My beautiful ex-racehorse, progress update! :D (video)

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paigeb90

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Hi everyone, got my beautiful ex-racehorse over a week ago now, and rode her for the first time on tuesday..
After being a pain to get on (which i completely expected) I finally had a bit of a ride, and she was amazing!
Very well behaved, listened to my voice after lunging her since I got her, and didn't try to race me around the school.

Now please excuse the very short stirrups, but you know what ex-racers are like, once your on thats it, they don't do standing around, especially not when theres a really scary mounting block next to you!!
However, in time..(I'm hoping)..she will learn to let me on within a minute instead of 5-6! :D

Will keep updating when I have more videos.

Here she is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wz9rXtqi78s
 
Hey! Join the club:) I, and my daughter have ex-racehorses. Hers is a TH and my boy is an Anglo Arab. They make the best ride and you're horse looks sooooo sweet! Despite being raced they're pretty well retrained and make excellent pets. Good luck with him.
 
She looks lovely - but to me it doesn't look like it would take much persuading to GO , GO , GO, once she learns to relax , so will you , you look as though you're really concentrating , well done you , i haven't got the b*****ks to take on an ex - racer , good on yer..
 
She's looking pretty chilled! How exciting to have the summer ahead of you to get to know her :)

Good luck with her, looking forward to your updates!
 
paddy irish said:
She looks lovely - but to me it doesn't look like it would take much persuading to GO , GO , GO, once she learns to relax , so will you , you look as though you're really concentrating , well done you , i haven't got the b*****ks to take on an ex - racer , good on yer..
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She doesnt take much at all to GO..i had my first canter on her yesterday, and I could feel her trying to go a bit faster..so if I'd let her then I bet she would! But she was very responsive and I was so impressed, I even had a little 'yessss' to myself...(I even did the arm action.. a clenched fist in the air saying 'yessss')
hehe :D
 
Hope you have lots of fun with her. I got my ex racer when he was 17 he'd been on the track for 7 years but with lots of time and plenty riding he became an absolute star and we used to do everything. I used him to take hacks out at the school where I worked and he was great although we had to do slow canter and ponies couldnt keep up (17hh). Would love to see her again in couple months time to see how u're gettin on. All the best
Mel
 
Hi everyone!

Just added another video onto youtube of tonights riding.
It's so nice out still at 6-7pm that I've been able to ride at night.

We had a lovely canter, (admittedly on the wrong leg at first) but she's really getting used to my voice and what I ask of her.
I never thought an ex-racehorse would be this good!
On the other rein we had a lovely canter until Anna decided to jump over a dip in the school..and make me lose my stirrup for a couple of seconds..but you dont need to see that video! :D lol.

Heres the good one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IxHGObFGSE

Thanks for watching my first video everyone.. 94 + views earlier!
 
I have uploaded a couple more videos of Anna my ex-racer, she's really coming along...listening to my voice, cantering steadily instead of rushing off and pulling my arms out of the sockets..and she's just all round brilliant :D
Im so pleased with her so thought I'd share it!
Videos are here:

http://www.youtube.com/user/paigeb90?feature=mhum

Subscribers and video comments are very welcome :D

Thank you..
 
Thank you!
I know people seem to think they all have a screw or two loose..but temperament wise, she's a complete angel.
So loving and loves interaction with people, she'd probably prefer to spend the day with people than horses. Lol.
I'll update again soon, she's just moved field so giving her a few days to settle in! :D
Paige.
 
Yeah, mine's not nuts but then he's been out of training since August year when I got him (baby, so no need to have been riding him) so he's not remotely fit. I am actually contemplating riding him in spurs as I have to constantly nag with my legs to keep him going - presumably this will change when he's fitter. At least I hope so!!!

How's your trot? Mine's horrible. The body rolls under you like it's mixing cement and the legs swing out the sides. You have to be trotting for quite some time before it stops and you get a proper striding trot instead of this can't-be-arsed fast wobble!

It's really frustrating because he knows exactly what he's doing and he's making it as uncomfortable as possible in the hope you'll ask him to walk - and he's only three!! So good luck me with this cunning little s0d!! :D
 
Given that your hose is only 3 Whoopit I am guessing he was a flat racer? Not many flat racers do any trot work once they have been broken in and they will almost certainly have never had to trot in any semblance of outline - they will have just been told to trot and get on with it.

This is my lad on his first time ridden out of training - 3 days after leaving the yard.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0afdFsckffo
 
She does have quite a nice trot actually, sometimes when she gets abit excited or the wind blows in her hair she starts to speed up, but is very good at listening to my voice when I tell her to steady up a bit.
I find that shes usually better riding, especially in trot, after I've lunged her for 10 mins first.
Its like a refresher for her so she knows what I expect, a practice run if you like, and then when I get on its the real thing and she remembers everything we did 2 minutes prior on the lunge.
Are you lunging him at the minute? Maybe worth trying 10 mins before you get on and see if he's any steadier or collected??
 
EKW said:
Given that your hose is only 3 Whoopit I am guessing he was a flat racer? Not many flat racers do any trot work once they have been broken in and they will almost certainly have never had to trot in any semblance of outline - they will have just been told to trot and get on with it.

This is my lad on his first time ridden out of training - 3 days after leaving the yard.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0afdFsckffo
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Yes, flat racer. And not a very fast one or he wouldn't have found his way to me straight off the track!! When I got him he was proper thick. I mean, really really dim to the point of frustrating. But now i'm hacking out a bit he's proving to be quite the little smarty pants! If we're cantering on any tracks that have blind corners he must feel me becoming cautious because I don't even ask him and he collects himself (oddly enough he can't do this when asked but then he wont have been taught) or falls back to trot until he/I can see if the way is clear. Surprisingly bright little lad. Wouldn't think it though if you offer him a bucket of water and dunks his head in it up to his eyes everytime and honestly blows bubbles!!! :D

Once he's going he seems ok, so long as the ground is good - he is a bit of a fairy when it comes to his feet though. Stand on a spec of dust and he has an amatuer dramatics hobble going on for five strides! He is just a little short through the shoulder but next year he will come into proper schooling. I only intend ambling about once or twice a week and taking him to showgrounds on go-sees at the moment because of his age then he'll have the winter off again and we'll restart in 2012.

Can't wait!!!! :D I wish the best of luck and fun to anyone who has a horse straight off the track - if nothing else, mine is teaching me lots more patience! :)
 
paigeb90 said:
Are you lunging him at the minute? Maybe worth trying 10 mins before you get on and see if he's any steadier or collected??
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He is A M A Z I N G to lunge or even "free school" as he picks a circle around you anyway so it's like lunging with no gear on him. He will have spent a lot of time in a circular pen as the race yard had one and apparently they spend a lot of baby time in there being backed etc.

I haven't actually lunged him with intention to work - just to see how he got on, as it were. I kinda figured because he's so young it could wait until next year? I don't know - what do you think? He's my first expelled :D racehorse so i'm open to advice and lessons learnt/learning by others!
 
Paigeb90: Can I just say how fantastic she looks. I always love seeing other ex racers and I like to "compare" them with my mare also ex racer. Just for weight and muscle etc. How long has your horse been out of racing for? Did he/she have a break at all?

my mare ive had her since August and shes gaining weight etc but im finding it so hard to get her muscled up but when I look at other ex racers she looks more of a "poor dooer" then the others. Shes not really, just the fact that shes looking brilliant at the moment, but your horse is looking fantastic, mine came to me veryy skinny every single rib on show so I think thats why im finding it a bit more difficult to help her gain weight without giving her too much if that makes sence? lol.

Whats he/she fed on and whats your working pattern with your horse? Just to be nosey incase im missing anything out that I should be doing lol.

The videos are great and your horse is great!
 
EKW said:
Just being nosey now but what are all your lots racing names?
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My one was called "Maahe" lol, I bought her and changed her pet name to "Maisie" but when I enter shows itl be Maahe, its a pretty ugly name but I dont mind :) its very unique lol!
 
GypsyGirl said:
Paigeb90: Can I just say how fantastic she looks. I always love seeing other ex racers and I like to "compare" them with my mare also ex racer. Just for weight and muscle etc. How long has your horse been out of racing for? Did he/she have a break at all?

my mare ive had her since August and shes gaining weight etc but im finding it so hard to get her muscled up but when I look at other ex racers she looks more of a "poor dooer" then the others. Shes not really, just the fact that shes looking brilliant at the moment, but your horse is looking fantastic, mine came to me veryy skinny every single rib on show so I think thats why im finding it a bit more difficult to help her gain weight without giving her too much if that makes sence? lol.

Whats he/she fed on and whats your working pattern with your horse? Just to be nosey incase im missing anything out that I should be doing lol.

The videos are great and your horse is great!
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Thank you so much!! That's so kind!!

Her last race was in march, so not that long ago at all, but straight from the track she went to a very loving home who had her for a week before I could pick her up..
When I got her to the yard, she was a bit of a 'stresshead' if you like..
tiny little bluetits (birds lol) were scaring her and she would canter up the field with me on the end of a lead rope when i was bringing her in..
by this time i thought..oh oh..typical ex-racer, wants to see how far she can push me..
However, after a few moments of 'hey u, pack that in' and lots of loving and grooming, she's a complete angel.
I have been riding her straight from track as she's almost 6, so a bit older than most ex-racers, and is quite sensible riding really.
Doesn't buck, rear, bolt, or anything, just takes it all in, very inquisitive little thing she is, and now i'm seeing her true colours, she's actually very timid around other horses and only really likes people..especially me :D
She hasn't really put alot of weight on since racing, but that is due to the grazing she was on, which has changed as of today...she now has a lovely lush green paddock and is chomping well!!
She has 1 large full hay net a day and 1 feed at night.
Shes on top spec cool condition cubes, (1/2 scoop) and topchop alfalfa, (1/2 scoop) and she polishes it off nicely..
The topspec rep recommended these two together and I've seen instant results.. so maybe try the same?
Obviously every horse is different but might be worth giving it a go...

Working pattern wise..
Sundays are her day off..I ride her mon-sat, for only about 30 mins at a time...but 80% of the time I also lunge her for 10 mins first.
It gets her warmed up, gets her muscles working, getting her to bend too and learn the circle..After lunging I always find her excess energy has vanished so she's right to actually have a productive ride.
When she has too much energy she tends to just mess around...doesn't listen to my leg or voice, just wants to do what she wants..being a mare...but when shes lunged first, i can get on and we actually work together, she is 100000% responsive to my voice, perfectly responsive off the leg, and just all round a better ride, and I feel like I'm actually getting somewhere...I hate riding and getting off and thinking...
'oh bummer..that didn't go well'

Also..make sure you keep a video diary...when youre seeing her and riding her every day..you don't really notice the little differences..where as if you watch yourself back..you see masses..and also its very reflective as you can see your riding, your position and improve if need be the next time! :D

Hope this answers all of your questions, sorry its so long!
 
Namid x Alzao - she will be one pretty pony that's for sure! I've not come across anything with Alzao in that hasn't been pretty. I also now have one from Richard Fahey's who is going to be ridden for the first time next week.
 
Anna's racing name is 'Princess Aliuska'
Only ever won 1 race bless her :D but I'm glad because otherwise she wouldn't be mine!
 
I'll scoot about the racing pics websites and see if I can find pics of your ponies.

I have 3 ... Warning! They are addictive! You just gather them! My first one is Kyle Of Lochalsh, I rode him in training and brought him home when he broke. My second is Jefertiti, again rode him in work for 4 years, been through hell and high water and he retired to me sound at 11yo. My latest addition is 5yo Mister Laurel from Richard Fahey's yard. His wee brother is Wooton Bassett.
 
EKW said:
I'll scoot about the racing pics websites and see if I can find pics of your ponies.
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Here is my girl in training:

29cd6e89.jpg
 
EKW said:
I'll scoot about the racing pics websites and see if I can find pics of your ponies.

I have 3 ... Warning! They are addictive!
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Lol!! 1 is quite enough for me at the minute!! However..the paddock she has moved to could eaily home another 1 at least....;)
 
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