Ex-Racers - Schooling.

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ForeverBroke_

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Hello.

I've been given the job of bringing an ex-racer into work with a view to be sold/loaned. He's been out of work for a few weeks following an injury and I've since started lightly lunging him in just a bridle (20 mins max) just to get him moving forwards and start the ball rolling again. He's been very well behaved.

He's very weak behind his saddle, having never been in consistent work since his racing days. I appreciate moving forwards/stretching will help to build the muscles over his back but I'm finding this very hard to encourage! I'm assuming pole work might help a bit further down the line? We have lots of hills so that could also do the job. He's managed to drop his poll to be horizontal to his wither but this is quite a rarity!

He's in the past been quite hard to bend (as is the norm I imagine) and so this isn't really helping either.

Just wondering what those with ex-racers found the most effective to achieving this! I'm reluctant to lunge him in anything too 'gadget-ified' as he's so weak muscle wise but feel free to suggest any ideas.

Many thanks!
 
Hack, hack and hack some more. You can do plenty of lateral work doing this whilst hacking out. Once he's physically stronger you can then start introducing some school work. Personally I would steer well clear of lunging until the horses is fitter generally.
 
I agree with hacking and would also look at light use of a pessoa but with the strong caveat that you have already clearly stated. Horse is weak and incorrectly muscled. How about some long reining to start so you can get out on the hills without you on board? or even try to do 2 short sessions in a day. I learnt a really salutary lesson with myself as a guinea pig years ago when an unkind friend suggested a new years day march up at Ludworth cove. I did it, didn't think it looked too steep..

and could not walk the next day. My backside felt as if someone had chewed into it. Its something I always think about when building up muscle strength in horses now.. particularly as we are on some spectacular hills!
 
Longrein hacking for a few weeks then hacking on board. Then I think lunging lightly in a pessoa for a while before you begin schooling in an arena is useful. Did wonders for my ex racer's topline :)
 
Thanks for the tips!

Meant to add that 20 minutes was/is literally just walk, so hopefully not too taxing but agree I want to steer away from it! Was more of a 'gage,' to see what sort of mood we were in! Not much fun for either of us though. Long-reining out would be better actually, thanks for that.

Anyway, he seems a fairly quiet chap so hacking it is! Will stick to the flat until we get a bit stronger!
 
Hacking and hill work for 4-6 weeks with increasing intervals of trot. Make him walk up hills to start, then gradually increase trotting up hills but keep in a steady rhythm...don't just let him trot away up the hill. Change your diagonal regularly in the trot as well.

Then, when he has had 4-6 weeks roadwork, I would start to introduce schooling. Practice your lateral work on the roads and, when you encounter resistance in the school, use shoulder fore, shoulder in or leg yield to unlock the resistance.

Keep sessions in the school very short and sweet to start with. What worked for my current ex racer was a 30 minute hack, followed by no more than 15 minutes in the school in walk and trot for first two weeks. I then increased time a little and started to school, then hack on a long rein.

I don't tend to start canter work with ex racers until they can be balanced in the school in walk and trot through circles and serpentines. Then, when introduced, I take a half seat to start with, canter large and have a very soft contact to help them find their balance.

Remember that an ex racer has alread. Learned one way of going so keep that in mind in your training.

All racehorse rehab centres will happily give you advice, so give a few a call and good luck x
 
_GG_ said:
Hacking and hill work for 4-6 weeks with increasing intervals of trot. Make him walk up hills to start, then gradually increase trotting up hills but keep in a steady rhythm...don't just let him trot away up the hill. Change your diagonal regularly in the trot as well.

Then, when he has had 4-6 weeks roadwork, I would start to introduce schooling. Practice your lateral work on the roads and, when you encounter resistance in the school, use shoulder fore, shoulder in or leg yield to unlock the resistance.

Keep sessions in the school very short and sweet to start with. What worked for my current ex racer was a 30 minute hack, followed by no more than 15 minutes in the school in walk and trot for first two weeks. I then increased time a little and started to school, then hack on a long rein.

I don't tend to start canter work with ex racers until they can be balanced in the school in walk and trot through circles and serpentines. Then, when introduced, I take a half seat to start with, canter large and have a very soft contact to help them find their balance.

Remember that an ex racer has alread. Learned one way of going so keep that in mind in your training.

All racehorse rehab centres will happily give you advice, so give a few a call and good luck x
Click to expand...

Thanks - thats a great idea! I imagine that sort of routine would suit him very well too.
 
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