Schooling my ex racer..

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bambigirl

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As a lot of you know i bought a tb in april in poor condition, have spent a lot of time hacking him out and getting his weight upto scratch, so nows the time to get him working after final visit from physio has confirmed hes fully able to take some serious schooling... now the dilemma, iv always been a happy hacker very rarely set foot in a school
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so im not too sure where to start lessons cant happen till i move yards either
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i need some ideas to get us on the right tracks
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Cooookies and hot choc xxx
 
Hello

I posted this on another ex racer thread....

I have two, a four year old and a 2 year old.

I have had 2 previously as projects as I used to work in a racing yard before early mornings got the better of me and keep in touch and they know I know what I am doing with regards to care (not so much riding, I am not pretty but can ride tbs)
The one I have now is out of a group one winner, he was a bit slow but he was the best thing that ever happened to me, and brought me out of a very big depression. I will never sell him, he is an absolute gem and one of the nicest horses I have met. He lives out but is in a medium turnout at night as they temd to be wimps of the highest order.
I think ex racers have stinking reputations but most are completely misunderstood. People fail to recognise quite how high the workload/level of training they have is, don't bring them down properly and feed them the wrong stuff. I have found that hard work and lots of good quality hard feed (three times a day) = very happy ex - racehorse. By hard work I mean consistent, solid work. I also think they are the warriors of the horse world, athletic and an amazing breed. They are just not fashionable at the moment, which is a shame. I think it is mostly because people don't understand them and some don't have the experience to look after them so blame it on the horse.
My baby has been out of racing 3 months and is competing affiliated dressage already, He is also going to hunt all season. My last ex racer is now eventing at intermediate level. I had another one which now hunts and looks as big as your average chunky warmblood. The 2 year old is in the field, I am fortunate enough to have my own yard so she costs me nothing she just keeps my brood mare company.
With regards to exercise/schooling, hacking is the best start, as it is what they are used too. Get them going forward, lots of transitions and listening to your leg and seat to aid your transitions. The key is work work work, schooling hacks, lots of up/down transitions, lots of pats and praise. Be prepaired for the odd racehorse spin/spook - if they do this push them forwards (into trot or canter) and have the confidence to ask for downwards transitions when you are ready.
I would keep hacking then introduce lunge/long reining work, then get on them in the school, doing the exact same up/down transitions you have done on your hacks - then introduce sone circle work and go from there. Build up the school work, for instance start with 40 min hack then 5 min in school and gradualy decrease the hacking and increase the schooling.
The key is to get them flexible, listening to seat and leg (light contact, he would have been taught that shortening rein = go faster) and use your leg and seet for transitions and steering.
Keep everything calm but busy, dont let him get bored, and keep his brain occupied - just like any youngster really.

Good luck, and sorry for the essay!
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xxx
 
Where to start.

Walk...... keep him thinking forward (not normally a problem for TB's) do lots of circles different sizes but use markers to make sure he doesn’t drift out or fall in.

Transitions.... do lots of halt/walk/trot transitions but again use markers so if you don’t have letters say to yourself at that post i will trot etc. This will get him listening to you, don’t worry about his head position just keep your hands still and try to get a nice forward rhythm. Try and encourage him to take your hands forward.

Once you have nailed all this you should be ready for your lessons and your horse should be strong enough to work in a better outline.

Hope it helps.
 
thanks guys.. the probs we have at the mo is he wont strike off on his right leg, he finds it very difficult, physio says he was very very tight down his right side.. but given his history since leaving racing im not ver suprised.. he had a bad owner :< , before physio getting him in a natural outline was impossible however since then and a few pessoa sessions hes showing he can do it, but ask him ridden and we get a girrafe
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when i picked him up

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to a few weeks ago

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I cant see the pictures when I am at work sorry.

If he is striking off correctly in the pessoa then maybe try a pole on the floor in the corner of the school and ask for the canter over the pole.

Make sure you don’t lean to the inside when asking this will block the inside shoulder and free the outside shoulder thus making it easier to strike incorrectly. Keep your contact in your outside hand and use lots of inside leg which will lift the inside shoulder and activate the inside hind leg making it easier for him to give the correct lead.

Hope this helps.
 
Slightly off subject but have you considered joining the ex racer club or just simply joining their forum? great friendly people, lots of events and social do's, good support network and most of all lots of good advice.
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hmm how strange, try again, perhaps there was an error somewhere.

Not known anyone else to have ever had any problems, I could ask for you if you like, feel free to PM me as I can ask if you like, they always welcome newbies
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he looks lovely and i love TBs and as R2R has posted alot of people misunerstand them and feed the the wrong stuff making them go loopy and then they say theyre dangerous

just take it slowly and and variety of excercises including hacking out and plenty of stretching down
 
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