Schooling Ex- racehorses- any tips?

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trickivicki

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Hi,

I've notice from a lot of signatures and photo posts that lots of you lucky people have some lovely tbs who all look beautifully muscled.

So, have you got any secret 'tricks of the trade' that you would like to pass on to me and P?

V x
 
Thank you, will definitely crack out the trotting poles... lunging however gets a little OTT and ends up with the wall of death!!
 
Be prepared to work your backside off :D;)
Ditto long and low & trotting poles (raised trotting poles is also good). Lots of hill work and hacking will also help. And... *whispers* I cheat and use equitop myoplast. It costs a fortune, but it works wonders on my horse.
 
Polework is great but I wouldn't bother lunging, if you're about to get on a racing fit corned up TB after its had a couple of days off you're most definitely going to lunge it first, and of course its going to explode on the lunge and charge around like a lunatic - once you've taken the edge of it you get on and exercise. Hence why lots of ex-racers do the wall of death on the lunge, its all about association.

Go with long-reinging instead, you can pretty much guarantee its been long-reined when it was broken it so it shouldn't be a problem. It gives you much more control, you don't have to stop to change direction and you get a chance to see how they're carrying themselves.
 
i always free school my lad before i get up. it just takes the edge off him.
i recently got a dr cooks bitless bridle and it has done wonders for him.
 
Patience and consistency are the key. I'm 2 years into reschooling a 17:2 hh 13 yr old ex flat horse. Lunging in a Pessoa or side reins can help encourage them into the correct outline. I school in draw reins to encourage him to work over his back which will help build top line. Hill work whilst out hacking will help strengthen and develop the hind quarters.
Feed the best you can afford, little and often . Soya oil will provide lots of extra calories without adding fizz. Magnesium will help keep him calm. Allow free access to good forage.
Watch out for teeth and stomach probelms (pink powders will help support his digestive tract). Most importantly give them lots of TLC .

Good Luck.
 
Two words patience and consistency.. Lots of them too!!!

Longreining is great if (like most) they hair about on the lunge... helps my lot to work from the backend brilliantly!
Ultimately, he/she will have to get used to the lunge at some point, so don't cut this out completely, just don't overdo it, wait untill the horse has the right mentality and has settled into it before you start 'proper' lunge work.
Again, long and low pole work, helps loads! (kavalkade HO lunging aid is brilliant for this).
Lots of hacking and hill work.

A racehorse won't know anything other that going in a straight line very fast, and most of the time only on one rein, bending will be uber hard for them. Baby steps!

Most importantly, give horse time to chill when he/she needs it, don't expect miracles, let them enjoy it! Oh and, expect the unexpected. I've learnt that the hard way! :D You'll have loads of fun though, they can be so rewarding!
 
Hills!

If you are lucky enough to live in a hilly area, this is how I got my boy looking super. Walking is better than trotting up hills for developing muscle. Don't let him dawdle and allow him to stretch long and low when walking uphill. Cantering uphill is great too, though where I live all our hills are on roads, so I only did the walking.

I did about 45 mins road walking up and down the hills nearly every day, often with 20 mins schooling or lunging when I got back. My horse changed shape and looked amazing quite quickly.
 
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