spacefaer
Well-Known Member
The trainer only has flat/hurdlers. And the owner wouldn't change trainers so he had to be a hurdler ?
He jumps like an event horse so again, never going to be competitive as a racehorse!
He's very soft and cuddly ?
Retraining ex-racers thread
- Thread starter TheMule
- Start date
The trainer only has flat/hurdlers. And the owner wouldn't change trainers so he had to be a hurdler ?
He jumps like an event horse so again, never going to be competitive as a racehorse!
He's very soft and cuddly ?
LEC
Opinions are like bum holes, everyone has one.
He is a nice type - I am sure he will be grand.
Barton Bounty
Just simply loving life with Orbi 🥰
Mine wont even step into a muddy area ?? ‘oh steaming hot lava’ ?
J_sarahd
Well-Known Member
I had my first fall off Nova today. We went for a canter on a hack with two sensible horses and whenever she was in front, she decided to bronc. I stayed on a few but then the last one had me off over her head.
I’m thinking it’s just baby insecurity mixed with her being in season. Well, I’m hoping it’s that!
I’m thinking it’s just baby insecurity mixed with her being in season. Well, I’m hoping it’s that!
Barton Bounty
Just simply loving life with Orbi 🥰
Has she got a martingale?
J_sarahd
Well-Known Member
No I haven’t got a martingale for her. I basically wanted to start with as little tack as possible!
Barton Bounty
Just simply loving life with Orbi 🥰
Get yourself a neck strap, try to sit back and grab the neck strap if you feel her starting to bronk, turn her in a circle
J_sarahd
Well-Known Member
Get yourself a neck strap, try to sit back and grab the neck strap if you feel her starting to bronk, turn her in a circle
To be fair I managed to sit a few of them before she did the big one that dumped me! But yes I do usually ride out with a neck strap - I just forgot it today because it was a bit of a rush to get tacked up!
Does it sound just like baby insecurity/napping to people? Never had a horse like this - old pony loved being in front and wouldn’t give two hoots where the others were
Barton Bounty
Just simply loving life with Orbi 🥰
Yes , it sounds like napping or excited to me. My boy used to bronc all the time when scared or too excited, its a knack sitting them, you will get to the stage they wont bother you, stay calm and confident! The important Thing Is to get straight back on if you do come off , hopefully she was just feeling good as she was in front ?
BB is a pro broncer! He can spin and bronc in one move, he can also spin while reversing really fast and moonwalk ?
Squeak
Well-Known Member
Had she been in front in walk and trot? Was it only canter there was an issue?
Also have you tried cantering in front with just one other?
Potentially it could also just be the change in weather making her feel a bit jolly. I’d have thought as a racehorse she would have been very used to cantering in a group.
J_sarahd
Well-Known Member
Yeah, it’s just canter that’s the issue. Don’t get me wrong, she will always make sure she’s not very far ahead of the others in walk and trot, but she is still more than happy to do it.
I have cantered in front with just one other. First time she bronced a little, second time she was fab! Then the last time, which was about a week again, she did a small stop - originally thought it was because she was gawping at sheep but it may be whatever issue is going on here.
That’s what I thought too. I would have expected her to be used to others in front, behind, at the side.
I am starting to worry that there’s something wrong (saddle fitter and physio are both coming out in the next few weeks). She doesn’t bronc in the school if I ask for canter (but we don’t do that often).
Elf On A Shelf
...
Sounds like she is just excited at getting to be in front mixed with nervousness. Given she is young she probably never got to canter in the front of the string on the gallops and always had to follow the tail in front. I doubt there was any mallace in it at all.
My general motto is - just keep kicking! It if starts bucking stop kicking ??
My general motto is - just keep kicking! It if starts bucking stop kicking ??
J_sarahd
Well-Known Member
You’ve truly put my mind at rest. I think you’re right that she’s probably just anxious about being at the front. At least it gives me a few things to work on before her winter break
Barton Bounty
Just simply loving life with Orbi 🥰
If theres anyones advice id take its elfs!
BB used to gallop and try bronc at the same time just out of excitement on the beach ?
another thing if she has ever raced watch her races!
I watched his and he never started first always win by coming from the back and smoking them all ??
TheMule
Well-Known Member
Quick update from me, I can’t believe we're nearly 4 months into our journey! Eagle just impresses me more everyday. You can hack him anywhere, he's just zero fuss. New venues are always fine, no spooking, no drama. After years of warmbloods this feels like a rare treat!
He has had a quiet few weeks as work has been manic but has still made a lot of progress. I'm going to carry on just training him this winter with a view to getting competing in the Spring when he has more strength and a really established technique as currently he'll have poles not through carelessness but where he just hasn’t quite learnt to use his body yet.
I was privileged to have a lesson with Corinne Bracken a couple of weeks ago who loved him and gave me some really useful pointers and then yesterday he had a session with Cameron Beer which just elevated us to the next level.
@LEC and I have started documenting our journey here-
He has had a quiet few weeks as work has been manic but has still made a lot of progress. I'm going to carry on just training him this winter with a view to getting competing in the Spring when he has more strength and a really established technique as currently he'll have poles not through carelessness but where he just hasn’t quite learnt to use his body yet.
I was privileged to have a lesson with Corinne Bracken a couple of weeks ago who loved him and gave me some really useful pointers and then yesterday he had a session with Cameron Beer which just elevated us to the next level.
@LEC and I have started documenting our journey here-
j1ffy
Well-Known Member
I really enjoyed watching that, it's nice to see the process and (in the nicest possible way!) watching you both on less experienced horses, with the associated challenges that presents to position, contact, smoothness of lines. It makes me want to go and do some jumping!
TheMule
Well-Known Member
Thank you- I hope it will be quite interesting for people to see the process. We aren’t experts, but do go to good trainers.
Go jumping!!
j1ffy
Well-Known Member
We did some baby stuff earlier in the year, but I think it will be easier now his canter is more consistent. There's a Jonty Evans clinic at my yard next month so I've asked for a nervous numpties group ?
BunnyDog
Well-Known Member
Oh damnit, you guys got to me!!!!
Meet "Lad" and his registered name is "English Lad"
4 yr old gelding. 16.2 at withers, 17 hands at croup.
He's just arrived Sunday.... Shoes taken off yesterday and on turnout and catching back up at being a horse.
Lovely brain and a total snuggle bug.
He is a resale but first have to see what he knows.
Em
Pedigree is here:
https://www.equineline.com/Free-5X-...efs9bdgnJzG-xTMpc_p3MIzeD7XqRFy-eh6REPPB_OFag
Meet "Lad" and his registered name is "English Lad"
4 yr old gelding. 16.2 at withers, 17 hands at croup.
He's just arrived Sunday.... Shoes taken off yesterday and on turnout and catching back up at being a horse.
Lovely brain and a total snuggle bug.
He is a resale but first have to see what he knows.
Em
Pedigree is here:
https://www.equineline.com/Free-5X-...efs9bdgnJzG-xTMpc_p3MIzeD7XqRFy-eh6REPPB_OFag
LEC
Opinions are like bum holes, everyone has one.
He looks like a quarter horse!
BunnyDog
Well-Known Member
stangs
Well-Known Member
Curious photos - from the side, he looks chunky like a WB; from the front, he looks slim like the racehorse he is. But definitely a pretty boy! I love his facial markings.
How’s he settling in?
How’s he settling in?
BunnyDog
Well-Known Member
BunnyDog
Well-Known Member
So far, so good. I stopped out on my lunch break and still happily grazing away. It's a huge help that he's been on turnout every later fall/winter of his life.
Em
J_sarahd
Well-Known Member
I love his face markings!!
Caol Ila
Well-Known Member
Well bred horse, Em (another Em, lol). Affirmed and AP Indy aren't too far down that pedigree. Seeking the Gold is also a lovely sire, and Medaglia d'Oro won lots of G1 races. Nice. And he's beautiful.
I was one feral Highland pony away from looking at ex-racers. If Fin had been a little bit more nuts than he is, I would have done. Not sure if my life would have been easier or harder.
I was one feral Highland pony away from looking at ex-racers. If Fin had been a little bit more nuts than he is, I would have done. Not sure if my life would have been easier or harder.
Barton Bounty
Just simply loving life with Orbi 🥰
Ohhh he us a handsome boy! My type 
j1ffy
Well-Known Member
He's really beautiful and what a lot of power - his back-end almost wants to overtake his front end at the moment!
I don't think anyone was being literal in saying he looks like a QH, just that he has a massive hind-end for a 4yo OTTB. We don't often see them that tall and so powerful behind at a young age over here, horses like that would probably be in a National Hunt (jump racing) yard preparing for a brief career over hurdles before going steeplechasing. He looks like an overgrown sprinter!
BunnyDog
Well-Known Member
Interestingly he was a sprinter. 6 furlongs. He won 2 races ago and that, in his case, was a bad thing. By winning he faced much tougher company in the condition he suited with his win.
So he ran once more, bled and was dead last and then was for sale.
Em
BunnyDog
Well-Known Member
So for those who don't know a lot about American TB pedigrees... Have a look.
https://www.pedigreequery.com/english+lad4
Among the esteemed members of Lad's family as one of his great Grandfathers is "Bailjumper." Nowhere near as famous or well known as the iconic Sadlers Wells, Bailjumper was a full brother to a sire named Mokheiba.
How this plays is in is that Mokheiba was the 3rd all time leading Steeplechase Sire and he sired a LOT of well regarded Eventers. Including one of my horses who was the first one to compete at the Intermediate level with me.
Here's a pic of Mokheiba. https://www.pedigreequery.com/photos/MOKHIEBA.jpg?1543383965
Here's a pic of Bailjumper. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oGaR2lMoSIceIyTSvPBWmR0aEysYT-7W/view?usp=sharing
Add in the venerable Jump Start and Medaglia D'Oro and it was a hard pedigree to avoid. That's why I started tracking him last fall. I'm ecstatic to be able to own him now. Even if I will be reselling him.
Pic of Jump Start in Obit: https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-ra...ading-mid-atlantic-sire-jump-start-dies-at-20
Medaglia D'Oro: https://sporthorse-data.com/showphoto?id=181189
Em
https://www.pedigreequery.com/english+lad4
Among the esteemed members of Lad's family as one of his great Grandfathers is "Bailjumper." Nowhere near as famous or well known as the iconic Sadlers Wells, Bailjumper was a full brother to a sire named Mokheiba.
How this plays is in is that Mokheiba was the 3rd all time leading Steeplechase Sire and he sired a LOT of well regarded Eventers. Including one of my horses who was the first one to compete at the Intermediate level with me.
Here's a pic of Mokheiba. https://www.pedigreequery.com/photos/MOKHIEBA.jpg?1543383965
Here's a pic of Bailjumper. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oGaR2lMoSIceIyTSvPBWmR0aEysYT-7W/view?usp=sharing
Add in the venerable Jump Start and Medaglia D'Oro and it was a hard pedigree to avoid. That's why I started tracking him last fall. I'm ecstatic to be able to own him now. Even if I will be reselling him.
Pic of Jump Start in Obit: https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-ra...ading-mid-atlantic-sire-jump-start-dies-at-20
Medaglia D'Oro: https://sporthorse-data.com/showphoto?id=181189
Em