Scary experience yesterday any advise please

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Natalielodge

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Hi I am looking after an 8 year old TB ex racehorse who i was told had won five times flat racing but yesterday we had a horrible experience. We went for a hack with another horse and rider. We went through a gate fine trotted up the field to the next gate again all fine then whilst opening the gate he turned round and started cantering down hill i could not stop him! He then went into a gallop so i tried to turn him onto a circle to try and slow him down as had no brakes! I came off about 2ft from a massive hedge by the time i stopped rolling and stood up he had tried to jump the massive hedge managed to land in the middle of it and was stuck! The hedge was probably around 5ft wide full of thistles and had barbed wire either side he started to panic and managed to get down to the ground but this made the hedge bigger than him!!! Luckily the farmer went and got wire cutters and after he had cut the barbed wire we managed to get him out! He is cut all over from a mixture of thistles and wire but luckily they are superficial! I am just bruised and sore so no harm done but i have never seen anything like it! It has scared me beyond belief. Not of riding him but of riding him in wide open spaces! Any ideas why he would of tried to jump this massive hedge!? Do you think he has probably had some racer training over hurdles as well? Was there anything i could of done to stop him? According to the owners he has been good as gold with them in the past and never strong so could it have been me? Iv owned an ex racehorse before and had a few problems with him napping but we sorted that out?! He was quite skinny when we got him and we have been feeding him up so perhaps he just felt a bit good, and bold! Any advise would be greatly appreciated. Thank You
 
Sometimes one thing can lead to another. It may have started out as a slight spook or a bit of a nap and the things we do without even realising it can lead to a big situation. Some people clutch with their legs when they're having a bit of horse trouble which in turn can lead to the horse getting the completely wrong signal. It's the hardest thing in the world to keep a light seat when your horse is going faster and faster. It sounded terrifying, glad you're ok
 
My old horse was an ex-racehorse [years ago now...] and he would always chuck a massive tantrum when he knew we had turned for home on hacks, rearing bucking, broncing and then eventually buggering off home, usually by himself :rolleyes:

I just gave up riding him out, shame but very safe!?
 
I know i think thats what im going to do now! If the owners want to hack him out then they can I only wanted to do some dressage and a bit of show jumping with him anyway so think i will stick to that! No XC for me! ha x
 
Natalielodge said:
I know i think thats what im going to do now! If the owners want to hack him out then they can I only wanted to do some dressage and a bit of show jumping with him anyway so think i will stick to that! No XC for me! ha x
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I think that is VERY sensible!! It is bad enough risking getting hurt for you own horse, but NOT worth it for a loan horse that they could take back as soon as you have sorted out his problems!! Stick to your guns on this hun, if they say you can't keep him unless you hack him, let them take him back!!

I speak a little from experience here so please don't risk it
 
Thank You he is not a loan horse though basically they got given him from a friend and they havent got the time for him so I am looking after him for them riding, mucking out etc as I cant afford my own due to just moved out on my own etc. They are lovely and dont think they would be like that but im not risking my safety or the horses as he obviously had no fears about what he did yesterday as he had a whole field to run in after I came off why jump a massive 6ft hedge?!?! x
 
oh lord!! I have literally agreed yesterday to ride an 11yo ex hurdler and p2p (upto 9yo). He is not allowed to jump now. he had a little tantrum yesterday but at 16.3 it is a long way down, so far he does seem to have a very soft mouth though. But I do have the pleasure of teaching him gallops are able to be walked on not just to gallop!! I am just off out in a bit to buy a new hat and get my BP from my mums!!
 
You can look up their racing history on the Racing Post if you have their Racing name, you can see what type of races he did, how much he won etc.
As for the not riding him in open spaces, I am with you on that one! Sounds like he needs a bit more schooling before you try it again - so he learns what breaks are!
D :D
 
Because he's a Thoroughbred! It's absolutely no good trying to find any logic in what they do. Unfortunately, most of them have no sense of self preservation, which is why they make good eventers. They're not bred for their brains after all! Sorry all Thoroughbred lovers, but after riding and looking after many of them, this is my experience.
 
Yeah i think safety is the best policy! All horses are different so yours may be fine!? But be careful as you never know! Yeah the one im riding is 16'3 as well so hence the lovely bruises i have i dont bounce as much now as i did when i was younger! x
 
How scary for you!! I owned an ex national hunt 16.2 ( i am 5 foot 3 and hubby 6 foot 2) I could ride him anywhere reins flapping, legs out of the stirrups and he was a dream, hubby hot arse got on him and he was a loon, and once the stirrup broke on my husband and he took advantage and bolted, hubby turned him to a hedge to stop him and he adjusted his stride and jumped it lol... think sometimes the red mist comes down with Tbs and they go a bit mad if very very pysched, I suspect you were winding him up (not on purpose) but probably holding him tight, this often works horses up.

I hope he hasn't shaken you up too much, big hugs!
 
templewood said:
Because he's a Thoroughbred! It's absolutely no good trying to find any logic in what they do. Unfortunately, most of them have no sense of self preservation, which is why they make good eventers. They're not bred for their brains after all! Sorry all Thoroughbred lovers, but after riding and looking after many of them, this is my experience.
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I have to disagree. I HATE breed stereotypes with a passion. There is good and bad in every breed. My current mare, a Warmblood, is far sharper, spookier, and far more easily wound up by things like being ridden in with other horses, or hacking behind a horse as opposed to infront, or being overtaken by another horse, then my little ex racer TB ever was.

My first horse that I shared as a 14 year old was a 15.3hh 17 year old TB gelding, ex racer. Raced til he was 12, Gelded when he was 9. Looked after me and my friend and he is now rising 22 with a young girl owning him and still going strong!!!

I am sorry but I just don't think you should tar them all with the same brush.

D :D
 
I was just more worried about him yesterday! Soo scary and when we got him out finally he was holding one back leg up so my heart sank straight away thinking he may have broken it but turns out its just the worst one as he has taken all the skin off! Thankfully but it doesnt do well for your nerves! im just glad he is ok! I agree with what you said ref holding him too much. When i was thinking back last night i remembered someone saying to me once that with ex racehorses if you want them to slow you should give them the reins but as we all know thats not the bodies natural way of dealing with a speedy horse! I had my heels down and back straight but didnt think to loosen reins?! Perhaps it was me after all but it would take alot of guts and quick thinking to just give them the contact. practice makes perfect i guess x
 
templewood said:
Because he's a Thoroughbred! It's absolutely no good trying to find any logic in what they do. Unfortunately, most of them have no sense of self preservation, which is why they make good eventers. They're not bred for their brains after all! Sorry all Thoroughbred lovers, but after riding and looking after many of them, this is my experience.
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Oh no I agree with you there - my ex racer (hurdler!) tried to jump an 5 bar gate after I was trying to lunge her over a 6 inch high cross pole!

Other thing with ex racers is that you have to stop them in a completely different way. most people sit deep, lean back and increase rein pressure whereas when work riding a) you are completely out the saddle and b) you use bodyweight to stop without sitting in the saddle still. If you have a martingale/breastplate on hook your fingers through that and pull on that instead whilst using your bodyweight to slow him down.

How long has this horse been out of training?
 
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around 4 months i have only been riding him for 2 weeks! He is not strong at all in the school needs alot of work though. A young girl had been riding him before me but she just galloped him everywhere which probably hasnt helped! The owners got rid of her as he lost more condition due to her doing this! Im bringing him back into work slowly as he became lame and had some rest time before i came. What with rest time and feeding up perhaps he is a bit highly strung!
 
If the horse has only been out of training for 4 months he needs to be introduced to the world of leisure riding very carefully.

OP - don't ride this horse again, you are going to get seriously damaged or worse.

He needs an experienced jockey on him for the next 6 months.
 
I will definately be being careful, tried him yesterday and he bronced with me!! But i am one with an electric arse!! not the best combination. Luckily he is out24/7 with no hard feed and keeps condition well, so fingers crossed with the lack of energy supply he will be more sane. Although i am going to keep to the arena for a few weeks!! haha

OP try going back to basics, just ground work, that is part of my plan although mine has been out of racing for 2 years and has had some basic schooling but still v unbalanced and tense.
 
Im not sure of the exact dates but i know they gave him a few weeks off and then this young girl started to ride him they asked her to bring him back into work slowly but obviously she didnt listen! She was on him when he apparantly spooked at a tractor and went down a ditch making him lame so he had another few weeks off then I came along. He has been hacked out by the owners and used as a lead for their youngsters whilst out and was fine?! He is good in the school and seems to enjoy it but does need a lot of work ref balance and bending, also needs work on his canter on the left rein! Im doing a lot of lunging and pole work with him. He has a good jump on him in the school but wasn't expecting him to try and jump a 6ft hedge?!?! I think im just going to keep him in the school and carry on with the basics! He needs a lot of work and Im now positive he is not ready to go out and about yet! Not with me at least! x
 
I know how you feel I have often been told I have an electric bum! Had quite a few horses known as plods in the past but i dont seem to have to do much to get them moving lol x Yeah basics is key! Going to have a few lessons as well as when on left rein I cant get him to pick up the correct diagonal! I guess this is due to him being 8 and racing for so long. Any advise or tips on how to work on this canter lead would be appreciated. Even on lunge he doesnt pick it up! Lots of well done and good boys when he does and lots of back to trot and try again when he doesnt! x
 
My husband rides a 5 yr old and hes always very calm, currently being brought on hunting, schooling, mileage etc, I rode him in an open field and somehow managed to wind him right up! He was a bronc, shying, etc, hubby got on him and has never felt him like that before, I think I was holding him and probably giving off energy, i think although i joke about electric arses, its more a case of nervous riding, clinging to them that does it, if that makes sense.. (although i wasn't nervous, think i tend to hold with legs etc)
 
Yeah iv been out of riding for a few years and only got back into it recently so perhaps it didnt help! I know I was holding him too much but even when i tried to turn him he was having none of it! I think the fact that iv only been riding him 2 weeks hasnt helped either. When you have been riding a horse for a while you know them. My old TB i used to know when he was going to do something before he did. Lots of work needed but defo no hacking x
 
Natalielodge said:
Lots of work needed but defo no hacking x
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Which is a shame for the horse. Agree that schooling is needed, but also so is a break in the form of a change of scenery...

Sorry to sound harsh, but this is not the horse for you. He needs someone experienced to bring him on. And having him in the school all the time will do nothing to help him in the long term.
 
the owners are happy to hack him once a week! We also have a jumping field so no jumping in the school! Hence schooling twice a week, hacking once a week and jumping 2-3 times a week! Think its varied enough plus turned out all day!
 
Natalielodge said:
Lots of work needed but defo no hacking x
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I have to disagree, no hacking in open spaces obviously but hacking on the roads or lanes absolutely!! Most ex-racers are hacked alot to fitten up so generally are extreamly safe and sane on the roads! My TB has been out of racing for around 8 months and she hacks like a dream...100% safer than my cob!! She's currently being ridden by a 16 year old girl who is alternating her work with hacking and schooling with one session a week over poles to introduce her to 'normal' jumping. She is now working up to hacking her over fields and on the beaches and so far so good, she's had no issues with running off or attempting to race the other horses she's with. I think in this lads case it's been too much too soon so I'd take it all back to the beginning and give him the lesson's he needs to rehabilitate into a good all rounder.
 
Natalielodge said:
the owners are happy to hack him once a week! We also have a jumping field so no jumping in the school! Hence schooling twice a week, hacking once a week and jumping 2-3 times a week! Think its varied enough plus turned out all day!
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I would say that this little horse probably needs to be hacked out quiety for around 4 or 5 days a week. Remember, your aim is a calm, well adjusted horse that can be used for a wide variety of activities. Not just jumping and schooling.

Jumping is exciting - as is grass. Those two elements will be enough to ensure that he is kept well on his toes for the forseable future.

If the owners (and you) are truly looking to turn this horse in to a good all rounder - then they need an experienced jockey to bring him on.

Sorry.
 
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