Curious question - ex racers?

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express_75

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With so many ex racers being rehabilitated as riding horses i was just wondering if you have problems with galloping/pulling up from the gallop ect?
How do jockeys pull them up?

Just curious:) some nice ones on HorseQuest:)

Thanks
 
My ex racer, has never been a problem pulling up, but has only ever gone out with one mate
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Never actually galloped my ex racer I'm afraid to say (arthritic)! But she never gave me any problems slowing from a canter, or coming back from a spook... I think it depends on their personality and how they've been rehabilitated. Jockeys slow them gradually, if you watch them it seems to be a weight shifting process.
 
i had the same problems today!!!

I do have a problem pulling up but i just sit right back (think old hunting posistion) and give and take quite firmly and if that fails (which it sometimes does) i begin to turn a circle (the first normally slows him down to be able to do a circle safely) and that normally does the trick.

He doesnt often get the chance to gallop so he makes the most of it when he does
 
There is a knack to it generally, but I've never had a problem pulling one up. Might not be instant to start with but part of the re hab process is teaching them they are out of racing now and there are different set of rules to abide by.
 
My ex racer is fantastic - out of racing last year as a 7 year old. he pulls up from gallop with ease, just loose the reins and sit up. They stop. If you lean forward and pull it is the signal for a racehorse to go forward fast.

I have taken mine on pleasure rides with horses passing us fast and I can just keep him in a steady canter cam and relaxed. but I spend time schooling him and keeping him relaxed. The key thing is not to get tense and harsh with them the more relaxed you are the more relaxed they remain. And don't do any turning round and going back the same way - thats what race horses do - they canter down to the start then turn and gallop off. So if you want to canter or gallop - do it on a circular ride not on a there and back again ride
 
Giving with the reins which is what they are used to at the end of a gallop often works and standing up. I've never had a problem with ex-racers but the am used to riding fit racehorses anyway. Also best to bridge you reins when you canter to begin with this gives you more leverage.
 
Thanks all.
There are some lovely ex racers around and by the sounds of it, quite a lot of you have them and find them easy to deal with.
Bosworth - your boy sounds fab!
 
He is truly amazing, a real gentleman, but super talented at dressage. He works in an outline, is balanced and straight and is a real character. he opens any stable door that is not horse proof bolted, gets out, lets all the others out and is then the only one in his stable in the morning. He turns on any tap he finds. Wallows like a hippo in mud that he creates. Was a really bad loader when he arrived and hated travelling but now loads beautifully. I took him up to the moor with my Oh and his horse and we had the most fantastic hack - miles over up and down hills, finishing with a mile long gallop where he floated over the ground. Then up a seriously steep hill in trot back to the trailer where he loaded like a dream.

Have just started show jumping him and am taking him on his first eventing clinic in 2 weeks time.

We met the hunt while out hacking yesterday and he just watched them all - ignored the hounds and quite happily cantered away from them when I asked him to - unlike the other two horses that we were hacking out with.

He has seen the world - knows about traffic and loves a one to one relationship he is my first ex racer and I would buy again as I love him to bits.
 
My first TB was an ex-racer & she was so laid back it wasn't true, compared to the Welsh pony I was used to riding. It was like- been there, done it- no hassle...

However, there were a few things that really took me by surprise: eg. the first time I mounted from the ground the poor horse almost fell over; she was only used to having someone legged up onto her.

Also, first time I cantered her in company it was down a forest ride, behind two other horses; I expected problems- my pony would have been fighting for her head- but she was so quiet and good and cantered along sedately at the back; but as soon as the two riders ahead of me drew slightly apart (it was a tiny, tiny gap; I would never have chosen to go through it) she was through it like an arrow, leaving me almost sitting on her tail, and into the lead- like she'd been taught....

She was a real pro, and never forgot racing, but was actually very safe and sensible and easier to stop than the aforementioned pony, as long as you remembered not to take a hold.
 
Train them to the voice from day one of re-training and you'll never have an issue.
Mine stops with a very quiet whoah.

Actually, they tend to be like any other horse- some pull hard, others are very polite!
 
Mine's fine to pull up on his own, I just sit up tall and give and take, and he'll come back from flat out gallop in a reasonable time and with no argument. In company the first time he cantered fine - the 2nd time he really went and I couldn't hold him. Wan't frightening as we had loads of space to stop, but I think he thought it was race time again bless him. We normally hack out alone as I prefer it so stopping in company less of an issue.

Based on Ronnie I'd have another ex-racer at the drop of a hat.
 
My boy pulls up fine, I just sit up and give the reins. I never pull but do bridge my reins for fast work.

I have taken him to Newmarket on the gallops as part of a charity ride and he was fine with horses going past him. Taking him on the all weather gallops was amazing - I am sure we were no where near full speed! fast enough for me though!

He is happy to go first or last, can canter him on the buckle and only ride in a french link snaffle. He is a real gent.

Pilib X
 
My girlie was fine to pull up...just release the reins and she would come back with a 'whoa'.
When I first bought her people were nervous of riding with me in case she wanted to race...she didnt!!...she would happily canter alongside, in front or behind and if a horse wanted to come up beside or past she would accomodate and move over!!! Whatever the other horses were up too she did her thing...and they could be silly if they wanted too!!!
The brilliant thing was feeling her go through the gears...
I never galloped her very much but even her canter was fantastic.
 
I have two - one who came to me with exceptional manners when out and can be stopped with a few 'give and takes' when galloping and one who freaked if another horse went faster or over took her. We went back to basics with her, having otheres over take me in the cshool, then in a field in walk trot and canter, then getting her to stand while others cantered off again first in the school then in the field and after a few weeks she was star and will now wait until told to gallop even if others gallop away and can be brought back from gallop to trot very quickly.... she just needed shown what I was asking her to do.
 
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