Ex racers and slowing down

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bumblelion

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Hi really need some advice. My ex racer who's in the early stages of retraining will not stop which is niggling at my confidence!! He's currently being ridden in a loose ring french link with a cavesson noseband. I'v tried standing up in the stirrups, dropping the reins to the buckle, using a neckstrap with not much luck and using my voice. He just doesn't seem to respond. What am I doing wrong? I'v perservered trying these techniques but he just buggars off even more! He's very cheeky but obviously I need to find his brakes to keep the two of us safe!! Also the more we school the more revved up he gets.
Should I try a stronger bit or can anyone who works with racers give me any tips on how they're trained to slow down?
At the moment whenever I ask for trot we get a couple of strides then he tears into canter and that's when I struggle to slow him down! Am I best to keep him to a walk and perservering for trot so he learns to go at my speed (and feel the energy bottling underneath me) or do you think he needs a good old run to get his energy out? I do lunge but he's ever so good and doesn't bomb about or anything!!

Sorry to go on and thanks for your help x
 
Don't know much about ex-racers but i know that whilst my loose ring french link is great for schooling, I have no brakes if i need them with this bit!! It's really very mild and I would've thought something stronger might be better or you could try it with a grackle.
 
Where abouts have you been cantering him? It might be an idea to canter (if possible) up a track/bridleway with hedges on either side so he doesn't feel he is an open space if you see what I mean. If you have such a bridleway going up a steep hill then so much the better. I think once you get used to one another and he learns to go at the canter speed you want to, you will be fine. Good luck!
 
I do agree but I don't know if a stonger bit would worsen him and make him fight against me even more? I always though a softer bit were best for ex racers?
 
To be honest its mainly been in the schools both indoor and out. I wouldn't feel safe taking him out just yet and doing anything other than a walk just in case I can't stop!! I'v tried circling him around but he just charges off in the other direction!! He's had his back, tack and teeth checked and are all fine.
 
Hi, ive got a ex racer but he is a good boy now, i found a pelham with roundings and flash nose band good on him in the beginning as it made think oh [****] whats this in my mouth and he gained respect - but used with light HANDS! hes now back in a saffle and plain hunter nose band! also have you had his teeth checked? Also when you trot a few strides (try sitting) then fetch him back to walk before he starts to go into canter, practice this in a school with plenty of halts. also i used to ask for a halt at every lamp post out hacking
 
I would maybe try a stronger bit for a while and see how you get on. You could also try lunging him and get him used to your voice aids (and also to try and tire him out before you get on him!). I always find that a long low whistle as I'm pulling up helps, although if he has his mind set against stopping this probably won't help! When I got my first ex-racehorse he couldn't canter a circle in the school, he just didn't understand about someone sitting on his back to canter. I think his main problem will be lack of understanding about being in a school. Do you have anyone else that can have a go on him for you and see how they get on? I'd offer but I'm probably too far away from you!
 
I would definitely get someone who is experienced with youngsters/ ex racers and who knows all about bitting etc to help you out. A few good lessons with someone like this will save you a lot of heartache in the future, keep you safe, and make your horses life better.
Good luck
 
My Ex-racer used to do break into canter allot. I found I got 15 mins MAX out of her before she would start to rush and pull off round the school.

It takes time to re-train them as they have no idea what going slow and being patient is, let alone schooling.

I started to do small circles and change direction allot when I felt her speed up. I did figures of eight on the same rein for ages, round and round and round until they become steady. Lots of half holting will work too (when they realise what that is!).

Because they have rubbish balance (they only ever used one side because they raced in one direction!) they can't move and use their bodies to balance and collect themselves. Fighting the bit won't help much either!

Lunging is your best bet, with and without riding. Teach him vocal commands and make him stop start trot walk stop trot etc so he learns that there are other things besides gallop!

Persevere because when it works and you get a break through the feeling is amazing!
 
i do what Frances28 does - lots and lots of changes of direction to get him listening. Also means they don't know what is happening next so stop trying to second guess you. I found a stronger bit made my horse cross so he was more likely to run off.

You could also try controlling the canter also - physcologically it helped my boy to understand i was boss by setting him up so that he ran off then just running him around and around until he wanted to stop, then pushing him on again - taught him i didn't have to be always fighting against him, i could be boss if he was in canter too. Nipped it right in the bud.

Frances28 also mentions lungeing - can be very useful for establishing the rules (ie you go at MY speed).

Also only use one rein for breaks - sharp tug and releases communicate much more effectively.
Good luck!
 
Hi, I really don't think changing bit is the solution. I've had two exracers and keep my current horse at a racing yard. I would say that 99% of the horses on the yard are ridden in loose ring snaffles with either a flash or cavesson noseband - the occasional one is in a Grackle noseband and that's it. My view is a strong bit will just give him something to fight against.

It's obviously a schooling issue. Racehorses rarely trot unless on the roads or being lunged, so being asked to trot in the school is probably just new. I would suggest starting each schooling session with 15 or 20 mins of lunging to 'take the edge off'.

I'd then work on walk trot transistions. Walk half a circle, trot two or three strides, walk half a circle. Or go large and change pace at every marker. Aim to do 50 transitions in a session. If he tries to canter bring him swiftly back to half.

And repeat the same exercise for a couple of weeks, till he really gets it.

I also think you probably need some expert guidance, and finding an instructor/trainer who's experienced with exracers would really, really help you.

Good luck!
 
Whereabouts are you?

May be an idea to get someone who has re-schooled a few ex-racers before to put a couple of weeks work into him
 
Hi, I agree with fellow posters on here.
To be honest it is going to take time and patience to retrain a horse, who more than likely performing what he feels is expectation from him.

I have retrained many over the many years, and I can say that putting a stronger bit in is not a great way to go, more pressure and resistance could make things 10x worse.

Concentrate on your schooling more, if the basics are put in place correctly then his response and training will mean you have brakes from your seat/ request when requested, with little hand pulling involved.
This takes time, your asking him to work (as you probably already know) in an outline and style that could be alien mentally and physically for him.

Go back to walk/trot and make sure you have the right foundations in place before introducing faster work and the excitment of canter. Circles are great,, mini shoulder he can manage, patience - and reward him lots!

We had one who really would explode in the canter, you either got the wall of death or exited the arena over the nearest fence, and boy was he quick!

When schooling, give him plenty of warm-up and then make sure he is sitting back and using himself, albeit intermitent at first as he gains flexibility and strength.

What an exciting time for you, the reschooling, or any schooling is my favourite part!

Let us know how you get on!
 
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