A Year On ... Hows The Ex Racer Looking? :) CC is welcome!

SS.89

SS.89

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Hi everyone,

For those of you that don't know i've had 4 year old Toby for just under a year now after getting him straight of the race track for being a teeny bit slow (laidback is the term I like to use!)

I've got a before and after photo, the second was taken one day last week during one of his lunging sessions.

Currently he's on no hard feed as he's living off fresh air and grass. In the winter he was on Alfa Oil & Calm & Condition + Garlic & Limestone. We still have a bit of a way to go in terms of his top line & his roach back but we're getting there slowly yet surely.

I normally lunge him for 5/10 minutes before I ride if he's feeling a bit hyper but as he's turned out 24/7 at the moment I haven't had to do it for a few months. I ride for about half an hour to 45 minutes 4 days a week + a hack one day and recently on his days off I just take him in the outdoor school & walk him over some poles to try and build his back end up. Also have my instructor out once every 2 weeks.

In future we're looking to event and he's certainly got the stamina for it, yet the way he moves I think he may just excel in dressage (something I've not personally done before).

Anyone else got any suggestions on acheiving a better topline whilst lunging or ridden? I think thats my only concern with him really, unless anyone else can see something I can't?

Sorry I haven't got more photos I will get some shortly!

Cheers Guys :o

BEFORE 01/09/2010

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AFTER 25/07/2011

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Look how interested my boyfriend is sitting on the mounting block in the background ... Men !
 
He's grown and filled out a lot but is still only half way there. He looks fab for a 4yo and your going to have one cracking horse when he is fully mature! Good luck with him!
 
Aw he's lovely, do you have anymore photos of him? He reminds me a little bit of my boy, particularly in the 'before' photo.

Do you lunge him in any 'gadgets'? I find side reins running between the legs upto the bit work well, it takes a hell of a long time for them to develop the right muscle, in the right places but it might help a little bit. I do tons of carrot stretches too. Here's Major, 6yo ex flat racer who's been in 'normal' work since October 2010...

DSCF2851.jpg


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How is he bred?
 
cuppatea said:
needs a bigger bum, have you got any good hills around you that you can work up?
Click to expand...

Unfortunately not alot! Although I know it would help tremendously ... in fact the local riding school down the road is a 5 minute hack away and they have plenty so may ask if I can go down

Thanks you :)
 
He's gorgeous! I think he will fill out naturally as he gets more mature. A balancer helped mine (he's 6 now) but tbh just work, TLC and age and he got there :).
Hills are good but there is no rush, lots of good work little and often. Slowly slowly n all that :)
I think he's a stunner!
 
Girlracer said:
Aw he's lovely, do you have anymore photos of him? He reminds me a little bit of my boy, particularly in the 'before' photo.

Do you lunge him in any 'gadgets'? I find side reins running between the legs upto the bit work well, it takes a hell of a long time for them to develop the right muscle, in the right places but it might help a little bit. I do tons of carrot stretches too. Here's Major, 6yo ex flat racer who's been in 'normal' work since October 2010...


How is he bred?
Click to expand...

Hi GR!

Ahhhh your chestnut is lovely he's filled out tremendously! Very ginger I must say. I do have an unbelivable amount of photos on my laptop i'll have to upload some more. If you go onto my profile I have uploaded a few with him in ... including his first show back in June.
I don't normally use gadgets but I might have to try that one, was also recommended to use a lungie bungie which I think is the same sort of concept but just gives a bit more.
Oh yes the good old carrot stretches, my saddler swears by them so everytime I turn him out we do them :)

He's out of The In-Laws by Tobougg ... can't find much on his dam but his sire was really successful.

How about yours?

SS x
 
He's lovely!

I have to agree that his backend needs building up, but he's only young so you've got plenty of time. Obviously, hill work is the best, but if you live in a flat area as I do, then there is a lunging aid called the Kavalkade which is very simple to use. It doesn't "fix" or force the horse in an outline, but rather encourages it to stretch long and low.

You can get it mail order for about £25 if you google it.
 
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