Riding out racehorses - who here does it/has done it?

[kit279]

I'm working in Newmarket at the moment and seeing the racehorses outside my window every morning is really lovely. I'd quite like to go ride out - can anyone tell me a bit more about it? I don't want to do it for the money, just to be able to ride out and have some fun before I get too old and decrepit.

WHen I move to Oxford, I was thinking I might offer to help out at a nice National Hunt yard that I know, would they be interested in having someone maybe school the horses on the flat occasionally? Or not really?

Any thoughts? Be interested to know the major risks as well, you have to weigh these things up.

 

[Ignition]

I doubt they'd want you to school the horses. The horses will be schooled over jumps by the pro and amateur jockeys. However, yards are always looking for people to ride out so it's definitely worth giving them a call and expressing your interest. Good luck, it's good fun if you're a confident rider and used to young, fresh horses! Oh and can cope with ribbing from stable lads and the like

 

[amage]

I think by school the OP meant flatwork schooling and yes some yards may want that though only some. Certainly there is a good few trainers over here starting to see the benefit of proper flatwork schooling. Riding work is great fun and a great buzz. One thing I would say is know your limitations...a trainer would sooner you said if you were nervous, stiff/sore (this will def be the case in the first few weeks no matter how fit you are) rather than plough on and maybe ruin a piece of work. Be warned though it is addictive!

 

[Ignition]

I know she meant flatwork, but I still think trainers will only be interested in riding out.

 

[glenruby]

Flat trainers will have no place for a flatwork rider but many NH trainers school heir horses in the arena. The yards i rode out for, everything could leg yield, shoulder-in, do basic dressage movements. However, from my experience they usually go straight from schooling in the arena to the gallops so you must be prepared to gallop them as well.

Well worth the time though - the NH boys in my area dont get up early enough for me to ride out before work!! They were more than shocked tht the previous yards (inc NH) were on the gallops before 6am.

As for dangers - its falls from horses at speed really - or youngsters. I was ejected from the saddle of a filly on the yard last summer and fractured my pelvis, 2 weeks later another work rider fractured her arm and collar bone on the gallops when the horse stopped dead during a piece of work. Another local trainer was down two riders as one fractured her leg, the other her collar bone within about 3wks of each other. Another local trainer smashed hsi nose (and fractured his skull) when taking a tumble over schooling fences. All of these incidences happened within 6wks in one small village. There is a high accident rate amongst jockeys and exercise riders.

 

[gracemoran]

Would def reccomend it. I ride out on a Saturday for my local trainer and there is nothing better on a crisp winter day having sat in an office all week. My trainer is quite flexible in that I just text when I can ride out and she always has plenty to ride. I was surprised how well behaved all the horses are and even get to use the gallops for my own event horse through the summer!

 

[Gamebird]

Me! and I have even been able to school some over fences. In fact one horse made its racecourse jumping debut having only ever been jumped by me . Luckily it stayed on its feet.

The trainer I ride out for doesn't do any flatwork as such but he does like you to work them correctly out on the roads - ie. up into a contact, going forwards from the leg. He hates you to slop them along on a long rein.

 

[Starbucks]

I've ridden a few pointers but nothing exciting. My friend has worked in a lot in racing yards here and in Oz and they think she's amazing because she is small/light but is really strong (rock climber).. She said that a lot of the girls can't hold them so I think trainers would always appreciate decent riders.

 

[Jules19]

Do it, it's great fun! I worked in a NH yard near Oxford for a year before Uni and continued to ride out there whilst at Uni. Then did various bits of work in Newmarket and rode out there too. A trainer will never put you on anything difficult until they have had a chance to assess you, the horses are worth too much to risk a dodgy rider on them!

Most NH work is on the flat, they will be schooled over fences a few times before they run and then only occasionally during the season, more so if they have fallen etc, but most of it is fittening work so not dissimilar to the flat yards.

Prob easiest to approach a smaller trainer in town if you fancy having a go, and saying you don't want paying will make you very attractive and see how you get on, although I can just about guarantee you'll be hooked. And the one thing to watch, crumpling into a heap as you dismount after riding out at racing length for the first time, causes much amusement. Suggest easing oneself down with an arm on the saddle to hold you if you find yourself going!

I am now too old and decrepit to do it but don't regret a minute of my years riding out.

 

[seabsicuit2]

Do it! Most likely they'll put you on something that is safe and sensible and initially you'll prob only do the canter work with a long walk before and afterwards, so no worry about anything going wrong.
I think the risk of a bad fall is complete luck of the draw- in the whole year I was at Newmarket none of our team had a bad fall or even fell off, apart from me,LOL ( who was ok in the end !) and the trainer herself who's very safe horse randomly somersaulted on top of her while cantering! I think there's just as much risk when driving a car TBH.
I think the horses in our yard were very safe as they had a hour or so on the horsewalker before being worked, and were then turned out for the rest of the day- so if you can find a yard that turns out a lot/horsewalkers a lot then hopefully they'd all be pretty chilled out.

 

[Aleka81]

Still do it and have been doing it for 16 years.
More of a work rider now and school over fences but like the others have said its good fun and I'm sure you'll find someone to take you on and show you the ropes!