Mad Ex-Racer

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carolinewheatley

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Help!! I've had my horse for just over a year now. He is an ex race horse but hasn't raced in years and years. He is fantastic in every way except that out hacking we can only canter once, after that he thinks he's off racing. Any ideas on what I can do, unfortunately I don't have the time to school him more than once a week and I'm getting very impatient!!
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You could get someone to school him for you? Try a stronger bit but i expect you already have if its been going on so long! I have a similar problem with my horse, he's never raced but is a nutter. I've found no bits stop him so instead use draw reins out hacking, obviously i don't have them tight all the time, but when i think he may be tempted to run off (i.e. in trot he quite often decides he'd rather canter), i can shorten them and hold him together, ride with my seat and thinking calm, he's much easier to control that way. When you do ask for canter ask very vaguely, almost as if you don't really want it, then only allow him to canter slowly and collected, do not allow to pick up speed at all and try lots of downwards transistions to really get him listening. If he does run off with you then once he stops insist he walks and do not allow him to even trot again until you know you have full control. School whilst hacking, try leg yielding across paths, again to get him concentrating on you.

Hope this helps!
 
Thanks. With regards to bits, I'm really stubborn and refuse to resort to just putting a stronger one on him, as I'm pretty sure it won't help. I like the idea of schooling him out hacking, we learnt to stop and stand still recently purely by just out hacking, and will definately try the transitions, I usually just keep going at a steady pace so that we can have a good canter!!!
 
Draw reins are extra long reins that go from the riders hands, through the bit and then attach to the girth. They can be very strong and some horses don't like them, I've never seen you or your horse so don't know if they'd suit you, I would try the transistion and schooling work first andonly if this doesn't work seek someones opinion who has seen you ride (preferably an experienced rider or instructor), to see if they think the reins would help. They basically hold the horses head in position or stop it raising it's head beyond a set point, like an extreme form of martingale. Also you have to ride with two reins so please don't use them out hacking without practising in the school first. You would need to have good hands to use them as used incorrectly they can make problems worse! Almost regret suggesting them now! But in good hands they can be a godsend, i would definately have a few lessons using them with a good instructor before thinking of using them on your own or out hacking. Sorry if this sounds really patronising! Also do you do much cantering when you school? I would definatelywork on this pace in the school as it's an enclosed environment so he can't run anywhere, again do lots of transistions and movements, it may be he lacks balance in canter and so finds it easier to run off, so schooling in canter will help imporve this hopefully making him easier to control.
 
Thanks. Don't worry I wouldn't just go and buy some. I'd much prefer to work out the problem over the next year. Luckily he is still kept at the same racing yard where he grew up and was first schooled so the owner is always willing to give me advice as she loves to see him out working again. If all else fails I would be quite happy to just trot around the local lanes with him, I just feel that I'm holding him back.
 
My tb is a complete nutter used to go skitz when doing anything over a slow canter. Especially in company, he would just get really strong and become a maniac. Now after two years he is still tightly strung but no where near what he was. I didnt school him that much, i think that i just got used to him and learnt how to deal with it and so he calmed with me. I tried calmers etc, and they actually help a lot-not all work though. Unfortunately you just have to be patient!This may be completely wrong for you but i found if i relaxed the rein he wouldnt become crazy at all. When hacking i give him as loose rein as possible-the difference was incredible. We had our first canter in a field at a sensible pace, and he slowed down of his own accord with only a slight touch of the reins. as i say every horse is different but is worth a try!at the end of the day tb's are generally high strung-when out xc zak will revert back to himself and pull like a train and just go!but good luckx
 
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I don't have the time to school him more than once a week and I'm getting very impatient!!
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Did I read that right - it is like saying you do not have time to put gas in your car. Some people are dumb.
 
mmmmm, afraid that when you take on an ex racer there's a lot of work involved! i went into it very niavely but I enjoy the challenge now and we are at a point where he doesn't tank off anymore (fingers crossed!) unless someone overtakes him.

lots of schooling and patience is the only way to go I'm afraid!

I'd try alot of hacking out in just walk and trot and hacking out on your own so there's no one to get excited with.
 
Yes i agree with park ranger: Ex racers need a lot of schooling and i think if hes doing this cantering out hacking then just stick to walk and trot for a while.
You may be getting impatient but the fact is nothing will happen quickly unless a lot of time is put into schooling him.
As someone else suggested school him out hacking, lots of transitions and change of bend
 
The other thing I wanted to add is that you may have to make a difficult decision about this - I had to sit down and decide whether I really had the time to dedicate to Ty.......the weather certainly makes it easier though! I was very near to selling him for financial reasons but luckily things have changed a bit so I can keep him. I'm now making sure he's ridden every day and have a sharer to do 2 days a week when I rehearse. He's transformed in personaility to a horse so much easier to handle/ride.

Perhaps get yourself something that's a bit easier to do if you don't want the hassle or haven't got the time to dedicate - it's alot fairer on you and the horse!
 
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When hacking i give him as loose rein as possible-the difference was incredible. We had our first canter in a field at a sensible pace, and he slowed down of his own accord with only a slight touch of the reins.

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couldn't agree more - you have to change your style of riding to ride an exracer - lots of bearing down/using your seat and not yanking on the reins - it actually means go faster
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