Retraining ex-racers thread

[leflynn]

From experience being involved voluntarily organising events etc locally for ROR, many are specific about area/instructor/location. I think also ROR RDO's etc are stretched across such a big area logistically pleasing everyone is difficult - plus tbh there isn't much engagement from them (I have said this to ROR and hence why I and a few others started up a smaller local group with ROR's support), we had filled clinics with 6-16 people on them depending when/where etc. we also dropped group sizes to 3 not 4 so it felt better value. So yes they are out there but maybe they need to listen to what people what a little more. I'd do the TAP stuff but its 1.5hr away so the cost of diesel means its as cheap for me to go closer to home....

 

[humblepie]

Gosh, it took me some searching to find this thread again!

Do people know about the TAP scheme/training?

Thoroughbred Aftercare Programme

The Howden Way offers three core programmes; the Rider Talent Academy and Young Horse Academy which supports British Eventing members, whilst the…

thehowdenway.com

It's a heavily subsidised training scheme for thoroughbreds (and they don't need to have been in training).

I only ask because I was booked on a training day this Friday. Mega-good vaue (£15/session), great venue, dressage with Saffron Cresswell and jumping with Lucy Jackson, who not only is a 5* eventer, but also runs a satellite yard for Ben Pauling. She really knows TBs.

Sadly it has been cancelled as not enough interest. Which seems to be a common theme whenever I book onto any RoR/TAP training - I think I have booked on more sessions that have been cancelled than have actually gone ahead. I am really, really disappointed. It was my Christmas treat to myself - I can't really afford 'regular' training any more so this was perfect. Day booked off work. Been looking forward to it for weeks.

I've asked before, but where is everyone?

Someone at our yard has done a couple of the TAP ones (she travelled about an hour for it) and said they were very good, not sure how many people on them. We are passed the retraining stage (horse is 23!) so not venturing out to any of them so can't comment on the current take up. Historically when I went to showing or dressage ones, I can't remember any being cancelled but I did generally have to venture into another RoR region for them as ours was fairly poor at organising things.

That sounds mega value that one and what a shame cancelled. Hopefully might get better uptake a little more into the year as some people may not have their horses fit enough to do that yet?

 

[Squeak]

It is a shame they're not being used - I went to a clinic with a trainer who does some TAP clinics and there was someone there on a RoR and I don't think they will ever realise how valuable the experience of ex-racers that the trainer had was to them. The rider was inexperienced and setting the horse up to fail and the trainer was able to give them valuable advice and turn it into a really positive experience. A trainer without ex-racer experience, even if they were a good trainer, could easily have given wrong advice.

Having said that, I struggle to find clinics that are at times and venues I can do. It's a shame as I would like to support Tap and RoR clinics.

 

[spacefaer]

The TAP stuff round me (Shropshire) is restricted to venue/trainer. It's £25 per session. The venue has been further than I'd want to travel although recently there has been one pretty local. That one was run in conjunction with non TAP training - two subsidised sessions in the day plus the rest of the day was open to anyone, which i think worked well. The trainer is locally very popular so having another clinic went down very well - it filled up very quickly

My ROR area is huge - north to south Wales with some bits in the middle. The trainers I'd like to go to are miles away and the local ones are all flatwork. II'd ather pay for jump sessions - i can do the flatwork at home, at the level they're both at.

 

[RachelFerd]

Gosh, it took me some searching to find this thread again!

Do people know about the TAP scheme/training?

Thoroughbred Aftercare Programme

The Howden Way offers three core programmes; the Rider Talent Academy and Young Horse Academy which supports British Eventing members, whilst the…

thehowdenway.com

It's a heavily subsidised training scheme for thoroughbreds (and they don't need to have been in training).

I only ask because I was booked on a training day this Friday. Mega-good vaue (£15/session), great venue, dressage with Saffron Cresswell and jumping with Lucy Jackson, who not only is a 5* eventer, but also runs a satellite yard for Ben Pauling. She really knows TBs.

Sadly it has been cancelled as not enough interest. Which seems to be a common theme whenever I book onto any RoR/TAP training - I think I have booked on more sessions that have been cancelled than have actually gone ahead. I am really, really disappointed. It was my Christmas treat to myself - I can't really afford 'regular' training any more so this was perfect. Day booked off work. Been looking forward to it for weeks.

I've asked before, but where is everyone?

The problem I have with a lot of this stuff is that

A. They're not using any Cheshire venues, so it's miles away
B. Because it's for RORs, I can only bring one of my two horses, so it isn't worth the journey
C. It's generally geared to more novice horses than mine

Never mind the split between TAP and RoR being a bit of ridiculous duplication!

 

[spacefaer]

The problem I have with a lot of this stuff is that

A. They're not using any Cheshire venues, so it's miles away
B. Because it's for RORs, I can only bring one of my two horses, so it isn't worth the journey
C. It's generally geared to more novice horses than mine

Never mind the split between TAP and RoR being a bit of ridiculous duplication!

B) the TAP in Shropshire was at the Cavalier Centre Much Wenlock with Jon Rogers and was open to both (2 sessions specifically for TAP)
C) And more novice riders ime.

There's a lot of flatwork/polework which is a lot easier to teach but not a lot of jumping.