Ex Racers

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bumblelion

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I'v had my first ex racer for 6 months now and soon bringing him back into work. Anyone got any advice/tips for me? I know each horse is different but any recommendations on bits, martingales etc would be great along with anything else you may find helpful!! Many thanks
 
This is tough as not only are you bringing him back into work but you are also reschooling him. It really depends on his condition and his previous education. In any event, I would start with lots of ground work, longreining and lunging, and making sure that when you start work under saddle that you ensure that his saddle is fitted correctly and is not restricting the development of back muscles. I would also make sure he is up to weight and his back etc is checked before bringing him back into ridden work.
 
Thanks I'm getting a saddle fitter out in a few weeks to get that sorted. The place I'd bought him from neglected him a bit, he wasn't ridden or turned out in two years and prior to that was when he was on the track. He did 3 years of flat with henry cecil then 3 years at hurdles. When I got him he was a real handful but with a strict routine and lots of cuddles (and I think the firm voice helped!!) he's calmed and built up trust in me. We no longer use the chiffney!! I rode him for the first month thinking it may calm him and reduce his energy levels but had no effect so decided to rest him and allow him to be a horse over winter, something I don't think he's ever had plus with the dark nights I couldn't have given him 100% of my time which he needs to be reschooled.
The only problem I seemed to have was finding the brakes. Even dropping the reins and sitting back had no effect! He can be stopped, well at least in the school and out hacking at a trot!! Any faster and who knows!!! Even checking my girth sets him off onto a trot from halt!! The one thing we did master was standing still at the mounting block whilst I hopped on!! It may have all gone out the window now but I know I have a clever horse who wants to learn and please!!
 
just remember that they've been taught to run into the pressure of the hand, so it takes a long time to teach them not to. i use my voice a lot, and keep the hands very light. if my mare gets strong, i go for a sharp very quick pull to slow her down, then really soft again, which seems to be working.
for flatwork i've got her in a Myler comfort 02 mouthpiece with full cheeks no hooks, which she really likes, and for jumping at the moment, a lozenge kimblewick (from cotswold sport on ebay, only place i've seen them), which has had a miraculous effect... so far.
fwiw my mare previously rushed off every time i fidgetted, moved my foot in the stirrup, altered the length of my reins, shifted my weight or my shoulders at all... she's learnt that it doesn't actually mean anything, finally!
very best of luck.
 
I second the use of a myler for flat work. You need to teach your horse to accept the contact, and as the sides of the mouth piece are independent it really encourages them to soft them mouths.
 
Lots of racer are taught to slow on the neck strap- put all of your weight behind it and they and then soften as soon as they slow. It really does work, and is good to remember in case of emergency
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Otherwise fixing one hand and checking with the other sometimes works.
 
I'd put him in a really mild bit to begin with. Something like a straight bar loose ring happy mouth - that way it'll encourage him to work into the contact, but without having anything to fight against.

Also, really important is Kerilli's point about racers being trained to work into a contact. So the shorter and tighter you hold the reins the faster he's be trained to go. It's really counter-intuative but when you start out hacking etc. remember to keep fairly loose, long reins. If you need to stop the best thing to do is to stand up in the stirrups and bury your hands in his wither.

The other thing is that with 'normal' horses often people pull one rein then the other to try and get the horse to slow down. In racing this is called 'changing reins' and is a sign to speed up - so don't do it!!!! (So speaks to voice of experience... my first exracer effectively bolted for three miles when I tried that!)

I'd start out with lots of hacking in company around lanes - as that's what he'll be used to. Hacking round the roads/lanes in walk and trot is a regular part of early fittening work for all race-horses. Remember he's unlikely ever to have been asked to hack out alone or even to have done much schooling alone, so in the early days I'd do as much in company as possible - until you feel a bit more confident.

And finally, I'd keep to a fairly rigid riding regime, as again that's what he's used to. So being worked at similar time for a similar amount of time most days of the week. I think regular routine is really helpful.

Best of luck!
 
My ex racer is in a cavasson with a frnch link and seems to really like it. A flash seemed to stress him out probably beacuse he never had one on before but again you need to feel safe in what you are riding him in . Another tip my instructor gave me was to try and do some schooling when I was out hacking like leg yield from one side of a path to the other ,shoulder in etc as my boy found working in a school really hard at first because of how stiff he was and the giant stride he has!! He also seems alot less stressy doing this sort of thing out hacking than he does in the school.

Good Luck!!
 
Mine is in a flash & a hanging cheek with a french link. Tried him in a straight happy mouth (hated it), jointed loose ring with a v.thick mouthpiece (v.unsettled) & various other snaffles. Everyone said he'd hate the hanging cheek because of the poll presure but I was stubbon & tried it anyway & he's lovely in it. He also has a breastplate with a running martingale attatched. I like knowing there is something to grab (without pulling his reins) if he does run & the martingale is just a precaution.
I find my boy fantastic to hack as he isn't bothered by anything & will babysit the nutters & the naughty/spooky ones but I do find he likes to be kept moving. I struggle if I take him out with slow horsies as he gets fidgety & silly. He can also get a bit worked up if he's not at the front which usually results in jogging on the spot & getting more left behind & more wound up. When he does this I just relax & push him forwrds untill he settles.
Are you on a yard? Chilli has always been on big yards & seems to love the activity. He loved it when he was new as everyone was noseying at him & saying hi. I get the impression he likes being kept occupied.

Good Luck with yours.
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I'll look out for updates.
 
I used a loose ring french link with my horse...she is a ex-racer tb..with a small mouth and large tongue!! Quite a few ex-racers I have met seem to like this kind of bit.
I used to wear a martingale, purely for my benefit, it was handy to hold when bucking was underway!!! After we overcame this I didnt bother with it.
I learnt not to hold on to her mouth...not to pull/hold a tight contact on the reins especially when asking for canter as this restricted her being able to stride into canter...which resulted in her being frustrated and the bucking scenario. Also they do have many 'gears' which I found a bit alarming at first but then realised it is a brilliant feeling. You could actually ride her very loosely which she preferred..but she wasn't really a youngster (9 when I bought her)...great to hack out (in front, beside or behind) and was often the one looking after nervous horses.
Also, tho yours is young...keep it simple but try to vary the work...boredom can come in to play and then problems can be created...they like routine but are very bright so you don't want them to get bored or put off working. They are great at learning/picking things up quickly...my mare was quicker than me!!!
Mine actually likes peace and quiet..hates being on her own..
I hope you have a great time...it will be a massive learning curve...but I am sure well worth it. Keep us updated with how its going.
 
Hi not much more advice to offer as all has been said really! But I wish you good luck, I have had my ex racer for 4 years now & he has been so rewarding. It takes a lot of time & patience & re starting them is much like backing a youngster.
I'm glad you have given some much needed 'horse time' to come down from the racing & start to appreciate a more relaxed way of life. Hopefully mentally this will have helped him switch off a bit.
I ride mine in a full cheek french link snaffle & continental gag for fast hacking or hunting. I would start off simple with his bitting & work on long reining & lunging & get him listening to your voice.
It may just be mine but I have found that if we are having a 'discussion' about the speed at which we want to go at I find that if I take my weight out of the saddle & take up a half seat he comes back to me instantly without any pulling.
Good luck!!
 
My old ex racer used to be ridden in a french link and cavesson noseband, any other attachments and he used to throw a wobbly, absolutely hated feeling restricted in any possible way.

We began hacking out, and I incorporated a little schooling in this before we began working in the school.

The worst mistake I ever made was taking him on a track through the middle of a field, must have been reminiscant of the gallops, he was ready for off, instinctively, I took up the reins, big mistake!

Old habits die hard!
 
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