A new challenge- ex-racers

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chaps89

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I've started riding again at long last.
But it's ex-racers which is a bit different- I'm used to cobs and dumbloods! 1 I get on quite well with- he's got a bit of a buck in him but if I can school it out of him he'll do a stunning dressage test. Because he's quite fit he's easy to push through it and ride him on- it's more a case of keeping his attention really and not giving him chance to even think a little about bronking.
The other is more tricky- he's not been off the track long and is only allowed to do walk work because of tendon problems & is still a bit on the poor side. So think very slow/dawdly/un co-operative walk. He's still a baby so learning what a contact is etc but he's got a nasty spin in him- and because he's so unfit, it's hard to ride him up to the bridle to be prepared for it- he had me off once but I sat twice more last time I was on him.
Any tips or pointers on things I can be doing with him- and how to stick on other than super glue!
The owners are helpful and happy to give any pointers, but pretty much he's my project and I'm left to my own devices.
 
is there a particular way she spins?


if so, always be ready. dont hang on to her mouth etc but make sure your hands and legs are there ready to say no if she tries.

do lots of leg yield, shoulder in and small circles to get her bending and respecting the leg more.

lots of transitions and changes of rein to keep her mind occupied

has her back/tack/teeth been checked? (i know everyone asks these questions but it could link to why she keeps spinning)
 
Yep, had the all clear from vet/phsyio/dentist recently.
Honestly seems to be no reason for the spinning- you can be ambling along quite nicely and next second you're headed the opposite way as if nothing ever happened- blink and you miss it! Nothing obvious to spook at, no consistency as to where in the school or doing a particular thing at any one time etc. I'm trying to do lots to keep him interested- transitions, changes of rein, circles etc without pushing him too hard too soon as he really doesn't understand schooling at all. Think we're a long way off any lateral work tho yet.
The 1st horse is pretty good but part of the reason he was pulled from racing was his unpredictability- apparently he was known for trying to get jockeys off at random intervals, but like I say, he's at the point now where you can push him through it and he'll be alright so I'm not so worried about him.
It's just the total start from scratch with the other one where pointers (& sticky seat jodhs) might help.
 
I would say that the one with tendon problems might benefit from time out, especially if he's not long been out of racing. If he was mine I would probably give him the summer off, in the field just chilling out, eating the grass and being a horse. As long as the field is not deep in mud, and he's not hoolying about hurting his tendons (check with the vet if he's OK to be out) , this will benefit him mentally and pysically much more than trying to do any work now. Then in the Autumn he will probably be in a better state of mind, and be physically stronger to start walking him out to harden those tendons up. When you do this I would stongly advise going out with a calm companion horse to start with.

A lot of the ex-racers are given several months out, before any rehab work is started.

The most important thing to have with ex racers is patience, and even more so with one who is recovering from tendon injuries.

Rachelha sugested small circles and leg yielding and shoulder in, but if he's straight out of racing he probably doesn't know what the aids for leg yielding mean and he might just panic and react even worse. Most ex racehorses struggle with balance and bending to begin with. (It took my current boy 6 months before he could canter on a 20m circle.)

Also, if he's in the early recovery period from tendon problems, it's not a good idea to ride him in a sand or rubber school for a while. Road walking is the best way to harden his tendons up without putting strain on them.

Good luck with him. The rewards will be worth it in the end! You have your other horse, who is at a much more advanced stage by the sounds of it, so you can concentrate on him this summer perhaps?
 
i meant as in work towards it - my ex racer loved me asking her to do different things straight away but then again all horses are different! she learnt leg yield before she learnt circles as it got her to respect my leg.

agree about roadwork being best...
how about trying some long reining and ground work so that he understands what you're asking of him and he can get used to your voice etc

i gave my pony a few months off over the summer and she also had the entire winter off to mature a bit more - definitely can see a difference in her now so may be worth a try as misinterpreted said
 
Agree with the above! I have been bringing my 8yr old ex racer back into work over last 2 months - v gradually as he was extremely underweight - but I've done something with him every day. Only just started riding in last week so everything up to then in hand. I've been really careful to get him walking forward in hand, not dawdling as he would like to do! We've also worked on transitions, rein back, turn on forehand and haunches as well as walking out plenty in hand. Has certainly helped keep his brain engaged!
 
Hi, thanks for the replies.

When I say out of racing for not long- I mean about 8-12 months. So not long in terms of doing anything with him/getting him to be a 'normal' horse
I'll certainly work on getting him a bit more forward- was just scared incase I broke him :o
His tendons are now fully healed so it's just fittening work now- the roads aren't great so for the initial getting to know each other we are using the school- but it's quite a firm rubber surface, and never for more than half an hour at the time and no tight turns etc (apart from those he decides on!) Will try long reining him, see how he takes to it. Do ex-racers usually haev objections to this sort of thing?!
He gets daily turnout- his owner would love for him to go on full 24/7 turnout for a few months but just doesn't have the facilities for it.

thanks for the tips/comments- any otehr advice is appreciated!

Figners crossed there'll be a project within both of them, they're just at different stages, so I'm sure both will be rewarding in their own way, eee, exciting!
 
Hiya,

maybe your horse doesn't like being in the school or doesn't understand that he has to work in there? My ex racer is great on a hack and can do lovely DR movements, however when she is in the school she gets bored and silly. I reckon you should do lots of hacking in walk to begin with, just to let him build up some muscle needed for ridding, rather than racing. Then build up to trotting, cantering, then some short gallops. I did this with my ex racer recently as she was very unfit and had done nothing since coming off the track. You could then start schooling him and maybe he will have a better attitude to work. After doing this with my horse she is now a lot better in the school and listens to me more.

Hope this helps!
 
Hi.

Think I'll ask the owner, see if she thinks it might suit him better. Certainly my welsh does exactly the same and 'turns off' in the school, so could be the change of scenery might help. Just been reluctant to suggest it so far- coming off in the school is one thing, nice soft landing plus no-where for him to bu@@er off to, on the roads is another!
Do most racers see the roads/traffic etc whilst in training- is it hte sort of thing he'll have done in his past at some time? Sorry if it's a numpty question- I just know *nothing* about racing/ex-racers!
 
Hiya, sounds like you are on the right tracks. TB's are famous for their spins! Mine used to do it regularly. I eventually found my body reacted by itself by blocking him without me even thinking about it. He rarely does it now but every now & then he'll chuck one in to keep me on my toes!
With mine after several chillout months we started with just roadwork & hacking. Just doing that alone was the first challenge as he had (like most racehorses) only hacking to gallops with others. I built this up alot before doing any schooling. Be careful not to push too far out of their comfort zone - really depends on personality.
I found long reining great for confidence building & getting them a bit more independant - especially those who dont want to hack alone! Gets you fit too!
Generally lots of hacking, working on straightness & then working on suppleness & bending. When I first had my lad, his frame was so long that I was at the buckle end of full size reins, it took time for him to develop new muscles & carry himself in a completley different way.
Good luck, ex racers can be very rewarding projects.
 
When I first had my lad, his frame was so long that I was at the buckle end of full size reins, it took time for him to develop new muscles & carry himself in a completley different way.
Click to expand...

You have no idea how glad I am to do read that bit! We spend 50/50 of our time, 1 half being a giraffe, the other so long and low, which is great but having long reins (not washing line but long) is not so fun once they spin or their head goes up! Right, so this weekends challenge is long reining, see how that goes!
Thank-you :)
 
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