Ideas about a problem ex racer/owner??????

charlimouse

charlimouse

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I've retrained several racehorses in the past few years, getting them all to atleast BE90 level. I have been asked to reschool a horse that has been out if racing for over a year as it bucks/rears/bolts etc. The owner wants me to event it if i can. If the horse won't calm down she is going to be shot, so I am her last chance. The problem I have is her owner is a jockey, and only rides her in a racing saddle
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, obviously this is nigh on impossible, and is (hopefully) the reason why she may be being so difficult. The owner says she wouldn't be happy in a normal saddle because if she feels you put your legs on she will bolt, but he is willing to let me try her in one of my saddles if i want. So the main problems/ questions I have are:
*would you use a jump saddle, or dressage saddle on her?(obviously will have to see what fits her best aswell)
*Shall I make the owner get on her first in a 'normal' saddle? (I all ready have broken my back once, so it is very weak, so I don't want to be too much of a crash test dummy, plus I have to be in one piece to work!)
*Any ideas for exercises to do with her?
*I don't think the owner will pay for her to have back, teeth, a new saddle fitted, etc, so any ideas how I can persuade him that this is necessary, and may be a large contributing factor to her behaviour???

Any thoughts or opinions would be appreciated. Malibu and coke to all you guys!!!!!
 
Oof, I'm really not good at answering these types of posts as I spend forever weighing up the pros/ cons of everything
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I would definitly get someone else to get on her first .. experianced of course as you can't risk injury with that!

Either way, good luck!
 
What about dumb jockey? or trousers stuffed with straw etc. I wouldn't get on first tho, let the owner try then he may see sense in getting teeth/back/saddle checked. Good luck
 
I'd put the saddle that fits her best on her and put the stirrups down and stick her on the lunge/long rein until she calms down and hopefully de-sensitises to the sensation of longer stirrups. I'd really emphasise to her owner that she needs the basic checks doing to rule out any underlying causes for her behaviour. I'd also be inclined to make it a condition that before you get on he rides her in a normal non racing saddle!

Good luck - it sounds like you've got your work cut out with the owner, never mind the horse!!
 
surely if you're retraining an ex racer you want to remove anything race related from it's life - espeically if you're reschooling it!

Have you tried explaining this to the owner?
 
Wow. I have an ex national hunt horse, who last raced a year ago, and thank goodness mine sounds a lot easier than yours. Mine has a massive buck and will occasionally rear, especially out hacking if he gets wound up, but it is managable in my case.

Has your horse had a period to unwind after his racing carreer? A lot of racehorse's benefit from being turned away for a good 6 months before their re-training starts.

I do a lot of lunging, and I always use a pessoa now. If I was you I'd do a lot of lunging in a normal saddle first and get him used to the weight difference that way.

When I anticipate my boy is in a hyper mood, I lunge him hard untill he's exhausted all his energy before I get on. However your horse has some phsycological issues as well by the sounds of it.

Have you contacted HERO's? They have a facility to retrain racehorses to sell on, and they will never put a healthy animal down. If all else fails, give them a call and see what they suggest. They'll probably give you some good advice.
 
Ive got an ex racer, i found with him that we had his back done first, then put a lightweight small show saddle on him in his stable, we then did alot of ground work in the school with him, a bit of parelli and getting him to trust us. that took about 2 days, then i know it sounds stupid and you are always taught not to do it but, we got on him fully tacked up in his stable, when he was relaxed with that we got someone on him to just sit there whilst someone else lead him around the yard and school.
We found that the ground work was the best way to do things! He is now in work and is ready to go out and have a go at some dressage this winter.
I was never into parelli but it really worked for my ex racer, its worth a go!
hope that helps
 
Obviously I would go with a saddle which fits her to reduce the risk of her bad behaviour/reaction.... but having said that, I would want a saddle that is a safe secure seat as possible which is easy to sit in if she were to go mental.... my personal experience, dressage saddles aren't always the easiest when a horse goes 'wooohooooooooo'!
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I must say, I admire your courage... riding again AFTER breaking your back... that's massive in itself!
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I am somewhat shocked that you are willing to get on something so unpredictable though! It's not something I would be willing to risk on somebody elses horse which is known to have behavioural issues
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That's not meant to come across as a dig by the way
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Well all I can say is you are either ruddy brave or stupid lol.... I do believe there's a very thin line between the two lmaoooooo!
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xx

Please for heaven's sake make sure you are well insured if you get on her and be careful! I don't think the owner will accept liability if something went wrong! A young ex racer reared over on top of me in July.... the horse got up unscathed... I didn't! My foot was facing the wrong way! My fibula snapped and was protruding through my skin, and my talus bone was broken into 4 - that's really not good! I still have another 8 weeks ahead of me until I can 'potentially attempt' to weight bear and start walking!
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So please take heed with caution, IMHO, it isn't worth it, I'd walk away while you can. Very negative I know, but I wouldn't wish what I am going through on anyone. I've learnt a very hard and painful lesson... the hard way! XX
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I agree with everyone above. My ex racehorse was quite difficult to start off with. I left her in a field to chill out for a few months, then started lunging. She was more difficult though because she had been out of racing for a year already and had had a teenage boy buy her and struggle with her. She realised she got away with all the rearing bolting and napping and got into lots of bad habits. Maybe its partly that with this one? As soon as I started lunging her she improved and then when I started riding her she soon realised she wasn't getting away with it and started calming down. I'd say get the jockey on first, its not worth risking your back. He should be used to it really. I couldn't deal with the pressure of knowing I was the last chance! Good on you! x
 
Ok are you sure you want to get into this? Having already broken your back once, isnt there every chance you could seriously injure yourself again riding this horse? I know there is a risk with any horse but the odds don't sound good with this one. Also, if the current rider is a jockey, one would think he is a pretty capable rider so why is he trying to palm her off onto you? Is she too much of a handful for him? If so that's saying something as jockeys have to ride and deal with some of the most difficult horses going.

Personally if he wont pay to have her back, teeth and saddle checked AND be willing to get on her first, I would tell him to take a running jump. It's just not worth your health. What's in it for you exactly!?
 
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