Ed the ex-racer

Oh and we had our very first canter in the open last weekend and she was a star, and has a beautiful powerful canter. Felt amazing! Think we'll leave gallop for a little while yet! though!
 
Ahhh! Ed is lovely! I'm lucky enough to have 5 ex racers. They're all completely different but are the most fun and versatile horses ever. One of mine played horseball all weekend, went to dressage Monday and went jousting last night.

Hope you have lots of fun and many happy years together.
 
Sounds great! My ex racer is only just managing to trot for 2 minutes in company without exploding so very jealous of you being able to canter on hacks :D
It will come with time! We're slightly going the other way- Ed started our super polite and now he's got his confidence is getting a lot more forward! He always listens, but I am starting to feel the racehorse in him now!
He's really lovely - and looks like such a happy boy.

Thanks- that's lovely of you to say 😀
He is just gorgeous and you're doing so well with him. He sounds like he has a fantastic temperament, I think you two will go far.

I have an ex-racer too and we've been taking things very slowly but we're starting to get out and about now and about to put a more concerted effort into schooling. Been concentrating on hacking mostly up til now. I love ex-racehorses, my girl has been challenging but really starting to see the benefits of going slowly with her :)

I think hacking is definitely the way to go to build up! We've done everything for the first time on a hack as straight lines are so much easier for them. It's so lovely when you start to feel the difference in them- do you have any pictures of your girl?
 
Totally agree, best thing for them to get them out and seeing things too.

Oh yes, I have pictures lol :D

When I first got her, 3 rising 4 year old, a week after her last race
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First hacks
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Now, as a 5 year old
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First show a couple of weeks ago
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It is lovely to see them changing and developing :)
 
Totally agree, best thing for them to get them out and seeing things too.

Oh yes, I have pictures lol :D

When I first got her, 3 rising 4 year old, a week after her last race
Luna5jpg.jpg

Luna4.jpg

First hacks
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Now, as a 5 year old
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First show a couple of weeks ago
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It is lovely to see them changing and developing :)

She's beautiful! Such a transformation from when you got her to now!
 
Having fun with Mr Ed at the moment 😀 Have upped his feed and he's feeling like a proper ex-racer! Absolutely ready to go! When we're out hacking on our own we'll have to go for a blast!



Schooling wise he's definitely coming along. Lots of work to do but we're having fun! Top pictures are about 6 weeks ago and bottom this weekend.



Ed definitely isn't impressed by selfies 😂

Just thinking about why I call him Mr Ed- did anyone ever watch the old tv show Mr Ed the talking horse?! I loved it!!
 
I'm really glad you are posting your journey!

You are both looking great together. There's so much improvement in Ed & you both look really happy together :)
 
I'm really glad you are posting your journey!

You are both looking great together. There's so much improvement in Ed & you both look really happy together :)

Thanks! It's so tempting to overthink everything I'm doing with him so I'm making sure I enjoy myself in the moment and remember I'm having fun! 😂
 
Ed and I have been busy! We trekked round the M25 for a lesson with Rob Waine.

Ups and downs today, but lots to be proud of! Ed travelled perfectly and stood by the lorry very happily while my friend had her lesson.

Downsides were he was a bit freaked out by the mirrors and we spent the first few minutes bunny hopping around the arena while I had no reins or stirrups 😱

We had moments of loveliness combined with OMG THE MIRRORS!! Link to video on Instagram https://instagram.com/p/BV-Y7d5HXkj/

Ed is starting to work much more consistently at home and we even had a gallop yesterday 🐎🐎🐎

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At home this weekend.

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Stood politely by the lorry. He needs a bit more coverage but is getting there!

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With his friend 😍

Annoyingly photobucket wants me to upgrade so having to use imgur- not sure if it's worked!
 
Another update on Ed :)

He went to his first competition yesterday! A very low key walk and trot test at a lovely quiet venue.

Lots to be pleased about- he loaded and travelled well and stood patiently by the lorry.

The warm up was lovely but I lost him a little in the ring. We had such an encouraging and supportive judge. I said it was his first time and he's a baby ex-racer and she said to enjoy ourselves and not worry about the marks.

Ed was a bit worried about the whiteboards and the shadows at B so not a brilliant test but I'm so proud of him and smiled the whole way round.

https://i.imgur.com/39dR6wC.jpg

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Ed has had a busy week- dressage which I've already posted and then we went for a first little jumping session on Friday.

As always he travelled beautifully and was well behaved.

We started off on the flat getting him really going forward and then added in trot poles and small fences. He tackled everything really well after he realised he needed to pick up his feet 😂

Dressage warm up picture which I love!



Ed's giant canter which I need to learn to sit up to!

Floating over trotting poles 😀



A bit worried about the first jump that went up after trotting poles. I love his face and then how he casually just walks over it 😂

Getting the hang of leaving the ground!

We're off to ROR camp at Hickstead on Thursday which I'm so excited about! There will be so many knowledgeable people there who can help Ed and I.
 
Hi everyone!

Thought I’d update on Ed. He has been having a holiday as he was diagnosed with ulcers and then broke his splint.

Thankfully both are now fully healed and I’ll be back on board in the new year!

I’ve applied to be one of Harry Hall’s sponsored riders for 2018 and would love to be given the opportunity!

I would really appreciate some more Instagram support to help me on the way! If you want to see pretty pictures of Ed and head about how he’s getting on, please follow us!

https://instagram.com/p/Bc1w5ylH4Tw/
 
Ed is now officially back in work- yay!!

We had a bit of a rocky start with a tantrum on our first ride which ended on him losing his footing and falling over on me, but thankfully neither of us were hurt or lost confidence!

3rd ride today and we are sticking with the routine of lunging first (as he’s clearly feeling well and full of beans!) and then hopping on.

Sticking to walk and taking it slowly, but am pleased so far! Saddler and physio booked as well to get us going in the right direction.

I’m really happy with how he’s looking and am so excited to be back on board!

Any tips for exercise programs for bringing back into work aftern a 6 month break and a broken splint bone are welcome!

<img>https://i.imgur.com/qplWDRp.jpg</img>

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P.S I cannot get pictures to work! Tips on this too &#128514;&#128514;
 
Just thought I'd add another Ed update now he's been in work a couple of weeks- more as a diary for myself really!

He has had the physio and she is really pleased with him! Saddler came today and he has gone up two gullet widths- unsurprising with the way he's changed shape in the last 6 months.

The skinny picture is when he was undergoing ulcer treatment in August vs. this week- so happy with the change in him!
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We've been doing mostly hacking
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But I've also had some fun dressing him in matchy matchy. It's taking longer to get him ready than I actually ride for but he looks pretty!
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Whatcha doing up there mum?!
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He looks very contented, and his bum has a nice rounded shape to it now rather than the greyhound muscle tone of a racehorse. Well done u!
 
Thought I’d update this thread now we’ve had our first lesson!

We really focused on me not over-riding and getting in Ed’s way. He needs to find his own balance and I tend to rise too much in the trot and put us both out of balance.

He worked really hard and really tried for me, was so chuffed with him.

View My Video

Had some lovely stretchy trot at the end too &#128525;
View My Video
Was so good to enjoy some sunshine! Watching videos reminds me I need to start getting fitter and slimmer so I look less like a blob on top *the shame*

Hopefully the videos work!
 
Ed has come on leaps and bounds since my last update!

We’ve just started canter work and while it’s all a bit spaghetti legs he’s trying really hard.

He loved the snow from the beast of the east and despite my worrying as he loved out 24/7 he’s still looking a great weight.

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We’ve been having flatwork lessons focusing on getting him straight as he likes to go along a bit bum-in, particularly on the right rein.

We had a super polework clinic today at a yard down the road. Hacked round there and did the session with 4 others. He’s never been over there before and doesn’t often work with others in the school so this was great for him and we had a fab time! Think he’ll sleep well tonight though!

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Checking out the scary poles!

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Bit tired but looking well after the clinic &#128512;
 
Ed has been doing really well, we went out for an arena hire.

He was absolutely fantastic, loaded perfectly despite not being out since he went to Liphook for his last scope in a September.

Got some lovely work out of him once he’d settled and travelled home well too.
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Had a couple of fun hacks, and he's looking fantastic!

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Then yesterday he came up with a lovely fat and hot leg :(
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Fingers crossed that he hasn’t re-done his he splint please!
 
I love following you guys on Instagram, he's a gorgeous boy and is looking fab! Fingers crossed for you that his leg is nothing serious :(
 
I love following you guys on Instagram, he's a gorgeous boy and is looking fab! Fingers crossed for you that his leg is nothing serious :(

Glad you enjoy following us on Instagram :)I love sharing pictures of him and our journey so lovely to hear someone enjoys it!
 
Thankfully Ed’s leg was nothing serious and we have been able to have a fun bank holiday!

Started off with some beautiful hacking as always &#128512;
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We had a really interesting dressage clinic at the yard on Saturday where we focused on getting Ed more reactive to me and less focused on everything going on around him. He was very on his toes and super bouncy so was a fun lesson!

Easter Sunday a friend came over and hacked Ed while I borrowed another horse on the yard. It’s always so interesting to see someone else ride your horse. She hadn’t ridden him before and he was well behaved for her which is a bonus!

Today we had a polework clinic at Merrist Wood. Got to the yard to find Ed having a snooze. I’ve never seen him lying down so felt really mean getting him up &#128584;
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He behaved really well at the clinic, was so pleased with his attitude. Loads to work on for both of us but all in all a good outing!
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Hope everyone else has had a fun weekend!
 
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