People who have re-schooled your ex racers/poloponies-CC

[Toyboyroxhissox]

Hello.

Collected my new horse on saturday.
Bit of background: She raced for 2 years before becoming a brilliant polo pony. Owners decided to quit her while she was ahead and in her prime so she would finish nice and healthy and sound before things started to go downward.( she has just turned 13 and did polo from 4.)
I have schooled horses before and with the help of my mum broke in my old horse but ive never 're-schooled' a horse before. However Chilli is lovely and im set on making her the horse she could turn into.
I wondered wether any of you lot could give me any tips?
When i schooled her on Sunday morning she was very tense in trot. I was holding the reins basically at the buckle to avoid pressure on the mouth. I have her in a snaffle ring as she isn't strong in the slightest. She chews on the bit ALOT and doesn't stop but it looks like she likes the bit- i have wondered if this is an anxiety/tense thing racehorses etc are used to doing?
In walk she is fine and is very forward going which is lovely. She bends her head in walk and trot ALOT its almost up in the air but tilted- its weird but today she was alot better, im also thinking this is tense related.
In canter shes very very compact. Its like im heading for a jump and im shortening her canter. Although this feels brilliant

, i need to get her to lengthen- any tips on this, as im a bit clueless?

Im trying my best to kind of sit like a sack of spuds as it were. Show her im completely relaxed so she will relax. Im not holding her on a long rein at all, and gradually throughout the rides i collect my reins up a bit and she is fine. She's a lovely horse and im even more convinced now that she will be here a long time. Imhoping if she's anything to go by like her brother in racing, she'll have one heck of a pop in her!
I have got a few pictures of me riding her if you'd like help in giving me some CC.

Thankyou and all replies would be greatly appreciated

Just to add: Teeth,Back etc are all superduper.

 

[Taboo1968]

Have sent you a PM Krissie.....

 

[Toyboyroxhissox]

thankyou, off to go look

 

[kit279]

Yep, have reschooled my current chestnut horse who was a flat racehorse then a polo pony and now currently trying out eventing with him.

It took quite a bit of time - he had almost no neck or back muscle so found it hard to go on the bit and work properly. I'd say it took the better part of 4-5 months before he was really strong enough. I lunged him every day in a chambon for about 2 weeks and did a lot of trotting over poles. The thing that really helped him muscle up properly was learning how to jump although he was quite spooky about the coloured poles to start. This is maybe a bit unorthodox but I knew he would struggle to work comfortably if he was hollow (which he naturally inclined to) so I used to get a running martingale and tie one knot in each branch if that makes sense. Then I used it to encourage him to work in a round outline - not traditional but it made it clear what I was asking him to do and he built up neck muscle much faster. The other option was to spend a frustrating 30 minutes with him poking his nose, unsure of what I wanted and tense as hell.

I never used draw reins on him as he had a great mouth and was very light in the hand and I wanted to keep that. Most polo ponies are short coupled so do try lengthening and shortening the canter to get her working through the back. I did this a lot out hacking. If you can teach her to learn to leg yield that is very good for them too as they tend to be a bit stiff. Above all, resist the temptation to neck-rein - they need to unlearn it! It can be done - here is my before and after:-

Before:-

After:-

Good luck!

 

[Nudibranch]

I found lots of hill work helped my ex-racer to sort her muscles. She had a slight issue with contact and didn't want to find it but once she was fitter it just followed.

 

[hopppydi]

I have no experience of polo ponys so cant really comment on that! I have just bought a ex flat horse straight from the trainer/owner and they advised no schooling just lots of nice gentle hacks for the first few months. It depends on each individual and what they are capable of but schooling is totally alien to a racehorse and can make them very stressed out. I am working on creating a strong bond with mine through the summer and will then start schooling in the autumn. I am also very lucky in having a very calm and kind horse who wants to be my friend and enjoys hacking out.

 

[Toyboyroxhissox]

thankyou everyone, will keep you updated.