How good a rider do you have to be

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Steorra

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To ride out race horses?

Has anyone here ever done it? How did you get into it? What did it involve?

Basically, I've had a very frustrating year in riding terms, and I'm looking for a new challenge. Firstly my horse was retired, then I has a few 'advanced' riding lessons that were horribly expensive and just not very good, then I was offered a gorgeous horse to ride very shortly before I moved from London to Cambridge and had to give him up! I'm now sharing a lovely mare but she is kept a long way from where I live and at the moment I can only get to see her once a week.

I'd really like to try something new but just don't know if this is a good idea. I've no experience of the racing world really. I enjoy riding sharp horses and have ridden a couple of ex racers but I've always focused on dressage in the past and obviously this would be a very different ballgame!

What do you think? Other ideas of how to get me out of my rut also welcome!! Peppermint cremes for all replies!
 
I rode them having never done it before and was fine. Took me and my muscles a while to get used to it (it hurt like buggery to begin with) but was great fun. I've ridden all my life and am used to backing and youngsters and sharp horses but was more dressage just like you. I would say it is probably one of the easier ways of riding a horse frankly!

Then I fell off and smashed up my knee and couldn't walk never mind drive or ride for four months. Was 8 months before I could get back on a horse and it still aches now three years later. I had two ops to fix it and over a week in hospital.

If you're going to do it make sure you have personal injury insurance as minimum wage is shockingly low and you might find your trainer isn't too keen on shelling out!

I'm in Cambridge too. Hello!
 
What about just contacting a few racing yards nearby where you are and speak to them directly. It sounds like you know what you're doing riding wise. They might let you go down and have a look at the others riding and then you can decide whether you think yo are up to it.
 
Hi i'm also Cambridgeshire!

I did it years ago for a local guy who had 4 in. Started off hunting as they needed cards marking, then rode out on exercise (early starts). I found it tricky to be honest, couldn't get the hang off dropping the reins to slow, just didn't feel right to me. Was great fun though and a good learning curve :)

I would think being localish to Newmarket, send out a few letters to yards and see what the feedback is. Good luck!
 
depends on the trainer you go to - some like the horses to work into an outline and learn all the basic flatwork skills PROPERLY etc etc and some trainers dont mind how the horse walks, its the gallop they're interested in. Either way ( and either way suits different trainers with the same results) 'normal' riding skills generally go out the window on the gallops! Lots of things are completely different to normal riding and you'll either get it or you wont. If you do 'get it' its brilliant! You can get a huge adrenaline rush from it and you'll never want to ride anything but TBs from then on! Agree with jesstickle, it'll hurt like hell till you get used to the VERY different riding position and you'll realise how unfit you are but push through it and you'll reap the rewards. Best of luck!
 
Jesstickle - Hi! Nice to meet a local person :) Thanks for your advice, I'll admit it's the falling of and getting horribly injured bit that kind of bothers me. But I guess I already take that risk with the other horses I ride. The personal injury insurance is a really good point - I have BHS gold membership which I think has covered me for everything I've done up til now, but I'm not sure how far it goes. I'll be sure to check.

Rebelzmum - great idea, thank you.

Mollichop - Thanks for your comments. I know it would be a real learning curve for me too, but that might be just what I need at the moment.

Rowenna - I think I'd better hit the gym! You make it sound very much worth the effort though.

I'm going to have a look / ask around for local yards and see if there is any interest. I have a 9-5 day job but I'm hoping morning exercises might be early enough for me to ride before work. I used to row so painfully early (and just painful!) mornings are not entirely alien.

A couple more questions if anyone has a moment: should I expect / ask for payment? I'm obviously inexperienced (not worth much) and making a profit isn't really the point (I just want to try something new), but I don't want to cause trouble by doing for free something that is normally paid for (if that makes sense).

Also, has anyone else managed the riding before work thing? Mollichop mentioned early starts - would they be early enough?

Thanks everyone. All advice / comments welcome :D
 
Yes you should get paid!! And I would think they would be early enough. I think a lot of trainers in Newmarket are out with their first string at six in the summer.
Plus we always rode ours Saturday too so even if you can't do the week you can probably do that :)


My OH rows. You're all mentalists! If you've done that riding race horses will be a piece of pee frankly. He has thighs of steel so I can only assume you will too!
 
My friend rides for Jonjo O'Neil, from hearing her stories you have to be brave more then capable. When she went for her trial she had to canter a horse in a circle without him breaking. If you have guts go for it, and if you honestly don't mind getting on anything then you will be wanted as some yards have people who will only get on the well behaved ones.
 
Definatly get paid - if you dont you'll get used and abused! You want to do this to enjooy it not for it to become a chore. Try finding a smaller yard if possible, you'll get more opportunities and there'll be more time and patience from the others to teach you.
And yes, it IS well worth the effort!!
 
Thanks again all.

I do indeed have...ahem...boatie thighs. Hopefully I have finally found a use for them away from the river!

Whether I'll have the guts as Kokopelli says...well I guess I'll have to try and see :) I'll admit I'm not 100% fearless, I'd want to find where my limits are with a new style of riding on a well behaved horse to begin with, but I do expect them to be TBs not rocking horses.

Thanks again x
 
I worked in a local racing yard from the age of 13 years = many moons ago:o I went straight from a riding school. One horse was perfect but a mare was very difficult. It is easier than you my think. Try a yard, i am sure they would be glad of some help.
 
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