Retired Racehorse Behaviour Advice!!

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Clipperdown

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hi im new to this forum, i have owned my horse now for around a month. he previously lived on his own with no other horses and when i bought him he gained 3 new friends. The problem i am finding is when i take him out of the field or he is left on his own in the field he becomes very anxious and begins pasing up and down,spinning around and winny all the time!! This is becoming unsafe? He has started being very bargy on the ground aswell??? When there are other horse being tacked up you wouldnt think he is the same horse he will stand n not even bat an eyelid??
Is their any ground work i could be doing to help or is just a case of giving him time to get use to coming out of the field and being on his own?? any advise would be gratfully recived.
 
I have two ex-racehorses. Both are ok to bring out of the field, but neither can be left in the field on their own. Everyone at my yard knows not to leave mine out, so they just put them in the stable. It's a common thing with racers, as they are very rarely left to do anything on their own, but it's not just racehorses - a lot of other breeds are the same - it isn't actually natural for a horse to be on it's own, so it's really just normal behaviour. It's just that some display the behaviour more than others. Sometimes I'm just really jealous of those who can just put their horses out on their own!
 
Not that unusual with ex racers - ours was the same, and wouldn't hack out on its own either which was very frustrating! I sold him in the end and he became a hunter which he loved as always had company.

In terms of getting them used to it, I would wait until the ground is dry and grass through, then try separating for just a short time each day, increasing this time as they get more accustomed to it. If your facilities allow you could also divide their paddock into 2 with electric fencing, so that they are separated but can still see each other, in the hope they become more independent.

If this doesn't work you may have to face up to the fact and either bring in both, or maybe get a small companion pony so that neither are ever left on their own?

In terms of barginess, the Monty Roberts Dually halter is a useful tool.

Good luck!
 
my ex racer cant be left in a field alone either, he absolutely hates it

as regards the barginess, my lad originally had been in a stable that did individual turnout in paddocks. i moved to a new yard then, where he moved into a herd and has moved up the ranks. he's a lot cockier and cheekier now and tried to become a bit more dominant with me. i just went back to doing a lot of groundwork with him and reminding him who's boss. i make sure he respects my space and if he tried to barge id back him up. theres a lot of good books on groundwork on the web, they might teach you good tricks.

welcome to the world of exracers, they can be a nuerotic bunch sometimes!
 
Very common behaviour, and very hard to put right. It's probably easier, and wiser, to compromise, either by getting a companion pony, or maybe even a couple of sheep or a goat (though they're all nuisances to look after, for one reason and another).

We have an ex-competition horse here that must not be left on its own - so there is a small pony whose only idea is to eat eat eat - if the TB goes out the pony is quite happy on its own; if the TB has to stay home there's company and no fuss.
 
Sounds quite normal to me! I couldn't get mine out of the field for the first 2 weeks without bringing someone else in at the same time !

I could have honsetly taken a gun to his head !

however perseverance (sp) maybe just bring him out of the gate for a feed then put him back in and build it up.

Mine also woudln't leave the yard ( on 4 legs anyway ) on his own either. ended up doing lot's of long reining out with him.

anyway will have had him 2 years in August and he is completley different now very chilled and will do it all on his own although I wouldn't leave him in the field on his own he is quite happy in his stable when everyone is out suppose he feels a bit safer in there ?
 
I too have an ex racer, when he first came to the yard he was very clingy to horses he didnt even know and could not be left in the field or yard on his own. I couldnt do anything with him without him having a babysitter lol. Yet 6 months down the line and he has settled and now can be left on the yard if others go out, but cannot yet be left in the field on his own. He is getting less clingy by the day :)
Race horses are used to a very regimented life from a very early age, and live by their routine, they are constantly around other horses when in training (not necessarily turned out) and used to busy environments, so time on their own can be alien to them.
I got a great book when i got my ex racer its called 'Beyond the Track' by Anna Morgan-ford, lots of tips and advice about retired TB's well worth a read :)
 
Hmm, well they either get better with age or otherwise our ex-racer is one of a kind as he doesn't care about being left on his own and he doesn't care about going out on his own or in company, he behaves the same. Don't get me wrong, he has some very annoying behavioural traits (pawing the ground, jogging when ridden, generally being irritating!). He is that un-bothered about going it alone he has even in the past escaped (well through and open gate) from being tied up at the stable, and set off up the track and up the lane on his own little 'hack'!! He does love his field pals and has his 'best mate' but maybe it's cos of his age (27 now) he just likes to do his own thing on occasion! I guess cos we've had him since he was 19 he knows the routine of things at the field and he is pretty secure knowing he'll never actually be left alone.
 
Me and sister have had 3 TB's so far....think it's just something to do with the breed. Not generalising EVERY single TB, but all our 3 have been total neurotic, stressy wimps!! Have never been able to leave any TB's of ours on their own.

I can't really give any advice other than it does get better with age. You say you haven't had him long, and I'm presuming he is at a different yard with you now. Perhaps just give him a little longer to settle in. Maybe try a calming supplement in his feed? :)
 
Personally I think it's a common problem with many horses, nothing to do with racers or TBs, just with the fact that they are herd animals!

Many, many yards have a rule that horses are not left out entirely on their own and the person who brings in the one to last horse, has to bring in the last horse for exactly this reason. I would say that if you have a horse that is happy to stay out when everyone else comes in, then you are lucky!

I wouldn't press the issue at this stage. I would bring him in when the others come in and as long as he is happy left on his own in the stable then there's no problem. That's what I do with mine which live at home so are probably even more bonded as a herd because they have been together with no changes for a long while. They will all tolerate waiting their turn for turn-out, bring in, but they all go out/come in at the same time, they will all tolerate being left in the stables in any combination or alone, and they all tolerate leaving everyone else in the stable for solo hacking or boxing away.
 
Sounds like that is just his personality and nothing to do with being an ex racer!! Alot of horses can get clingy in the field...but equally we have a few that we train that have nonissue being left alone! It is down to the horse and their comfort level in their surroundings rather than the discipline they are involved in. Ex racers are often tarred with a name for being buzzy, silly, stupid etc. Any horse racing fit has the potential to be sharp but when let down the vast majority are fine. We have quite a few quirky oddballs but when their fitness is let down they are dope on a ropes! Management is the key
 
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