Is my TB dangerous? (sorry quite long)

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MuddyTB

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My boy is a 16.1hh TB ex-racer. He’s good as gold to handle most of the time and a strong but sensible ride. However, he does have his loony moments - is this as expected or do I have a problem?

When turning out/bringing in we have to lead down a strip of field to our electric fenced gate. If he’s having a silly day, (lots recently with the snow), he can get giddy. Most of the time an elbow in the chest keeps him under control although a little fast, but on occasion he loses it and tries to take off. I can normally spin him in a circle and stop him but he can put in a rear followed by a jump and kick. The problem is he doesn’t care where you are when he does this and he has caught the person leading him on 2 occasions over the last year.

I’ve had him 3 years now and he has only done this a handful of times. He can throw a couple of leaps in on a ride for a few weeks of the year too but is normally really good. I’ve always put it down to him being a TB and it hasn’t bothered me, but I’ve read so many horsemart ads recently for ex-racers which are quiet, good to handle and anyones ride I’m starting to think it’s more than that and that is starting to knock my confidence.

Everyone else on our yard owns quiet, sensible ponies and they are scared of him and I need to move yard at some point this year and am now worrying if it is fair to expect someone else to bring him in/out? Please let me know what you think? Am I being paranoid? Is this normal and can I expect other people to accept his behaviour?
 
i think he is the sort of horse you need to take more care with but i wouldn't label him a dangerous horse.

maybe thats because one of my horses also occasionally does air above the ground in hand!

as long as it is not a regular thing i am not really that bothered- the same with an excitable buck when you are riding sometimes!
 
I would not compare your horse to people's descriptions of horses that are for sale. Peopl tend to exaggerate, as I have found out to my detriment.
Your horse sounds like most of the time he is fine. He is more lively than the others on his yard, but a competent person would be able to handle his tricks when being led. Could he have a bridle lead halter on, to give more control? It sounds like you are worrying too much. Perhaps try to turn him out for longer, so he can work off excess energy? Or make sure he is exercised every day...(i don;t know if you already do that).
I think if it does not bother you, as you say, then as long as you warn the new place when you move, they will be OK about it. No horse is perfect at all times! They all have their moments, even old timers like mine occasionally do something silly, like tread on you or spook madly. I think you are used to your horse and he sounds perfectly 'normal', whatever that is!
Hope this helps; i have limited experience of TB's - the only one i ever owned kicked me, so am not really the person to ask. I would not describe a newly exed racehorse as 'anyone's ride' though - i live near ish to Newmarket and see them jigging all over, they are highly fit and certainly not a novice ride. I am sure given time and re training most ex racers can turn their hand to most areas and be a rewarding ride.
Try not to worry.
 
I expect my mare to remember her manners, but I also accept that she is an animal with a brain, not a machine, and has Welsh moments to boot, so I dob't believe that any horse can be 100% perfect to handle. If you are concerned, why not use a controller headcollar. They really do work well. Just remember that you can't tie up in them. As for the leaping under saddle, well if that is all he does, I'd call that pretty good. Mine used to give me blisters from the stirrup leathers, despite wearing full suede chaps, because she leaped and pranced and jogged so much.
 
I have a 4yr old TB and he is very much like your boy. If it is windy or he is particularly fresh ie if he hasn't been turned out for a day or two because of weather etc then I take him down to the field in a bridle and with a long lunge line attached so that I have more control. I wear a hat and gloves too if I think there will be a problem. I also do a lot of work on the ground with him to make sure he is more respectful of my space.

There is no doubt that when their blood is up they lose it a bit and forget to behave. The same can be said out hacking and this is the bit I have trouble coping with. His high jinks sometimes frighten me but there is no malice in him at all. It is all joie de vivre.

I don't think my boy has had a horrid thought in his life as he really is very sweet but he is a TB at the end of the day and is a hot blooded horse.

Have you thought about using a control halter or headcollar on him? I have seen these used with some very nasty and naughty horses and they work like a dream.
 
I also have ex-racers and i personally have found that even some of the quietest of TB's can still have a tizzy day / moment but tend to be generally fairly level tempremented animals. It doesnt sound to me particuarly like you have a "Problem" especially if it hasnt always happend, and also as long as you dont let it develop into one. If your starting to feel a bit nervous antisipaiting what he may do he will pick up on it, maybe lead him to the field in a bridle or controller headcoller and keep putting in some basic groundwork, reaffirming that you are the dominant party.
 
He isn't dangerous but from what you've said, I would buy some type of pressure/nose control halter. If my boy is being a loon I just loop the leadrope round his nose and back through itself, he soon has respect back. Just be careful the clip isn't digging in though
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Your horse sounds just like mine - 9 times out of 10 he is as good as gold. but occasonally he can be bad to lead. More so in the winter months, I tend to lead him in a bridle so im not taken by surprise when he has a strop!!
 
My daughter has an 11yo TB who she has had since the age of 4. He will occasionally rear, spin or buck on being turned out especially in windy weather or after long box rest etc.

He is much worse with me as I lack confidence with him and he senses he can get the better of me. The solution is that I do not turn him out! My daughter and yard staff do not have a problem with him BUT We only ever allow experienced yard staff to handle him and he is always turned out in a chifney no matter what the weather or his mood. He can tell if it is not in and will take advantage of this. He is a darling in the stable and for everything else but just gets a bit fiesty sometimes being turned out. Hat gloves and long lead rope of course if he is "in a mood"!

He has not played up for a couple of years so I think calm sensible handling with confidence and the backup of a chifney work for him.
 
From reading your post I got the impression that actually you are doing quite well.
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Your horse sounds like a real thoroughbred ,Impulsive ,full of go ,but not really nasty at heart.You have an Equine ferrari, in a yard full of ponys,I bet he scares the living daylights out of some of them.
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The important thing is to handle him properly,He thinks that a rear and a flybuck is wonderfull fun , it never occurs to him that humans can get hurt.Wearing a hat,gloves and boots, to bring in an ex racehorse from the field is not cowardice,it is being professional.He will also be used to a chiffiny, and will respect it.I think that if you want other people to handle him,you must make sure they know what they are doing,and provide a chiffiny.
 
Mine does stuff like that too, just the way he is, doesn't bother me, it's quite funny... on saying that, no one else has ever wanted to ride him though so may be it looks worse than it feels!
 
I have an ex racer too. She used to be like this to lead, ok sometimes and a tube others. Lot's of groundwork did the trick and she really wouldn't dream of doing anything terrible now. She has trust and respect for me on the ground and even in her very rare stupid moments, she never puts me in denger. She is a living breathing thinking animal though so obviously sometimes she will have a moment.
Your horse doesn't sound dangerous, i think that unless you are on a yard with others who understand your type of horse, then you will get comments and people being scared.
Mine is one of the most respectful on the yard but still people are scared of her, other peoples horses can do things on a daily basis but if yours does one random thing, it will be remembered because of the ex racer thing.
 
Thank you all, think that was the reassurance I needed. It's nice to hear about other spirited horses not being perfect. He is a lovely lad really.

Mike007 I like the ferrari analogy and sounds like you have him nailed, he does just do it for fun in his mind.

I think i'll look at control headcollars though and possibly lead him in his bridle if he's obviously in crazy mode. Thanks again
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could you use a chiffney. We use one on the yard on the horses which a bit full fo themselves like that just to nip any sillyness in the bud. After all it is your safety and thiers to some extent. Used correctly they are not cruel etc and help you out.
 
I've owned (and worked with) lots of tb's..... and I don't think it's acceptable for them to behave like that
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just because they are TB is not an excuse for poor manners when being led
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I think that ground work is very important; lots of ex-racers have never been taught to lead properly, you've only to watch them walking around the paddock at the races towing their lad/ lass with them
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Get yourself a pressure halter, and do lots of ground work/ backing up to get your boys attention.
 
I have an exracer too who is exremely sharp and sensitive. People used to be weary of him and told me I should get him pts as he was dangerous! Three years later iv still got him and will always have him! Yeah he was a nightmare to lead, the amount of headcollars he's snapped over time is unbelievable! Even in a bridle, he can be too strong to handle! I now use a chiffney whichhe respects. He's always lead around in it. Racehorses are in chiffneys from a very young age so it's pretty normal for them, for mine it's part of his routine! Don't get me wrong he can still misbehave in it but I know I still have a huge amount of control and all he does is jog! Plus it's safer. Mine is very sensitive to movement, if we walk past a ménage with a horse working he gets wound up and also narrow tracks gets to him, such as on way to fields, must remind him of the gallops!!
 
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