Just turned 5 TB mare

[RylandLodge]

Hi all,

New here, so please be kind...!

My husband and I have just bought a 4 year old thoroughbred mare from the field. She comes from a race background (didnt do very well, hence the reason she's now in our hands!) I'm a novice rider and have managed to get her back under the saddle albeit lightly. A few weeks ago she decided to take off with me on her back and, according to my husband, I did a spectacular James Bond style dismount, sliding down her neck and shoulder and then rolling across the floor. Apart from winding myself and bruising my ribs a little, I was fine. My confidence, however, is not fine. I got straight back on her and she behaved herself perfectly. I didn't get on her for a week or so after that due to the bad weather we were having and when I did get on her I rode her for all of 3 minutes down our lane and then got off. I talked myself into it that she was acting strange due to being in season?

Looking for help with how to handle a mostly well mannered girl who is sometimes head strong. Shes predominantly for hacking, although she has done a little dressage with her previous owner.

Thanks in advance lovely horsey people!

 

[Meowy Catkin]

Racehorses are not trained to the aids in the same way that normal riding horses are. Even though she has had some retraining with her former owner (the Dressage) I would think that she could still need more retraining and that this is not easy for a novice.

I would stop riding her for now. Once the virus situation has improved, get an instructor to work with both of you regularly. You will need one with experience of training ex-racehorses. They may want the horse to go to their yard for a few weeks, or they may decide that isn't needed depending on what they find when they meet and assess you both.

 

[spacefaer]

Racehorses are not trained to the aids in the same way that normal riding horses are. Even though she has had some retraining with her former owner (the Dressage) I would think that she could still need more retraining and that this is not easy for a novice.

I would stop riding her for now. Once the virus situation has improved, get an instructor to work with both of you regularly. You will need one with experience of training ex-racehorses. They may want the horse to go to their yard for a few weeks, or they may decide that isn't needed depending on what they find when they meet and assess you both.

This.
In a perfect world, a 4 yr old ex racehorse and a novice rider would not be an ideal match . I would stop riding her while the lockdown is on - you don't want to end up in hospital at the moment. I'd get an experienced instructor to assess the pair of you when you can, and see whether the pair of you are compatible.

 

[twiggy2]

I would also question why a four ur old that had been rescheduled enough with its last owner was sold from the field.
Don't ride till the country is back to normal, get a good patient person to reschedule the horse and then to teach you with her.
Good luck

 

[RylandLodge]

Thanks Spacefaer and Meowy,

I've already been onto a friend who deals with ex racers and have asked her to come and do some schooling with me. She's a really beautiful girl who has such lovely manners but I think being fairly fresh from the track she still has her race head on.

 

[RylandLodge]

I would also question why a four ur old that had been rescheduled enough with its last owner was sold from the field.
Don't ride till the country is back to normal, get a good patient person to reschedule the horse and then to teach you with her.
Good luck

Thanks Twiggy, she's too much of a lovely girl to not spend the time on!

 

[ycbm]

When you say you are a novice rider, how novice?

.

 

[RylandLodge]

When you say you are a novice rider, how novice?

.

Hi ICBM,

I had regular lessons when I was younger to the point I was jumping and very confident. However, it has probably been 10 or so years since I've ridden.

 

[ycbm]

OK, rusty more than novice then , that's good.

I'd go with everyone advice above, to wait until the virus emergency us over and then work with an instructor.

If you do ride her meanwhile, sit up! Racehorses go faster when the rider leans forward, and the nervous reaction is usually to lean forward. If you make yourself feel like you are leaning a bit back in that situation, you should be about upright

.

 

[RylandLodge]

Thanks ycbm,

Every little helps. I'm just spending time bonding with her at the moment and waking her down the lane on a lead rope. She's enjoying the view at least!

 

[ycbm]

Do everything you can to get your own confidence up, it will transmit to her. A neck strap, body protector, air jacket, sing!

.

 

[sportsmansB]

There are also lots of people doing useful videos at the moment on lunging, long reining etc, and various ground work type exercises which can be a good thing to do if you can't ride at present, to establish your partnership and some boundaries.
Its not what would be considered an ideal partnership but with some professional help and if she has a decent temperament and you have plenty of turnout available it could work

 

[RylandLodge]

There are also lots of people doing useful videos at the moment on lunging, long reining etc, and various ground work type exercises which can be a good thing to do if you can't ride at present, to establish your partnership and some boundaries.
Its not what would be considered an ideal partnership but with some professional help and if she has a decent temperament and you have plenty of turnout available it could work

Thank you SportsmansB,
We are lucky enough to have our own stables and paddocks so she is turned out every day, weather permitting.
I've been looking at lunge videos and am going to try and build on our relationship with that. She was absolutely fine the first few times I rode her....I think it's more me than her!

 

[Meowy Catkin]

Do you have any other horses or is she on her own?

 

[RylandLodge]

Do you have any other horses or is she on her own?

Hi meowy,
She is with our other horse, a nearly 9 year old welsh X Arab whom she takes great delight in bossing around. The TB is 16'3 and the welsh is 13 so a bit of size difference. They get on well despite the TB abusing her stature and often call for each other when one is out and the other is yet to be taken out.

 

[Meowy Catkin]

It's excellent that she has a friend.

If they are calling, it sounds like they also need work on learning that they will go back together once you've finished riding/working with the TB. Repetition and building up the time apart gradually might be needed.

 

[RylandLodge]

It's excellent that she has a friend.

If they are calling, it sounds like they also need work on learning that they will go back together once you've finished riding/working with the TB. Repetition and building up the time apart gradually might be needed.

Yes, the little horse is fine when away from Esme (TB) but not so the other way around. It's almost as though she likes being in charge but isnt keen on being taken away from Queenie (welshX). The last time I took her out she was more bothered about being walked away from her friend than concentrating on what she should be doing, she was in season though and a right royal pain in the backside.

The tough thing is, she's so beautiful and wonderfully natured and is very receptive so easy to work with but because I've come off and seen my backside a bit I'm reluctant to get back on her again.

I'm desperate to get on her and take her out for a walk but have this fear that she will take off with me - even though she hasn't done so before the James Bond incident.