Ex-Racehorses

[Whoopit]

I have recently bought my lush two and not quite a half year old 16hh Thoroughbred, Harry. He is, as I'm sure you've guessed, an ex-racehorse. He only ran the flat four times so isn't broken in any way and to be fair to him, he's pretty chilled out for a young Thoroughbred other than the recently occurring refusal to turn out as he's getting picked on and doesn't like getting his feet wet. Or muddy. Other than that, he's a treasure.

Now, I intend turning him away for eighteen months to fill out and mature, but I worry that he's going to get bored after being in training and then going to nothing. He has no comprehension of "trot on" when you want to hurry across the road and "walk on" when he won't go out of the yard gate to the field etc so this obviously needs work.

What did you all do with your young ex-racers when you got them before re-starting work?

Thanks

 

[[69117]]

I took mine to shows, hunting, to local rugby matches, everywhere! I just stuck a bridle on and dragged him round with me eating ice creams, so that he saw all sorts of new things.

He's now an absolute diamond at shows!

 

[NicoleS_007]

Well mine was broke as a 3yr and point to pointed twice then was turned away by the trainers as they had no room for a slow crappy racer lmao then i got him as a 4yr and reschooled him, took to shows etc ... but at 2.5yr old i would probably turn away and just do ground work.

 

[dominobrown]

I think its a good idea to turn him away and re-break him. He is a horse though so out in a field with company and he will be as happy as Harry (mind the pun). He will have been turned out as yearling etc but maybe not been out in a while so will take time to settle, and will probably gallop about like a loony. As long as he has food and a rug he will be fine

 

[pastie2]

I would turn out, but be in close contact, mess about with him. Enjoy getting a bond but let him mature and grow.

 

[Whoopit]

He's been in from 6mths old and it shows!! I don't think he even lifted his own tail to dump since then!!

Starzaan - good idea, eating ice cream!! I've walked him out a couple of times and the only thing he's snorted at was a strimmer (with a very fit man operating it!) but he didn't back up, just stopped, had a look and slunk past after my friends horse. So I was very impressed with his skinny little self.

He's lot of fun - bit of a pain when you're trying to brush him and do stuff as he's constantly making a nuisance of himself snuffling round your pockets (not actually begging for anything though) & pulling the tops of your wellies and things and wiping his face in your hair etc etc