but probably has in others and is worth a try at least. Is she a talented runner?
I still cannot edit and want to say, I do not promote the use of the whip at the gate. Just telling you what was done in the past to try and overcome the issue.
Plenty of horses when starting gate work are walked thru first, etc. before you get to breaking out of the gate.
Where are you having problems?
How is the horse being trained?
Is that in a private farm or already at the track?
How has the gate been introduced?
How about trying a different trainer/training situation?
This article might interest you.
http://www.montyroberts.com/articles/horse-training/the-starting-gate-for-sensitive-racehorses/
And this.
http://www.pennsylvaniaequestrian.com/news2010/february/0210_building_trust.php
I would probably start the gate training process over. If she is already at the track, retraining would probably be better accomplished at a training center.
Our young horses start by walking through a gate every day on the way to the track. Then they stand for a minute (with the gate closed), then stand with the gate closed and walk out, and eventually stand and trot out. It is in these earlier steps that the horses are encouraged to move forward when the gate opens. It’s no different than asking a young horse to move forward off your leg when it is standing somewhere else.
It seems to me that a horse that won’t break from the gate at a gallop, must first be taught that when the gate opens, they are meant to go forward.
The times I have seen this, it is fear related. IF the horse is as sound as you think it is, then it is simply fear. IF it is not as sound as you think it is, fear of pain can be part of it. You say she is “fired up” at the gate. This is not necessarily a good thing. Too fired up makes the brain slip into neutral. Calm, calculating, understanding what “the game” IS, and how to play the game of racing, and looking forward to playing that game, makes a horse walk calmly, quietly, into the gate, stand quietly, watching the gates, waiting for them to open, then exploding outta there like being shot out of a gun. This is how a good racehorse handles the starting gate, they UNDERSTAND that this is how the race is started, and are willing participants.
“Super fired up in a confined place” indicates a claustrophobic response, and this is a huge problem, and her fear is paralyzing her, literally. And a “phobia” is described as an irrational fear. So rational training and exposure to close spaces has unsure results, even in humans, who are generally considered to be more teachable than horses are, by humans, since there is no language barrier. But I think it is the only way for you to proceed. Walk her through there every day, and lope her quietly away after stepping out, praising her, patting her neck. Keep the pressure DOWN. Do not ask for speed, or make it crazy for her. Send her alone, no others going with her at this stage- any rattling around from other horses or acting up from other horses only causes her more fear. Hope that she gains confidence, in the gate, in herself. Don’t rush it. Perhaps she will improve, if you can keep her calm enough about it all that she might be able to learn. At least she is not flipping herself over, because that is the next non-thinking response that may happen if you put more pressure on her. Good luck.
Have you tested hearing? (Although the vibrations should have made the horse move.) Is the horse trembling from fear?
Callie who had been on the track 3 years (3,4,and 5 yr old) and then had been a broodmare for years before I bought her, used to react when someone would be loading a horse on a trailer at boarding barns.
Another thought…gate training is a process. If she just started 'recently" it’s possible that she isn’t ready to be breaking yet. In addition to their other gate schooling, our horses trot and canter out of a manually-opened gate (with no bell and no hooplah) at least 6-8 times before being asked to break. If some of the intervening steps have been skipped, there’s a good chance she doesn’t understand what she’s being asked to do.
It’s a Go Forward problem. TBs are usually very willing to go forward, they don’t really need to be “taught” it - they move forward willingly with slight encouragement. Therefore, when they are in a situation where they don’t want to go, they don’t respond to the Go Forward cue. If she is freezing in the gate, she has some holes in her foundation. I would not do anything to a horse that causes pain while gate training - it can lead to the horse refusing to load and generally acting up in the gate. A horse that has “just started gate training” should not have the gates flying open. Sounds like they skipped some steps and she is scared and confused.
She’s just started her gate training I have faith in the trainers she’s been breezing since November, with good timespecially, she is calm the trainer says loading, thinks she just doesmt know what is expected of her yet she’s green, some horses just take longer I know and are easier to train. She was knly super fired up a the vet which she hated trailer no problem hate loading no problem she will sit in there for 5 minutes just when the gates open she just sits there…she has real talent I was probably being a little rash saying she got super fired up…but the vet isn’t a favorite place sometimes
SouthernRacing, what we’re trying to say is that the reason your filly “just doesn’t know what’s expected of her yet” is because there are holes in her training with regard to the gate. By the time someone asks her to break, she should know. Otherwise she shouldn’t be asked the question.
Fwiw, our youngsters are trotting out of a manually opened gate very happily before they even start breezing. But we believe in taking each step slowly and not moving on to the next until the first is thoroughly understood.
[QUOTE=LaurieB;8999706]
SouthernRacing, what we’re trying to say is that the reason your filly “just doesn’t know what’s expected of her yet” is because there are holes in her training with regard to the gate. By the time someone asks her to break, she should know. Otherwise she shouldn’t be asked the question.
Fwiw, our youngsters are trotting out of a manually opened gate very happily before they even start breezing. But we believe in taking each step slowly and not moving on to the next until the first is thoroughly understood.[/QUOTE
No I knew what you guys were ]getting at I think some steps were skipped when it came to the gate because the trainer thought it was going to be easy with this filly…communication is a big downfall in this business is bad at best at times. I will keep everyone updated on this!
SouthernRacing, best of luck with her! I agree that communication is often the worst thing about having a horse with a trainer. Hopefully you can get your filly back on the right track. 
OP, send me a PM and I can give you links to some videos that show the gradual process of gate training.
[QUOTE=Shammy Davis;8998754]
This article might interest you.
http://www.montyroberts.com/articles/horse-training/the-starting-gate-for-sensitive-racehorses/
And this.
http://www.pennsylvaniaequestrian.com/news2010/february/0210_building_trust.php[/QUOTE]
The Pennsylvania article is good. Just like most problems with horses, it’s the training, not the horse.
A trainer that takes the time to teach a horse everything it needs to know will progress much faster and with much better results than one that skips steps.
I have only had one that dwelt. This is is 16 years of training. He has started about 5 times, never showed any signs of it. He was 5/2 that day with Aaron Gryder up, he left late…really really late. Tried him in the mornings he would break no issues. Usually have a bullet work with it as well. Ran again, this time he didn’t leave at all. He was a cheap maiden so the owners sold him off to be a saddle horse, he has a great life.
In all my experience, once they start to dwell, it is very very difficult to correct. Hopefully yours being a baby and non-starter, she will come around. Please keep us updated I would love to hear what they do to help her out.
[QUOTE=LaurieB;8998810]
I would probably start the gate training process over. If she is already at the track, retraining would probably be better accomplished at a training center.
Our young horses start by walking through a gate every day on the way to the track. Then they stand for a minute (with the gate closed), then stand with the gate closed and walk out, and eventually stand and trot out. It is in these earlier steps that the horses are encouraged to move forward when the gate opens. It’s no different than asking a young horse to move forward off your leg when it is standing somewhere else.
It seems to me that a horse that won’t break from the gate at a gallop, must first be taught that when the gate opens, they are meant to go forward.[/QUOTE]
THIS!!! Go back to the beginning and start training all over…IF there are no soundness issues!!
