Ex-racer over excited at events/shows/fun rides etc

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Janetterose

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I took my ex-racer to a fun ride this weekend and it is the first event that I have taken him to since I bought him (about a year ago). Out hacking he is a very happy boy - sensible, not spooky generally, forward going but a good calm chap. However at the fun ride he was a bit of a disgrace tbh - wouldnt stand still whilst tacking up, kicking out all over the place, and when his rider was on he was jogging about all over the place with not a lot of steering.

I was told by his previous owner to use a cheltenham gag at this type of thing but keeping the contact on the snaffle and use the gag in case he puts his head down and cant be stopped. However I dont think the bit is an issue.

Once he had been going forward for a while and once he was allowed to continue to move forward then he was ok, although very forward going and I understand this is part of his personality as an ex-racer but has anyone got any suggestions to keep him calm at the beginning. I am currently considering tacking him up before leaving home and using Oxyshot.
 
Typical ex racer behavior baypony, he thinks he is going to the races. Tacking up beforehand and an oxyshot may help, also take him to shows without doing anything, maybe walk him round then hopefully he will begin to learn that he's not racing just having a nice day out. We have the same prob with my daughter's exracer but he is getting better everytime we travel him now.
Good luck
Anita
x
 
Its as Marinita Sed, coz hes an ex racer, just thinks hes going racing.
Myn dd this alil bt u just have to go places with and without others.
Being with others will excit him anyways.
 
I personally would go back to the feed you are giving him. My ex racer is fantastic now, a total gentleman who can cope with whatever he sees. He was a loon when I got him, and is a loon on cool mixes. I have him now on Simple Systems and it made a complete change to his nature. He is now calm, chilled and full of energy but totally sane. I took him hunter trialling at the weekend, only his second time out and he was happy to do whatever, stood quietly and waited his turn. I have done loads of pleasure rides with him and he is quite happy to go first or last and will let other horses pass him at speed. The more you do the more chilled he should get but ensure that there is nothing in his feed which can contribute to his excitement.
 
Yep, Ex-racer stylee I'm afraid!
We had a show at my yard a little while ago, real small local dressage. I didn't take part, but walked my mare over to see my friend and her mare for a chat etc (all of about a few hundred yards!) and on the way back to her stable, you would have thought she was on her way to a race track, the way she was flitting about! And she is a considerably CALM TB!!
 
I can sympathise with you Baypony!
My boy was exactly the same. The adrenaline used to kick in and I had to be up on board and away as soon as possible. Think Jockeys getting legged up before racing!
Try and get him out to as many things as possible. My lad still gets excited a couple of seasons on, but he now just gets the leg trembles! (Quite literally all four legs tremble!!)
I wouldn't be able to get him to stand still for a very long time, but he knows now he's not going racing.
I agree with Bosworth as well, even cool mixes fizz him up!
I wouldn't swap him for the world now though. Ex-racers are the best.
Let us know how you get on!
 
Travel him tacked up and just keep your nerve and keep walking him round until he settles. I took my ex-racer hunting and it took him about 3-4 times before he would settle. As long as he doesn't rear or try to dump you and bugger off, I'd just sit tight and try and ignore the jogging. They do eventually settle.
 
Yep, typical ex-racehorse!
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Mine's 18, I've had him 4 years and he's not been on the track for about 10. He dragged me to the wagon and nearly trampled someone under-hoof to get in yesterday. He doesn't get a lot of hard feed - its just enthusiasm
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Get on quick and get going - they don't do waiting around
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The first event I took mine too (small local show) he spent 3 hours spinning, neighing and generally making a spectacle of himself. I just kept him moving and took him off into a quiet corner to do some flatwork. He eventually settled (was probably knackered lol) and has been brilliant since - with him it was just a case of working through it.

Does your horse have a 'friend' who could go to shows with him as it may help to calm him down if there is a 'familiar face' with him (as long as they are calm anyway!!)
 
He wasnt THAT bad! no worse than cat the first few times i took her hunting! Except she is more mannerly on the ground and doesnt kick! He just needs to do it more often, he'll soon figure out he's not at the races and its ment to be fun! I would try taking him to a few things with a couple of acp on board to let him take everything in properly whilst hes a bit calmer, I think he'll suss it out quicker. And deffo tack up first......sorry would have suggested that for yest if had thought about it. Anyway hes gr8 fun as he is! He doesnt feel unsafe and when he's a bit fitter it will b less of a concern that he's going to completley keel over from getting in a state (this was my only real worry esp as hes not mine!) L broke 2 ribs by the way! x
 
yep typical ex racer...mine gave me a black eye at the first show he went down to (and that was just as a spectator
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). after a season out and about as much as poss he was totally chilled and well behaved. he now doesn't go out very much and is a bit of a loon again when he does go out but settles quickly. persevere is what i'd say...maybe avoid the fun rides and take him to teeny tiny local shows and lunge him if he's beingreally hyper....
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