RoR as a first horse??

J

Janey5

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Barton Bounty said:
Riding him once a week is not going to be anywhere near enough exercise for a tb. You need consistency, constant work, keep their brains occupied, he wont be a good happy hack unless you teach him to be. OTTBs are not ready made unfortunately and have had very little to no education that way.
And if you put the effort in you will end up with a cracking horse 😊
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I know I need to do more but my confidence gets in the way. I do have some additional support so hopefully I can increase my work with him. I am just at a cross roads re continuing with him.
 
Squeak

Squeak

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It's really hard to know without seeing you and the horse together. It sounds like he is behaving and doing nothing wrong apart from the odd, not persistent, reluctance to go forwards and you could buy a smaller, hardier horse and it be very naughty and have a lot of problems. There's also the issue with horses that are easier keepers that you'd potentially really struggle to keep their weight down if they're only doing a minimal amount of work. Having said that though an ex-racehorse wouldn't have been the most obvious choice for you, however that doesn't mean that it is actually the wrong choice, every horse is different.

Is it the size and that he's an exracer that worries you? Are you fundamentally never going to feel confident on your horse however well he behaves? It doesn't sound like you're very attached to him from your post? (Not a criticism at all, more just an observation that you possibly haven't clicked?) Have you tried riding some other horses since you've come back to riding? Did you feel happier on them?

Has someone else tried hacking him and riding him on his own and able to confirm that he does behave in this scenario?
 
J

Janey5

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Squeak said:
It's really hard to know without seeing you and the horse together. It sounds like he is behaving and doing nothing wrong apart from the odd, not persistent, reluctance to go forwards and you could buy a smaller, hardier horse and it be very naughty and have a lot of problems. There's also the issue with horses that are easier keepers that you'd potentially really struggle to keep their weight down if they're only doing a minimal amount of work. Having said that though an ex-racehorse wouldn't have been the most obvious choice for you, however that doesn't mean that it is actually the wrong choice, every horse is different.

Is it the size and that he's an exracer that worries you? Are you fundamentally never going to feel confident on your horse however well he behaves? It doesn't sound like you're very attached to him from your post? (Not a criticism at all, more just an observation that you possibly haven't clicked?) Have you tried riding some other horses since you've come back to riding? Did you feel happier on them?

Has someone else tried hacking him and riding him on his own and able to confirm that he does behave in this scenario?
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Hi, thank you for your message. When I decided to return to riding I had some lessons and felt ok, but then I knew I was on a well schooled riding school pony! I guess my nervousness is related to him being an exracer, me being a lot older and more aware of the risks and being alone if I ride. He was ridden for a year (by a friend) before I had him, around busy villages on his own etc without any problems. When I tried him out I felt safe and happy but knew he was a lot bigger than anything else I had ridden, previous 13.3, 14.2 and 15. When I get going I feel great, it is just my pre riding nerves and until I relax. I agree I am quite attached to him but I am trying to be objective.
 
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