Ez Racehorse Trouble, Please Help

[AMH777]

I bought a 7 year old thoroughbred ex racehorse. He was great the first few times I rode him, but now he is having problems being jumpy and taking off. I havent changd his diet or anything as far as I know. I'm doing exactly what his old owner told me to do. He is in a snaffle, and I was planning on training him to jump and do dressage and english, but I cant train him to do anything when he takes off every time I ask him to pick up the trot. Any suggestions on getting him to quit taking off and calm down? He isnt like scared of thigs, he just doesnt like to be slow or still.

 

[Lolo]

What had he done before you got him?

 

[snooples]

So he could be in pain, he could be bored with what your doing, he might just have too much energy.
Is he stabled or out in the field, id be inclined to let him out in the field as much as possible to keep energy levels managable. Also cutting down on feed and maybe adding a calmer
You might also consider lunging him before you get on to calm him down.

Ex racehorses by nature are excitable, the worst thing you can do is get wound up yourself if anything happens. you just have to be calm. When you ask him to trot and he goes too fast, half halt immediately if this doesnt work, its back to walk, small circles in trot will also help. I did no cantering in open space for ages with my mare, she was fine in the school but wanted to take off in the field, so we did a LOT of walk. As she always expected to gallop in an open sapce, not her fault just what she was trained to do.

She still is a little bit mad at times but standing still is getting much better and she did lots of standing at our first few training lessons thank god. i jsut incorporated standing still into our hacks or schooling sessions, only for a few seconds and then shes get a good pat and allowed to walk on.

 

[shampain]

What had he done before you got him?

This. Had he had any form of retraining or was he fairly fresh from the trainers yard? If the latter then chances are that it's a combination of numerous factors including a massive change in routine (feed/exercise balance etc) and also simply not having a clue what you're on about when you're on board as racers are an entirely different kettle of fish to your average riding horse.

 

[DabDab]

This. Had he had any form of retraining or was he fairly fresh from the trainers yard? If the latter then chances are that it's a combination of numerous factors including a massive change in routine (feed/exercise balance etc) and also simply not having a clue what you're on about when you're on board as racers are an entirely different kettle of fish to your average riding horse.

^Yes this is very good advice. If he is fresh out of racing it can often do them the world of good being just turned out for a couple of months to unwind and get used to the slower pace of life. With maybe just a couple of lunging sessions a week to get them used to going round in circles and to start getting them to develop different muscles and let down their racing muscles. I wouldn't advise riding round in small circles because a racehorse stacked up with racing muscle has fairly limited lateral movement through it's core, so bending around a circle can be very difficult for them even though they seem very fit. If he's been out of racing for a while though working on a 20m circle can be really good to stop the rushing - do lots of transitions on the circle between walk, trot and stand. Good luck

 

[slumdog]

How are you asking for trot? Ive found with mine if you're asking in the conventional way then he's likely to not have a clue! To get mine to trot I just have to take a contact slightly (contact means go) I don't need any leg pressure. Also if I drop my contact (if you're brave enough lol) he'll usually slow down. I bought him straight off a racing yard, the first time I took him out for a hack I made the mistake of gathering my reins and leaning forward to check my girth, and he was off lol!

 

[AMH777]

What had he done before you got him?

After he raced, have no clue how long he was turned out, but his old owner used to take him to dressage lessons. hehas been off the track for a year. I have been giving him 1 flake alfalfa and 2 flaked grass hay like his owner told me to do, because he needs to gain a little bit of weight, not too much, but some. He is stalled at night in a 24x14 stall and turned out in a round pen during the day. the panels are 8 ft tall, and he is in there because he gets pretty herd bounf and difficult to catch when turned out with other horses. so he can see them, but cant get to them. they can come right up to the round pen because it is in their field. I have been trying to do "join up" with him, it has worked for me with other horses in the past, but not on him so far. I dont think he is hurting, but I'm not him so I cant be sure. what are everyone's thoughts on going bitless in a hackamoe with him, instead of using his snaffle, which he is used to racing in? hejustseemed so perfect for me when I got him, now I'm just getting frusterated when he keeps acting up. I usually keep a pretty level head, and dont get too upset till I leave the barn. I have been riding him in a western saddle, becaue they are easier to stay in if he starts bucking or doing crazy things. could this have anything to do with it? I was told when he was done racing, they would put a western saddle on him and use him to escort other racers on to the track.

 

[Flora]

I would get the saddle fitted properly. With all our ex racers we had to get hi withered saddle with thoroughbred panels. I would try and turn him out, even with another horse so that he can learn to be a horse again!
I would also seek help from someone that knows ex racers as you don't want the situation to get worse and get him checked over by the vet just rule out teeth, back etc.

 

[AMH777]

I was told bya knowledgeable horse trainer that he was completely sound with no problems, but I'll probably have a vet check to be sure. I heard that you can tell a saddle fits properly if you can look down the front under the horn and see daylight out the other side. is this true?