ex-racer thoroughbred

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esmerelda1

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Recently bought an ex-racer thoroughbred mare, just as I broke my ribs having been thrown from two different horses I'd tried out. Since the fall I have totally lost confidence, and I can't ride my lovely new horse out without being terrified. She's fine in the school, but I live in beautiful road-free open countryside and if I can't ride my horse in it, it defeats the point... Now thinking that me and my mare are never going to bond (she's always going to be a sharp, spooky ex-racer TB) and that I should sell her on and find something more predictable. Thoughts welcome please.
 
She may not live up to the stereotype. The TB I share was supposed to be spooky but he's been fine with me so far. Even when he gets a bit EEeek about something he doesn't do much and gets over it really quickly.
 
Silly phone
My ex racer Is a donkey 11 months of the year. For 1 month in spring I hang out in the school as he's a bit more stereotype but nothing bad.
 
I sold an ID that kept throwing me off and i struggled to bond. I told myself to buy a bombproof pony but fell in love with a 16.2 ex racer who had been left in the field! The first time i got him i had a panic attack as my confidence was shot!! I had someone walk with me everywhere and always hacked out with someone and only walked for about 2 months!! Best decision i made buying him. He is amazing and my confidence is back. Take it slowly and Dont be afraid to ask for help. Good luck, i am sure you will be an amazing partnership x
 
I have a WBxtb, 2 welsh and a young ex racer tb. I would put a novice on the ex racer before I'd put them on the others. He's 6 and a saint on the roads etc.
 
Another vote for ex racers here! My boy is bomb proof in traffic and nothing fazes him - my WB is up a tree at the slightest thing!

Stick with your mare, take it nice and slowly and build your confidence and bond/partnership. In time you'll both be great! 😀

Best of luck! X
 
Out competing, my ex-racer is sharp and spooky and strong. Hacking, he is a pro - goes himself, no fear of traffic (even bikes/motorbikes/tractors/lorries with air brakes/rattly trailers), absolute star. He doesn't like the wind and cold, but with a fleece/waterproof exercise sheet in colder/wetter weather he's fine. Compared to my friend's ID (and my old IDxWelsh) who were ridiculously spooky hacking, he's brill.

They have their issues, but usually hacking isn't one of them!!
 
Our 5yo ex racer just did her first camp (mums not pony club!) having had a month off and 3 days quiet work in the school prior to camp due to injury. Everyone commented on how well behaved she was; never hacked with 8+ horses, never done XC (had 6-7 in our group) and never stayed in a new place overnight as I've only taken her to 2 away day shows but she never said no and never got scary or silly despite me being very unconfident with jumping especially. She is a lovely calm hack and easy to have around. Can you get someone else confident to ride yours out a few times to prove what she's like before you have a go?
 
We have ex racer who is the most laid back, gentle kind horse you could ask for, stable manner perfect and can be a bit of a plod when hacking. He was a proper racer and won over £100k. I think how you manage them is key, no high energy feed, plenty of turn out, calm hacking and enviroment. Having said all that the first few time we took him anywhere in the trailer when we unloaded he was out and ready to race with the best of them!
 
All exracers I have known have been lovely hacks.

Why not do some ground work with her and build up a bond. Ive recently taken on a 6 year old ex racer who has done nothing for two years. Have spent six weeks loose schooling, lunging and doing wee groundwork games and trust her 100%.
 
Much easier said than done if you have lost confidence but you need to be confident to get the horse confident, so if you don't want to sell then perhaps try to find someone really sensible to hack out with and find someone else to ride your horse out as well. Look at the ROR website and perhaps speak to their consultants, Fred and Rowena Cook. Good luck.

p.s. a friend of mine who had lost her confidence just got it back hacking my ex racehorse.
 
Another who has an ex racer who's a dobbin to hack! He walked past a massive tractor (one of those whirly grain collector tank/straw separator things) today on a loose rein, didn't bat an eyelid, the horse I was with was leaping about like a mad thing.
 
Ex-racers rock to hack!

Sunday, ISH turned into snorting monster spotting a newly cut tree trunk in the woods; TB marched past looking down his nose then found a tree branch across path so sprog dismounted and hauled branch around to make space to pass whilst holding TB's reins and pushing him back and forth whilst she maneuvered said tree branch; good as gold. Sweetest, most intelligent, gentle horses ever :wub: to use a NMT/PS phrase!
 
I second this what Humblepie says. Get some help from the above or someone to hack out with. Take things slowly and build up your confidence. These horses are incredibly sensitive as I'm sure you know and will pick up on your nerves.

Fortunately my TB is an absolute poppet to hack too!
 
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