Owning an ex-racer - experiences please!

[_GG_]

TigerTail,

Your story is a very sad one and a novice taking on one, let alone eventually three ex racers is just plain stupid.

I will weigh back in though in response to your post and get a little serious for the benefit of the OP and anyone considering an ex racehorse or...even one that has been in training, ragardless of whether it has raced or not.

The single most important thing to remember about any horse that has been in training or raced is that they do not come in from the field, get groomed, tacked up and taken for training, to be turned back out again afterwards.

No, instead, they are, depending on the yard, either never turned out or only have very restricted turn out. My mare got 2 hours on grass once a fortnight...always in individual paddock so as to prevent costly injury. Some yards do a little more, some do no turn out at all.

If you have ever worked on a race yard, you will be aware of the military style strictness that is adhered to with the horses daily routine.

Every day, same time a stupid o clock they are fed, mucked out, strapped, put on the walker, trained, fed again etc...all day, every day there is something going on. They have attention at numerous intervals through the day. They, in short, become institutionalised.

Some can go on to lead a normal life, where they get used to pretty much anything, but some can never get over what they have got used to.

My mare wants to be in her stable. If it was up to her, she would be in there 20 hours of the day. I can turn her out, but after 2 hours, she paces by the gate. She is getting better, but the slightest increase in wind, a little shower and she becomes anxious and stressed until she is back in her stable.

She raced for a full 5 years, add the training on top if that and it is no wonder she is the way she is.

Remembering details such as this is what can help you make a success of an ex racer.

If you take a horse or horses out of the training yard (off the track) and just turn them out in a field, with or without other horses...you will almost certainly have problems. The stress involved for then can be immense, so as their caregivers, we MUST consider their needs above our own. We might think they will love to go out full time...but for them, it is completely foreign to what they know and understand.

TigerTail...I don't know how long those tb's had been off the track or how much work/attention they got...but what you describe is two horses consumed by anxiety, stress and confusion having been plucked from what they knew intoa totally different life.

If you get an ex racer, make sure you give them a food, solid routine...try to continue the routine they have had if coming to you straight off the track. It will help them and make your job of working with them much much easier.

 

[Spotsrock]

My ottb last raced end feb this year, came to me direct from trainer. Beetle is not institutionalised. He got a couple of hours out a day in a small same sex herd when in training unless weather horrid. He also got a summer holiday turned out with his male mates. He loves being out with our mixed herd and my coblet mare mothers him like i've never seen. She detests physical contact yet I quite often see him sleeping with his chin on her bottom. He leads in and out like an old carthorse. He can get over excited in big open spaces if we canter but nothing serious. Stabled he is happy to stand in with his mates and chill. If we ride the others out he will stand on his own and eat or snooze. He was never alone in training but doesn't mind it as his friends always come back. Little knocks are dealt with by a quick wash and some sudocrem. In short my ex racer is a loving easy to handle pleasure to own who I would not be without. I have always worshiped the ground my little coblet trots on but my ottb is rapidly becoming saint beetle! I know some can be a mess but I wouldn't write them all off.

 

[Nannon]

Interesting read some of these comments, I have just bought an ex racer a few weeks ago and so far I have seen a very happy chilled out horse. He's out 24/7, the only time I stabled him was the night he came home and he chewed everything in sight! Since going out there's been no chewing, he just wanders around the paddock with my little sec A and is happy to be ridden in an open field - very willing and fast to learn! However, silly as it may seem, this forum has made me worry about every tiny thing! He nods slightly on the left rein in trot at times and after hearing so many horror stories of having horses pts soon after getting them home due to spinal injuries etc I seem to be looking at everything in a negative light! I suppose issues come up with any horse - cob or tb or otherwise

 

[thespanishmane]

I have had one from thoroughbred rehab centre & he came with issues - I.e. suddenly going nuts over nothing! We returned him as was becoming dangerous & me& OH both had nasty falls from being ejected from saddle. He has gone on to several loan homes, as seen in their newsletter.

We now have another, an ex sprinter with fab floaty paces. He has manners to burn and now is the laziest toad imaginable. He lives out as much as possible,and can often be found sleeping flat out, dead to the world. He will stay in whatever pace you put him at, and never gallops voluntarily! (which is why his owner thought it was the worst £193,000 he had ever spent!).

Hoping to do racehorse to riding horse class next year and some dressage ( he can do self carriage for a while!). He is also a friendly person too.

On the other hand I have a Spanish horse who is hot, sharp, explodes and is far to agile for his own good. I'd far rather take the TB on a hack!

So far, this little chap has been a pleasure to own, he looks amazing, but I think he really wants to be a show pony as he looks like an overgrown one!

 

[Toby773]

Why not give the RoR (Retraining of Racehorses) Helpline a call; they will give you very sound advice and help you weigh up your own individual situation.
There is a lot of sensible advice on their website (www.ror.org.uk) and also there is a great book . I bought a copy last month and find it really helpful too "Re educating racehorses, a life after racing.

 

[AbFab]

Thank you so much for all your replies. It is great to hear about so many different experiences.

When I used to ride ex-racers as a teenager I often used to think (when finding myself going at about 30mph towards an unknown destination) 'he's not being naughty, he's just doing what he's been taught to do'. If I can keep that mantra going now, I think I'll be ok. I also have a Kanteq that could do with some more use

The market just seems to be flooded with ex-racers and although I know it will be a tough job finding the 'perfect' one, I'd really like to give one the chance to have a new life and new career. There are quite a few TBs on the BD circuit around here and they do quite well. Obviously I don't know if they have raced in the past so that could be a bit difference, but it's usually the warmbloods that are passaging to the warmup arena and pirouetting when they catch a glimpse of their own shadows

 

[Trifein]

I have one! She was my first ex-racehorse and I hate to say this but the first horse I bought (I only owned a tiny 12.2 previously). I've had horses on loan in the past and have the experience to deal with nut cases, schooling problems and such but having Rosie has been such a lovely learning experience.

She is lovely and such a loyal horse. when I bought her she was just being used as a "plod about and play about on" horse. So it was a real shock to her when she was put on the Pessoa and started working in an outline! She's come on so far since I've had her, she's jumped the higher jumps at Somerford Park first time out and scored high 60s/ low 70s in every of her Introductory tests. She also recently placed 2nd first time out at a small XC competition.
I personally love ex-racers. I find the tend to pick things up a lot quicker and are quite smart and witty horses (coming from someone whose mare tries to turn down the shortcut home everytime on a hack )

Buy saying this I have had my bad times with her, she was a bit of a nutcase when I bought her as her old owners allowed her to get away with murder, and since she is quite a stubborn horse and I'm stubborn rider..Well it didn't end too good. She also panics under stress. We still have bad days every so often now but we see them through. There are times when her racer decides to come out and try to jump into canter all the time in trot! And time to time she'll see the odd field and think "runrunrunrunrun".

I would honestly have an ex racehorse over any type of horse, anyday.

Although I would say that not in the right hands it can be a disaster. There was a young girl on a yard near mine and she bought an ex racehorse for a second horse (except she had only been riding for a year or so whereas I've been riding for 9) and as soon as she got it onto a field it bolted straight off and she fell off and sprained her neck.

I would leave ex racers to people who know what they're doing and have the experience to deal with whatever problems come their way.

 

[AbFab]

Sorry, I have just realised there were more replies! For some reason my phone was showing me some of them. I wasn't ignoring the rest

i love my ex-racer to bit - you couldn't meet a lovelier chap. But just facing massive vets bills over the next while to deal with spinal issues, and hock issues from his racing days. Might have to look at retiring a gorgeous healthy horse with bags of potential, due to these issues - heartbreaking.

Oh that's so sad Sending lots of healing vibes x

They are a completely different kettle of fish from both ground and ridden to ANYTHING else. Unless you have worked for a race yard I really dont think you should get one. They are churned out of the industry cheap as chips, bodies seriously traumatised at a young age, a penchant for injuring themselves and a flipswitch in their brains that makes no sense to anyone watching.

Very sorry to hear your experiences of them. It really is a shame when they end up in the wrong hands. Although I wouldn't class myself as experienced, I have never worked at a race yard or anything, I am confident in my abilities and (more importantly) my support network and have handled and ridden numerous ex-racers in the past. I think for me I'm more concerned about adjusting my riding style back to how it used to be as my appy is possibly the most far removed from a race horse you could possibly hope to get

I think in terms of them charging around in the field, I would consider whether turnout has been introduced to them slowly and sensibly. I know a lot of racers get little or no turnout so take a good while to adjust to having a whole field to charge about in and tend to panic. Very sad about the accident that ended in one of them being PTS

Just go into it with your eyes open...all the usual issues are being raised on here and expecting them...as well as expecting the unexpected is how you help make it successful.

Good luck

Thank you! I'd hope to get one that either hasn't raced or has only done a few races so *ideally* the muscular/skeletal damage wouldn't be too advanced, but yes I'll definitely keep in tune with what needs doing. I've made mistakes in the past by letting my heart rule my head where horses/animals are concerned so I would most definitely go into this one with my eyes wide open and hopefully more than one person playing the devil's advocate!

We sadly had to have ours pts a few months ago. He was not your typical ex racer at all. Lovely temperament and very chilled! He raced as a 5 year old. We bought him as a 10 year old so had been reschooled. He loved jumping and fun stuff. Not so keen on schooling and did have bend issues. He could be stubborn in the school too - nothing nasty, just if he didn't want to do it, not much persuading him otherwise! Was generally always on his bad rein though (the bend issues!) and got better the more supple he got. Hacked fine and sanely. Never tanked off in open spaces. Very mannerly actually. They aren't all loonies!

Very sorry for your loss He sounds like he was fab! I think the thing that has been mentioned more than anything else is how well-mannered they are. I can't stand bad manners, so that's a good start!

 

[PingPongPony]

My ottb last raced end feb this year, came to me direct from trainer. Beetle is not institutionalised. He got a couple of hours out a day in a small same sex herd when in training unless weather horrid. He also got a summer holiday turned out with his male mates. He loves being out with our mixed herd and my coblet mare mothers him like i've never seen. She detests physical contact yet I quite often see him sleeping with his chin on her bottom. He leads in and out like an old carthorse. He can get over excited in big open spaces if we canter but nothing serious. Stabled he is happy to stand in with his mates and chill. If we ride the others out he will stand on his own and eat or snooze. He was never alone in training but doesn't mind it as his friends always come back. Little knocks are dealt with by a quick wash and some sudocrem. In short my ex racer is a loving easy to handle pleasure to own who I would not be without. I have always worshiped the ground my little coblet trots on but my ottb is rapidly becoming saint beetle! I know some can be a mess but I wouldn't write them all off.

as requested by Spotsrock, here's a picture of her ex-racer Beetle :

 

[redriverrock]

Interesting read some of these comments, I have just bought an ex racer a few weeks ago and so far I have seen a very happy chilled out horse. He's out 24/7, the only time I stabled him was the night he came home and he chewed everything in sight! Since going out there's been no chewing, he just wanders around the paddock with my little sec A and is happy to be ridden in an open field - very willing and fast to learn! However, silly as it may seem, this forum has made me worry about every tiny thing! He nods slightly on the left rein in trot at times and after hearing so many horror stories of having horses pts soon after getting them home due to spinal injuries etc I seem to be looking at everything in a negative light! I suppose issues come up with any horse - cob or tb or otherwise

I had exactly the same feelings, lots of very negative sterotypes and horror stories made me very worried! Actually i learnt to trust my own 'instincts' and my horse really was as easy, well mannered and sound as we hoped he would be. 3 years later he is still sound, well mannered and easy and the mockers and doubters (not on this forum but the local horsey folk) still cant quite get it...yes hes a well bred TB but he is a tough little thing and I would trust him way beyond the kids 'bombproof' ponies.

 

[AbFab]

Oh how sweet is Beetle!! Bless, love his ears

I know what you mean about the negative stereotypes. I've been back in the UK for 7yrs now and the opinions of ex-racers over here are completely different to Dubai. In Dubai they're just horses, over here they are mentalists that want people dead But I've been very encouraged by so many of the opinions I've been hearing over the last few days. I'm going to the TRC open day in a few weeks and hopefully I'll be able to get to a Katie Jerram training demo nearby in September so I'll be able to see first hand what kind of results you can get from putting some work into them

 

[Holly Hocks]

I've had a great one, reschooled a not so great one and currently have a stunning one with a number of health conditions and a quirky nature!

All direct from the trainer - I wouldn't get one from a rehab place as I want to do the work myself. I also know of a few people who have had them from rehab places and they have been anything other than rehabbed!

Would I have another ex-racer? Not sure -and that's from someone who's had a few.

The only other advice I can give is to get an ex National Hunt horse, not a flat horse - they've generally seen a bit more of life.

 

[SammyDingle]

I LOVE ex Racehorses.

I have had my boy since he was 3, straight off the track and has raced, he is now 10 and he is an absolute joy, i couldnt imagine not having him.

We have had our difficult times and he has his quirks. Wont be left on his own in the field, just jumps the 6 bar gate every time, easily managed- he doesnt stay out alone! He has took a long while to get working correctly, he had 6 months off before i started working him, that worked a treat. He does has poor feet, which have imporved over the years, but i still have to keep on top of them.

Hand on heart he is the nicest horse i have ever met, every one who meets him loves him. He loves attention yet doesnt mither, he is fab with kids, brill with vet/farrier and all the people who do ''nasty'' stuff to him. Never suffered with getting weight on him, infact someone told me the other day he is abit plump!

He is an angel to take to shows. Does abit of everything, xc him is like jumping a machine, he is ace. Takes everything in his stride, hacks out like a super star, looks after me all the time. Truly one in a million and this horse owes me nothing!

Heres a few pics of my boy...

Feel free to PM me any questions, i have ridden, schooled, broken and worked with ex racehorses for a while now

 

[_GG_]

I can only speak for myself, but I will always advise pointing out any concerns or areas of potential issue to someone thinking of taking on anything they haven't done it before.

For example, if my 20 year old cousin was given a ferrari to drive, I wouldn't tell him how wonderfully it pulled to top speed or how it gripped the tarmac around corners. I would warn him to be
careful with the throttle until he got used to it, test the brakes a few times to get used to how good they are and not corner too quickly until he learns how to control over or understeer.

I think stereotyping can be very beneficial in that it put those questions in a person's mind and caution is better when it comes to something that has the potential to hurt you.

My mare will stand and be cuddled all day...she doesn't like being out, but not all racers are the same. But...many of them that have been in that environment are...so better to be awareof that potential than go into something blind.

I love ex racers, mine, even after 5 years hurdling has very clean legs and x rays came back leading the vet to DNA test her as he didn't believe she had done much work so questioned the validity of her passport. All checked out...she just has very clean legs!

It is never bad to open someones eyes to potential pitfalls...in fact it is much more responsible than just saying all will be fine, especially on an open forum.

No offence meant to the OP as this isn't targeted...but we don't know anyone's actual abilities...so better safe than sorry I say.

 

[nikkimariet]

I don't think it's about generalisation, it's about the odds.

If you take 100 ex racers, especially the mares in my experience, and 100 IDx's, then a far higher number of the ex racers will give their owners problems with either temperatment or physical fragility or both. I think it's something that people need to be aware of before they take one on.

Many of them make lovely riding horses and I love them. But my experience is that there is a higher risk with them than with crossbreeds. The OP posted that she has her heart set on progressing up the British Dressage grades. If that's her goal then I would say that an OTT TB is a much bigger risk of not achieving that aim than other breeding.

CPT you're comparing chalk and cheese. OP commented about wanting to move up the levels in Dressage, so surely it's fairer to compare a 'typical' dressage horse with a 'non typical' dressage horse?? IE WB vs OTTB.

Temperament wise; some WB's can be as highly strung/prone to fizzing over as some OTTB's.

Fragility wise; some WB's are just as accident prone as some OTTB's (although I would say WB's tend to have better feet!).

Now to return to the original point; if you want to get to the very top *and* be in the ribbons, an OTTB is not going to be the best choice. But they can be brilliant for those who have grit, determination, a realistic view and limited funds.

 

[Lolo]

I've refrained from posting, but you've seen my report on this weekend's shenanigans so I might as well

Reg raced a lot, until he was 8. He has had a long and hard life and in that time he had a horrible fall and then was taken out of racing as he broke down in front. He's now been with Al for 3 years (his entire non-racing career!) and it's been a real rollercoaster for them. He had physical issues (stemming from issues in his neck from his fall, which lead to problems all the way back to his pelvis) and is a sensitive soul. The physical issues are now on a maintenance basis only- he's on Vetrofen, and has 3 monthly physio sessions, hoping to move to 6 months... He's been reschooled by Al who'd only had ponies until him and it's been blooming hard for them both. But he's now getting consistently mid to high 60s, and will hopefully do some novices soon. He is the safest hack around (Al took him cantering bareback recently, round the stubbles and grassy tracks!) and the kindest horse. He's taught her to ride properly. He has his moments, but they are rare!

And Bee. She's just turned 5, raced once and did her first show this weekend. She was calm, confident and very well behaved. Much better than the 'normal' babies in the warm up with her She can be a bit of a mare, but not tremendously- nothing more than a "Do you want a fight!?" moment, which Al politely declines and they move on

Ex-racers can be super horses if you have the patience to enjoy the journey rather than the immediate results. And when they come good, it's even better!

 

[TigerTail]

Just a little extra- we were stacking bales in our field last night - been there for hours, no lights nothing scary etc all of a sudden the two tbs went galloping around the field doing skidding stops up to the fencing, spinning round charging at each other kicking bucking rearing As one has just come back from 12 weeks box rest having been badly kicked by the other its not overly reassuring what the buggars get up to at night!!!

 

[AbFab]

He is an angel to take to shows. Does abit of everything, xc him is like jumping a machine, he is ace. Takes everything in his stride, hacks out like a super star, looks after me all the time. Truly one in a million and this horse owes me nothing!

I think stereotyping can be very beneficial in that it put those questions in a person's mind and caution is better when it comes to something that has the potential to hurt you.

My mare will stand and be cuddled all day...she doesn't like being out, but not all racers are the same. But...many of them that have been in that environment are...so better to be awareof that potential than go into something blind.

I love ex racers, mine, even after 5 years hurdling has very clean legs and x rays came back leading the vet to DNA test her as he didn't believe she had done much work so questioned the validity of her passport. All checked out...she just has very clean legs!

It is never bad to open someones eyes to potential pitfalls...in fact it is much more responsible than just saying all will be fine, especially on an open forum.

No offence meant to the OP as this isn't targeted...but we don't know anyone's actual abilities...so better safe than sorry I say.[/QUOTE]

Don't worry, no offence taken at all I did ask for experiences, whether they be good or bad. Like I say, I've had some experience with ex-racers but it was about 10yrs ago and in a very different setting. I've got a different approach to my riding now and, annoyingly, I know a lot more that can go wrong

Now to return to the original point; if you want to get to the very top *and* be in the ribbons, an OTTB is not going to be the best choice. But they can be brilliant for those who have grit, determination, a realistic view and limited funds.

As much as I want to get to the top asap, I know it's fairly impossible with the funds I have added to the fact I've never really been able to ride anything that has potential to go past about ele. Because of that, I don't know if I'll be good enough to progress past that level, let alone the horse I'm lucky that I have a very good support network around me though and some very knowledgeable and experienced instructors close to home, so I'm kind of buoyed up by that and if it all starts going wrong, I have lots of help at hand. Hopefully having that help from the start though will mean less goes wrong

Ex-racers can be super horses if you have the patience to enjoy the journey rather than the immediate results. And when they come good, it's even better!

I definitely enjoy the journeys I have had (and continue to have) the time of my life schooling and competing Saffy and that has been anything but a quick turnaround. I think my riding style is more suited to sensitive horses, probably because of the types I grew up riding. I have had multiple instructors that have had to shout at me to 'get mad at her!' because Saf requires a very excited rider rather than one that sits there soothingly

Just a little extra- we were stacking bales in our field last night - been there for hours, no lights nothing scary etc all of a sudden the two tbs went galloping around the field doing skidding stops up to the fencing, spinning round charging at each other kicking bucking rearing As one has just come back from 12 weeks box rest having been badly kicked by the other its not overly reassuring what the buggars get up to at night!!!

Haha they do sound like little beggars! To be fair though, I know plenty of section As and other random breeds that are prone to tearing about like mad heads so I wouldn't rule one out because of that. A lot of the ex-racers I've come across aren't much different to any other horse in the field.

 

[_GG_]

I left my OH to tack Fly up with some help and this is what happened. He has seen her cuddle me so many times...he obviously wanted a go as well. He had no idea horses could be like this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_x0wYrkVr0&feature=g-upl

 

[AbFab]

:O GG I do hope you don't let that wild animal near children!!!

 

[_GG_]

:O GG I do hope you don't let that wild animal near children!!!

All my life, any horse I have had for more than 6 months does this, lol.

Truthfully, Fly is amazing to be around. Every now and then if something happens out of the ordinary, she can, like any horse get a little het up...but nothing more than just being on her toes and alert. Riding wise, she is a dream in the school, can be cantered out in the open with good brakes in just a loose ring french link snaffle and she only occasionally freaks out on the road at lorries...but if you turn her into a driveway so that she can face the road, all of a sudden, even the scariest lorry is no longer a problem. That is her only issue and considering everything else, I am happy to deal with it. She moves beautifully, is coming on very nicely in her retraining considering she is not that far along and I couldn't give her up for the world now

 

[AbFab]

She sounds fantastic What kind of info do you know about her? Do you know her breeding or what yard/trainer she came from at all?

 

[_GG_]

She sounds fantastic What kind of info do you know about her? Do you know her breeding or what yard/trainer she came from at all?

She is, bless her. I am normally up the yard first in the morning and as I pull up outside the gates, I can see her nostrils going as she says hello.

She will continue to whinnie at me until I am next to her...same when she is out in the paddock, as soon as she sees me, she whinnies. If I go in the take room or feed room, or just pop around the corner...when I coe back, she whinnies, lol. She is never bothered when I leave, just stands looking at the world and being normal, but she is always happy to see me. If I go up in the daytime, everyone says that she hears the Land Rover about 300 yards down the lane and starts whinnying to the point that they now come and open the gate for me because she tells them I am coming . Honestly, my heart could burst with how much this horse affects me.

She is by Overbury, out of Edithmead who is by Shardari.

She was with Carl Llewellyn in Lambourne, then went with him back to Nigel Twiston-Davies in Natunton, Glos.

She had 17 starts over 5 years which is probably why she has such good legs, she won twice, got placed a few times and was retired from racing at 8.

The video of her winning in a field of 16 made me cry...it was like watching Seabiscuit, lol. She was right near the back, then coming around the last corner, just went to the outside and found another gear, winning by a couple of lengths. She certainly has a can do attitude bless her.

 

[_GG_]

I just looked properly at her pedigree...her great grandsire is Nijinksy

 

[AbFab]

Oh what a darling!! Have you got any more pics?

I know Nijinsky (well..not personally but you know) - will put him on the list of good sires/grandsires, along with your girl's mum and dad. I know a bit about dressage breeding but racer breeding is completely new to me!

 

[Waffles]

I just looked properly at her pedigree...her great grandsire is Nijinksy

Mine's grandsire was Nijinsky - I posted further up thread - he had no brakes! Lovely otherwise!

 

[rowy]

Dancer is possibly one of the most fizziest, hot, sensitive, stressy thoroughbreds I have ever met. Training her at times has felt like pulling my teeth out but it has been rewarding too. She has very strong hardly legs though, still going strong at 19 years old and had no leg problesm *touches wood* but she has other thoroughbred related problems to make up for it- sensitive skin (can only use certain saddle soap or she rubs her face till it bleeds) and severe allergies that mean her eyes, nose and mouth blow up huge and massive bloches all over her skin and excessive sweating and shivering. She also needs mega rugging up over the winter. Plus she spooks at sooooo much.
I would get an ex racer again but I don't think I would get an ex-racer mare as that is just pushing it a bit

 

[AbFab]

Mine's grandsire was Nijinsky - I posted further up thread - he had no brakes! Lovely otherwise!

Haha oh well who needs brakes??

(can only use certain saddle soap or she rubs her face till it bleeds)

Ah you see now that is fine, I can't remember the last time I cleaned my tack I actually didn't realise Dancer is an ex-racer! Not sure why. I think I'd like something that was a bit sharp, but then I'm so used to sensible, reliable Saffy that I'd probably need some time to get used to not just being able to get on with things. Either that or Saf would have a word with it and turn it into a complete plod!!

 

[Waffles]

Haha oh well who needs brakes??

Exactly - that's what ex racers are for - seriously though - went bitless and never looked back

 

[rowy]

Haha oh well who needs brakes??



Ah you see now that is fine, I can't remember the last time I cleaned my tack I actually didn't realise Dancer is an ex-racer! Not sure why. I think I'd like something that was a bit sharp, but then I'm so used to sensible, reliable Saffy that I'd probably need some time to get used to not just being able to get on with things. Either that or Saf would have a word with it and turn it into a complete plod!!

I cant buy her new tack anymore as the new tack usually has somestrange oil on it where she rubs herself raw. That new double bridle I just bought her, the day after she wore it the first time she had massive welts on her cheek and under her chin and above her eye. She loves self harming *sigh*.
Not sure for definite she was an exracer but we assume she was having come from ireland and being sold to us by a dodgy dealer and her not knowing anything jumping wise or in the school lol.
Its very different going from Rowan to dancer. Its nice having the hotness and speedy dancer to give me a break and allow me to get energy and equally it makes me appreciate Rowan that I can just relax and go slow instead of spending the entire lesson asking her to relax and SLOW DOWN after we have had a canter. A few years ago I couldn't canter until the end of the schooling session or she would just jog about with her head in the air saying to herself "I KNOW we are going to canter again in a minute, I MUST be ready to do a flying start, I MUST!" and even now, when she knows I am going to ask for walk to canter she will not relax in the walk because she gets herself all wound up trying to predict what I am going to ask her to do, she just jogs everywhere. People have said, its a good job i'm patient lol. Im sure most people probably would have given up about 5 years back
But all ex racers are different im sure there aren;t that many as crazy as Dancer