Help with ex racer!!!

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neweventer

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I've had my ex race horse for three months now and she is stunning! She's come on brilliantly. We recently did a clear round jumping, which she handled okish. We've been oveer to the show ground to have a look around a couple of times, but today was the big day for our first class jumping.
She got so excited/nervous sweeted up so much that I had to with draw her, she was buzzing!
I know there's no quick fix but has anyone any ideas/suggestions.
At home she's been a fantastic horse and I'm varrying what we do everyday. I've also taken things relatively slowly. But I want to get out and compete.
Can anyone offer any help/ideas?
 
Perhaps try some more clear round to get him out in a fairly quiet way and even some dressage which would have more horses around but not as busy as show jumping, or even perhaps a riding club rally or teaching clinic.
 
Hey well done for getting this far. TB are very intelligent and can pick up on atmosphere easily. It really is exciting to be out at parties for them! Go back and try again and again and again! Might be worth while going to do a baby class early at start of show when quiet and then hang about after and then you will be more relaxed and not worried about riding. Also try going to do some dressage tends to be calmer and then it's not all about goingfast and jumping! I've had my exracer 3 years now but couldn't really do much as not much transport but got a trailer last year and the more we do the better she is. Also go to a lesson away from home or box to go for a hack. The more you do the better your relationship will be too. Good luck it's wort it!
 
I would take her out in the truck as much as poss to things that arnt competitions, like lessons, clinics, hacking, xc schooling etc so that going out on adventures are less exciting.

Then baby parties.... then just time!!!

My most recent x racehorse (i just posted about her just above your post) is quite sensible but she got quite shakey so Im trying her on a calmer and the shaking has got less, although maybe shes just getting bored of adventures!!
 
Same advice as above really, just try and get her out as much as possible.

My ex-racer is 22 now and came out of racing at 14. He still gets excited, but has learnt to try and contain it a bit more. I find not hanging about too much at the shows helps keep his stress levels lowered. I know this sounds like common sense, but only getting them off the lorry when you need get on with it, keeps them focused. Spot still can't stand around after he's done his class. After all you don't stand around after you've won your race do you!!???!!

Good luck, there's nothing more rewarding than an ex-racer turning out nicely.
 
Just get out and compete her as much as possible. Next time definately do not withdraw if you think she's too overexcited! Just accept that she's going to probably be like this for a good while ( could be a few months, could be a year!)before she settles down- just grin and bear it and accept that results aren't going to be great for a while. She will settle eventually. Lots and lots of walking in hand at the competition will help ( we did two hours in hand walking with my young exracer today before her XC and in the end, she was totally chilled going round the course!)

Some calmer and oestress may also help.
 
I would also have a look at her diet - our ex-racer was very intolerant of sugars in his diet - any extra even carrots could take him over the top. If after taking her to lots of shows etc she gets worse try cutting out all extra sugars (especially as grass comes through).
 
echo what everyone else has said, and remember, racehorses don't warm up like normal competition horses, they get lead in hand in the pre parade & parade ring, then canter to the start, then do thier race, meaning when you take them to places & treat them like a 'normal' competition horse, they sometimes get more & more anxious as to why they aren't doing anything,

i've found over the years that all of mine have gone better when they have the minimum amount of working in, as they either boil over or totally switch off, depending on thier nature,

keep going out, but go out to a show, get sorted & do your class, rather than spending ages trying to get them settled in the collecting ring,

also agree with a pp, walking in hand really suits some of them... for the reasons above, its what they are used to

hope that helps

rd
 
Thanks everyone for your advice. All greatfully recieved.
Her diet I think I've just about got right (She was a hat rack when I got her). She's put on weight and other then yesterday she doesn't get silly!

I think the frustrating thing is that I asked the organisers when the class would begin so I could arive just five min before (we live about five min hack away) but the class was running over an hour and a half late!

I guess I'll just have to keep going untill she settles.
 
I have an ex race who really sweated up, and got in a tizzy the first few times I took her out. I think its only natural, as all she knew about going somewhere new was the races, so thats what she expected each time. I just kept taking her out whenever I could, trying to do low key things until she realised that her new life was really quite boring lol!
Good luck, take your time, and Im sure things will work out well x
 
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