Help Gaining The Trust of an Ex Racehorse please?

AMH777

AMH777

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Sorry if this is in the wrong catagory, I wasnt sure where to post it:]
My OTTB is getting treated for ulcers, and I would like to know what I can do with his training right now and was wondering what some good trust/bonding excersizes that I can do with him right now or things I can do after his treatment? I am having trouble trusting him and I think the root of that is because he doesnt trust me yet. I havent had him for very long, like 4 or 5, maybe 6 weeks. But every other horse I have ever had has already trusted me by the time I had had them this long. Thanks Everyone!:)
 
Have you worked on a race yard before? Im doing evening stables on a yard of 35 with 2 or 3 others. Routine is head collar on, tie to back, muck out, rug, hay in, leave tied . Untie when feed is put in,xleave stable. That is the contact they get. Grooming is maybe 5 minutes, 10 if they are lucky. Staff seems to change regularly so horses used to a change in people. They don't get attached.
He will take longer, don't expect too much too soon.
 
AMH777 said:
Sorry if this is in the wrong catagory, I wasnt sure where to post it:]
My OTTB is getting treated for ulcers, and I would like to know what I can do with his training right now and was wondering what some good trust/bonding excersizes that I can do with him right now or things I can do after his treatment? I am having trouble trusting him and I think the root of that is because he doesnt trust me yet. I havent had him for very long, like 4 or 5, maybe 6 weeks. But every other horse I have ever had has already trusted me by the time I had had them this long. Thanks Everyone!:)
Click to expand...

Hi!!

I am by no means an expert but I had an ex racer in my teens and I've taken on a share of an ex racer recently, as in about 6 weeks ago.

It takes time. I've found that doing in hand work with my current boy has really really helped. Viola on here has a blog that I've found useful recently and its helped my know how to progress the in hand stuff. Fred Cook also has a good book on retraining racehorses that I was recommended that I've just bought.

Since doing the in hand stuff more the last 2 or 3 weeks ive noticed that Mack trusts me more and comes to me in the feild. His owner has been working in this too. Catching him for a fuss then letting him go. She was sat in the feild with him lying down the other day so they've come a long way from being chased out if the feild when they first had him a few months ago. I think she is beginning to trust him more.

I do the ground work in the stable on the yard and more recently in the school, always with a hat and gloves as I still don't trust him (he bites but seems better recently) and it gives more more confident. I haven't used a whip yet as he's whip shy but I might attempt a short whip tomorrow to get him used to the fact that I may be carrying one at times. I think it'll help with the leg yielding type exercises.

I have no idea if that helps.
 
Rebels said:
Have you worked on a race yard before? Im doing evening stables on a yard of 35 with 2 or 3 others. Routine is head collar on, tie to back, muck out, rug, hay in, leave tied . Untie when feed is put in,xleave stable. That is the contact they get. Grooming is maybe 5 minutes, 10 if they are lucky. Staff seems to change regularly so horses used to a change in people. They don't get attached.
He will take longer, don't expect too much too soon.
Click to expand...

This is spot on .I have had my TB nearly two years now I adore him he's like a large sleek Labrador now we had a lie down together in the stable this morning.
 
Be quiet, calm & consistent and give him time, As suggested above in-hand work is great for bonding as is walking out in hand and they're low impact things that you can do while his ulcers heal.
 
In my opinion they are treated like machines, they dont understand what its like to be loved. in my horses case any affection, petting, cuddles i gave was greeted by teeth, feet and
 
Aaah bloody phone again!.....and pinned back ears.

It took months of me trying with her and there were times she would give in and have a little cuddle then she would realise and ears flat back again.

To be fair her and i never really hit it off and im delighted to say the person i loaned her to has done a great job with her and what a bond they have.....but it didnt happen overnight. delighted now as she has bought her so i know shel be happy..she wasnt with me.
 
Agree about the routine they are used to. My boy grudgingly gave me his heart when I took my own soft goats hair body brush to groom him as the ones I was given each time I exercised were stiff dandy brushes and he has very soft skin. Mines a grump though so lots of kissing and cuddling with his ears back seems to have done it. Soft as grease now.
 
I have two ex-racers.My gelding was completely shut down when I got him,although he wasn't straight out of training-he spent 3 yrs in the field after retiring. He gained trust and two years on is so happy and full of character. It hasn't necessarily taken that long for him to trust me,just for him to become very confident and for his personality to really shine through. As has been said walks in-hand will be good, in the school maybe over poles,past different objects and grazing juicy grass in-hand.

Also try doing carrot stretches-my gelding loves this! :D He gets really affectionate and of course as well as being great for bonding,your horse is having a nice little workout. :)
 
Not all racehorses are treated like machines! My ones love humans and will regularly raid your pockets for polo mints and sweets. We don't tie ours up to do anything with them. They are tacked up loose, groomed loose, mucked out loose et al. They are treated like friends not machines.

Make a fuss of him, even if he ignores you never give up because he will soon come round the idea of affection.
 
Some horses don't like being fussed about with, in which case it is unkind to force cuddles on them. Some would just rather be left to their own devices, doesn't mean they don't trust you.
 
A bit of positive reinforcement works wonders :)

Do a few clicker training exercises with him - things like back up away from you at liberty, touching and following a target, picking up a glove and handing it to you. It's not so much about what you teach (although I've taught these to an ex-racer who now, very sweetly, walks deliberately backwards while looking me in the eye when he wants to play), it's more about the horse learning that when you're around, they can make nice things happen :)
 
Thanks everyone! I worked with him for 2 and 1/2 hours yesterday,and I thnk it helped a lot! of course know it will take a lot more time lol.
 
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