How to begin schooling ex-racer for clueless owners?

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Seeing as my horse is broken I may as well begin focusing on someones else - may dads!

He's coming to live at Badger's yard soon where we have facilities so we want to get working on him and get him doing a job. Bit of background - he raced as a 4yo in a couple of bumpers/hurdles and was pretty useless looking at his results! Dad has had him for about 3 years in which time he's been a happy hacker and has done a small amount of SJ/XC which he's done really well at so think he might make a nice little eventer at lower levels.

He feels quite well balanced and light to ride but has not worked in a school at all and has no idea what to do if you ask him to bend/go in any kind of outline - so totally back to basics me thinks!

Would anyone be able to suggest any exercises to help him start to understand what to do? How would you start flatwork with a horse like this?
 
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Hi! Having worked with several ex racers, the best advice would be to take it right back to basics. As you say, your horse has done a little sj and xc but you if you instill the basics of flatwork - then the rest of your job should be a lot easier! Teaching your horse to lunge correctly is essential as far as I'm concerned. As well as developing good manners on the ground, the gradual sympathetic use of side reins and Pessoa will encourage the ex racehorse to use and develop muscles he's never had to use before! You can also introduce lateral work on the lunge ie turn on the forehand, turn on the haunches, leg yield and rein back in time, all of which makes it much easier when you are riding the movements for the first time! I have an excellent instructor who is very experienced at working with ex racers. My current horse has been taught what I expect from him from day one - ie - learned to stand still in an outline then we built up to transitions walk, halt - halt walk until he could carry himself correctly throughout. Only then, did we build up to trot, and when we had built up the same consistency we went on to canter, working in light seat in a round outline until he was strong enough through his back to carry me sitting. A couple of times a week, I will do similar exercises on the lunge and incorporate poles. I also try to hack out regularly with a sensible companion (no boy or girl racers!!).

Find yourself (or perhaps you already have) an experienced sympathetic instructor you trust. I can't stress enough how important it is to spend time on the basics of flatwork. It really pays off in the long run! Wishing you the very best of luck with your boy, I wouldn't have anything else other than a TB x
 
Thanks! I don't think the racing has really affected him that much (not really sure he got the point of it - doesn't seem to have the urge to gallop at all!) he's more just like a baby that hasn't been broken in very well or done any form of schooling!! Same difference I suppose!

I'm keen for my dad to take the reins so to speak - he is a very good rider (although has much more of a hunting/XC background) but is getting on a bit (62) and has had a long break from doing much other than hacking but had a small stint doing some SJ on him and they looked brilliant! We have a dressage trainer who come to the yard but TBH I'm not sure she'd be right for them - I find her a bit stuck up... not what they want!
 
What a nice looking little horse. Have you thought about doing some of the ROR stuff with him coz he looks like a really nice type, :-D. Completely agree with back to basics...with Av I was a schooling novice as her having only teared around on hunters and pony clubbers. Av is naturally very rhythmical so we spent a lot of time working on flexion and balance and this meant that she built up the strength to then carry herself properly and then outline came fairly naturally with this. We could then concentrate on straightness. It took a long time to develop a steady contact as she hovered above the bit and 'pretended to be using herself' whilst not actually properly connecting. I went and had some lessons on a school master which also helped me to get a feel for what i was trying to achieve which really helped.


With the jumping developing a powerful canter is really helping Av's dangly legs as i found it very hard to distinguish between fast and powerful. Bill Levetts has been a fantastic instructor when it comes to this as his motto is all about powering up the canter and letting the fence come to you. We still have a long way to go but have managed to get a few BD points and been placed in some unaffiliated intros so I'm thrilled with our progression (although have had a few frustrating moments too):-D
 
avthechav said:
What a nice looking little horse. Have you thought about doing some of the ROR stuff with him coz he looks like a really nice type, :-D. Completely agree with back to basics...with Av I was a schooling novice as her having only teared around on hunters and pony clubbers. Av is naturally very rhythmical so we spent a lot of time working on flexion and balance and this meant that she built up the strength to then carry herself properly and then outline came fairly naturally with this. We could then concentrate on straightness. It took a long time to develop a steady contact as she hovered above the bit and 'pretended to be using herself' whilst not actually properly connecting. I went and had some lessons on a school master which also helped me to get a feel for what i was trying to achieve which really helped.


With the jumping developing a powerful canter is really helping Av's dangly legs as i found it very hard to distinguish between fast and powerful. Bill Levetts has been a fantastic instructor when it comes to this as his motto is all about powering up the canter and letting the fence come to you. We still have a long way to go but have managed to get a few BD points and been placed in some unaffiliated intros so I'm thrilled with our progression (although have had a few frustrating moments too):-D
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Thanks! He's an absolute sweet heart bless him, I've never seen him without a smile on his face!! He's my dads little pet! :) What's ROR? He doesn't move very strait with his backend so can't see he'd do well in any kind of showing... other than cutest pony comp! :)

When I've ridden him SJ he seems great compared to my beast of a 16.3 ISH, he's really light and can shorten/lenthen really well, so even if he doesn't have the greatest scope I think he's got a good natural canter for jumping, but of course when his flatwork comes along that will help loads! :)
 
http://www.ror.org.uk/ run several series of competitions. They do Ridden racehorse classes which I have attempted and were fun, but tbh I just got a little bit bored and Im just far too grubby and unprofessional to do well in! (seriously...who decided that beige jodphurs were a good idea?), but they also do a racehorse challenge class which is a bit like a working hunter for racehorses. You jump a 2ft9/3ft course of showjumps and rustics, do a show and each bit carried marks. They focus more on suitability for retraining rather than straight showing if u see what I mean. I also read that they are starting a handyhunter series where u have to jump a hunt jump, collect your port from a tray (much more like it!!) and do other bits and pieces. Also some BE events are running Racehorse classes at Intro level....lots to do! :-)
 
avthechav said:
http://www.ror.org.uk/ run several series of competitions. They do Ridden racehorse classes which I have attempted and were fun, but tbh I just got a little bit bored and Im just far too grubby and unprofessional to do well in! (seriously...who decided that beige jodphurs were a good idea?), but they also do a racehorse challenge class which is a bit like a working hunter for racehorses. You jump a 2ft9/3ft course of showjumps and rustics, do a show and each bit carried marks. They focus more on suitability for retraining rather than straight showing if u see what I mean. I also read that they are starting a handyhunter series where u have to jump a hunt jump, collect your port from a tray (much more like it!!) and do other bits and pieces. Also some BE events are running Racehorse classes at Intro level....lots to do! :-)
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OMG port!!! Why do I not already know about this class!!! ;)

Will show my dad the link - think he'll be really interested. :)

BTW did my OP sound in anyway like I was putting down ex-racers or TBs? Put the same thread in NL and someone has just has a go at me because ex-racers are a brilliant option for a lot of people and I'm making it sound like it's not!?? I don't understand how I manage to upset so many people! :(
 
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Great!! It really is fun even tho its probabally is still strictly showing :-), and the offer of Port makes me think that I will probabally have a got at the Handy hunter class too lol!

....and I have just replied on your other post- in no way whatsoever, think someone is just looking for a fight, dont worry about it :-D. I think its a very odd reply, the poster would probabally have also written an obnoxious reply about you not understanding how to deal with ex racers if you had posted about the horse without asking for help...if you see what I mean? Arguement for arguements sake, oh the wonders of an open forum!
 
avthechav said:
Great!! It really is fun even tho its probabally is still strictly showing :-), and the offer of Port makes me think that I will probabally have a got at the Handy hunter class too lol!

....and I have just replied on your other post- in no way whatsoever, think someone is just looking for a fight, dont worry about it :-D. I think its a very odd reply, the poster would probabally have also written an obnoxious reply about you not understanding how to deal with ex racers if you had posted about the horse without asking for help...if you see what I mean? Arguement for arguements sake, oh the wonders of an open forum!
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Phew! I seem to get into trouble all the time whatever I post!! It's annoying because although a TB/ex-racer would not be my first choice of horse for what I do (I like a good MW Irish horse for hunting/SJ/eventing) I love racing and love TB's and if I didn't hunt would totally pick up a cheap ex racer instead of an expensive WB!! It's a no brainer for me!! But I like horses - a nice horse is a nice horse irrespective of sex, colour or breed. :)
 
hi, i would teach him to lunge, gently and build up lungeing time slowly, and use transitions on the lunge for variety and fun, put up small jumps, i personally would never ever use side reins when lungeing, he will then be able to use his neck in which ever position he feels most comfortable to balance himself and play with how he can help himself, and learn to give lengthened strides in which the whole of his frame is slightly longer.
i would use the arena in walk, and on a very light contact teach him all the school movements, in walk, including halt, in walk there is lots of time to prepare the bends in advance, no pressure no frustration, gradually ask for a good walk, when he ready and able, when this is achieved he can start on shoulder in for a few steps, he will start to come onto the bit eventually as he becomes able to continue shoulder in down the long side he can then learn renvers and other training, suppling and straightening movements; once he has learned all this you can make it part of his normal ridden warm up routine before moving into trot and canter, it will also instill an attitude of calm forwardness, it will take months not days,
 
He looks fab and not a lot wrong there! I've only had 2 ex-racehorses and realised that no 2 are the same. As everyone else has said you just have to treat them like a baby horse and take it back to basics - they are clever so will pick up new things and forget old rules very quickly. There are so many ex-racehorse classes now it's great - wish they were around when I first got my old horse. Locally we have a showjumping points scheme which is brilliant - unfortunately a few years too late for me!!

I think if you can find a really good local instructor (I have found that eventers are really good at reschooling racehorses, as they have to get good results in all 3 phases, and are generally used to working with TB's) it will really help.

Just look at the huge numbers of ex-racehorses eventing, or showing in ROR classes, or hunting, or even in dressage (please look at Princesssparkles post) to see that they can have a useful (and happy) life after racing.
 
Where abouts are you? Yogi Briesner is doing a few lectures around the country on racehorse to ridden horse including a copy of their new DVD (ROR) it's only £15...

I'm going to the Gloucestershire one next week.
 
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